The Ray Man Shabad is a beautiful prayer that made it’s way into my life unexpectedly. I fell upon the following video accidentally on Youtube on the New Year. Upon giving it a shot, I was hooked and decided to do the 40 days. Without understanding why, I was so filled with smiles and joy […]
I Hate Singing Bowls!
Okay, first, I do not hate singing bowls!!! I love them. But I recently had a couple of people to whom I introduced them tell me they couldn’t stand the sound. One said the sound hurt her heart and another woman said she found them irritating. After I picked up my jaw from the floor […]
Sacred Artistry & Living a Higher Octave Life
I’ve been writing about path and purpose—how we can never really be off path or without purpose, not really. And last time, I wrote about the multidimenional nature of our path—how our path has a sort of low octave and a high octave version, so to speak. Today, I’m going to share with you why […]
That Which Frees the Mind: The Power of Mantra
Mantra is a word that means “that which frees the mind”, and Japa (or mantra) yoga is the practice of projecting the mind into a repeated word or phrase imbued with spiritual significance. One of the most universally known is the OM, but there are thousands of mantras ranging from one syllable to complete spiritual […]
Vak Shuddhi: Cultivating Sound That Heals
Teacher Sadhguru shares the importance of sound, language, and speaking with intent: “Whatever sound you need to utter, utter it in such a way that it is beneficial for you. And whatever is beneficial for you will naturally be beneficial for everyone around you. If a sound is doing wonderful things to you, it will […]
Transformational Voicework: What the Heck Is It?
I’ve been on a quest since the beginning to aptly name my work. I’m still searching for the right words to describe what Transformational Voicework is…and isn’t. It’s one of those “you have to experience it” experiences. Finding the right words to explain what must be experienced to be known is and will probably always […]
Vocal Toning Resources
Resources VIDEOS on Toning for Peace History of Toning Toning for Peace Q & A Series Toning for Peace at the Light Center Other Educational Links Temple of Sacred Sound On How to Tone Chi Gong Toning Science/Health & Toning/Singing Wikipedia Heath Effects of Singing Singing Improves Your Health Health & Wellbeing Quantum K (Favorite!!)
Performance Aftershock
There is a kind of aftershock that tends to hit me after a performance. Immediately following a show, I am quite naturally high as a kite and generally don’t hear a single thing anyone says to me. People may be shaking my hand, they may be congratulating me or sharing how much they enjoyed the […]
Hum for Health
We all want to stay healthy and happy all year-long, of course. Here’s a great article with some tips for staying healthy this winter. Toning for Peace finds #14 exceptionally interesting!! And you can do it all year-long… It’s all about the hum! “Humming has been shown to increase nitric oxide in the nose, which […]
Har! Sound of the Universe
Yogi Bhajan, responsible for bringing Kundalini Yoga to the West, taught a very powerful meditation using the syllable of “HAR”. I’d like to share it with you. First put your hands together in front of you, back to back like a reverse “Namaste” or prayer pose. But then let them relax and curl in toward […]
Is It Just Me or Is It Noisy in Here?
Last month, I had the privilege of taking my mother to the doctor’s office. It was a stressful affair for me, and likely for my mother as well, though she acted as if it was nothing. We entered the lobby, sat down to fill out the paperwork, turned it in, and then sat back down […]
Stressed? Try This Vocal Toning Selfcare Practice
Are you all feeling the amping of energies lately and just as stressed out as I am? Astrologically, we are in very interesting times. Time itself seems to be speeding up, information (and misinformation) is a constant onslaught, and change is not only imminent but mandatory. We’re all being asked to up our game. If […]
Vocal Play: Spring Cleaning!
Every Spring, many minds turn to the practice of spring cleaning, clearing out the closets, dusting in all the nooks and crannies of a home, and making things sparkle! Why not do the same inside? Our bodies and minds could use a good cleansing after this rather challenging winter, don’t you think? Winter is typically […]
Quieting the Mind
The majority of us spend a lot of time in our minds. Even having spent years silencing the mind through meditation, the function of the mind never really goes away. It may get quieter, and we may have better control over our thoughts, but it is a very rare individual who can live the majority […]
Fanfare: A Spot of Fun from Audepicault
Selfcare is all about taking moments out of our day for ourselves. Want to have some fun? Check out the Fanfare at audepicault.com. May I suggest you do some vocal toning with it?
Avatar OM Circle
The Inspiration I was inspired after watching the movie Avatar for the second time recently to try something new in my toning group today. It was an experiment that went quite well, so I thought I’d share it with you. In the movie, there is a scene when the tribal people are offering a healing […]
Bliss of Being: Lessons from a Bad Rehearsal
In 2012, the Pure Heart Ensemble launched a CD, Bliss of Being, at the White Horse in Black Mountain. It was an amazing experience. We played to a “standing room only” crowd and even ended the night with a standing ovation…and not just because people were already standing! ; ) I felt incredible love and […]
The Multidimensions of Sacred Artistry
I was part of a great conversation the other night between musicians and visionaries on the subject of Sacred Artistry. It came up that for a lot of conscious performers, the word “perform” is one that doesn’t quite fit anymore. We are not as interested in getting up in front of a crowd being watched […]
Sacred Performance & Lessons in Musical Improvisation
As an improvisational vocalist, I don’t consider myself a musician in the way most musicians do. I am not the one who plays the music. Rather, I let the music play me…at least on a good night. So really, Life is the musician. I’m simply the instrument. That’s Sacred Performance. I’ve many years of my […]
Revitalizing and Activating the Pineal Gland
Friend of Toning for Peace & Healing, Shawn O Hurley, found this gem for revitalizing and activating the pineal gland, our body’s evolutionary headquarters. Shawn suggests using the sound “OOO” or “EW” instead of the proposed “LOVE”. Try both and do what works best for you! I’d love to hear your results.