Articles

Physical Movements to Attain Inner Stillness
Healing Through Sounds
by: Sister Eppie Brasil, OP

I had the joy of living in a hermitage on top of the mountain. It was a great experience of solitude, stillness, silence.. just broken once in a while by the trill of a bird song. It was a delight to wake up each morning with the sound of birds singing. It was enough to lighten up the heaviness of my heart and loosen up the edginess of my nerves.

Sound! How does it affect us? Why does the sound of nature, such as the waves of the ocean soothe us, while the humming appliances drive us to distraction? Why do sounds of birds quiet us, while sounds of traffic tire us? Our bodies, made up of over 70% water, make us great conductors to the sounds around us. In a world where we are constantly bombarded by the irritating noise of traffic, cell phones, construction, how do we re-tune our bodies to a healthy level? If external noise irritates us, how much more would internal noise affect us? Inner noise like worries, anxieties, anguish, anger, sadness,… all these, and more, are part of the human story. Have you used music or sounds to heal? If not, this is your chance!

Today, sound is rapidly becoming a source of renewed interest in the field of healing, as well as exploring and expanding consciousness. Many researches nowadays show, that sound and music therapy can bring us inner healing. Whether Gregorian chant or ceremonial songs of healing and prayer, the healing power of sound has always been recognized as a very basic yet profoundly powerful tool for transformation.

Contemplation is an avenue for the body to learn how to listen to sounds that can soothe and still our tired spirits. In time, contemplative prayer can bring inner healing thru deep awareness, acceptance and attention. Let the vibrations of the healing power of sound heal you. Let the ordinary event become the extra ordinary mystical experience. Listen to the magic of mystic music. (CD available at our Rosaline Store)
Bird sounds! What gentleness they bring to the heart. How ordinary, how little, how fragile birds are, yet their songs can soothe and still our tired spirits. Whenever I feel locked up in the daily stressful events, I let my mind go back to that peaceful oasis on top of the mountain, “El Monte de Silencio”….and I simply remember my favorite sounds, and then, I don’t feel so bad!

EFFECTS OF HEALING SOUNDS

There are many researches done nowadays regarding the efficacy of healing sounds. Most people do not realize how powerful is the effect of sounds. Our church music, chants, hymns, songs are found to be most efficacious in affecting attitude and lowering stress levels. When you listen to healing sounds, you may just experience the following when you do it with contemplative awareness and focus:

• Increase Relaxation and Reduce Stress
• Improve Immune System Functioning
• Support in Achieving Meditative States
• Alleviate Pain
• Develop Better Sleep Patterns
• Increase Sense of Being Centered and Grounded
• Open Blocked Energetic Pathways
• Improve Health
• Diminish Learning Disabilities
• Help With Neurological Issues
• Increase Sense of Personal Power
• Clear Stuck Emotions
• Increase Self-awareness

Our Down to Earth Dad
By Sisters Matt and Eppie Brasil, OP.

Earthy is one word that can best describe our Dad. His feet were always planted in terra firma. A man so simple, yet so wise. He was so peaceful, so gentle, so kind and yes, so practical.

I had often heard him say “When I get sick and grow old, I will just receive, ‘lo que hay,’ whatever is there.” And so he did. He was the very model of acceptance and surrender. We thank God for this wonderful person, our Dad, who has received gratefully whatever is there, lo que hay. Through all his 81 months of being bedridden, he was the epitome of acceptance. When he was at the hospital and I got mad because of a gaping wound on his feet brought about by the emergency procedures, he just looked at me as if pleading and saying, “Hija, lo que hay.” But God in his Providence provided him with great care, love and the comfort that he needed. Indeed when we stop choosing, God will choose for us. This is what Meister Eckhart said, and how true it was for Dad. He had never imposed. He was very accepting. I remember his gentleness. How he used to tell me that our helpers, drivers, companions at work are our special friends who help create a balance in our life. We cannot do all things alone. We need people. For him, there was never a functional relationship. All relationships are special and personal. I learned many of my contemplative attitudes from him, his acceptance when he would say, “Well, El hombre propone, pero Dios dispone.” Man proposes or plans, but God disposes or directs.

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