Thailand - Buddhism, sound healing, light language, and Human Design

Buddhism

In 2019, during my Saturn return, I went backpacking through Southeast Asia by myself. For three months, I traveled through Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia with no planned itinerary. Just a feeling of what I wanted to experience and letting myself be carried by the people I met and the circumstances.

Chiang Mai was the capital of the Lana Kingdom in medieval times.

The old city of Chiang Mai is a square mile filled with over 30 beautifully decorated Buddhist temples surrounded by a moat. Every night, it comes alive with the sounds, tastes, and smells of the traditional markets. I would have stayed there much longer if I had not met a group of Polish tourists, wanting to take a boat on the Mekong to Luang-Prabang, Laos.

In 2023, I felt called to go back to Chiang Mai, Thailand. I decided to give it proper time, this time around, and stayed for a month. I felt supported by the taste of the juiciest mango, the smell of lemongrass from the market, and the orange flow of monks' robes through the streets.

I hiked the Monk's Trail to Wat Pha Lat, where I spoke with a monk about Buddhism, then continued on to Doi Suthep.

Doi Suthep is usually the one tourist destination as it is bigger, and the view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking. I have a soft spot for Wat Pha Lat as it stands in the middle of the jungle, built on top of a waterfall.

I appreciated being able to talk with the monks as I was in the midst of my research on Buddhism. It was inspiring to get insight not only into the doctrine but also into the life the monks lead in their jungle temple.

Sound healing

Sound healing is an ancient therapeutic practice using the vibration of instruments to promote deep relaxation and reduce pain and anxiety.

I became fascinated after reading The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto. His experiment consisted of exposing water molecules to different frequencies. The results he got were that when spoken words of love, the water froze in beautiful snowflake patterns, and when exposed to hateful words, it made chaotic shapes.

This suggests that the water molecules within our bodies are sensitive and morphing to the vibrations they are exposed to.

The Sound Healing Academy was an ally in this search for knowledge and skill.

One sound healing instructor lived and worked in Chiang Mai. I took it as a sign that I needed to study with him.

The universe had different plans for me. 

I met him, and it did not go well. This was my first encounter with a false guru.

Despite this disappointment, the energy of this place propelled me forward on my spiritual journey. 

I purchased a handmade Earth ocarina at the market, learned to play it, and incorporated it into my sound healing.

Light language

In Chiang Mai, I slept better than I ever had. Passing out as soon as my head hit the pillow and waking up refreshed.

I meditated every morning in a different temple around the city. Connecting deeper with my two favorites: Wat Chet Lin and Wat Chiang Man.

I was inspired and full of energy. This is when my hands started moving of their own accord.

I was unsure what was happening, so I reached out to my Reiki community, who explained it sounded like Light language.

Once I knew what it was, I took a course with Nicola Light about it.

Light language is composed of channeled codes, bypassing the mind and manifesting through words, hand gestures, or art.

I did not understand the message I was receiving until the night before leaving Chiang Mai.

It was a New Moon in Pisces. I sat outside, held by the smell of frangipani flowers and the song of Asian koels. In the ceremony I held that night, I wrote: 

“I am comfortable with the process of writing and editing.”

That very night, a first chapter poured out of me for what would become The Chakra Chronicles.

Human Design

Chiang Mai is also where I discovered human design.

Human Design combines astrology, the I-Ching, and Kabbalah to create a map of one’s energy body, helping one live in alignment with one's true nature for a more authentic, fulfilling life, rather than following external pressures.

An easier way to understand Human Design for me is this:

There are people who are night owls or early birds, people who love to eat cheese, and others who can't digest dairy, people who are comfortable with a lot of external inputs, and others who need to retreat and recharge.

Human Design helped me determine which category I fall into and adapt my life to make it flow more easily.

I booked a reading with Hillary McVeigh.

She told me all about my chart. I am a reflector, sampling, mirroring, and amplifying the energy of my environment.

Hillary was thrilled to hear that I am a healer, as all nine centers present in Human Design are undefined in reflectors.

My profile is 4/1, the opportunistic investigator.

She explained that my signature (the true essence of living my design) was surprise, and my non-self theme (the sign that I am not living in alignment with my design) is disappointment. The environment where I thrive is the market, which made a lot of sense in Chiang Mai.

Finding out that I was a reflector was a big turning point in my life. I see all the modalities that I study as another way of seeing the world.

Getting a reading from a human design professional shed light on many of my patterns, behaviors, and reactions. I am now experiencing a new way of interacting with the world. 

I encourage everyone to check out your free online chart. If you need help interpreting it, I would be happy to assist in a spiritual guidance session or refer you to a Human Design practitioner.