Sommer Duenow

There’s something about sound that bypasses logic and goes straight to the soul.

I’ve always been drawn to things that exist in that liminal space between science and mysticism, what we know and what we sense. So, when I first stumbled across the concept of Solfeggio Frequencies, it felt like falling into a familiar melody I’d never actually heard before.

These frequencies are said to hold healing and transformational powers, capable of shifting energy and emotion deep inside us. Some claim their origins are ancient, embedded in forgotten chants meant to align us with divine order. Others say they are nothing more than arbitrary tones, given meaning only by those who are willing to believe.

I wanted to know – where did they come from? Do they actually do anything? What would happen if I started listening?

The story behind the Solfeggio Frequencies is part historical mystery, and part cosmic accident. Their beginnings are frequently tied to medieval Gregorian chants, and in particular, a hymn called Ut Queant Laxis, believed to contain sacred healing tones. But these frequencies, as we know them today, weren’t widely discussed until Dr. Joseph Puleo started digging into them in the 1970s.

Through numerology and biblical texts, Puleo believed he had rediscovered a lost tuning system – a set of six frequencies, later expanded to nine, that aligned with human consciousness and the natural world.

Skeptics argue that the connection between Gregorian chants and these specific frequencies is tenuous, at best. But even if the historical link is questionable, the idea that certain frequencies might resonate something fundamental inside us, remains compelling.

The ancient Egyptians believed sound held the key to shaping reality.

Researchers have theorized that chanting and vibrational technology were used in temple healing rituals. Some believe Egyptian temples were intentionally designed with acoustics in mind, amplifying sound for spiritual or healing purposes, much like modern sound therapy. Lending credence to these theories, hieroglyphs depicting priests using sistrums – sacred rattles thought to cleanse energy – do exist.

Pythagoras, the Greek philosopher and mathematician, spoke of the “Music of the Spheres,” believing that the Universe itself was composed of harmonic frequencies, influencing human consciousness. He taught that everything, from planetary orbits to the soul, vibrated in mathematical harmony, creating a cosmic symphony that shapes our reality, even if we’re unable to hear it.

And globally, many Indigenous traditions incorporate drumming, chanting, and vibrational medicine, not as entertainment, but as tools for healing and spiritual connection. These practices have been used in ceremonies for centuries, believed to alter consciousness, synchronize brainwaves, and carry prayers and intentions, creating a bridge, of sorts, between the physical and spiritual realms.

Across cultures, sound isn’t just heard – it’s felt. 

I think what struck me most, in all of this, was realizing just how universal the belief in sound, as a healing force, really is. Different names. Different traditions. But the same underlying idea remains: frequency moves us.

Here’s where things get tricky, though.

Scientifically speaking, the research on solfeggio frequencies, specifically, is thin. That doesn’t mean sound doesn’t have measurable effects – it absolutely does. But whether these exact frequencies hold unique, intrinsic power, is harder to prove.

Cymatics is the study of how sound organizes matter and it shows that different frequencies create intricate patterns in sand, water, and other substances. So, if sound can shape physical reality, who’s to say it doesn’t shape the unseen, too?

528 Hz, often called the “Miracle Frequency,” has been studied for its potential effects on DNA repair and stress reduction, though the findings are still debated. Researchers suggest it may influence cellular processes, promoting healing and balance, while others argue that its effects are more psychological than biological.

Studies also show that binaural beats, which involve playing two slightly different frequencies in each ear, can influence brainwave activity – suggesting that sound can, in fact, alter consciousness. Research indicates they may help shift the brain into states associated with relaxation, focus, or even deep meditation, depending on the frequency combination.

The evidence isn’t conclusive, but it is intriguing. And honestly? Even if the science isn’t all there yet, the experience of listening to these frequencies feels like proof of something.

Last night, I put on 639 Hz and fell asleep quickly. I’ve been carrying a heavy kind of emotional weight for the past few days, sitting with the complexity of my reactions and feeling the exhaustion that comes when your mind won’t let something go. 

I needed to wake up different. Lighter. 

I needed to find my normal again, because I’d been neglecting my work, my book, and, to some extent, time with my Two Favorite Humans.

This morning, I woke up clearer. Less critical of myself.

More ready to move forward.

And really, this isn’t new for me. Sound has always played a role in how I process life; Every phase seems to have its own soundtrack. Music has always been able to meet me where I was and give me something to hold onto, so it’s no surprise that frequency stripped of words but still rich with tone and meaning, would be able to do the same.

However, with so many competing thoughts and theories floating around about solfeggio frequencies, it’s easy to be skeptical.

For one, there’s no hard evidence that Gregorian monks actually used these frequencies in their chants. It’s a beautiful idea, but one that may be more myth than fact.

The other common claim is that these frequencies are scientifically proven to heal the body. While there are studies that have been done on sound therapy and brainwave attunement, I was unable to find definitive research that proves these exact frequencies have unique healing properties.

But does any of that even matter? Placebo or not, if a frequency calms the nervous system, helps you sleep, or shifts your mood, isn’t that real enough?

When I started working with these frequencies, I wanted to know if they really held the power to alter my moods and body. Was this real or imagined?

But sound is funny that way.

Its truth isn’t in proving, it’s in feeling. And when I close my eyes to let the hum settle into my bones, I don’t need history or science to tell me what I already know.

That feels like proof enough.