Visiting a Gong Therapy Session

Knowing that I enjoy new experiences, information, and challenges, a work colleague told me about gong therapy and invited me to join, sending a link to the event's profile on Facebook. So on Wednesday evening we headed to a flat on Lāčplēša Street, where an eastern culture centre called Dzīves Plūsma (Life Flow) turned out to be established.

The gong therapy evening was led by Marija Mežecka. She warmly welcomed everyone like an attentive hostess and invited them to settle on small rugs with various little cushions and blankets on the floor. In total, 14 people had gathered. The majority were women in their prime (at a glance, all past 35) and three men. The room was packed to the brim. Marija reminded everyone once more that registration is required before coming - otherwise there might unfortunately be no space available and the visitor would have to be turned away.

At the start, the gong master said a few brief introductory words, as some of the attendees, including myself, were newcomers hearing about such therapy for the first time. The idea is roughly as follows:

"Gong therapy is a method that allows you to find joy and self-confidence - it is a path to personal development and spiritual growth in the world of melodies and sounds.
"Bathing in gong sounds" is a sound therapy session. The deep vibrations of gongs, the gentle sounds of the kalimba, Tibetan singing bowls, and other sounds help to tune our organs to the correct vibrations. The mind calms, deep relaxation comes.
"Bathing in gong sounds" - deep meditation, accessible to everyone. You only need to lie down and allow yourself to be in the sound, without evaluation, ready to receive the experience that may come...
Today's sound therapists use gongs and other archaic instruments to help treat spinal disorders, headaches, migraines, insomnia, and joint diseases, as well as many other health problems. It is also an excellent form of psychotherapy." (quote from Marija's LinkedIn profile)

The overhead lights were turned off in the room (in the corner by the various musical instruments - which would look strange at first glance to the uninitiated - only a small lamp remained). Everyone lay down on the rugs, covered themselves with blankets, and closed their eyes. The therapy could begin. Marija invited everyone to let go and surrender to the sound. She began to play.

Image from the Gong Therapy Facebook profile

At first there were pleasant nature sounds - wind, the rushing of the sea, falling grains or nut shells. Very calming. Then came the large gongs with a deep, vibrating, and to me (subjectively speaking) not particularly pleasant sound. Images arose in my imagination - like frames from a black-and-white arthouse film: an empty strip of sandy beach, separated in a straight line on one side by the grey seawater, on the other by a dark pine forest. The sensation - alone on the planet, well, certainly no one within at least a hundred kilometres. In the distance something resembling the dish of the Irbene radio telescope, which suddenly rose into the air and, like some alien spacecraft - large and grey - moved overhead and, as the gong's droning quietened, disappeared into the distance.

Later Marija began to sing or hum (without words - melodic, resonant, but softly), playing the next instrument unfamiliar to me. At the end - various ringing bell sounds. For some reason I was flooded with memories of my grandparents' country house, the glazed veranda, and the sunlight streaming through the window panes. Then my mind intruded - wait, wait, as a small child that veranda seemed enormous, but now as an adult it's too narrow, and if one day in old age my husband and I move there, new rooms will definitely need to be added, built on. Hmm, but wasn't there a water-vein path there (I remember how my grandfather determined the location of underground veins with a properly made forked branch).

I snapped out of such practical thoughts when Marija walked up to each person lying down and rang small bells over them. Now it was time to wake up. Yes indeed - for some it really was a waking up, because 10 minutes after the therapy began, a clearly audible snore had drifted from the back rows.

Everyone got up after 1.5 hours of lying down and sat in a circle. Marija invited everyone to hold hands (right palm facing down, left palm facing up) and for a moment to feel the circulation of energy. Those who wished could share their feelings during the therapy. Everything happened simply and naturally.