The end of life is a sacred time, but it also brings intense emotions.
Often this transition is surrounded by fear and often resistance, and the effect is felt by both the dying and their loved ones.
In this blog we explore how, through the intentional use of healing soundspractitioners have discovered a powerful way to transform this space of discomfort to an environment that helps patients and their families find peace in the final moments of one’s life on earth.
What is end-of-life care?
End-of-life care refers to healthcare provided in the period prior to a person’s death. This can be offered in the hours, days or months before someone dies includes care and support for one’s mental and emotional needs, physical comfort, spiritual needs and practical tasks.
There is a growing need for good doctors interested in working in end-of-life care situations. Practitioners may offer in-home sessions, partner with a local hospice organization, or offer services to hospitals and nursing homes.
During the last phase of someone’s life, many are now turning to end of life doulas.
An end-of-life doula is a person who provides holistic support to individuals and their families to help and guide them through the dying process. Have a partner in these last days helps relieve the pressure on families while providing comfort and companionship to patients.
“As an end-of-life doula, I have been able to work with people and animals in the final stages of life and guide them to a place of comfort and peace. This peace extends beyond the individual being the focus and includes family members and friends who are also part of this process and connection.
The addition of intentional healing sounds plays an important role and is not only for the dying, but also provides comfort for all involved.” ~ Gretchen Bickert, end-of-life doula
Introducing healing sounds to end-of-life care reinforces the benefits of this support for patients, their families and even those who facilitate care.
The benefits of using healing sounds in end-of-life care
The benefits for patients
For those nearing the end of life, there is often some mental struggle.
This can come from not wanting to leave their family, fear of what is to come, anger because they don’t have enough time, fear because they are in a hospital or many other reasons. Regardless of the personal struggle, these pervasive thoughts cause resistance. To calm these negative emotionswe can use healing sounds.
Sound healing techniques provide a way to balance emotions, release negative energy, welcome acceptance and offer sounds that can facilitate relaxation. Healing sounds make this possible slowed heart ratemore relaxed breathing, reduced pain levelssleep better, and reduced anxiety at the end of a patient’s life.
The benefits for families
Families often carry many of the same emotions that patients experience in an end-of-life situation.
By means of creating a space of peace with healing sounds, families can reduce their anxiety levels and connect with their loved ones on a deeper level. Family members can also get great resources and practical exercises that they can use to help them with the healing process before and after their loved one’s transition.
It can be done practice meditation with healing sounds is beneficial for the grieving process – and even creates feelings of connection with those who have recently passed away.
The benefits for facilitators
In hospitals and nursing homes, staff are exposed to death and grief.
This is incredibly draining, and it’s not something that doctors and nurses can easily turn off once their shift is over. Using sounds to create a healing space enables facilitators to do this experience a place of welfare and find relief the difficult parts of their work.
Healing sounds help us interact and connect with others without losing ourselves, while supporting us and cleansing our energy field and energetic body after working in difficult environments.
Creating a space of peace with sound healing
To create a space of peace by introducing healing sounds, it is important to do that first determine in which phase of the dying process a patient is as part of their end-of-life care plan.
The Hospice Foundation Of America has a list of signs of impending death which can help identify the condition a patient is in during his/her final stages of life. While one stage may benefit from physical touch, working with sound healing instruments on the body can harm a patient at another stage.
We recommend that you speak with a healthcare provider (such as a hospice doctor or nurse) when planning your sound healing sessions to avoid any problems in the future.
What does it look like to create a sacred space for peace? Your ultimate goal is to transform their room into a safe place. This means that it is your responsibility to see how your client responds to the different tools you use, and avoid anything that triggers a negative response.
Organic instruments (such as drums and flutes) or deep instruments (such as gongs or low tone Tibetan singing bowls) are a good starting point.
Pay attention to your client’s face and chest as you play your instruments.
- Do they relax or tense their muscles?
- Is their breathing increasing or decreasing?
- Do they seem irritated?
- Do they use audible cues (sighs, spoken words, moans)?
The first part of every sound healing session is learn what your customers respond best to and creating an experience that resonates most with them. Depending on the stage in your client’s dying process, you can also experiment with body-oriented techniques and the proximity of instruments.
When using multiple instruments, look for soft tones that blend together – that’s what you want create resonance and no dissonance. It can even be helpful to spread various instruments around the room, including family members or medical personnel.
Introduction to singing and toning can also be a valuable tool in this situation. Encourage your client (if possible) to use your instruments or voice softly. When chanting, consider your client’s spiritual and personal beliefs.
For example, if your client is of Christian or Jewish faith, it would be comforting to introduce Bible verses or psalms into your tone of voice. If your client has a tribal heritage, it is very soothing to focus on grounding instruments, flutes and/or hand drums.
“When I was volunteering for the hospice, I worked with a man of Cherokee Indian descent. He responded very well to the sound of the flute, so I focused on playing sweet, soft melodies while paying attention to his physical response to the music. His sister and I worked together to create a sacred space for him where she placed crystals on his chest, and I played a flute song that had great meaning to the Cherokee people. This greatly eased his transition, and he passed away later that day.” ~ Gareth Laffely, Hospice Volunteer
A good way to get started setting up a space for peace is to follow our checklist below:
- What stage of the dying process is my client in?
- Which instruments appeal most to my client?
- What objects or items would make my client feel more comfortable?
- Are there any special requests from my client or my client’s family?
- What recommendations does a medical professional or healthcare provider have for working with my client?
- What opinion or background can I use to give him/her more peace?
How to get involved
Working with healing sounds in end-of-life care can be a very rewarding process.
You will be able to offering peace to those in need with their own transition or the transition of their loved ones. Using these techniques with someone you love will strengthen your bond with them and help you experience greater acceptance of your own grieving process.
If you would like to learn more about the techniques you can use in end-of-life care, we recommend that you follow one of our techniques Level 2 Practitioner Diploma Sound Healing CourseeS.
These courses not only prepare you for your job, but also provide you with a certification that will allow you to work professionally with clients. Once you are confident in your abilities, we recommend contacting local hospice organizations. Hospice organizations connect you with patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and home care, while providing additional training and resources.
The Sound Healing Academy is hosting a live webinar for Level 2 students on Saturday 11 May at 9pm UK time (GMT). We will discuss how to integrate some of the sound healing techniques from our Level 2 sound healing courses into palliative/hospice care situations. This will include self-care, create spaceAnd some tips and ideas for rituals and ceremonies that use healing sounds.
We hope to see you there!
References
Crane PJ and Ward SF (2016) Self-healing and self-care for nurses. AORN Magazine. Volume 104, Number 5. Pages 386-400,
Dietrich C, Teut M, Samwel KL, Narayanasamy S, Rathapillil T, Thathews G (2015) Treating palliative care patients in pain with the body Tambura: a prospective case study in St. Joseph’s Hospice for the Dying Destitute in Dindigul, South India. Indian Journal of Palliative Care. 21(2):236-41
Seetharaman R, Avhad S, Rane J (2023) Research on the healing power of singing bowls: a review of key findings and potential benefits.
Would you like to introduce Sound Healing into your practice?
Join one of ours Online courses on sound healing or Personal training!