August 2023 - Helen Sound Meditation

Happy Summer ~ August 2023
CONNECTION

Heading into the last week of July, what a sound full month it’s been, including some wonderful collaborations with amazing yoga teachers, Natalie, Georgina and Emily plus Katie Women’s Circles.

I am going to quote one of them, Emily, who put into words so beautifully “When we collaborate to support, uplift and celebrate one another we have far great capacity to expand and fulfil our true potential not only as individuals but as a collective.”This reminded me of a talk on ubuntu that I was so privileged to attend with Desmond Tutu, many years ago. The belief that every living being and the natural world are linked – I cannot fully comprehend my existence unless I acknowledge yours. As he put it:
“My humanity is caught up, is inextricably bound up, in yours. We belong in a bundle of life.”

I feel truly blessed to be able to share Sound Journey Meditations, to connect with so many wonderful people and to collaborate brings extra joy of shared experiences and ultimately love into my bundle of life x

When writing my newsletter I often look up the monthly flower, August birth flowers are Gladiolus and Poppy. The gladiolus flower represents the strength of character, honesty, generosity, and moral integrity, but for me whenever I think of Gladiolus I am taken back to watching Drop Dead Fred.

This offbeat black comedy of the early ‘90 featuring a young girl’s imaginary friend played by Rik Mayall, who reappears in her 30s when she finds herself ill-equipped for the pressures and complexities of adult life, surrounded by people who bring her down, how I identified with this!

On the surface it is, well slightly weird, sometimes grotesque, sometimes funny, sad, but looking at it deeper I find it a beautifully complex film, which reflects generational trauma, one which I both laugh and cry with. “Much like life, there are connections just waiting to be made in order to fully understand who we are and bring us to a place of healing.”

The scene near the end when the main character Elizabeth finally embraces her own being, she truly does have herself, and there is a tangible sense of relief and comfort.

Life definitely takes us on emotional journeys and finding ways to truly embrace one self can lead to self acceptance and happiness. “Meditation practice isn’t about trying to throw ourselves away and become something better,
it’s about befriending who we are.”
Ani Pema Chodron

Friday 4th August 7- 8pm Plymouth Wellbeing Centre
Start the month relaxed. Looking forward to returning to offer a Sound Journey (1st Friday monthly) come and be immersed in the beautiful sounds of the Hang Drum, Gongs, Singing Bowls and Native Flute, snuggle down, relax and journey to stillness and deep rest ~ a time just for you £15

Sunday 6th August 10am – 11am Soothing Sunday Sounds at beautiful Dartmoor Reach Alpaca Farm. A time to press pause, to snuggle down under blankets and let go. The session will be held either in the yoga studio or on the new outside deck, depending on weather. Stay for a cuppa after and who knows an Alpaca may wander over to say hello! £15
Future Date for Soothing Sunday Sounds
3rd September

🎶 Monday Monday 🎶 Start the week relaxed!

Monday 7th 12 -12.30pm
Tiny Tones Family Sound Journey
I am delighted to offer a session designed for children and adults to come together and experience a Sound Meditation, during the school holidays.
Come and enjoy mini guided meditation, sound bath, fun interaction and explore beautiful instruments.
By donation (suggested £5)

Monday 7th Aug 1- 2pm Kingsbridge Lunchtime Lie Down – Harbour House. An invitation to connect with deep stillness and simply be, using different world instruments known for their frequency and vibrational qualities to lead you on a sound journey to a place of relaxation. £12 Monday 7th August Modbury Therapy Centre
Two sessions 5.30 – 6.30pm or 7-8pm
Sound Journey / Gong Bath to connect to Stillness at Modbury Therapy Centres beautiful Yoga Barn. The perfect way to relax, unwind, let go of any stress or tension and connect to body, mind and spirit. Journey with sounds to a place of deep relaxation and rest. £15

Friday 11th August Frequencies & Feast in the Forest ~ An evening of Sound, Food & Norishment 5pm – 8pmSo excited to be collaborating with Lisa (Deer Wood) to bring you Frequencies & Feast in the Forest.After your blissful Sound Journey, there will be a gentle wander back through the wood to join in-house tutor, Lisa Pugh at the Deer Wood Outdoor Kitchen. We will sit around the banquet table in this tranquil setting and complete the evening with a fabulously fresh plant-based feast.You will leave Deer Wood feeling fully nourished on every level.Deer Wood is a plant-based venue and they always serve Earth-friendly foods, only using sustainable ingredients that are, where possible : • Organic • Locally sourced • Foraged • Homegrown • Palm oil free • Gluten-freeWith 20 years of experience as a Food Teacher and having turned to a vegetarian diet at the age of 16, then vegan in 2017, in-house tutor Lisa has a wealth of knowledge to share.
Cost ~ £50 to £65 on a “pay what you can afford basis “Booking through Lisa please email [email protected]Sunday 13th August Celebrate Start Bay – One day Environmental Festival 11am – 5pm
Last year was such fun! Looking forward to being part of Slapton Ley Field Centre annual day of festivities celebrating the environment and nature, the local community, and its businesses. Find me in the reception area for taster Sound Meditations, throughout the day, by donation.
https://www.field-studies-council.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Celebrate-Start-Bay-13th-Aug-2023.pdf

Thursday 17th August 10am -12 Sounds in the Woods (6 spaces left) I feel blessed to be able to share Sound Journey’s in the tranquil setting of Deer Woods in Loddiswell. https://thedeerwoodtrust.orgYou will be safely held by the Earth, immersed in the healing sounds of Gong, Hang Drum, Crystal & Tibetan Singing Bowls and Native Flute, ending with silence as we lay to absorb the nurturing energy and witness the beauty of nature in these serene surroundings.2hr sessions to Relax, Connect & Unwind in nature £38

Friday 25th August 7-8pm – Sounds by the Sea Start Bay Studio ~ Thrilled to be returning, to offer my monthly sound journey / gong bath for relaxation, at the beautiful yoga studio, by the beach, sometimes you can even hear the waves!The perfect way to relax, unwind, let go of any stress or tension and refresh the body and mind. Sounds by the Sea Torcross £15
Wednesday 30th August 6-8pm Join me for an evening Sounds in the Woods on the Full Moon Blue Sturgeon Supermoon peaking on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, the perfect time to realise what not longer serves you, to find balance as we journey with Sounds to a place of stillness immersed in nature at beautiful https://thedeerwoodtrust.org 2hr sessions to Relax, Connect & Unwind in nature £38 Future dates ~ Sounds in the Woods
Wednesday Sept 27th Autumn Equinox in the Woods ~ 10am -12 £38

Private group bookings available in these beautiful woods by arrangement (minimum 8 max 10)

If you would like to join a session but are experiencing financial difficulties please do get in touch. I am happy to offer reduced rates for my solo sessions, for those who need it.

Just wanted to add, as I was recently asked, apart from Circle & Sound collaborations with Katie Carswell Women’s Circles & Well-being all other sessions are open to men too.

SO Much gratitude to everyone who join sessions, collaborations and private bookings in July, it really has been a sound full month.
To honour everyone who attends and to give something back to our beautiful earth, I started to plant trees, through www.Ecologi.com
So thrilled that my ‘SoundForest’ is growing, 112 trees added this July – a total of 2,630 trees now planted x Thank you x

May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it’s beauty all the days of your life. APACHE BLESSING
Warmest Wishes
💕 Helen 💕

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