Whalesong
by Martha Thomas, Tofino
The whales are back… shhhhhh, listen.
Can you hear their song?Whales are great communicators. They sing their songs in the depths of the ocean and call to each other, with a story to tell. They have something to express with their own unique and individual sound. These creatures have something to teach us, if we follow their example.
All animals have their own call, their own song to sing. Every bird has it’s own whistle, every cat its own meow, every wolf its own howl. With the whales return, it’s a time to stop now and again on the beach and gaze out into the waters to look and listen. Imagine these giants of the deep blue and the sounds they relay back and forth. Imagine the songs they sing and the stories they have to tell. Perhaps they speak to the creatures of the sea about their long journey and the waters off of Mexico. If we’re lucky, we’ll catch the sight of their spout going off and become closer to connecting with these creatures.
Last summer a friend was visiting from Vancouver. We took a stroll out onto Frank Island. As we stepped onto the rock, I told her, “Some people have seen whales right off this island.” I had never personally, but I had heard of many sightings from there. We got to the far side and watched the waves come in sending mist into the air as they met the rocks. We gazed and listened in silence.
Then it happened. I saw the spout of a whale so close to the island that it’s spray almost mixed with the waves crashing on the land. I was surprised to see a whale so close, and it took some time for us to distinguish that yes, indeed it was a whale’s spout, not just the spray of the surf we were seeing.
The both of us wanting to connect, started to sing, tone and send Reiki energy out to this giant. We started singing our own whale song knowing that sound vibrations travel and hoping that this whale would hear us. Anyone who might have come up from behind probably would have thought us crazy. But undeniably, this whale did hear us. She came around to an open spot right in front of us and poked her head out of the water, just enough to expose a large brilliant eye. She checked us out and listened to our song. She breached a few times as if to communicate something back to us and then down she went. We watched her swim away, the spout letting us know her path. When she was out of sight we looked at each other and left quietly. Our spirits were lifted and our hearts touched by this magical west coast moment.
That singer of the deep blue had heard our song. She was curious and communicated back to us. And so I pose this question to all, “Do you have a song to sing to the whales this season? Can you let your inner voice out and be heard?” We all have a unique voice and tone. Many have inhibitions and self criticism… afraid to sing or even try because we don’t sound like the amazing professional voices we hear on the radio.
I ask… Do you hold your voice back? Are you comfortable with your voice and expressing? Have you been musically wounded in the past so that you have shut off your unique singing voice, and stuffed it away in some dark corner? Can you growl, howl, or roar at the seas? Do you know the power in your voice? Have you tapped into this power, heard the sound of your soul and been surprised? Do you think you lack the courage to get past any inhibitions?Look to the whales for inspiration. Look to all the creatures around us with their songs. Imitate them. Do you think the whales are shy with their sounds or think they sound terrible? Do you think the birds have to get over their nerves before they sing their first note in the morning? We humans are funny creatures. We think and judge too much. Have you ever thought, “I know I have a powerful voice in me. I love singing and have always wanted to but I’m just too shy?” If so, gather courage.
If you want to let your inner voice out, I suggest going to a safe place. Get in touch with yourself; close your eyes, breathe, stand in silence and imagine the whales. Then take a BIG breath, open your mouth and sound off. Do not judge yourself no matter what comes out. Do it again and again. Do not be afraid to make some noise and create your own song. Stay with any emotion that may surface… sadness for the reasons why you’ve hidden your voice or joy for fact that you are finally setting it free. Feel the healing affects of letting your voice come out and the resonance in your body. Let yourself go, express and feel the power of that act alone.
It can be an amazing moment when you set your voice free. Think of the whales and their songs. Surely there is something we can learn from these giants who are back in the waters around us. Imagine yourself amongst them, swimming in the ocean with a story to tell and a song to sing. Next time you see one, you just may have your own whale song to serenade them with and a way to connect to these magnificent beings.
Martha Thomas teaches Reiki and Sound healing workshops in Tofino. Look for upcoming events in the community calendar or call her at 725-2079
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Tofino reiki and sound healing article, written by Martha Thomas for Tofino Time Magazine in March 2005.
