Vocal Acupuncture as a Spiritual Practice
Vocal Acupuncture, as a Spiritual Practice, invites you to use positive affirmations and denials, affirmative prayer, mantras, optimistic phrases, and positive self-talk as often as you can. It means building these positivity statements into your spoken words and vocabulary.
The words we use not only penetrate deeply into our psyches; they become embedded in our cellular architecture as well. Our entire bodily constitution is affected by the thoughts we have and the words we use. Our thoughts and words – whether they are positively framed or negatively charged – are self-fulfilling triggers!
Acupuncture as a Metaphor
The more well-known form of acupuncture is an alternative medicine technique based on traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the penetration by single use thin needles along the skin of the body, or the application of heat, pressure, or laser light to correct imbalances in the flow of qi through channels in our bodies called meridians.
Vocal acupuncture is the name we use to describe the power of spoken affirmations. We believe it to be an apt metaphor of the therapeutic power of affirmations as healing treatments and catalysts for manifesting our greater good. As positive statements they help boost our mood and immune system.
What Does Science Tell Us?
Positivity Research
Psychologist Barbara Fredrickson, in her very enlightening research and subsequent book, Positivity, assures us that people who experience more positivity and then voice it become “more optimistic, more resilient, more open, more accepting, and more purpose-driven.” She goes on to say that “positivity opens your mind and allows you to appreciate what is in such a way that you want to talk about it which reinforces your positive outlook.”
Word Power
Neuroscientists are telling us that certain positive words—like peace—compassion—joy—kindness and‘love—have the power to alter the expression of genes throughout the brain and body, turning them on and off in ways that lower physical and emotional stress.
In his bestselling book, Buddha’s Brain, Rick Hanson says, “Every time you say a positive affirmation, every time you engage in positive self-talk, every time you sift positive feelings and views into painful, limiting states of mind – you build new neural structures. Over time, the accumulating impact of this positive material will, synapse by synapse, change your brain in positive, life-affirming ways.
According to positive psychologists Rowe, Hirsch, and Anderson, in the 2007 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, another practical consequence of thinking and speaking positively is the mind-broadening powers of our enhanced creativity. A positive mindset changes the way you think and act in a wider range of circumstances. When you ‘see’ things in a positive light, more positive ideas come to mind, and more life-affirming actions become possible.
Here's How This Spiritual Practice Works!
Make it a daily practice to take inventory of the words you are using, and set an intention of adding positive, affirming words to your vocabulary!
Create several "Go To" affirmations you can call on quickly and repeat often to keep your energy and attitude high. Notice the difference in how you feel -- and more importantly, how you are experiencing life when you practice regular Vocal Acupuncture!
As you can see, this spiritual practice offers you mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. It is one of our favorite practices and we believe it will be one of your favorites too! Vocal acupuncture, in all of its spoken forms and expressions, is a centering practice, one that increases your chances of walking the spiritual path on practical, positive feet.
(Excerpt from Life-Changing Spiritual Practies, Volume 1: Spiritual Practices to build into your lifestyle, as you walk the spiritual path on practical feet, by Rev. Bil Holton and Rev. Cher Holton.)
Grab your copy of our summary poster for Vocal Acupuncture!
