Thanks for being here today, as I reflect on the last two years of my work hosting sound baths, sound healing and sound meditation in South Birmingham. My first sound bath took place in March 2022, at Space Therapies in Stirchley. I’ve been musical for most of my life, having obsessed over instruments including the drums and the cello in my younger years. I also sang in a choir and studied performing arts at college in my late teens. That love of music combined with my training as a meditation teacher was the springboard for my step into the world of sound baths and sound healing.

My work with sound in its current form really is an amalgamation of the various practices I’ve studied over the years. Music, meditation, yoga, somatics, energy work and my own spiritual practices that follow the cycles and seasons of nature. I’m trained as a counsellor, a Reiki master, a pagan priestess, a yoga teacher, a somatic trauma therapist and a meditation teacher, as well as working specifically with sound, and I really believe that all of the practices we learn become an integrated web that flow into each other to create something unique to each practitioner.

The profound impact that sound healing has had on me

I was drawn to sound healing because of the profound impact it had on me as a client. Sound baths and sound meditation take me to a liminal space and clear my head in a unique way. I’ve talked about the fact that I’m neurodivergent before now and I think sound can be really beneficial to autistic and adhd folks, as other forms of meditation can feel quite under stimulating. When you have a beautiful wall of sound to tune into there’s no space for the brain to feel under stimulated. That’s not true of every neurodivergent brain of course but I do attract a lot of Autistic and ADHD people to my sound baths who really benefit from the way sound creates an immersive experience.

From my first ever sound bath in Stirchley, to my monthly sessions in Bournville, I’ve enjoyed watching the way my work with sound has evolved and grown. Sessions now include the co-creation of shared sound, reflections on where we are seasonally, practices such as movement or journalling and invitations to reflect. I also hold the occasional sound circle. My intention is always to create a space where you can step outside of your day to day life to really connect with yourself. It’s also important to say that I don’t hold the wisdom that has been handed down to me by my teachers lightly so I also honour my lineages in each session to acknowledge the root of the offerings I share.

It’s always an honour to hold space for your healing

I attend a monthly nature based circle and this month I reflected and shared with the group how honoured I always feel to be able to hold space for the healing of others. Coming together in community, and carving out space for ourselves is more and more crucial as we navigate a world in conflict. It may seem selfish to take space to focus on wellbeing practices when people around the globe are suffering but we need to look after our own needs in order to be able to support others. Connection with self and others doesn’t have to be through paid offerings like mine. There is so much power in co-regulation through community. Walk with people. Connect. Rest. Be in nature. Look after your nervous system.

If you are an activist who’d benefit from support, I have free counselling spaces for activists. Find out more here.

What I’ve learned about myself in two years of sound baths

I’ve learned that I always feel better after showing up and that I feel nourished by being in service to others. I’ve also learned a lot about the way my energy ebbs and flows. I always listen to and honour this and invite my sound bath participants to do the same. Anything I offer in the sound bath space is an invitation and participants are asked to listen to themselves and what they need. This is an important part of working in a trauma informed way and I have really developed my practice over the last few years to make sure that I am creating the safest space possible.

At the core of the sound bath is the principle that we are are beings that are mostly made of water and the vibration of sound can affect the body. From a scientific perspective, the vibrations of sound can soothe and calm the nervous system. From an energetic and spiritual perspective, the vibrations can impact the body's energy centers, or chakras. Luckily I benefit from these sound waves just as much as participants although, sadly, I don’t get to have a lovely lie down like you all do.

The last few years have flown by and I’ve been honoured to invite hundreds of people into my sound baths and sound healing sessions. If you’d like to come along to a session or book head here. I also offer private sound bath or sound healing sessions at my therapy space in Stirchley.