Why Sound is the Forgotten Spell
Sound has always been part of magick, even when we didn’t recognize it as such.
The whispered incantation. The chant repeated until trance. The name of a god spoken into smoke.
Magick is vibration—and so is sound.
Yet in the age of candles, crystals, and cards, we often overlook one of the most ancient and powerful tools of the occult: the resonant instruments that shape the unseen world. Bells, gongs, and singing bowls aren’t just tools for meditation or temple ritual—they’re potent instruments of transformation.
In this article, we’ll explore how these instruments have been used across cultures, how they affect the body and spirit, and how you can experiment with them in your own practice—awakening the sorcerer of sound within.
A Brief History of Sound in Magick and Ritual
Sound has been woven into the tapestry of sacred practice since the dawn of civilization. Here's how different cultures have used sound for spiritual, magical, and psycho-spiritual purposes:
Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt
Priests and magicians used chanting, incantation, and rhythmic percussion to invoke deities, cast spells, or cleanse spaces. Sound was understood as a creative force—the spoken word itself had power (consider the concept of the Word as divine in ancient theologies).
India and Tibet
In Hindu Tantra and Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism, the use of bells (ghanta), cymbals (tingsha), singing bowls, and mantras is deeply codified. These sounds are not symbolic—they are functional technologies of awakening.
The ghanta and vajra together represent the union of wisdom and method.
The bowl’s tone is said to mirror the resonance of the inner void—śūnyatā.
China and Taoist Mysticism
Gongs, chimes, and bells were used in Taoist alchemical rites, ancestor worship, and exorcisms. Sound, like Qi, was seen as something that could be harmonized, directed, or disrupted for metaphysical effect.
European Ceremonial Magick
In Western mystery traditions such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, ritual bells were struck during initiation ceremonies or during the invocation and banishment of spiritual forces.
Aleister Crowley wrote about the magical use of sound in several of his rituals, including the Gnostic Mass and Liber Samekh. Each vibration had the potential to awaken the subtle body.
Shamanic Traditions Worldwide
Whether it's the drum of a Siberian shaman, the rattle of a South American curandera, or the chant of a Dagara elder, sound has always been a bridge between worlds. These tools shift consciousness and open the gates to spirit realms.
The Theory: Why Sound Magick Works
Vibration Is the Foundation of Reality
From quantum physics to metaphysical philosophy, many traditions suggest that reality is fundamentally vibrational.
In Hindu cosmology, the universe was born from the sound Om.
In Kabbalistic thought, creation is shaped by Hebrew letters—sound-encoded divine names.
In modern physics, string theory proposes that subatomic particles are vibrating strings.
When you work with sound, you’re working with the architecture of reality itself.
Resonance Alters Consciousness
Different frequencies can shift your state of mind:
Alpha and Theta waves are associated with meditative states.
Certain gongs and bowls produce complex binaural-like harmonics, inducing trance or clarity.
Repetition, rhythm, and tone can pull the mind away from the egoic narrative and into direct presence.
Sound as a Vehicle of Intention
In magick, it’s not just the tool—it’s the intention behind it. Sound becomes a carrier wave for consciousness. When charged with desire, will, or clarity, a sound can become a living spell.
The Bell: Slicing Through the Veil
The bell is the sword of sound. It cuts. It clears. It calls.
Used in temples, churches, and mystery schools, bells are instruments of both banishment and invocation. They scatter negative energies and simultaneously alert the spirit world that a sacred act is taking place.
Ritual 1: Spellbreaking Bell Strike
Use for: dissolving mental loops, clearing energy, severing attachments.
Find a clear-toned ritual bell (handheld, not too large).
State aloud the condition to break:
“I release all fear about my future.”Ring the bell forcefully but mindfully.
As the tone rings out, hold your focus:
“Be dissolved. Be gone.”
Do this as a daily practice to cut through spiritual noise and return to clarity.
Ritual 2: Guardian Bell of the Threshold
Use for: consecrating your altar or ritual space.
Walk clockwise around your space, ringing the bell slowly.
With each chime, say:
“Let this be sacred ground. Let no harm enter.”End with a final loud chime and bow.
This can be paired with incense or visualizations for added power.
The Singing Bowl: Sculpting Subtle Energies
Tibetan singing bowls are ancient tools believed to originate from Bon shamanism and later integrated into Buddhist and yogic traditions.
When a bowl sings, it emits layered harmonics that vibrate not just through the air—but through the body, the psyche, and the energy field.
Ritual 3: Charging a Spell with Vibration
Use for: empowering intentions, reprogramming thought patterns.
Write your goal or intention on a slip of paper.
Place it under the bowl.
Gently play the bowl while visualizing your intention.
Chant or whisper your affirmation if desired.
Let the bowl sing until it naturally fades. Repeat for 7 days.
Ritual 4: Astral Bowl Journey
Use for: vision work, dream incubation, or spirit contact.
In a dark or candle-lit room, play the bowl continuously.
Close your eyes and breathe slowly.
Let your awareness “ride” the sound as if it were a boat.
Pay attention to images, sensations, or messages.
You may journal or sketch afterward—this is sound-fueled scrying.
The Gong: Unlocking Deep Power
Where the bell is precise, the gong is immersive. Gongs have long been used in Asian ritual, martial arts, and ceremonial drama. But their magical use goes far deeper.
They produce broad-spectrum frequencies that can override internal chatter, induce trance, and even purge trauma stored in the body’s energy matrix.
Ritual 5: Gong Bath of Rebirth
Use for: total energetic reset, deep healing.
Stand or sit in front of the gong.
Light one white candle and say:
“I release all that no longer serves.”Begin striking the gong gently, then build to a crescendo.
As the sound envelops you, visualize yourself dissolving, becoming pure energy.
When the sound fades, visualize yourself reforming anew.
Use this ritual during full moons, birthdays, or after major life transitions.
Ritual 6: Timeline Gong Spell
Use for: past healing, future calling.
On one side of the gong, tape a paper with a phrase like:
“My old story: self-doubt, limitation.”On the other side, tape your new timeline:
“My new story: power, clarity, freedom.”Strike the gong while physically walking from one side to the other.
With each strike, embody the shift.
Repeat this weekly to reinforce the transformation.
Fusion and Innovation: Crafting Your Own Sound Spells
You are not bound to traditional scripts. Sound magick is alive—a field of experimentation. Try combining these elements:
Bell + Chant: Ring between invocations to shift energy.
Bowl + Sigil: Place a sigil under a bowl and sound it to “broadcast” the spell.
Gong + Dance: Move your body through a spell while striking the gong—embodied resonance.
Consider creating:
A morning ritual with bell and bowl to clear sleep energy and set intention.
A cleansing ceremony using all three instruments at once.
A psychic shield of sound to protect your aura.
You Are the Instrument
These instruments are powerful. But never forget: you are the ultimate tuning fork. Your voice, breath, body, and intention shape every ritual.
When you pick up a bell, bowl, or gong, you’re not just making sound—you’re opening portals, crafting spells, rewriting the song of your life.
The invitation is simple:
Listen deeply.
Experiment boldly.
Resonate intentionally.
And above all, remember: the universe is not just silent. It sings—and so do you.