Binaural beats were first studied in 1839 by a German experimenter, H.W. Dove. The human ability to hear binaural beats appears to be evolutionary adaptation. Humans possess the ability to detect the subtle phase shift of sounds arriving at one ear slightly before arriving at the other ear. This phase difference normally provides directional information and is what enables us to determine the physical location of a sound. The difference in phase relationship can be detected when sound frequencies are below approximately 1000 Hz. It is more difficult for us to determine the physical location of a high pitched sound. At lower frequencies, the sound wave is larger than our head and 'wraps around' thereby strongly affecting both ears.

After 1980, interest in this phenomena grew quickly and produced 'consciousness raising' equipment, tapes, workshops and all the other excitement which tends to surround anything seemingly mysterious that has to do with the brain. In 1961 there had been an article on binaural beats published in Scientific American. 1981 saw an article in the same publication on the binaural hearing of Barn Owls. Owls hunt much more by sound than sight and binaural hearing allows them to locate prey very accurately in the dark. In 1993, a further article on owls delineated the neural pathways (in both owls and humans) necessary for the phenomena.

Want to hear the beats?

Want to get your Inca Shaman act together? Then round up a couple friends (the more the merrier) and some shaks which will play the same note--let's talk Ro here. For threesomes, seat the subject between two players, having them play the same note within 10-30hz of each other--close but not exactly the same tone. Let the tones waver slightly. Have the subject close her eyes, relax and listen for that sound beyond sound. The ability take a little practice and varies among individuals. Once everyone has been initiated (heard the beats), players can sit in a circle and induce the experience in each other. This isn't the same thing as tuning a piano by beats where what you hear is 'external'. You'll have the distinct experience of 'hearing' a third sound--one which resides inside your head. The sound the Gods make. Should you become an expert in the shamanic field of binaural beats the Owl will become you totem.

It could be that you've inadvertently heard this sound already and just thought you were having some kind of neural beakdown. Some kind of acid flashback/short-circuit--or something. Anyway, hearing it means that you're functioning just fine and can now cancel that membership in the Rosicrucians.

So, if you get bored playing the usual stuff on your flute use it to have some fun with your friends and give your consciousness/spirituality a boost in the process. The shakuhachi is ideally suited to generating binaural beats as its pitch can be adjusted so easily.