Magical Handpan Healing Meditation

The magic healing powers of the handpan

Handpans are one of the most potent instruments when it comes to sound healing as they possess a great resonance and through their convex round design their sounds emanate in all directions filling the whole room with vibration and resonance. Handpans and steeldrums are one of the few instruments where each musical note is tuned into a 1:2:3 frequency ratio meaning there are three frequencies in each note anytime it is played. Most other instruments only possess two frequencies in each note. The three frequencies of the handpan are a fundamental tone an octave harmonic and a compound fifth harmonic. The second frequency (the octave) is exactly half the size of the first (fundamental) and the third frequency (the compound fifth) is one third the size of the first (fundamental).

The frequency ratio is important for sound healing as the frequency ratio is already simplified by splitting the ratios into half and a third. Sense and perception researchers have found out that the human brain loves to simplify frequency ratios when it hears it. Since the frequency ratio of the handpan are already as simplified as possible it has a very harmonizing and calming effect on our brains. The frequency of the soft sounds emitted by the handpan sends signals to our brain that it is safe to relax and to let go of stress and tension. 

The vibrations of the handpan are so healing and stress-releasing for our bodies and minds not only because we perceive the sounds as so harmonious due to their frequency ratio but also because of what is known as ‚entrainment’ in music education. Entrainment happens when an object vibrating at a specific frequency (for example the handpan) is placed close to another object vibrating at a different frequency (such as the human body). Eventually the object vibrating at a lower frequency (our body) will start to vibrate on the same frequency as the more powerful one (the handpan). In this way the handpan has the ability to release us energetically and physically from stress and tension we are storing in the body. 

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