Whale meditation
Cultures have long heard wisdom in non-human voices: Apollo, god of music, medicine and knowledge, came to Delphi in the form of a dolphin. But dolphins, which fill the oceans with blipping and chirping, and whales, which mew and caw in ultramarine jazz – a true rhapsody in blue – are hunted to the edge of silence. ―Jay Griffiths
👥 Serves: 1 person, 11-25 people, 2-10 people, 26-40 people, 41+ people
🎚 Difficulty: Easy
⏳ Total time: 31-60 minutes
🥣 Ingredients: Access to a device (laptop or smartphone), YouTube & internet connection, a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed, headphones/earphones (optional)
🤓 Wholebeing Domains: Awareness, Bioempathy, Positive Emotion
💪 Wholebeing Skills: Awe, Breathing, Calm, Centring, Ecosystem harmony, Mindfulness, Nature kinship, Nature sensitivity, Peacefulness, Serenity
Whale meditation
📝 Description
Relaxing the nervous system with whale songs.
Natural sounds, like the rhythmic patterns of whale songs, can trigger a sense of calm and wellbeing. Research shows that the low-frequency sounds produced by whales may have a direct impact on the human nervous system, reducing stress levels and instilling a sense of calmness. Enjoy the benefits of listening to the songs of whales with this recipe.
👣 Steps
Step 1 – Preparation (5’)
Set yourself up in a comfortable environment where you won’t be disturbed. Make sure you have a device with Internet connection and headphones/earplugs for better sound quality.
Step 2 – Relax listening to whale songs (up to 60’)
Choose one of the following recordings of whale songs to ground yourself, reduce anxiety, or fall asleep. (There are many more online to feel free to explore!)
- Whale Songs (30 minutes), incl. deep meditative music.
- Whale Songs (1 hour), NO music.
- Dolphins & Whales Songs (1 hour), incl. deep meditative music.
Step 3 – Optional: Reflection (15’)
If you’d like to reflect on the experience, here are a few prompts to guide you:
- What was the impact of whale songs on you?
- What changed in how you were feeling before and after the activity?
- What other sources of calm/relaxation do you find from the natural world?