From stars to cells, dolphins to crickets, birds and bees to human beings, the universe is alive with melody, sending and receiving waves of sound. Scientists now realize that something so omnipresent and so fundamental has a powerful influence on everything we think and feel.

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas, the esteemed anthropology expert on the Bushmen, the culture representing 90% of human history, gives the secrets of the Eland Bull ritual in her new book, "The Old Way." The Eland Bull ritual is considered the oldest Bushmen ritual, is practiced by the women, and also similarly found among the closely related forest peoples misnomered as the pygmies. What distinguishes the ritual is the music used -- an old pentatonic or 5 note scale.

Harmonics are inherent within all sounds. Anything that vibrates in air produces sound and creates harmonics: the pop of champagne cork, the roar of a jet engine or the sound of our voice. In fact, harmonics are responsible for our individual and unique speaking voices. Also known as overtones, harmonics are mathematically interrelated ratios or intervals that are created when striking any fundamental note (e.g. F, F#, G, G#, A, etc.)

For thousands of years, cultures throughout the world have used the powers of music to heal the body, mind and spirit. Five hundred years ago, the therapeutic role of music was eclipsed by its role as entertainment. Only recently has the field of sound healing emerged into full-scale public awareness. For the first time, books and recordings promoting the healing potential of music are best-sellers.

How many times have we stopped and listened to sounds and music that touched our hearts and stirred our imaginings? Have you noticed how certain sounds resonate in ways that heal and create feelings of wellbeing and harmony? Sound healing is a form of vibrational healing which works on the energy system of the body in ways similar to Homoeopathy, Crystal Healing, Reiki and Bach flower remedies to name a few.