The Law of Vibration

"I'll believe it when I see it."

Have you ever heard this expression before?  Or maybe, "Seeing is believing"?  Our eyes are extremely useful tools for helping us to gather information, but there are plenty of things that affect us every day that we CANNOT see.

Like what, you ask?

Well, like vibrations.

Vibration is movement.  Very often you can see something vibrate, like the string of an instrument while it is being played.  If you look closely, you might see the string get kind of blurry from moving back and forth at a high rate of speed.  But there is even more happening that you cannot see.  The vibration of the string (which is visible) makes the air around it vibrate (which is invisible), which makes your eardrum vibrate (visible only with the the proper instruments), and your brain translates that vibration into sound. You can't see it, but the whole reason you can hear is because of vibration.

Have you ever seen or heard of a theremin?  It's an instrument that uses vibration to make sound. Actually, ALL instruments use vibrations to make sound (that's how sound works, remember?), but with a theremin, you don't even touch the instrument.  Instead, you use your hands to manipulate the vibrations, which changes the sound.

Amazing to watch, isn't it?  The explanation of how a theremin works is equally fascinating.

But what does a theremin have to do with your thoughts?

A lot more than you might think.

All things vibrate.  We know that all matter is made up of tiny particles so small that we cannot see them. These particles are called atoms, and atoms move constantly.  So even if you are sitting completely still, because you are made of atoms, you are really moving--a lot!  

Here is the interesting part: even non-tangible things vibrate.  Something intangible, like a tone or a note, has a specific vibration or frequency.  

Other intangible things, like thoughts and feelings, also have a specific vibration.  Have you ever sensed when someone was feeling sad or angry, even if they didn't tell you how they were feeling? We may not be able to SEE vibrations, but we can feel them.  In fact, a feeling is nothing more than being aware of a particular vibration.

There are low vibrations, and there are high vibrations. We even use phrases that mirror this vibrational hierarchy: "I feel down," "I'm under a lot of pressure," "A weight has been lifted," and "Things are looking up," are examples.  There are hundreds of feelings that fit somewhere on this hierarchy.  At the top are high-vibration feelings like love, gratitude, and joy.  At the low end of the spectrum we find fear, apathy, and hate.

Things of like vibration are drawn to each other, like magnets. But what happens when you turn a magnet over?  It repels the very thing it was previously drawn to.  Things of differing vibrations repel each other in a similar way.

Our thoughts and beliefs about the world shape our experience.  If our experience is full of low-vibration experiences, then it is possible to "manipulate the vibrations" so to speak--by changing our thoughts, we can change our experiences. Even situations that we truly can't control can be changed because of our thoughts.

Scripture Story:

In the Book of Mormon, Alma led a group of righteous, religious people.  They had to flee from the wicked King Noah, who sought to destroy them.  They settled in a new land, Helam, where they were safe from the king and able to worship freely.

But things didn't stay that way.

This group soon found themselves in bondage to their enemies. Their reaction to the situation, however, was unique.  As they watched their enemies approach, Alma counseled his people to not be afraid, but to trust in God, so they did.  As their afflictions grew, they cried mightily to God.

The enemy leader was intent on persecuting Alma and his people.  He passed a law forbidding prayer. Anyone who was caught calling upon God was to be killed.

Yet somehow, Alma's people did not fear.  They no longer raised their voices to God, "but did pour our their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts" (Mosiah 24:12).

They were comforted by the Lord, and supported by him in their afflictions.  The burdens that they faced did not go away, but were lightened so that they were easier to bear. Mosiah chapter 24, verse 15 records, "...the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" (emphasis mine).

Cheerfully and with patience.  This is the part that is key.  The vibrations of "cheerful" and "patient" are not harmonious with "bondage."  What happens next in the story is truly miraculous, but very much in keeping with the law of vibration: "And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage" (Mosiah 24:16).

That night, Alma and his people gathered all of their flocks and possessions.  When the morning came, the Lord caused a profound sleep to come upon their enemies, and Alma's people departed peacefully into the wilderness.

If we can change our vibrations by changing our thoughts, then only one question remains.

HOW?

Start by changing the input your mind receives on a daily basis: maybe instead of watching a crime drama, watch uplifting programming.  Select music and other media with a positive message. Clean and organize your space.  Dress up a bit.  Go outside and enjoy nature.  Meditate.  Worship.  Read inspiring literature. Let go of fear, and embrace faith.

The instrument creating the kind of spooky-sounding music?  A theremin. :)

For Kids:

Book: What Are You Thinking? by Valerie Ackley

This book helps kids to understand the connection between their thoughts and the circumstances that show up in their lives.  

Activity 1: Jumping Beans

Gather a handful of dried beans, rice, or even sprinkle some sugar or salt.  Place onto an empty container, such as an oatmeal or yogurt container (a #10 can with a plastic lid or an overturned bucket both work well). Using a wooden spoon, beat the lid away from the beans.  Watch the beans jump, even though the spoon didn't directly touch them. Try this activity on a variety of surfaces, such as other containers or the kitchen counter.  Did different surfaces affect how high the beans jumped? The higher the beans jumped, the higher the vibration when the surface was struck.  

Next, use plastic wrap to tightly cover an empty bowl, creating a drum-like surface.  Place the rice/sugar/salt on the plastic wrap. Use the wooden spoon to beat the empty oatmeal container like a drum close to but not touching the bowl and plastic wrap.  Did the rice jump?

Activity 2: Birds of a Feather

Okay, this activity has nothing to do with birds or feathers.  But the phrase "Birds of a feather stick together" expresses how like vibrations attract.  Discuss this principle, and then use two magnets to further illustrate the point.  Watch them attract one another, then repel one another when they are overturned.