Vibration vs. Frequency: Understanding the Difference and Why It Matters

By Heather Rogers, See Life as a Muse

When I first started working with energy working with it I kept hearing words like vibration and frequency thrown around like they were the same thing. And at first, I used them that way too. But over time, through practice, teaching, and just life, I began to feel the difference between the two in my own body, in my own healing.

Understanding that difference changed everything. It helped me tune in more compassionately to myself, support others without getting lost in their energy, and remind me that we are constantly vibrating… but we also have the power to tune our frequency.

Let me share what I’ve learned.

Vibration: The Pulse of the Present

Vibration is what you feel right now.

When I walk into a room, I can feel the vibration, the hum of someone’s nervous system, and the static in the air. Sometimes, it’s soft and calm… and occasionally sharp and edgy.

Vibration is moment-to-moment. It shifts with your breath, emotions, surroundings, sleep, and even your hydration.

On days when I’ve moved my body, hydrated, journaled, or sat in meditation, my energy vibrates higher and is more transparent, lighter, and more regulated. But when I’ve been giving too much, skipping meals, or absorbing others’ stress, I feel it dip—and my thoughts, posture, and voice follow.

This isn’t “bad” or “good.” It’s just information.

Frequency: The Channel You’re Tuned To

Frequency lives deeper in your system.

While vibration might change a few times a day, your frequency is more like your soul’s home base. It’s the channel you’re broadcasting from, even when you’re not speaking.

I think of frequency as the result of our inner work (or haven’t done). It’s shaped by:

• Your beliefs

• Your past experiences

• Your boundaries

• Your nervous system’s patterns

• Your spiritual awareness

  
  

When I went through my biggest shifts—leaving a job that drained me, healing from childhood trauma, choosing this holistic path—my frequency shifted. Not overnight. But little by little. And when that changed, so did my relationships, my sense of purpose, even the kind of clients and community that showed up in my life.

You don’t just “raise your frequency” with good vibes. You shift your frequency when you heal, grow, and reconnect with who you really are.

Here’s How I See the Difference

I tell my students this often:

Vibration is like the music playing through your body today. Frequency is the station you're tuned to.

You can have a beautiful moment of high vibration after a class, a breathwork session, or time in nature, but you may still be carrying an old frequency of self-doubt, people-pleasing, or over-giving.

And that’s okay. This is not a race. This is awareness.

Likewise, you might be tuned into a frequency of deep healing, truth, and embodiment, but have a rough day when your vibration feels low, dense, or foggy.

One is the now. One is the pattern. And both deserve love.

Real Talk from My Own Journey

There are days I wake up vibrating high, everything flows, I feel connected, and I speak easily.

And then there are days when I teach or coach while carrying emotional weight behind the scenes. Not because I’m not in alignment, but because I’m human.

I’ve also had big moments where my vibration felt quiet or even low, but I could feel that my frequency was changing. Something deeper was integrating, and something old was releasing.

That’s when I learned:

High vibration doesn’t always mean loud joy. Sometimes, it’s quiet peace, sometimes rest, and sometimes choosing not to react.

Journal Prompts I Use Often:

• How does vibration show up in my body today?

• What frequency have I been operating on lately?

• What’s one loving choice I can make to support both?

You Are the Instrument

Your vibration is how you move through the day, and your frequency is the deeper energy you carry through your life.

Both are sacred. Both are yours to tune.

So no—this isn’t about “good vibes only. "This is about honest, aligned, embodied energy. It’s about being present with what’s real while choosing where you want to resonate next.

And if today you feel off or heavy, know that you are still vibrating, evolving, and having the tools to come home to yourself.