Introducing Ninzida: The Newest Member of My Gong Family ✨
Two days ago, Gong number seven arrived.
Seven is a highly auspicious number, particularly significant in my gong work, so her arrival already felt special. But she was delayed. And this struck me as curious—I’ve never had a gong “delayed” before.
Whilst I was impatient and frustrated with this delay, as somebody in the line of work I’m in, I was of course also curious as to the energetic reason underpinning that. I’ll explore the significance of this delay now, as it’s an important part of her story.
Two days after I purchased this gong, I was at a gong training weekend with the highly esteemed Sheila Whittaker. In fact, we were being specifically trained on planetary gongs, and when the discussion of the Nibiru gong came up, Sheila told me and the group—and I quote—“It is a brave soul who takes on Nibiru.”
She explained that some people fear owning a Nibiru gong, with some keeping one only to lend it out for short periods. As you can imagine, I was quite alarmed by this. Nibiru is such a powerful gong of transformation, and if I’m honest, I was a little worried. What if it brings about a level of transformation I’m not personally ready for? I half-joked, half-worried, “What if my husband decides to randomly divorce me or something equally dramatic happens?” And while I was joking, the fear nonetheless stuck with me.
As much as I was excited to receive this gong that I loved the sound of so much, I also carried some fear. And then, as I mentioned, the gong became delayed. There was some manufacturing issue, but the distributor couldn’t quite get to the bottom of it.
After a few weeks, I spoke with a fellow gong player, a friend of mine.who also works as a shamanic practitioner .
My wise friend reminded me that gong work is deeply tied to intention, and gongs will often “choose” the way they enter our lives. She reassured me that this gong, with its immense potential power, was holding itself back—not wanting to come into my space while I was holding fear. She encouraged me to release that fear and see the transformation as something positive, not something to dread.
Her words stayed with me. I reflected on them for a few hours, and of course, it made perfect sense. That evening, I sent her a message thanking her for helping me reframe my perspective and reminding me that not all change is negative. I began to understand that this gong’s energy represented something wonderful and transformative for me personally.
That evening, I checked my emails and saw one from the distributor, sent at almost the exact time I’d had my realisation. The email stated that the gong had been dispatched and would arrive the following day. I had to laugh because I’d had a feeling that might be the case.
The Symbolism of Crossings
If you look closely at the surface of the Paiste Niburu gong, you’ll see a striking black cross encircled by three rings. The symbolism here is profound:
The Black Cross: A powerful symbol of crossings—between the physical and spiritual, the known and the unknown. It reminds us of the gong’s role as a bridge for those navigating significant life transitions.
The Three Rings: Representing balance, harmony, and the divine interplay of body, mind, and spirit. This auspicious symbol reinforces the gong’s energy as a guide and protector through sacred transformations.
Why the Name Ninzida?
To me Ninzida is more than just a personal name tor the gong; it embodies the rich mythology of the ancient Sumerian deity Ningishzida. Known as the “Lord/Lady of the Good Tree,” Ningishzida is deeply connected to:
The Tree of Life: Representing growth, transformation, and the interconnectedness of all life.
Duality and Transitions: As a guide to the underworld, Ningishzida symbolizes both life and death, regeneration and fertility. This dual role mirrors the gong’s ability to resonate in both light and shadow.
Healing and Balance: Associated with serpents and healing, Ningishzida evokes the spiraling, transformative energy of kundalini (much like a gong’s oscillating sound waves.)
In fact, if you listen closely during her debut next Friday, you’ll hear me using certain mallets across her surface to create a razor-sharp hiss like sound.
As the mallet is carefully and skillfully dragged across the gong’s face, this sharp, snake-like hissing sound will fill the space—a sonic embodiment of that serpentine energy.
Serpents, symbols of healing and renewal, carry the wisdom of the ancients, the image of thier movements sliding through the vibrations, offering a path to transformation.
They embody life’s cycles: death and rebirth, release and renewal. Through those hiss like sounds, the gong breathes life into the space, inviting those present to shed old skin and embrace the new.
A Cosmic Connection to Nibiru
Ninzida is aligned to the planetary vibrations of Nibiru—the “planet of crossing.” Mystical and otherworldly, Nibiru is associated with transitions, alignment, and the crossing of dimensions.
Most of Paiste’s Planetary Gongs are tuned according to the calculations of Hans Cousto, a Swiss mathematician and musicologist who authored The Cosmic Octave. Cousto’s work involves translating the orbital properties of celestial bodies into corresponding musical frequencies, allowing gongs to resonate in harmony with the cycles of the cosmos.
However, Nibiru presents a unique case. Often referred to as Planet X or Planet Nine by NASA , Nibiru is a hypothesized planet whose existence remains unconfirmed. Consequently, there are no precise orbital measurements to base a tuning upon. The tuning for the Nibiru gong was reportedly channeled during a deep meditation at a center in New Mexico a few years ago. Initially, Paiste created this gong as a one-off commission for the meditation center. However, paiste were so impressed with its sound and vibration that they decided to include it in their Planetary Gong series.
Isn’t it fascinating to think that we don’t fully know where the tuning has come from?
Whether or not you believe in phenomena such as channeling, the gong’s tuning remains a scientific mystery—and therefore renders its energy undeniably potent.
Ninzida’s Role in My Practice
Each gong in my collection has a unique energy and voice, but Ninzida stands out as a guardian of sacred paths. Her tones create a bridge for those seeking clarity, release, and transformation. She invites growth and the shedding of what no longer serves, while offering grounding and celestial energy in equal measure.
She is more than an instrument; she is a guide—rooted in truth, transformation, and the wisdom of the Good Tree.
✨She is Ninzida, the Lady of the Good Tree,
A guardian of sacred thresholds,
Her tones weaving portals of sound,
Carrying those who listen across worlds.✨
Ninzida will make her debut this coming Friday, along with UL my large symphonic gong, and a few of my other gongs to be decided nearer the event. Prepare to step into the soundscape, crossing into the profound and transformative.
See you in the soundscape
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