Imagine being in a temple, surrounded by hundreds of people chanting the sacred mantra “OM” in a continuous, fluid wave of sound

ULTIMATE OM
Jonathan Goldman

Use of this Recording

“ULTIMATE OM” is designed as a Healing Soundscape that has many different uses—all of them designed to benefit the listener. These liner notes describe in detail how this recording works as a tool for health, centering your mind and body, and helping create balance and alignment in our busy and hectic lives.

First, “ULTIMATE OM” may be listened to as background to help create a soothing environment, enhancing sacred space. The specific sounds and intentionality on this recording assist in healing and ritual.

Second, “ULTIMATE OM” is a wonderful tool to listen to while engaged in meditation or contemplation. The frequencies and energies on this recording help one to activate higher consciousness while experiencing deep peace.

Third, “ULTIMATE OM” is excellent for inducing states of deep relaxation and enhancing sleep. Put it on and let those sound waves of deep tranquility wash over you.

Fourth, “ULTIMATE OM” may also be used as a background bed of sound to chant with. Many have found that this recording helps initiate a sonic environment that assists in the desire to create self created sounds and tone along with.

Finally, “ULTIMATE OM” may be used to create a gentle sonic environment regardless of your purpose, whether it be work or play. These sounds assist in balancing any other sounds that may be counter productive to your well being. Experience “ULTIMATE OM” and feel the difference.

On “OM”

Of all the sacred sounds on this planet, the one that is most often chanted is the “OM”. Undoubtedly, at any given moment, there is someone, somewhere chanting this sacred mantra. The “OM ” is considered one of the oldest vocal sounds in existence—many speculate that it has been chanted for untold thousands of years. It is considered to be the original, primordial sound—the mantra of creation.

Mantras

Mantras are “words of power”. The word “mantra” is Sanskrit and may be translated as the “thoughts that liberate from samsara (the world of illusions)”. Mantras are listened to or recited by a practitioner for many different purposes; as a means of achieving different states of consciousness, to create resonance with specific attributes of divine energy, and to manifest different qualities, from resonating the chakras to embodying compassion.

Mantras are found in all the different sacred traditions including Judaism and Christianity—the “Hail Mary” in the Christian Tradition or the “Shema” in the Hebrew tradition are the equivalent of mantras, as is any repetition of prayer, chant or sacred sound. The prayers, chants and sacred sounds of the Native American tradition or the Islamic tradition may also be considered mantras. In fact, there is virtually no spiritual tradition in which the recitation of sacred sound as mantra does not occur. Within the context of mantra, the most famous of these mantras— the mantra that is considered the “first of all mantras” is the OM.

Understanding OM

OM is a mantra from the Hindu tradition. OM is a Sanskrit word, which is said to be the original primordial creative sound from which the universe and all of creation first manifested. While pronounced “OM”, certain Sanskrit scholars state that it is written as “AUM”. Many consider the two words to be interchangeable because of this. OM is said to be the sound that contains all sounds--it is the totality of all other sounds. Swami Sivananda Radha says “The cosmic sound AUM, or its condensed form, OM, is the origin of all other sound. OM is everything. It is the name of God.”

OM is a multi-dimensional sound, and as such, may be understood a number of different ways. One understanding is that OM (or it’s written form “AUM”) represents attributes of the major trinity of Hindu gods; Brhaman, Vishnu and Shiva. The sounding of the “A” represents the energy of Brahman, the creator and the creational process. The middle portion of the sound, the “U” represents the energy of Vishnu, the preserver and relates to the maintenance and preservation of what has been created. The final “M” represents the energy of Shiva, the transformer and relates to the vital transformational energy to shift and change that which has been created and preserved.

Another understanding of the OM (or “AUM”) is that the “A” represents the physical plane, the “U” the “mental and astral planes” and the “M, all that is beyond the reach of the intellect. “AUM” or OM is the initial syllable which begins almost all mantras. Thus OM represents the Infinite, the One Mind, the all embracing consciousness—that which is the very essence of existence.

In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the OM (“AUM”) represents different aspects of the trinity of the Body, Speech and Mind of the Buddha, or an enlightened being. The “A” represents the Body, the “U” represents Speech, and the “M” represents the Mind. Sounding the AUM in this manner puts one in resonance with these qualities of consciousness.

The OM is a Bija (or “seed”) mantra and may be utilized to resonate the third eye. However, it may also be chanted as a 3 syllable word “AUM” (and pronounced as “AH – OH - MMM”) to resonate the heart, the throat and the crown chakras. In fact, the OM can, through our intent, become a multi-purpose mantra with capabilities of resonating and aligning all the chakras—of cleansing imbalanced energies and purifying self. Sung with sincerity and devotion, vocalization of the OM can put the chanter in touch with the source of all creation, providing a bridge between the spiritual and physical dimensions and opening the way for inspirational contact with higher realms and beings.

The Correct Pronunciation

Many people ask if there is indeed a correct pronunciation for the OM. Is it “OM” or “AUM” or something else? In reality, there does not seem to be a correct pronunciation. Depending upon the country, language and dialect, the OM can be pronounced “AUM, UM, UNG, ANG, ONG” and so on. Yet, the resonance and effects of the mantras seem to be the same.

OM as a sound symbolizes the supreme source. To many, the sound of OM is synonymous with the energy of peace. OM may be found as the root of many sacred words of different languages including our western “Amen” and the Hebrew “Shalom”, which has many meanings including “peace”. The OM initiates peace and tranquility when it is listened to, and particularly when it is chanted.

The Creation of the ULTIMATE OM

One of the most powerful, healing and transformational sounds imaginable is to be a room full of people chanting the sacred mantra OM. One person chanting “OM” is very powerful, but a group of people chanting this mantra creates a synergistic effect that is outstanding with the sum of the parts being much greater than the whole: 1 + 1= 3. The sound of a roomful of people chanting “OM”, with each of them stopping to breathe at different times, creates a seamless sea of sonics that seems to go on for eternity. This continuous tone, called a “Rolling OM”, is a wondrous sound to experience.

In deep meditation I was guided to create a “Rolling OM” using cutting edge recording technology, along with my knowledge of sacred sound, intentionality and psychoacoustics. I utilized many different recorded sources of the OM sounds, combining them together to create the continuous waveform of vibration that is the “ULTIMATE OM”.

Psychoacoustics

The “OM sound on this recording utilizes the Pythagorean ratio of 2:3—an aspect of the Golden Mean. The science of Psychoacoustics studies how sound effects the body and brain—specifically the nervous system. Psychoacoustics has shown that this particular ratio (which creates the musical interval known as the “Perfect Fifth”) is extremely effective sound for inducing relaxation and reducing stress. This ratio balances the left and right hemispheres of the brain. This sound may also be used to balances the chakras and the auric field.

The “ULTIMATE OM” is in the keynote of “C”, 256 cycles per second (Hz.), which many believe is a harmonic of the resonant frequency of the electro magnetic field of the Earth. When coupled with the “OM”, this “Perfect Fifth” ratio in conjunction with the keynote of 256 Hz. is a natural way of heightening an already powerful sound to create a truly transformative and healing recording.

Harmonics

In addition to the main choral voices chanting the OM at this specific ratio of 2:3, the “ULTIMATE OM” also includes vocal harmonics or overtones. Harmonics are geometric multiples of a given fundamental frequencies—they are, in essence, the colors of sound. At times you will hear high pitched, almost flute like sounds that seem to float in and out of the recording. These are vocal harmonics created by myself and by Alec Sims. As cited before, the OM is said to contain within itself, all sounds. Thus, these harmonics that you hear were generated solely through utilizing overtoning techniques while sounding the OM. They are the natural result of an overtone singer chanting this sacred sound. The harmonics on this recording weave in and out, providing a focal point of consciousness, should that be desired. Thus, while there is the powerful perfect 5th drone that goes on through the recording, there are also these harmonics that come up unexpectedly at different times. This brings the attention of our consciousness back to the sound and amplifies the effect of the sound. It also keeps the brain from being bored and thus fatigued and actually charges the neo-cortex and nervous system

Harmonics have been shown to have healing and transformative abilities. They help induce calmness and relaxation, reducing heart rate, respiration and brain wave activity.

Day of Toning

When the initial “ULTIMATE OM” was completed, I was quite pleased. I successfully used this recording for meditation and healing both personally and with groups for many months. Then, during meditation, I was instructed to add the sounds of the “Day of Toning” from our HEALING SOUNDS INTENSIVE.

The HEALING SOUNDS INTENSIVE is a 9 day training, and deep initiation into healing and sacred sounds which I facilitate every summer. One of the events that occurs during this is a “Day of Toning” in which all the HEALING SOUNDS INTENSIVE participants tones an “OM” for 12 hours while experiencing different sacred geometric forms. During this time, we project Light & Love to the Earth for personal and planetary healing and transformation. This activity, assisted by Toning and Gaiametric Master Jim Albani is an extraordinary experience for all who participate.

The “Day of Toning” has been recorded for the past 7 years. After my meditation, I knew to take portions of the different years’ recordings of the “Day of Toning” and include portions of them on the “ULTIMATE OM”, making the celestial energy on this recording even more exquisite. In addition to the multitude of voices already found on this recording, the “Day of Toning” sampling comprised many hundred more voices.

Intent

In my book, HEALING SOUNDS, there are two formulas, which I have since utilized in the creation of all my recordings. The first formula is: “FREQUENCY + INTENT = HEALING”. This means that the intent of the sound couple with the actual frequency (the sound itself) that occurs will truly affect and influence the effect of the sound. The other formula is: “VOCALIZATION + VISUALIZATION = MANIFESTATION”. This means that a vocalized sound when coupled with a visualization (an image, a thought or a feeling) will influence and affect the created outcome of the sound. Both of these formulas are very similar and they demonstrate how profound the combination of both the sound and the energy that we put into the sound can be.

One final note

As a final note regarding all the sounds found on “ULTIMATE OM”, I would like to state that everyone who sounded on the recording was visualizing and encoding the sounds they were making with the energies of Light & Love. We trust that this energy will resonate deeply within you, assisting healing and transformation for all. Jonathan Goldman

Jonathan Goldman is a writer, musician and teacher. He is an authority on sound healing and a pioneer in the field of harmonics. Jonathan is the author of HEALING SOUNDS; THE POWER OF HARMONICS (Element Books), SHIFTING FREQUENCIES (Light Technology) and THE LOST CHORD (Spirit Music). He is the director of the Sound Healers Association and president of Spirit Music in Boulder, Colorado. Jonathan holds an M.A. from Lesley College in Independent Uses of Sound and Music for Healing. An empowered Chant Master, he presents Healing Sounds Seminars throughout the world. His award winning recordings include: “Dolphin Dreams”, “Chakra Chants”, “The Lost Chord”, “Trance Tara” and “Medicine Buddha”.

Andi Goldman is a holistic psychotherapist, musician and sound healer. She is the wife of Jonathan Goldman

Alec Sims is a master guitarist, overtone singer and spiritual adept. He teaches Sound Healing and works with Jonathan Goldman and the Sound Healers Association

THE ULTIMATE OM

Time 71:10
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Jonathan Goldman
With Mixing & Mastering Wizardry from Weave
Recorded at Spirit Studio, Boulder, CO
Graphic Design by Chad Darnell

Note: The cover of ULTIMATE OM depicts the “Shri Yantra”, the ancient mandala or picture the sages from India and Tibet believed was the actual image of the OM. Science has now shown that the Shri Yantra is actually generated when the OM is chanted.

Jonathan Goldman & Andi Goldman: Om
Jonathan Goldman & Alec Sims: Vocal Harmonics
Jim Albani, Sarah Benson, Dr. John Galm and the hundreds of voices
from the HEALING SOUNDS INTENSIVES “Day of Toning”

©2002 Jonathan Goldman (p) 2002 Spirit Music, Inc.

For information on Jonathan Goldman’s workshops, recordings, and other pertinent material, contact him: website: www.healingsounds.com, email: info@healingsounds.com P.O. Box 2240, Boulder, CO 80306 USA, Tele: (303) 443-8181, Fax: (303) 443-6023

Imagine being in a temple, surrounded by hundreds of people chanting the sacred mantra “OM” in a continuous, fluid wave of sonic vibration. Now, Sound Healing Pioneer and Chant Master Jonathan Goldman has created this extraordinary Healing Soundscape for you. This recording of hundred of voices chanting “OM” is like the original sacred sound source of the universe—the sound that manifested all. It is the sound of cosmos—the resonance of the Divine. The “ULTIMATE OM” brings peace and harmony to those who listen.

“ULTIMATE OM” was created by Jonathan Goldman as a powerful tool for enhanced meditation and relaxation. Goldman is an empowered Chant Master and pioneer in the field of Sound Healing. He is the author of HEALING SOUNDS and creator of “CHAKRA CHANTS”. Listening to “ULTIMATE OM” will help create balance and alignment in everyday lives, assisting in calming and centering your mind and body. The ancient sacred and healing sounds of OM, when coupled with the new science of Psychoacoustics, will help induce a state of deep peace for the listener. Experience “ULTIMATE OM” and feel the difference.

« hide full description