For centuries metal workers have created bowls and bells.
No one knows for sure when these objects came into use for healing, but the origin seems to be Tibet.
Metal bells and metal eating bowls have been found by archeologists around the world, but it is the Tibetan region that seems to have birthed the singing bowls.
Unlike bells from other regions, Tibetan bowls and bells sustain their resonance long after being struck of played.
The bowls with their multi-layers of metal construction are some of the most powerful healing instruments of healing and sacred sounds.
Without any clear history, it must be guessed that they were made specifically for healing and prayers.
Modern versions of the singing bowl can be easily obtained from import stores.
They are less costly due to their metal content and don't play as well.
It's easy to surmise that they don't do the same healing job either.
The original bowls and the better bowls of today are made from seven metals.
These metals are gold, silver, nickel, copper, zinc, antimony and iron.
Some folklore tells of the iron actually being metal from meteorites, but my skepticism wonders at the vast numbers of meteorites (that normally burn up in the atmosphere) it would have taken to fuel the singing bowl industry.
Many of the older bowls in antique markets today were created by Buddhist priests before Tibet was taken over.
The true singing bowls were created by Master Metalworkers and their composition kept secret.
Forbidden to practice frivolous arts, these Masters were unable to teach any apprentices and the art begin dying.
Each bowl was a tone determined by its diameter, height and of course the various layers of metals.
When used for healing, they are stuck with a leather covered striker or that wand is moved around the lip of the bowl creating a vibration much like running your wet finger around the lip of a crystal glass.
The various layers of metal set up their own vibrations that then combine into a specialized tone as they entrain with each other.
Originally, there was one simple bowl.
The seven layers were used to align the seven major chakras and bring the body into balance.
The iron layer, being considered a lower based metal was used to align the Base Chakra.
Other layers moved up through the Chakra System with the final gold layer aligning the Crown Chakra.
The sound waves emanating from the bowl encouraged the brain to move into the alpha state.
They enhanced meditation and could produce a trance state for shamanic journeying.
At about the same time, the Tibetan ghanta and dorje sets were developed.
Used for rituals, they were used by monks and lay people alike.
The ghanta represent wisdom.
Its bell shape is considered feminine, while the dorje represents compassion and male energy.
Just as the bowl is struck by the wand or the rim played, so too is the ghanta, only the dorje strikes to bring the male and female aspects of our being into balance.
With the scarcity of the Tibetan bowls and the Master Metalworkers forbidden to apprentice, Sound Healers began to look elsewhere for similar results.
Quartz crystal bowls that could play healing tones were created.
Made of silica base, they are molded or spun into shape.
They come in various sizes and have various metals and gems added to create various effects in the tones they play.
Although their effect is a bit different than the metal bowls, they have the ability to impact subtle energy as well, perhaps better as they are made up of the same materials our body is made of.
Today, singing bowls are readily available and shipped across the world.
Their availability has helped spur the Sound Healing Industry to new levels, while their weight presents an obstacle for traveling.
Singing bowls are no longer easily strapped on your back and trekked over to the next mountain to heal your favorite uncle, but they still ring with healing energies that delight the ears and heal the soul.