Where the Gong Speaks: A Journey Across Its Surface
The first time I stood in front of a large gong, I thought it was simply one instrument with one sound. I couldn't have been more wrong.
A gong is more like a landscape. Every area of its surface has its own voice, its own character, its own way of moving through the body. Strike it in the centre and it rumbles like distant thunder. Brush the rim and it sings, bright and shimmering. And somewhere in between, there are places that seem to speak directly to the heart.
After many years of playing, I've come to know these areas like old friends. Let me take you on a little tour.
The Solar Plexus: Where We Find Our Ground
Just below the centre of the gong, the area often called the sun, lies a spot that many practitioners associate with the solar plexus. In the body, this is the place of personal power, of self-esteem, of that inner fire that keeps us going.
When I play here, the sound is warm and full. It doesn't push, it holds. Many people tell me that this is the moment they finally exhale, that their shoulders drop and their busy minds go quiet. It's often where the journey truly begins.
The Heart Space: Where Things Soften
Move a little higher, and the gong changes its mood. This is the heart space, and its sound is softer, rounder, more tender.
This is my favourite place to linger. The vibrations here seem to open something. Sometimes guests feel emotional without knowing why. Sometimes they simply feel a deep sense of peace, of being connected, to themselves, to the people around them, to something bigger. I never know what will happen, and that's the beauty of it.
The Rim: Where the Air Starts to Sparkle
And then there's the rim, the outer edge of the gong. Here the sound becomes bright, high and almost electric. It fills the room like light pouring through a window.
I often use the rim to bring energy back after a deep journey, or to clear the air at the start. Traditionally, these higher tones are said to cleanse the energy around us. Whatever you believe, most people describe the same thing: a feeling of lightness, of freshness, as if someone had opened all the windows inside.
"It felt like someone touched me"
One of the most common things I hear after a session is this: "It felt like someone was touching me." Of course, no one did. It's the sound itself, the vibration travelling through the air and through the body, reaching places words can't.
People often leave feeling lighter, both emotionally and physically. Some sleep better that night. Some simply feel more like themselves again.
Come and Listen for Yourself
You don't need to understand any of this to feel it. You just need to lie down, close your eyes and let the gong do the rest.
This winter, I'm inviting you to do exactly that at my Winter Sundays – Gong & Soup: once a month on a Sunday at midday, at Shala Mallorca in Sencelles. We arrive with a cup of hot tea, travel together through the landscape of the gong, and end with a warm homemade soup.
Comments