Inspiration can be found anywhere... →

Isla de Cabras, Cataño, Puerto Rico, USA

My First Guitar Growing Up...

Doesn't sound good anymore, but still holds the memories & smiles it brought to me when I was younger...

Doesn't sound good anymore, but still holds the memories & smiles it brought to me when I was younger...

Sound & Music emerge from Silence...

Sound/Drum Circle: Name Singing Exercise

This group exercise is one of my favorite ones when I lead sound & drum circles. It is a powerful & touching acknowledgement of another person. In essence we are "honoring" another being by vocalizing their name in the sound circle, using their "chosen" name. For some attendees, it may be the first time ever when they feel "unconditionally seen & appreciated" by others.

Steps:

• Gather or remain in a circle, seated or standing up.
• As a facilitator, explain these steps to the group in advance.
• Starting with the person to the left of the facilitator, each person will state their name, birth name or a name they feel an affinity with. Many choose their spiritual name.
• After the person states their name, everyone closes their eyes.
• The person whose name is about to be vocalized remains silent, just receiving the sound energy from the group.
• The person's name will be vocalized 3 times by the group, improvised.
• As a facilitator, lead the group by saying "breathing in" in preparation for the first vocalization with the exhale, & then proceed to sing, tone, or just say the person's name, leading everyone to do the same.
• Repeat the above step for the second & third vocalizations.
• Remain in silence for a few seconds, allowing the receiver to absorb the group's energy.
• Now repeat for the next person to the left (starting with stating their "name, etc."), or clockwise, until it is the facilitator's turn.
• As a facilitator, lead the group on the inhale, but remain silent as you receive their energy.
• After everyone's name has been vocalized, remain silent for two or three minutes.
• Slowly ask the group members to open their eyes & be fully present in the circle.
• Ask if anyone would like to share what this experience was like for them.

One comment I have always remembered through the years I have done this exercise was from an attendee: "I felt like I was seen & unconditionally accepted by others for the first time in my life."

Blessings,

Eduardo

Tom Kenyon's "Song of the New Earth" film

Tom Kenyon's life celebrated in this new film, as the wonderful sound alchemist & healer that he is :

http://ykr.be/yjqajgw0j

Private & Group Sound Healing & Drumming Sessions Available

I've had a lot of fun doing local private sound healing sessions, & also group drum & sound circles. I have also been asked by a wider audience if I'd do a circle for their group, church, community, fund raiser, healing fair, company gathering or team building activity, birthday or holiday celebrations. Of course, this is what brings joy to my life, to share sound & music with others!

If you'd like to do or gift someone a private or group drum & sound healing session, please contact me. For a private session, in person is ideal, but I've done many sessions over video (Skype, FaceTime, ooVoo) very successfully as well, &a great option for those people farther away. I provide an environment of mutual respect & non-judgement for what you may be going through.

I use a variety of instruments to provide a healing environment in a sound healing session: gentle drums, rattles, flutes, crystal bowls, Tibetan bowls, chimes, wood drums, shakers, the voice & mantras/toning/chanting. I use the same instruments for a group session, while we focus more on the drumming aspect.

Individual sessions are usually one hour to one-and-a-half hours, while group sessions normally run one to two hours. My costs are based on the length of the session, as well as the location. For individual sessions, I prefer to do those out of my healing space/music studio.

So let me know if you have a private or group session to schedule. I am glad to participate with sound!

Blessings,

Eduardo Martinez