Some notes ahead of the Vocal Channelling Workshop myself and Farah Elle will be running this Saturday 2nd November at The Sanctuary Dublin 07 in honour of Samhain. Email info.pupahz@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Breath :
Voice is carried on (or within, or perhaps it is?) the breath, which is life. Cultivate…
An awareness of the sensations of breath.
A relationship with breath as the present moment.
Allowing and witnessing rather than controlling the breath.
Sensing into the whole body breathing, down to the tiniest cell.
An awareness of the movement of Breath.
Listening :
Listening to the sound as it’s happening with your internal witness/inner ear as well as hearing sound once it’s left your body. Practice…
Dropping out of the mind and connecting to your internal observer.
Observing yourself internally as you sing/sound.
Opening your awareness to include the sounds/movement internally as well as in your environment.
Imagining/following the melody as it unfolds without directing it.
Non-Judgement :
The inner judge has no business here. If he/she/they show up tell them every sound is welcome. Judging what comes though is the quickest way to close the channel… it will brace and tighten out of fear.
Mind, Heart, Gut :
Singing / sounding can strengthen the mind, heart, gut connection. For vocal channelling the intuition and the heart must be involved as much if not more than the mind. The mind must be clear and calm in order to set clear intentions and receive inspired thought.
Clear channel :
Imagine the channel as a pathway through your energy field, emotional and physical body for spirit (animating life force) to flow. Ideally we clear our energy field using energy clearing techniques, remove mental blocks and soften the body (expecially the muscles) in preparation to receive and let energy flow all the way through rather than becoming stuck somewhere.
Boundaries : Intention & Protection :
What are you channelling? It is crucial to set a clear intention before you open yourself up to the flow. What type of energies are you open to receiving/not?. Because of this, energy protection techniques are also foundational to this practice. In order to practice channelling responsibly we must protect our energy before becoming a receiver (otherwise, who knows what you might receive!).
Directions : The Receptive Axis : Midline from Crown to Root.
The Supportive Axis : Diaphragms (feet, pelvic, thoracic, tongue/jaw, cranial)
Softening :
We cannot receive when we are in a brace position. In order to receive we must shift to an open posture and this usually involves a kind of intentional surrender and softening in the body. Finding what feels pleasureful and safe, and indeed what is needed to feel safe internally is what will eventually allow us to open to the wider field.
Trust :
Don’t decide how it’s going to sound.
Don’t decide what you’re going to sing.
Allow sound to emerge.
Trust yourself and the channel.
However it sounds, it will be right.