Isms: Views on life in rural America

Every single time I view the advertisement for Calm, an app focusing on meditation and relaxation, I instantly feel, well, calm.

Pythagoras believed sound had healing properties, that music created geometric patterns that basically formed energy. By listening to certain sounds, our brain waves slow down, creating a dreamlike state.

Ancient Egyptians believed sound and specific rhythms aligned the body’s energy centers, promoting healing. Ancient Mesopotamians would strike metal bowls, producing sound through vibrations, and stand inside the bowls. The vibrations were thought to rely on physics...