It's really challenging for me to go to someone else’s sound bath. I want to let my guard down and be vulnerable to the experience, but the fact is, not everyone doing this work has taken the time to learn how sound affects the body. Here are a few mistakes I see/hear often:
Mistake #1
The session is way too loud.
Loud sessions can mean a few things: the facilitator doesn’t know how to handle or manipulate the volume their bowls/instruments, they think that it needs to be loud for people to “feel it”, they don’t realize where the sound is coming from with a crystal bowl, or they are playing for themselves. YOU CAN CAUSE HARM by playing too loud. LOUDER DOES NOT = BETTER when it comes to Sound Healing. We don't just hear with our ears, we take in the sound through our body.
Mistake #2
Too many instruments or combinations.
You don’t need to play a lot of instruments to create the outcomes you want in a Sound Healing Session. Playing too many instruments can actually cause anxiety, even or trigger a traumatic regression. What is your intention for the session? Do you know how to calm the nervous system after you have created an intensity to your session?
Mistake #3
Performer versus Facilitator.
Know when you are in the performative role, and know when you are in the facilitator role. A facilitator is watching their groups for physical and psychic cues on how/when to make shifts in facilitation.
Mistake #4
No clear intention.
No clear intention breads distrust and confusion amongst your group. A lot of times when we hold space, we don't know the backgrounds of our guests. Communicating a clear intention for the group will attract the people who are a match for that session. It will also support you in knowing what instruments to lead with, and what language you are using to support the intention.
Mistake #5
Little to no guidance into a session or out of a session.
The beginning and the end of a session is incredibly important. This is where we gain trust from out participants. If you don’t know the intention of your session, you are not going to know what type of lead in you will need to adequately prepare them for the session, and you certainly won’t know what type of grounding will be needed.
I want you to succeed in this work.
I need you to succeed in this work.
Sign up for a Sound Healing Certification Program, or SEE1 class to at least get some basic knowledge. I have classes coming up August 22 that will support you in learning how to avoid making the mistakes above. Lets accelerate the growth of this powerful tool and industry. Fire can harm, but it can also do so much good!