VOCAL FREEDOM & SONG

I always wanted to sing, but early on for me layers of hyper-vigilance, fear, and shame shut down any sort of natural expression. The result was that when I did try to sing, I was far too dissociated from my own voice to discover naturally what felt ‘in tune’ or pleasing. I would try to find the notes with my mind, and then cringe away from what came out of my mouth.

The process of uncovering my natural voice has been both terrifying and incredibly beautiful for me. It’s also a process that has been completely interwoven with the rest of my journey: when I have a ‘breakthrough’ with my voice, I see that same breakthrough play out in meditation, in my relationships, and in my deeper way of being in the world. And vice versa: when meditation brings a deeper taste of thought-free being, or when I see through a particular part of my relational wounding, I hear the same release in my voice.

I now sing mostly through improvisation — intuitive singing, usually with intuitive sounds rather than actual words. Whenever I get the opportunity with others who are interested, I love to experiment with collaborative improvisation.

If any part of you is saying, “I want to sing!” I would encourage you to come and see what can happen. You don’t have to conquer your fear first — you can bring it to the space and let trust and safety emerge at their own pace.