Sound Event & Services Info
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What sounds or instruments do you typically use during events and services?
A bunch! Please listen to some of them here: Sound Clips.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable clothing, a yoga mat to meditate or lie down on, a blanket, water, and an eye mask to block out light if needed.
How do your Sound Journeys compare to Sound Baths or Sound Healings?
My take on Sound healing in the form of journeying is unique. I gained great insight from spiritually impactful personal experiences with sound, shamanic journeying, intuitive guidance, and suggestions from others. I am a certified Reiki Master with experience in removing energetic blocks. My background as a former Licensed Massage Therapist has led me to believe that transforming the room into a safe container is a critically important part of each session. Being in a safe space is what gives our nervous system permission to allow our bodies to deeply relax. Similarly, in massage, our muscles can either melt with gentle touch, or, tense up (guarding) under too much pressure.
Overview:
What are your qualifications?
I attended Master Level Sound Medicine Training 8/2024 with Rich Goodhart at Omega Institute. I also participated in a transformative 3 week ayahuasca retreat in the Peruvian Amazon at Onikano from November-December 2024 led by Shipibo shaman Maestro Heberto Garcia. Maestro Heberto opened a kano or channel in my heart. This heart opening helped me discover my inner gifts in the form of rhythmic attunement, which have been developing rapidly since the end of 2025 through deep and often painful self-exploration with shamanic practices. I am currently a Reiki Master and Certified Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). I was formerly a CT Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), NASM Personal Trainer (CPT) & Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS), and Group Fitness Coach for several gyms.
After years of suffering from chronic pain, depression, and fatigue, I decided to attend Chronic Pain Support Group Leader Training in September 2019 through the U.S. Pain Foundation. My experience as a group facilitator for over 5 years has given me hours of practice holding space for people of many ages, races, and backgrounds. I have had the pleasure of facilitating dozens of powerful group discussions about pain which taught me that my notions of separateness and fear of judgment are simply illusions.
I listed my ventures and acronyms above to explain where I have directed my energy throughout my own healing journey! Self-healing has been the primary focus of my life over the last decade. I started off trying to find a cure for my increasing physical pain, which in turn lead me to explore my emotional and spiritual pain. I have grown in unexpected ways, such as incorporating shamanic practices into my routine like journey work, smudging with Palo Santo (my favorite!), listening to Spirit, and following up on intuitive kinesthetic signs in my body.
Are you a shaman?
No, and I am wary of anyone claiming to be a shaman. Those claiming to be a "shaman" are acting from a place of ego, which seeks temporary external self-validation (The Outer World) rather than Divine love which is permanent and self-sustaining (The Inner Journey). Shamans are born with their gifts and chosen by Spirit to serve a specific role in their community. The poor soul may not even be aware that they have been chosen without guidance, can reject their role, become prey to their ego when the powers granted by spirit begin to manifest, or die or go insane during the initiation process.
I often see the term "shaman" used as a spiritual buzz word, or, as a way to boost a practitioner's credentials to gain the trust of their audience. Shamans can only receive their powers after being initiated by Spirit or another shaman in their community through daunting training. Initiates may be faced with a near-death experience, survive a severe illness, or even be struck by lightning to indicate that they have been chosen. There are seven key stages to shamanic initiation aka the Hero's Journey. The stages are: the Call, Separation, Descent (aka Dark night of the Soul), Transformation, Return, Integration, and finally, Mastery. This process may take a decade or longer to complete! Those that complete the full initiation with Spirit will acquire their healing gifts and are formally recognized by their community as a shaman.
A shaman in modern context is different than the traditional usage but I feel this term must be used with reverence. Shamans are responsible for guiding their community toward spiritual growth through selflessness, wisdom, intuition, and individual skill to connect with the spirit world to bring unseen energy into our physical world. I think energy or lightworker is a more accurate label to describe practitioners who dedicate their lives to serving others and leading from their heart instead of their ego.
What are your favorite sound tools?
I love to make gentle rhythmic vibrations using my maracas from Peru. Repetitive shaker sounds gives the brain something to attune with, which turns off the mind's dialogue. This allows participants to quickly melt into a meditative state. I also LOVE my chakapa reed shaker! It makes the coolest "swooshing" sounds that remind me of the wind moving through tree branches. My wave drum is beautiful as well, I can make it sound like waves crashing onto the shore or a rainstorm. I can't pick ONE favorite because the frequency needed to shift group energy is situational.
How does sound affect our physical bodies?
Physics explains how vibrating fields of energy can be therapeutic. The Law of Entrainment states that oscillating bodies have a tendency to synchronize and then vibrate together in harmony as if they were ONE! My goal is to slowly raise the collective vibration of the room through the Law of Entrainment and then sustain that vibration. The vibration of sound waves can help bring the body's organ systems and nervous system back into alignment. Sound waves carry the innate potential to balance our entire bodies in ways other modalities cannot.
Can sound cure illnesses and disease?
There is no scientific evidence to support sound's ability to cure illnesses or disease. However, sonic waves are used in many medical settings. For example, there are piezoelectric shockwave therapy guns that can precisely break apart kidney stones, pneumatic shockwave (concussive sonic wave) devices PTs use to break up fascial adhesions, and much more out there. I can personally testify that attending drum circles or sound healing events reduces my chronic pain, depression, and other negative emotions. Sound is not a cure-all but it does not have nasty side effects like medications or painkillers.
A bunch! Please listen to some of them here: Sound Clips.
What should I wear and bring?
Comfortable clothing, a yoga mat to meditate or lie down on, a blanket, water, and an eye mask to block out light if needed.
How do your Sound Journeys compare to Sound Baths or Sound Healings?
My take on Sound healing in the form of journeying is unique. I gained great insight from spiritually impactful personal experiences with sound, shamanic journeying, intuitive guidance, and suggestions from others. I am a certified Reiki Master with experience in removing energetic blocks. My background as a former Licensed Massage Therapist has led me to believe that transforming the room into a safe container is a critically important part of each session. Being in a safe space is what gives our nervous system permission to allow our bodies to deeply relax. Similarly, in massage, our muscles can either melt with gentle touch, or, tense up (guarding) under too much pressure.
Overview:
- Participants are encouraged to set an intention for the event.
- Brief introduction.
- Opening of sacred space. Tingsha bells may be used at the beginning or closing.
- Energy clearing with a chakapa (Peruvian shaker made of bundled leaves) or maraca.
- Instruments typically used: crystal and/or metal singing bowls, shakers (maraca, chakapa, cacho seed), wave and frame drum, and vocal tones.
What are your qualifications?
I attended Master Level Sound Medicine Training 8/2024 with Rich Goodhart at Omega Institute. I also participated in a transformative 3 week ayahuasca retreat in the Peruvian Amazon at Onikano from November-December 2024 led by Shipibo shaman Maestro Heberto Garcia. Maestro Heberto opened a kano or channel in my heart. This heart opening helped me discover my inner gifts in the form of rhythmic attunement, which have been developing rapidly since the end of 2025 through deep and often painful self-exploration with shamanic practices. I am currently a Reiki Master and Certified Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). I was formerly a CT Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), NASM Personal Trainer (CPT) & Fitness Nutrition Specialist (FNS), and Group Fitness Coach for several gyms.
After years of suffering from chronic pain, depression, and fatigue, I decided to attend Chronic Pain Support Group Leader Training in September 2019 through the U.S. Pain Foundation. My experience as a group facilitator for over 5 years has given me hours of practice holding space for people of many ages, races, and backgrounds. I have had the pleasure of facilitating dozens of powerful group discussions about pain which taught me that my notions of separateness and fear of judgment are simply illusions.
I listed my ventures and acronyms above to explain where I have directed my energy throughout my own healing journey! Self-healing has been the primary focus of my life over the last decade. I started off trying to find a cure for my increasing physical pain, which in turn lead me to explore my emotional and spiritual pain. I have grown in unexpected ways, such as incorporating shamanic practices into my routine like journey work, smudging with Palo Santo (my favorite!), listening to Spirit, and following up on intuitive kinesthetic signs in my body.
Are you a shaman?
No, and I am wary of anyone claiming to be a shaman. Those claiming to be a "shaman" are acting from a place of ego, which seeks temporary external self-validation (The Outer World) rather than Divine love which is permanent and self-sustaining (The Inner Journey). Shamans are born with their gifts and chosen by Spirit to serve a specific role in their community. The poor soul may not even be aware that they have been chosen without guidance, can reject their role, become prey to their ego when the powers granted by spirit begin to manifest, or die or go insane during the initiation process.
I often see the term "shaman" used as a spiritual buzz word, or, as a way to boost a practitioner's credentials to gain the trust of their audience. Shamans can only receive their powers after being initiated by Spirit or another shaman in their community through daunting training. Initiates may be faced with a near-death experience, survive a severe illness, or even be struck by lightning to indicate that they have been chosen. There are seven key stages to shamanic initiation aka the Hero's Journey. The stages are: the Call, Separation, Descent (aka Dark night of the Soul), Transformation, Return, Integration, and finally, Mastery. This process may take a decade or longer to complete! Those that complete the full initiation with Spirit will acquire their healing gifts and are formally recognized by their community as a shaman.
A shaman in modern context is different than the traditional usage but I feel this term must be used with reverence. Shamans are responsible for guiding their community toward spiritual growth through selflessness, wisdom, intuition, and individual skill to connect with the spirit world to bring unseen energy into our physical world. I think energy or lightworker is a more accurate label to describe practitioners who dedicate their lives to serving others and leading from their heart instead of their ego.
What are your favorite sound tools?
I love to make gentle rhythmic vibrations using my maracas from Peru. Repetitive shaker sounds gives the brain something to attune with, which turns off the mind's dialogue. This allows participants to quickly melt into a meditative state. I also LOVE my chakapa reed shaker! It makes the coolest "swooshing" sounds that remind me of the wind moving through tree branches. My wave drum is beautiful as well, I can make it sound like waves crashing onto the shore or a rainstorm. I can't pick ONE favorite because the frequency needed to shift group energy is situational.
How does sound affect our physical bodies?
Physics explains how vibrating fields of energy can be therapeutic. The Law of Entrainment states that oscillating bodies have a tendency to synchronize and then vibrate together in harmony as if they were ONE! My goal is to slowly raise the collective vibration of the room through the Law of Entrainment and then sustain that vibration. The vibration of sound waves can help bring the body's organ systems and nervous system back into alignment. Sound waves carry the innate potential to balance our entire bodies in ways other modalities cannot.
Can sound cure illnesses and disease?
There is no scientific evidence to support sound's ability to cure illnesses or disease. However, sonic waves are used in many medical settings. For example, there are piezoelectric shockwave therapy guns that can precisely break apart kidney stones, pneumatic shockwave (concussive sonic wave) devices PTs use to break up fascial adhesions, and much more out there. I can personally testify that attending drum circles or sound healing events reduces my chronic pain, depression, and other negative emotions. Sound is not a cure-all but it does not have nasty side effects like medications or painkillers.
One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.
-Bob Marley
