“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.”
-Nikola Tesla
History and Origin
Even among his contemporaries, Nikola Tesla was regarded as one of the greatest minds in history. Not bad considering he lived in an era influenced by the genius of Einstein, Bohr, Schrödinger, and Edison, to name a few. Yet unlike those physicists, who were responsible for everything from splitting the atom to establishing quantum mechanics, Tesla was somewhat of an outlier. Many of his theories took a much more metaphysical tone, blurring the line between exploring the empirically physical and ethereally spiritual realms. His research culminated in an examination of reality measured in vibrational frequencies, the common bond through which we experience sensation and cognition.. Yet, as avant-garde as Tesla’s theories were in many ways they were nothing more than a modern expression of an ancient principle. Though his standing as one of the vanguards of physics ushered these eternal principles into a new era, Tesla was in many ways a steward of that wisdom more than anything else.
As avant-garde as Tesla’s theories were in many ways they were nothing more than a modern expression of an ancient principle.
One of his greatest contributions was introducing these teachings into a more common collective consciousness. By enlightening millions with his teachings, harnessing the power of vibrational frequencies influenced disciplines of all kinds. Health and wellness was no exception. In fact, understanding the impact of frequencies on our mental health spawned a whole new tool for catharsis – binaural beats. These frequencies have the power to do everything from enhancing motivation to reducing anxiety. By incorporating binaural beats into different facets of life whether it’s meditation or as a performance-enhancing tool for work, their energy can improve mental wellness and in turn affect positive changes in physical health. Though a nascent yet burgeoning facet of health and well-being, binaural beats illustrate how profound Tesla’s premonition truly was.
Aeons of Study
Well before Tesla, ancient philosophers and scientists examined vibrational frequencies to illustrate a plane linking the physical and mental. Pythagoras prominently advanced the idea with his theories of music and color. The Greek scientist laid mathematical foundations that measured the relationship between the sights and sounds that comprised the art forms of music and visual media and the human psyche. He is credited with creating the octave, diatonic scale, color wheel, and other principles essential to the creation of those arts. For more than two millennia, the contributions of Pythagorean mathematics to these fields has been essential.
His theories of music and color provided for a better understanding of how frequencies influence and manifest in the human mind.
His theories of music and color provided for a better understanding of how frequencies influence and manifest in the human mind. A seminal achievement along the way was the identification of the five types of brainwaves and their functions. Those five types are alpha, beta, theta, delta, and gamma waves. Each plays a role in the way the mind responds to binaural beats, which replicate the bandwidth of the range of each type of brainwave. By listening to those binaural beats, the influence encourages a neurological response by shifting the mind into one of those brainwave states to reap in its benefits.
Alpha Waves – Alpha waves range between 8 to 12 Hz. These brain waves are dominant during times when we daydream, exercise, or stay focused on a particular task at hand. Harnessing binaural beats in this wavelength can have a tremendous impact on productivity and focus. Meditatively, they are influential in limiting overwhelming feelings and clearing the mind of unwanted thoughts.
Beta Waves – Beta waves range between 13 to 30 Hz. These brain waves are dominant during times when the mind is directed at problem-solving tasks or creative exercise. Mental attributes associated with this wavelength are alertness, creativity, and decisiveness. The meditative impact of beta waves raises lower vibrating frames of mind, helping fight depression and anxiety.
Theta Waves – Theta waves range between 3 to 8 Hz. These brain waves are dominant during times of deep sleep and trance-like states. Mental attributes associated with this wavelength include the ability to retain memories, memory recollection, healing, and dreaming. Theta waves have been found to be present during out of body experiences and lucid dreams. The meditative impact of these brain waves can help rejuvenate the mind, help to heal, and ultimately provide a state of rest and relaxation that helps the body recover from the physical and mental toll of the day.
Delta Waves – Delta waves range between 0.1 to 3 Hz. These brain waves are abundant during our deepest period of sleep, the third and fourth stages of the sleep cycle. Delta waves aid in the production of DHEA, are present during times of spiritual experience and are the dominant brainwave during infancy. The meditative impact of delta waves can be very therapeutic psychologically because of the impact they have on bringing us closer to our subconscious.
Gamma Waves – Gamma waves range between 30 to 100 Hz. These are the highest frequency of brainwaves. Gamma waves increase sensory perception, enhance cognition, and increase happiness. Gamma waves are also prevalent during REM sleep, which signifies their impact as that phase of sleep is well-researched and has established benefits. Gamma waves are measured with an increase of the left prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain that impacts feelings of well-being, happiness, and compassion. The meditative impact of gamma waves enhances a sense of belonging, compassion, and empathy aiding in making connections with others and finding meaning.
Finding the Right Tone
YouTube channels including Brainwave Therapy, Nu Meditation Music, and Meditative Mind, among others, are a tremendous resource for channeling the power of brainwave frequencies. From isolated binaural beats and isochronic tones to ambient music honed in on a particular range of frequencies, videos published by these channels are a powerful tool to manifest the right frame of mind.
Given the fact that binaural beats rely upon the brain processing two different tones, headphones aid in isolating each of those respective frequencies to one ear.
Brainwave Therapy’s catalog offers both binaural beats and isochronic tones. Binaural beats work by providing two different tones that target each ear, our brains process each which results in a corresponding brainwave that has a therapeutic effect. Conversely, isochronic tones use a single tone which is turned off and on very quickly. This effect is often layered upon an underlying frequency for aesthetic purposes. A major benefit to isochronic tones is that their qualitative effect is less impacted by the use of headphones. Given the fact that binaural beats rely upon the brain processing two different tones, headphones aid in isolating each of those respective frequencies to one ear. Isochronic tones and their singular frequencies can certainly be enhanced by headphones given the impact listening to them that way has on cutting out external distractions, however when using a speaker, isochronic tones are shown to have better efficacy. For that reason, isochronic tones can be a powerful tool when it comes to task-oriented use of brainwave frequencies.
Nu Meditation Music and Meditative Mind harness the principles of binaural beats into a more aesthetic medium of playback. These channels offer ambient music that transforms any atmosphere by being based upon a range of brainwave frequencies. Videos are often stylized with visual effects that use colors that are bound by the same Pythagorean principles to reinforce the effects of the sounds. Furthermore, these channels use metaphysical, spiritual, and holistic principles that are made to target the chakras of the reiki tradition as well as themes and concepts like the law of attraction, third eye, and the manifestation of thoughts. They are ideal for practitioners of yoga and meditation who seek to cultivate an environment that furthers those practices.
Applications
Understanding the range of brainwaves and the mental faculties they’re associated with is key to finding a practical application to binaural beats. Some frequencies, like alpha and beta waves, can be harnessed during activities from working to creative hobbies. Others are used more appropriately during periods of rest and relaxation whether you’re meditating or simply decompressing after a long day. By pairing binaural beats to enhance performance, add relaxing ambiance, or as a supplement to meditative practice, their effects can be practically applied.
Not only do alpha waves help maintain focus, but they can also be a powerful tool against procrastinating.
The performance-enhancing effects of alpha waves are especially potent when their impact of focus and cognitive functions can be used during less than thrilling tasks from studying, working, or working out to doing chores and other tedious tasks. Not only do alpha waves help maintain focus, but they can also be a powerful tool against procrastinating. Typically, procrastination is accompanied by a clouded mind of thoughts swirling around that practically welcome distractions to avoid doing the unwanted. A frame of mind influenced by alpha waves is free of the miasma of counterproductive and distracting thoughts, making those binaural beats a powerful catalyst for being proactive.
Beta waves have a similar power to tap into during alert periods where it’s essential to have a sharp functioning mind. Unlike alpha waves, beta waves serve to be a more creative inspiration. Whether you write, draw, sing, or find another medium for self-expression, beta waves can be a cure for everything from writer’s block to fighting stage fright. The direct influence on task-oriented activity makes harnessing alpha and beta wave binaural beats by using a pair of headphones in the midst of activity to stay engaged.
Using the influence of these brainwaves by keeping binaural beats on during the night can help one get a deeper night’s sleep, ensure REM which is imperative to neurological regeneration, and even can be used to promote more vivid, if not lucid dreaming.
The impact of delta, theta, and gamma waves on quality of rest make them especially effective at creating a relaxing environment. Theta waves can aid in rest and relaxation to help the body recover. Gamma waves and their influence on positive thinking can help establish the peace of mind needed for rest and recovery. All three brainwaves can help maintain a healthy sleep cycle. So, by using a Bluetooth speaker, listeners can fight the battle against insomnia to naturally influence their circadian rhythm to get a good night’s sleep. Using the influence of these brainwaves by keeping binaural beats on during the night can help one get a deeper night’s sleep, ensure REM which is imperative to neurological regeneration, and even can be used to promote more vivid, if not lucid dreaming.
Lastly, all five binaural beats can be used to further meditative practice. Whether you’re plagued by anxiety, depression, pessimism, or just need a clearer frame of mind, there’s a brainwave frequency to elicit biofeedback that can be a cure for those ills. Using binaural beats during meditation can be a powerful supplement to positive visualization or achieve the clarity of mind needed to uncover what lies beneath anxiety and depression. From encouraging positive, affirming thoughts to being a tool that can help the mind enter trance states that provide deep levels of insight into one’s self, the metaphysical properties of binaural beats are especially apparent when used during meditation.
A Wide Array of Uses
From a history rooted in metaphysics that evolved into evidence supported by neurology, it’s clear that binaural beats can have a profound impact on the psyche. Finding a way to harness their benefits depends on the lifestyle and needs of an individual. Regardless of where you’re coming from, whether you live an active life, need to stay on the ball but struggle with focus, or are trying to improve your meditative practice to get to deeper planes of consciousness, incorporating binaural beats into your life can have a profound effect. Exploration through experimenting with each to suit a different purpose is essential to finding what works for you.
