Bells: Musickal/Magickal Tools by E. Patrick Carroll (CoyoteRaven)
In a previous paper, discussion centered around the magickal properties and use of musick at a deeper level of understanding AND enhancing the ritual, whenever one chooses to utilize musickal vibrations as an integral part of such ceremony.
The word "musickal" is spelled here in the archaic Renaissance version, because the Renaissance mindset was that, musick, like magick, being an exact and mysterious science as well as an art. With this in mind, the following text will share a few anecdotes of the history, folklore, and science of one of the most simplest of all idiophones, the bell.
"Bells are a hollow vessel usually of metal, but sometimes of horn, wood, glass or clay, struck near the rim by an interior clapper or exterior hammer or mallet to produce a ringing sound."
The 'ringing sound' is actually a 'spiral' of overtones emitting from the edge of the rim, manifesting into an audible medium the ever present positive or negative vibratory forces which can be used to align everything from communing with spirits, to healing practices for those who employ them.
Bells are the most natural device used to create these sounds, as the soundwave spiral, as it emits, is unbroken and pure. Most bells are circular, ovic, or some variation of roundness. It's almost as if the sound is already there, and by striking the bell the tone is 'turned up' in volume, like a knob on a radio, becoming more discernible to the human listener.
Whereas other instruments and the human voice, too, can provide clarity and pureness in 'tone enhancing reproduction,' for invoking, bells become one of the easiest tools to use. One needs no essential training to use bells.
It has been said that almost anything that has one tone when struck can create overtones. Subsequently, bells became developed through the millennia with humble beginnings as flat sheets of metal, or even as thin flat stones.
Someone (with a good ear) heard the timbre (tone quality) of such materials. Hence, mankinds' unending quest for development in all things manifested itself in 'tone production techniques,' which eventually progressed to the point where the bell, although much varied in size, tone, shape, ornamentation, and other attributes could no longer progress in its basic design. Thus, it became a fixed instrument, in form and design all over the world for it's various functional uses.
"Bells are widely distributed geographically and usually posess a clearly defined cultural status. Legends surround them, and beliefs abound concerning their special powers to induce rain or to dissolve storm clouds and even thwart demons when worn as amulets.
Invocation and lifting of spells become a major use of the bell. The Chinese rang bells to communicate directly with spirits, and even in Russian Orthodoxy, bells directly addressed the deity. Huge bells were cast by both peoples to lend greater, more powerful authority in use. In Buddhism and Christianity, bells are consecrated before being used litugically, and in Asia, the fading tone of the bell is considered spiritually significant. When rung during the Mass ritual in Roman Catholicism, bells symbolize the paradise and voice of God."
Bells are still thought to possess apotropaic (designed to avert evil) powers.
The christian belief system liked the concept that ghosts and demons could be put to flight by the sound of metal. So they included this practice in early christian ritual. Even some judaic sects used this concept. Too, it is thought, the idea of the surrounding sound waves create a barrier in which negative influences could not pass.
In catholic liturgy there are various moments in which an 'altar boy' rings a set of three handbells after certain invocations by the priest. This practice was actually 'borrowed' by the catholic church from earlier pagan practices, especially the Mithraic rites which used the identical practice in their ceremonies to ward off evil entities.
The early catholic church took this notion so seriously that an actual 'baptismal' rite, exclusively for bells, became standard practice. Yes! They baptised bells. Certain prayers and invocations were spoken, and the sign of the cross was produced on the bell by the bishop or priest, drawn by finger on seven different spots of the bell.
This rite was first recorded in a capitulary (civil ordinance) by Charlemagne in 789 A.D. Even in the exorcism rite, celebrants are to wear bells on their garments and use handbells to ward off evil spirits.
Bells have long been used on ships at sea, primarily today to communicate, or warn of danger. But the original intention, again, was to ward off evil spirits and deities that would bring storms and foul weather out at sea. Therefore, it is interesting to learn of the more sacred uses of bells, other than communicating signals, or calling to order some event. (paraphrased by the author.)
One could spend hours poring over the wealth of resources concerning the function and history of bells, but the preceding is intended to lightly illustrate the historical and long term use of bells, especially the sacred and powerful use by so many diverse belief systems, although there is no record of when the bell was invented.
(End of Part One)
Copyright 2002-03 E. Patrick Carroll