Peruvian Whistles

What are Peruvian Whistles?

For over two thousand years, double chambered whistles were a part of Andean civilization.

In Peru, the Spanish conquest of 1532 sent the whistles underground.

The whistles we use are reproductions of original artifacts used around 1000AD by Chimu Indians of what is now Peru.

Although no direct clues have been found to help us understand their use, double chambered whistles have always been found within burial chambers or underground ritual caches. Interestingly, it is known that the most sacred of items were buried with their owners and their use was not allowed to be referenced or illustrated in any way.

Here is an article from the Walters Art Museum that speaks to the journey whistling vessels made from being considered simple utilitarian objects to being considered sacred tools for traveling between worlds.

Daniel Statnekov, maker of the whistles we use in group, is referenced in this article. His book, Animated Earth, speaks to his journey with the whistles and role in having them reclassified as entheogenic sound tools.

How do Peruvian Whistles elicit an experience?

Breath

The dual chambered construction of Peruvian Whistles organically stretches out the exhalation. Short inhalation followed by elongated exhalation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and facilitates movement to alpha and theta. This altered breathwork pattern changes oxygen levels in the brain and invites a journey outward and into an expansive experience.

Binaural Beats & Frequency Following Response

Each whistle's frequency is slightly off from the next. We sit in circle so our whistle is interacting with the whistles being blown on either side of us plus the others in group. When two different frequencies present, one in each ear, the brain detects phase differences between the signals. As the two tones move in and out of phase, the frequency "difference" is perceived as a fluctuating rhythm. This fluctuating rhythm produces the "sensation" of a third tone called a binaural beat. Binaural beats are "phantom tones" that capture your brain's attention. Curious, your brain entrains itself to match the hertz of the binaural beat. This is called the Frequency Following Response. The whistles we use have a 5-10 Hz difference tone and elicit 5-10 Hz binaural beats. As your brainwaves entrain to these Hz, you are cradles in alpha and theta for the duration of the Peruvian whistle session.

Heart

As you hold your whistle, you will find that it, organically, hangs out at heart center. This extended vibrational toning, focused at heart center, influences your experience.

How are the whistles prepared for group?

Whistles are soaked in tea tree, frankincense, oil of oregano, and white thyme essential oils after each gathering. They are then left to dry out completely between sessions. Prior to next gathering, they are soaked for about three hours in the same four essential oils. This soaking saturates the porous unglazed clay, resulting in richer and more complex tones. The whistles then air dry a couple of hours, are smudged with sage, and then they are ready to go.

And...what exactly will we be doing?

Perhaps you've seen someone produce sound by moving water back and forth in a dual chamber whistle? We won't be doing that. What we will be doing is selecting the whistle that calls us, sitting in circle, blowing into our whistle, and journeying.

We aren't "playing" the whistle, and no musical skill is needed.

We produce a long... sustained... exhale... and the whistle produces its singular tone... entwining and blended with the other available tones.

We then inhale and repeat.

Everyone develops their own breathwork rhythm, so when one person stops to inhale, other whistles are still sounding.

We continue till experience feels complete.