In this episode, Nyssa and Dr. Kelly answer a listener question about one simple but powerful object: the meditation bell.

What is the purpose of a bell in your meditation space? They explore how a meditation bell (or singing bowl, chime, or timer bell) can mark transitions, create a ritual for mindfulness, and help you “come home” to yourself. From Thich Nhat Hanh’s bell of mindfulness to Insight Timer bells, church bells, traffic lights, and even phone notifications, they look at how sound can become a cue to pause, breathe, and pay intentional attention.

They also extend the idea of the bell into everyday life and relationships—introducing the idea of a “relational bell” for when conversations get heated. You’ll hear about code words like “lunch meat,” using heart-rate monitors as a bell for conflict, and how sound, silence, and space can transform how we communicate.

If you’ve ever wondered how to use a bell in meditation, how sound and ritual can deepen your mindfulness practice, or how to build in gentle pauses in your relationships and conflict conversations, this episode offers playful, practical, and heartfelt ideas to try.

Main Topics Covered:

How a simple meditation bell can completely change the energy of a room
Why humans seem wired to respond to bells, gongs, and chimes (and what that has to do with archetypes)
The “bell of mindfulness” in Buddhist practice and what Thich Nhat Hanh teaches about coming home to yourself
Turning everyday sounds—traffic lights, phone dings, microwaves—into mindfulness cues
How to create a simple, meaningful meditation space (even if you don’t have a whole room)
What Nyssa’s stop sign, Kelly’s wooden pyramid timer, and acupuncture chimes all have in common
The idea of a “relational bell” for pausing hard conversations before they blow up
Code words like “lunch meat,” heart-rate watches, and other creative ways couples can de‑escalate
Why silence, rest, and space are just as important as sound in music, poetry, and relationships
How playfulness, humor, and a well-timed pause can shift you from “you’re my enemy” back to “you’re my person”

Stay in Touch:

Nyssa Hanger: www.nyssahanger.com | IG: @nyssahanger

Kelly Brady: www.kellybrady.me | IG: @drkellybrady