Our NeuroVIZR Experience relies on the dynamic relationship between frequencies in both light and sound.
In our age of technology and science, viewing information and communication in terms of “frequencies” is common and credible. I am often asked questions about frequencies and I do my best to answer honestly, to the best of my knowledge.
When it comes to the topic of the Solfeggio Frequencies, admittedly, I hesitate. My assessment is based on a sober review of their origins and their emergence into recent popular culture. I am of such an age that I was fully active in the Human Potential Movement and the explosion of “natural wellness.” I witnessed, in real time, the promises of the Horowitz/Puleo versions of the ancient Solfeggio frequencies and yes, I even have the “big book” described below.
I don’t know how this essay will “sit” with you, let’s see. I aim to be honest.
Understanding the Solfeggio Frequencies
You are likely aware of the Solfeggio Frequencies in wellness spaces, those special sound tones said to heal the body, balance energy, and lift the spirit.
The modern version of these frequencies was brought to life by Dr. Joseph Puleo, a naturopath, and Dr. Leonard Horowitz, a public health advocate with a passion for alternative ideas. They took an old musical teaching method and wove it into a system blending Bible study, numbers, and healing vibrations.
It’s a fascinating story — but one that leans heavily on questionable methods, such as personal interpretations of biblical numerology. These ideas grew into a popular New Age belief without solid evidence to back them up. Let’s walk through how they developed, when they appeared, and why they’re both captivating and controversial, keeping things clear and grounded.
Historical Roots
To start, it’s important to separate the modern Solfeggio Frequencies from their historical roots.
Back in the 11th century, a monk named Guido d’Arezzo created the original solfeggio system to teach singers Gregorian chants. He used syllables Ut, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La , from a hymn to St. John the Baptist to help singers memorize pitch patterns, similar to the do-re-mi we know today.
This system was about relative notes, not specific frequencies measured in Hertz a concept that didn’t exist until the 19th century. The chants varied by region and weren’t tied to exact numbers or healing powers.
Puleo and Horowitz, however, claimed their frequencies were ancient “lost” tones with divine energy, hidden by history or the Church. Music historians, however, find no evidence for this in old records it’s more of a modern reinterpretation inspired by spiritual curiosity.
The Modern Revival
Dr. Puleo’s part of the story begins in the mid-1970s, around 1974, when he explored natural healing and vibrational ideas. He described having spiritual experiences, visions or a sense of divine guidance, that led him to study the Bible using a method he called Pythagorean numeral reduction.
This ancient numerological system involves adding digits until reaching a single number from 1 to 9, believed to reveal hidden universal patterns. It’s intriguing, but also subjective, numerology can find patterns anywhere if one looks hard enough.
Puleo focused on the Book of Numbers, chapter 7, verses 12–83, which lists offerings from Israel’s twelve tribes over twelve days. He noticed phrases repeating every six verses (like “on the first day,” “on the second day”) and saw this as significant.
He then reduced verse numbers to single digits, for example:
Verse 12 → 3 (1+2=3)
Verse 24 → 6 (2+4=6)
Verse 36 → 9 (3+6=9)
This formed 396, and when repeated with other sets, he derived 417, 528, 639, 741, and 852, interpreted as Hertz frequencies. Puleo connected these to patterns in Psalm 119 and to both English and Hebrew alphabets, where numbers often reduced to 3, 6, or 9, symbols of “completion.”
He believed these were divine healing codes, perhaps placed in the Bible intentionally. But scholars note this is selective, different verses or math methods would produce different results, making it more personal interpretation than universal truth.
Horowitz and the Healing Codes
Puleo initially shared his findings quietly, sometimes under the pseudonym Joseph Barber, within alternative health circles. Things gained momentum in the 1990s when he partnered with Dr. Leonard Horowitz, a former dentist turned advocate for unconventional health ideas.
Together, they added three more frequencies 174 Hz, 285 Hz, and 963 Hz, by extending the numerical pattern. Horowitz especially championed 528 Hz as a “miracle tone” for DNA repair and love energy.
In 1999, they published Healing Codes for the Biological Apocalypse, a 500+ page book from Horowitz’s Tetrahedron Publishing Group, outlining the frequencies, their supposed biblical roots, and uses in sound therapy, meditation, and spiritual protection.
Later works, like The Book of 528 (2011), deepened the focus on these tones as rediscovered ancient tools.
The Nine Solfeggio Frequencies and Their Claimed Benefits
Each frequency in the nine-tone system was linked to specific emotional or physical benefits, often tied to the body’s energy centers (chakras):
174 Hz – Soothes pain and fosters a sense of safety
285 Hz – Supports healing and strengthens immunity
396 Hz (Ut) – Releases guilt and fear, grounding the self
417 Hz (Re) – Encourages change and clears emotional blocks
528 Hz (Mi) – Promotes love and transformation (“miracle tone”)
639 Hz (Fa) – Builds harmony in relationships
741 Hz (Sol) – Boosts intuition and clears negativity
852 Hz (La) – Enhances spiritual clarity
963 Hz – Connects to higher consciousness
These ideas resonate because they are accessible, anyone can listen to a track online or use a tuning fork to feel part of something profound. They fit perfectly into today’s digital wellness culture, appealing to those seeking alternatives to conventional healthcare.
The 3–6–9 pattern even echoes Nikola Tesla’s fascination with those numbers as keys to universal energy, adding another layer of intrigue.
A Grounded Perspective
Here’s where we stay grounded: this all began with Puleo’s personal interpretation of biblical numbers, a system more symbolic than scientific. It evolved into a New Age belief system promising DNA healing and energy balance, but no empirical evidence supports these claims.
Historical records don’t show these frequencies in ancient music, and sound therapy research suggests that any calming effects come from general relaxation, not specific Hertz values. Musicologists also note that the frequencies don’t align with historical tuning systems such as the Pythagorean scale.
Horowitz’s additional claims like standard music tuning (A=440 Hz) being harmful are dramatic but unsubstantiated.
Still, as of 2025, the Solfeggio Frequencies remain a major trend in wellness culture, with millions streaming these tones for relaxation or focus. Whether it’s the placebo effect or something deeper, their popularity shows our enduring human desire for meaning and connection through sound.
It’s a compelling story one that blends faith, numbers, and hope, but its roots in numerology and its leap to unproven healing powers remind us to approach the subject with open eyes.
Beatniks & Flickering Light