Ripples and Vibes

Do you realise that every breath we take ripples through the air, touching everything around us?  Those are vibrations, little disturbances we create with every breath and movement are like ripples in the water when you toss in a stone, and the effects of what we say and do have enormous importance in creating a life of peace and contentment. Some argue it’s the invisible force that creates happiness, a concept worthy of consideration.

First things first, what is the definition of vibration? It is defined as the periodic back and forth of particles in a medium that results in disturbances in equilibrium. Basically, it means that any movement disturbs everything until it evaporates into nothingness. At least that’s the way I understand it.

When I turn on the faucet/tap at the kitchen sink, the water streams straight down, but when I lather up a glass and rinse it under the water, that stream of water changes direction and as I move the glass around, the water splashes on the bowls and utensils lying in the sink. I disturbed the water and it changed. It’s the same concept with vibrations.

Free vibrations

There are different types of vibrations. A “free vibration” is described as something that is momentarily disturbed then allowed to move freely. Think about holding a necklace in your palm, using your fingers to grab it by the clasp, then letting it drop in front of you. It would drop quickly, a momentary disturbance, and then it will start moving by itself, probably swinging left to right until it settles and stills.

Another kind of vibration is one called “forced vibration”, and this type is usually found in machines where movement is forced by mechanisms. Your washer is a great example of this type. It swishes your clothes around the drum in rhythm, and then you have the joyous noise of the spin cycle disturbing the peace in your home.

Looking at vibrations from a spiritual point of view, we have the proverb “you get back what you put out”, meaning that if you do good in the world, goodness will be returned to you and vice versa. If you’re a nasty woman, you’ll probably have a miserable life. Of course, this isn’t always the case but there is something to the science of vibration.

We could think of vibrations as frequencies, and like changing the channel on the radio, we are greatly affected by the vibrations around us. When we listen to uplifting music, we feel better. We’re vibrating at a higher frequency because of the positive emotion of enjoyment. But if you’re a passenger in a car and your least favourite song in the world comes on the radio, your good vibes will turn to ick and you’ll want to change the frequency.

How many times have you walked into a room and just felt something wasn’t right. The air feels heavy and we can feel like the fight or flight switch has been turned on in our brain. Sometimes it happens when we meet people. We get a sense that something just isn’t right and often take an immediate dislike to them. We say things like, “I don’t know what it is about her, but I get a funny feeling around her” and prefer to keep our distance. Before I knew my boss of some 25 years was a narcissist, I called him an “energy vampire” because whenever he was around, I felt drained and uneasy. I didn’t like it when he was in the office. Not one bit.

Everything has a vibration, even light poles in the street. Imagine a flagpole on a windy day. It’s not just the flag that’s moving. The wind is disturbing that pole which then disturbs everything around it like the ripples brushing against reeds. And no sooner has the air settled, another breeze blows by and the vibrations start over again. They are never ending. Even my fingers on these keys are causing a disturbance and vibrations that wave through the warm air of The Cosy.

Do good, get good

When I consider the evidence of vibrations in nature and knowing that my good juju spills into the lives of the people around me, brushing off the adage of “do good, get good” doesn’t seem so silly. Here’s another example of how vibrations can change your life.

When it came time for us to get serious about moving to Scotland, I spent a lot of time looking for places to live and fell in love with a traditional style cottage called a “gatehouse”. These are single level houses built at the entrance of huge walled estates. I wanted a place that was quiet and somewhat hidden, and spoke aloud, “I want cows on one side and sheep on the other”.  It seems that I manifested exactly what I spoke because for the last 6 years, we have lived in a single-story gatehouse that has sheep in a couple fields and cows in another*.  

How did that happen? Were my hopes actually wishes? Was I praying for these things? Did I inadvertently cast a spell?  Or was it just me sending vibrations into the universe with pure, hopeful intentions? I mean, it’s kind of weird that what I envisioned and vocalised can true. 

Spirituality talks about energy, and quantum science supports the theory that everything is made of energy that vibrates at a “particular frequency”.  From an emotional point of view, we vibrate at different energy levels. 

      High frequency = Love, joy, gratitude, peace, compassion

      Low frequency = Fear, anger, resentment, anxiety, judging

There are times when the life gets me really down, but I know that listening to music will lift my spirits. Other times, when I’m vibrating at a low frequency, sitting outside or talking a slow walk shifts my lousy depressed mood to one of feeling calmer, more focused, and comfort in knowing that everything will be alright.  

Here’s another way to look at vibrations and frequencies or energy.

     The Law of Attraction - Like attracts like, so putting out  good vibes brings back good vibes.

     Our Wellbeing – Notice how you feel drained around certain  people or situations, and when you’re around other people you feel at ease and able to be yourself.

     Spiritual Growth – High vibrations bring growth and inner peace, especially when using focused practices like chanting, yoga, and meditation.

Rippling good juju

But how do we raise our vibrations to help us feel better, and ripple our good juju into the universe? Is there proof that changing our vibrations can actually change our lives? Here are some suggestions to think about bringing into your life. Helpful hint- Set an alarm on your phone to help you build practices into your daily routines.

Practice gratitude – it can bring immediate results

   *Sit quietly in nature and appreciate the sights and sounds

    *Make a daily ritual of giving thanks

    *Keep a journal of the good things in your life

Create quiet time – 5 minutes, just 5 minutes

    *Relax while sitting on the toilet, close your eyes

    *Sit in your car and chill out

Your circle – control your influences

    *You are the centre of your world

    *Keep happy people and uplifting music nearby

    *Spend time outdoors without devices

    *Volunteer in your community

Affirmations – words vibrate so watch how your speak to yourself

     *Mini pep talks. “There’s nothing you can’t handle. You got this!”

     *Use famous quotes as reinforcements. “You is kind. You is smart. You is important.”1

     *Look closely and deeply in the mirror and smile at yourself!

     * With good intentions, ask humbly for the things you want and believe you’re worthy of receiving them.

Clear the way

Take sea salt baths to dispel negative energy

·   Sage your home to clear bad juju**

·   Envision a beam of white light surrounding you

·   Hang bells on the inside of doors leading to the outside

One of the bells on my antique Swiss style bells that hang inside The Cosy door. I believe bells clear the air of negative energy and hang on the inside of all my outside doors. I often give them as housewarming gifts.

The Jem Foundation, a US based charity focused on ending youth suicide, published an article called The Influence of Vibration and Frequency on Mental and Physical Health2 (March 2025). The piece mentions that food items can vibrate at higher frequencies and suggest foods like organic fruits and vegetables which can increase good cellular vibrations, while processed foods tend to reduce them.

Barefoot technology

Earthing or grounding is another practice you can use to increase good juju. This can be done whilst standing barefoot on a natural surface such as sand, grass, or even a tree stump. The exchange of positive and negative ions between our bodies and the Earth are scientifically proven to help us feel better. Studies show visible changes to the body with reduced inflammation and increased immunity. Plus, feeling better is a straight line to a happier mojo. (see additional reading below)

There are lots of ways to boost our good vibrations, but nature has ensured that rules are always going to be broken. We probably know someone who’s worked hard and helped others but still suffer in ways that don’t seem fair. But absorbing all the good juju we can find in our everyday lives will raise our vibrations and ripple positivity into the world, maybe helping those people who can’t seem to get a break.

I guess the moral of this story about vibrations is this…

In with the good shit, out with the bad shit.

* Our farmer recently sold his herd because it became too difficult for them during the winter months.

** There is scientific proof that sage can purify the air, but there is a particular way to “sage your house” that should be followed to avoid bringing negativity into your home instead of dispelling it. This is the method I trust. Although it’s a bit too witchy for my taste, their methods are reliable and detailed.

https://www.wicca-spirituality.com/house-cleansing-ritual.html

Additional reading

Spiritual vibrations

https://wisdomofthespirit.com/the-spiritual-meaning-of-vibration/

Grounding/Earthing

https://begrounded.co.uk/is-grounding-scientifically-proven/

Citations

1Aibileen Clark to May Mobley in The Help. Kathryn Stockett – 2009

2 https://thejemfoundation.com/the-influence-of-vibration-and-frequency-on-mental-and-physical-health/