The Shaku-Whatty?

Connecting with the earth through the Shakuhachi

If you have ventured into ‘Crystals’ on Glastonbury High Street on a Sunday afternoon recently (or, for that matter, the Wells branch on a Friday lunchtime) you may have noticed a figure sitting under the tree, just inside the door, playing a strange, flute-type instrument.

This unusual, rather primitive-looking instrument is called a Shakuhachi - a Japanese bamboo flute, originally played by Zen monks of the Fuke sect. The player is Stephanie Hiller, who was fortunate to learn this rare instrument whilst a student at Dartington College of Arts in the 1980’s. The Shakuhachi was then almost unheard of in the West, but a renowned Japanese player, Yoshikazu Iwamoto, was ‘Teacher in Residence’ at the college for a few short years and Stephanie snapped up the opportunity to learn.

The Shakuhachi (pronounced shak-oo-hatchi) is made from a thick-walled piece of ‘Madake’ bamboo, harvested in the mountains of Japan in November. A pentatonic instrument (based on the 5-note scale), with no keys or complicated mouthpiece, it is a simple piece of bamboo, still showing vestiges of the roots which connect it energetically to the earth. The barest minimum is taken from the bore when the instrument is made, so the bamboo remains in as natural a state as possible. This allows the player to achieve the atmospheric sound for which it is renowned.

The Shakuhachi was used in ancient times by Zen Monks in Japan as an aid to meditation, during their practice of ‘Suizen’ (blowing Zen), as opposed to ‘Zazen’ (sitting Zen). They also used to walk through their local villages, stopping at each house to play for the health and harmony of the residents, in return for alms.

Stephanie’s friends at ‘Crystals’ welcome the unique sounds produced by the Shakuhachi. The vibrations cleanse and purify the stones and create a tranquil atmosphere in the shop, which is enjoyed by staff and customers alike. Children seem particularly entranced – they stand and stare, often needing some encouragement to leave the shop.

Playing to the stones at ‘Crystals’ in Wells

Stephanie is a qualified Sound Therapist and finds that the soft, evocative sound of the Shakuhachi provides a powerful tool for healing, fitting neatly alongside her range of more commonly-used sound healing instruments. She works at the AshTat Centre in Glastonbury and also from home in West Horrington, near Wells.

To find out more about the Shakuhachi or about Sound Therapy, you can call Stephanie on 01749-689 114 or email her at enquiries@StephanieHiller.co.uk. Otherwise, you can always drop in to ‘Crystals’ and speak to her there.