Insomnia has all sorts of causes and yours may be different from what mine was, but I’m pretty certain my own experience is quite common. You can’t get to sleep at night because your mind is racing. Most of the time I’d find myself lying awake in bed because I couldn’t get my brain to just slow itself down – I’d be awake thinking about the events of the day, or what I was going to do tomorrow or all of a sudden I’d get great brainstorms about new ideas and projects to do — most of which I’d never get around to doing because I was too tired all of the time.

One thing that helped was doing some meditation, especially guided meditation designed to help me fall asleep. But it didn’t help enough or every night, and I still found myself waking up frequently during the night and then unable to get back to sleep.

Since Guided Meditation did help, at least initially, I figured it was time to investigate this new-fangled thing called “brainwave entrainment”. Basically it is audio with a special beat, a pulse, that helps re-sync your brain. It is very effective at helping you get to sleep because as your brain syncs with the pulse, it slows down all the racing thoughts inside your head, allowing you to relax and finally get a good night’s sleep.

If you’ve also investigated some “sleep technology” on your own, you may already be familiar with the type of beats known as binaural beats. That’s the most common kind of brainwave training available.

I’ve used binaural beats audio myself, and just like the guided meditation, it did help me fall asleep. In fact, it worked much better than guided meditation on its own. The problem, however, is that binaural beats only work when you are wearing headphones. That’s fine for falling asleep and it’s usually okay just to remove the headphones as you feel yourself starting to drift off, but it doesn’t help at all with staying asleep. I just can’t wear headphones all night. So even with binaural beats, I still found myself waking frequently in the middle of the night and then not being able to get back to sleep.

There is another type of brainwave entrainment available though and it is called isochronic tones. Binaural beats use a different tone in each ear, but isochronic tones use a rhythmic pulse that turns itself off and on. The brain responds powerfully to the off and on rhythm and so isochronic tones are actually much more effective than the binaural beats that are found in most sleep audio products.

By: Emma Martin

Binaural beats are perceived sounds; in other words, they are not real, except to your brain. How do they work if they are unreal, then? It triggers the brain responses at a irresistible level, and can train your brain to do anything that it might otherwise find difficult to accomplish on its own.

The binaural beats are scientifically created to stimulate a desired response, at a frequency that normal humans cannot hear. The brain creates the binaural beat from the tones that are supplied, based on different sound hertz that is detected by your left and right ear, allowing the brain to turn the difference in hertz into a beat. This beat can have a relaxing effect on the mind, or promote alertness, depending on the actual difference.

Binaural beats were first discovered in 1839 by an Associate Professor, at the University of Berlin, who accidentally discovered that two similar sounds that are slightly different in frequency cause a pulsation or beat type effect within the brain when given separately to the left and right ear. However, it was Dr Gerald Oster who discovered in 1973 the benefits of the binaural beat on the mind and body.

Binaural beats allows you to be able to enter instant deep states of meditation, and can also reprogram the subconscious mind. Binaural beat recordings at specific frequencies utilize a mix of audios to alter the listener’s brain activity. By bringing you into this state of meditation, binaural beats can induce positive changes in your emotional, mental and physical make-up. The beats are also able to restructure your neural network and raise your “comfort level”, reducing stress levels.

This meditation is a hypnologic trance, which is a deep meditative state, and usually requires a lifetime to perfect. The changes in brainwave patterns are translated to changes in chemical reaction within the body. This works together with positive affirmation to improve your personal development, heal emotional issues and phobias, and create behavioral changes. They are also able to bring about energy boosts similar to that received when the body rests.

Other benefits of the binaural technology include access to your subconscious mind. Binaural technology allows you to create deep states of meditation, eliminate stress, boost your intelligence and create behavioral changes. All this can be done with little to no effort, other than putting on the earphones and listening.

It can eliminate negative thoughts in your subconscious, removing negative emotions even from your memories, without affecting them. With the many varied uses of binaural technology, it is not difficult to pick out when that will suit your needs, be in personal improvement or as a stress buster. The possibilities are limitless.

By: Greg Frost

In early October 2008 I began having a recurring dream. In the dream I could hear an audible tone like the one I often hear when helping spirits are trying to communicate with me. That tone is usually a high pitched ringing in one ear or the other. I have learned to just stop what I am doing and tune into the sound. I still my mind, go within, and open myself up like a hollow bone. I may not always understand what the message is, if any.

The tone in my dream was different than a typical ringing in the ear. It was a lower tone. I also heard a voice telling me that this tone was very important. I had similar versions of this dream several times over. The message was the same each time; it was important for me to remember and use this fundamental tone in the cycle unfolding at this time on Earth. It was necessary for healing the heart.

In recent months, the U.S. economy has suffered the equivalent of a heart attack. Researchers say the decline of Wall Street and the mortgage crisis may take a heavy toll on your heart, especially if you are already at risk for cardiac problems. People are losing their jobs and homes. Companies are going bankrupt. We have collectively experienced fear and anxiety over the course of the past few weeks. What is needed now is a healing and balancing of the collective heart.

As a drummer I work a lot with opening up the heart in people. Drumming activates the heart chakra. It is very healing and transforming. There is often emotional release and a great sense of joy and bliss. I wondered if working with tones would affect the same healing.

Tone Healing

I began researching tone healing and found the pioneering work of Swiss mathematician Hans Cousto. In 1978 Hans Cousto discovered the law of the octave as the link between different kinds of periodically occurring natural phenomena such as the orbit of the planets and musical tones. The octave is a natural measure of the harmony of universal law and is the common denominator of astronomy, mathematics, music, and color.

Through the systematic application of the law of the octave it is possible to convert the whole solar system into sound. Hans Cousto established that the rotation of the earth around the sun has a base frequency of 136.10 Hz or C#. This astronomic actually causes the changing of the seasons. According to Cousto, this tone is the primal frequency of existence, or OM. Research indicates that it relieves stress, opens blocked energy pathways, restores inner peace and balance, and activates the heart chakra.

There is little doubt in mind that 136.10 Hz is the tone that I was hearing over and over in my dreams.

Binaural Beats

My research led me next to a form of tone healing called binaural beats. Until recently, entering transcendent states of awareness has been attained typically by only a disciplined few, practicing ancient meditative disciplines. These methods do work, but they require long periods of isolation and practice before producing significant results. Now there is a new technology that can easily induce those profound states of deep meditation and heightened awareness.

Researcher H.W. Dove discovered that when two tones close in frequency are presented, one to each ear, the brain detects the difference between them as a third frequency. This pulsating binaural beat is actually created inside your head, not externally. This is because your brain creates the beating tone after figuring out the difference between the lower carrier tone and the higher offset tone. The two hemispheres of the brain entrain to this binaural beat rather than the audible tones. For example, a 90 Hz tone and 95 Hz tone will induce a 5 Hz theta brainwave cycle.

Carrier tones used on binaural recordings also influence consciousness. Most binaural beat recordings place little importance on the choice of carrier tones. However, the appropriate carrier tones will not only induce a desired state of consciousness within minutes, but also activate a particular chakra. All you need is a pair of stereo headphones. The sound technology does the rest.

Binaural Beats for the Shamanic Journey CD
My research into tone healing and binaural beats culminated in a new digital recording to support the listener in making shamanic journeys. Binaural Beats for the Shamanic Journey is available at my website. Carrier tones for the journeys on this CD are 136.10 Hz (C#) and 172.06 Hz (F). 136.10 Hz corresponds to OM, the primal sound from which the universe constantly emanates. This healing, soothing, and balancing tone activates the heart chakra. This chakra is associated with emotions, self-esteem, and affection. Opening this chakra while journeying may release symbols and images of grief and loss states that tend to block it. Memories associated with self-esteem and abandonment may also arise.

172.06 Hz corresponds to Kung, the fundamental tone in ancient China for attuning to Tao, the unknowable force that guides the universe. This tone opens the crown chakra and supports joy, clarity of spirit, and cosmic unity on the highest levels. One can journey through this opening for inspiration, insight, or to find ways to restore balance in the world. Activating this chakra facilitates a state of unity consciousness. One’s sense of being a separate individual gives way to an experience of union with the entire universe. The benefits of attaining this unified state include relaxation, healing, and enhanced creativity.

Each journey ends with a Tibetan cymbal callback and has a binaural beat of 4.5 Hz, the theta rhythm associated with the deepest states of shamanic consciousness. 30 minute journeys are split into two tracks for your convenience. You can select the first track for a 30 minute journey or the second track for a 15 minute journey. Tracks 1-2 Theta OM. Tracks 3-4 Theta Kung. Headphones required. Step-by-step instructions for making shamanic journeys are explained in my book, The Shamanic Drum.

By: Michael L Drake

This article aims to show you how and why binaural beats are so powerful and what they can do for you.

Binaural beats are just tones which are generated to have a specific frequency and when listened to they can entrain your brain. Brain entrainment is just a fancy term used to describe what happens when a technology, such as binaural beats, is used to alter your brainwaves. Having the ability to change your brainwaves is enormously beneficial. With the right binaural beats you can produce a sense of deep relaxation, heightened creativity or even alert focus. As well as many other states that are available you can also create a feeling of euphoria and even expereience added health benefits.

Binaural beats were first discovered by Heinrich Wilhelm Dove in 1839. Dove used 2 tones which were different only in frequency and only by a small amount. He then played one of these tones into one ear and the other tone into the other ear. This, he found, created a beat effect in the brain of the listener even though no beat actually existed. The brain perceived the beat when it mixed the 2 sound together. The beat had a frequency equal to the difference between the two tones. An example would be if one binaural tone has a frequency of 2000 hertz and the other binaural tone has a frequency of 2010 herts then the binuaral beat that the brain hears would have a frequency of 10 hertz which is the mathematical difference between the 2 tones. The beat itself does not really exist. It is merely the brain’s perception of what it is hearing that causes these binaural beats. They do not exist independently of the brain. Think of hearing a whisper on the wind, or seeing shapes in clouds – these things do really exist but your brain puts meaning to them!

Although this was a great discovery it wasn’t until 1973, when Gerald Oster’s article “Auditory Beats in the Brain” was published by Scientific American, that the enormous benefits of using binaural beat technology became apparent. It was found that when these binaural tones are played the brainwaves of the listener will follow the frequency of the beat that is produced. It is now known that certain frequencies are conductive to different internal experiences. If your brainwaves are between 8 – 12 hertz, for example, you are said to be in the Alpha state. This knowledge and ability to entrain the brain to enter different states has tremendous benefits. Let’s take a quick look at the common brainwave states and their associated physical states to get some idea of what I mean.

1. Beta – you are in the beta state when you are engaged in thinking activities, anxious or stressed.

2. Alpha – this is the state of relaxed focus. You would be in an alpha state if you were watching a movie or daydreaming, recalling memories.

3. Theta – this is the state of sleep, very deep relaxation or most forms of meditation.

4. Delta – this is the state of very deep sleep where the body repairs itself and the immune system is strong.

Each of these states has corresponding benefits. Entering the Beta brainwave state heightens alterness and focus. If you wanted to relax, learn new information or reprogram your beliefs then the Alpha state would be the most appropriate. If you want to create real change in your outlook, release past negative memories/emotions or just want to drift off to a sound sleep then entering the Theta range would be the best choice. If you need to accelerate your healing, strengthen your immune system or undertake some powerful self improvement work then the Delta state would prove highly beneficial.

Here are the frequencies associated with the brainwave states mentioned above:

1. Beta – 13 – 25 Hz.
2. Alpha – 8 – 12 Hz.
3. Theta – 4 – 7 Hz.
4. Delta – 1 – 3 Hz.

Many people wonder why they can’t just listen to the desired frequency without the need for two separate tones. This cannot be done as we can only hear sounds that are between 20 and 20000 hertz. Therefore frequencies that fall in the range of the desirable states, that we wish to create, would just not be heard if they were played as one track. As the tones used in binaural beats recordings create a beat that doesn’t really exist, this problem is avoided. In addition, the binaural tones, that cause the beat, have the added advantage of increasing communication between the two cerebral parts of the brain.

By: Michael McGrath