B is for Bell

The type of chime in my sunroom.

I sit in my sunroom on a cool winter day, drinking tea and ruminating on heavy thoughts. The windows are open, allowing some stale air to blow out and be replaced with a fresh, crisp one. I notice none of it, too involved in my thoughts of budgets, house repairs, bills and other day-to-day concerns. As I continue to frown inward, a particular wind blows some hair across my cheek and I hear the chime in my window sound.

My dark thoughts fade with the sound, and the energy of the room becomes noticeably different. The cats come in and snuggle together for warmth in their chair. I see them take occasional snuffs of the winter breezes, eyeballing the small chickadees feeding from the feeder, disappointingly out of reach for them, before burrowing down again, knowing their kitty pile protects them from the cold while still allowing them to bask in the sunlight streaming in. There's a symbiosis at play here, involving elements seen and unseen. My spirit is flooded with peace, and I begin to realize that it all began with a chime elicited from a well-placed breeze.

Bells, chimes and the like have been used for many years around the globe, for their beautiful and soothing tones. However, there is another reason they were so prevalent in indigenous groups - energy clearing and protection.

As a crystal therapist, reiki healer and shamanic practitioner, I have a lot of stones. I also have a busy life - a husband, six pets, a house and a small business on the side - as you can imagine those stones can pick up a lot of different vibrations. One of the best ways I've found to cleanse them is by using tingsha bells, or any other type of bell, to shake up the energy and disperse it. Not only that, the shape of a bell is a symbol of balance, and that equilibrium that comes with being able to flow and ride the waves and dips of life. Part of going with that flow includes occasionally shaking things up, so that one can see the bigger picture and refocus their intent. Because the crystals aren't the only things that pick up a lot of vibrations and negative energies as they travel the day.

So my lesson from this study is to be a bell - don't be afraid to shake things up, and let your world find its level again. Dance, sing, take a risk and revel in the current of your life.