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The Singing Bowls

October 16, 2017 By Laura Davis 1 Comment - Read & Respond

This morning before breakfast, Gonzalo led me into the main yoga studio where Karyn will be teaching morning yoga and I will be holding our writing circles. The space is round like a giant yurt, but is called a molloka. I set my things in the corner and sat on the striped mat Gonzalo set out for me.

In the front of the molloka was an array of instruments—gongs, singing bowls, digeridos, drums, and others I didn’t recognize and couldn’t name. Gonzalo asked if I had any intention for the healing session. I said I wanted to release the folks from the last retreat—and the last retreat—and to open myself to these mountains and this terrain and the spirit of this Sacred Valley so I can best be of service to the next group, arriving just a few days from now.

Gonzalo asked if he could place the singing bowls on my body and I said, “Yes, do whatever you do. I welcome it all.”

Gonzalo said I could ask him questions about the treatment later, but for the time being to let go of my thoughts and enter the moment. And so I closed my eyes while Gonzalo placed a bolster under my knees and covered me with a thick blanket. Then slowly the sounds began—coming from my right and my left from above and below me. And I could feel myself floating in the space, my ears welcoming the gongs and rings and chimes.

During the session he placed some kind of vibrating device on my belly and later on my diaphragm and later on my chest and I could feel the vibrations deeply penetrating my body. “What is that thing?” I wondered and then I let the thought float away. I dipped in and out of sleep and wondered, “Hmmm…is it still working if I fall asleep?” That thought too drifted away.

I have always loved sound—the vastness or it and the precision of it. I remember how much I loved editing interviews back when I was a young woman working in radio—figuring out exactly where to cut the tape with a razor blade to make a seamless segue between words, phrases, stories. And I loved these sounds, too.

I surrendered to the sounds and the vibrations for a long time and then I heard Gonzalo’s voice calling me back and inviting me to feel my body, to feel the air on my skin, to sense the light through my eyes, and finally to open my eyes. I felt deeply rested. I wasn’t sure what had happened, only that I loved it and would happily do it again.

Over breakfast—some kind of wonderful onion pancake, green beans with garlic, porridge, quinoa granola, papaya, pineapple and fresh chamomile and peppermint teas—I got to ask Gonzalo some questions about what I’d just experienced. He told me that the deep vibrations I’d felt on my belly and chest had come from the singing bowls themselves—which shocked me. I’ve been using a singing bowl for years to call my classes to order, to open and close sessions, and I never knew the bowl itself could vibrate with such intensity!

Gonzalo also told me he’s from Argentina and has a background as a bass player. He learned to play the digeridoo and loved it and gradually began meeting musicians who played singing bowls and started to learn. “It’s more like reiki than playing music,” he told me.

“Intention plus vibration equals healing,” is what he’d been taught and he is continuing to study. Now, he’s studying sacred geometry and its relationship to sound and music. And he builds some of the instruments he used in my session—a harmonic drum and the digeridoo.

I asked Gonzalo if he still played in any bands, and he said not now. “Once I became aware of the healing power of the sound, I couldn’t stand in front of those giant amplifiers without using earplugs,” he said.

“How wonderful for you to have something you want to continue studying your whole life,” I said as I finished my last bite of onion pie.

Now Gonzalo has gone on to work and I’m sitting here feeling rested and renewed sharing this post with you. Brenda will be arriving this afternoon and we’ll be getting to work, too, but for now, I’m enjoying resting and relaxing in this beautiful place. There’s a cold wet bite in the air and I’m thankful for my down coat and scarf. It gets cold in the mountains at night!

The molloka.

The instruments.

My mat.

The ceiling above me during my treatment.

Filed Under: Peru, The Virtual Vacation

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Next Post: A Walk in the Neighborhood »

Comments

  1. Carol Brendsel says

    October 16, 2017 at 12:10 pm

    Hey Laura,
    I attended a conference these last days and experienced an awakening in my heart. A traditional Egyptian singer began singing and I immediately began to cry. She spoke again about her writing and her medical practice and then sang again and I had the same response. At the end of her presentation, I went up to her and could barely speak as I was so “cracked” open and teared. She apologized for making me cry and I reassured her they were tears of joy.
    We hugged and shared a moment of gratitude. Her assistant took our photo together at her request. Ah, bliss,
    so welcome and unexpected.

    Reply

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Like this Virtual Vacation?

You can also read about Laura’s travels to:

Peru 2017

In which Laura and Karyn and 18 writers explore Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of Peru.

Serbia 2017

In which Laura leads a workshop at the Incest Trauma Center.

Greece 2016

In which Laura explores the wonders of Crete and Santorini with a wide-eyed group of Write, Travel, Transform adventurers.

Vietnam 2015/16

In which Laura, who grew up during the Vietnam War, goes to Southeast Asia and finds out what Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are really like today.

Commonweal 2015

A journey toward healing loss and grief in a magnificent Northern California setting.

Scotland 2015

In which Laura returns to Scotland with a new group for another jaunt through the wonders of the Scottish Highlands.

Scotland 2013

In which Laura attends the Edinburgh theatre festival and leads 14 writers to a magical retreat in the highlands of Northern Scotland.

Bali 2013

In which Laura visits Australia, and spends three weeks diving, exploring, and teaching in three regions of Bali.

Florida 2014

A journey into old age in America in which Laura brings her 86-year-old mother to Florida so she can see her last surviving sister one final time.

Mexico 2014

In which Laura attends the San Miguel Writer’s Conference and explores the artistic towns around Patzcuaro.

About Laura Davis

In the course of my career as a communicator, I have also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor, and speaker. Words have always been at the core of my work and my self-expression. Read More . . .

Photo taken by Jason Ritchey

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Retreating with Laura: Julie Sheehan

Julie Sheehan

For many years I put off my dream of writing and traveling. I told myself the kids were too little, my husband could never survive without me, that I couldn't possibly be so selfish. I couldn't imagine realistically stepping out of all of my responsibilities and roles. Then I started attending Laura’s summer retreat at Commonweal in northern California and that became an annual gift to myself for the next three years.

When the opportunity to travel with Laura internationally came up, my Land of Later mentality said I could never pull it off. But when my friend got cancer at age 39, I decided to stop taking life and it's endless opportunities to grow, live, nurture and explore myself for granted.

My children were 6 and 9 when I began allowing myself the luxurious pleasure of taking 10 days to two weeks each year to travel abroad with Laura, to spend time with like minded, soul searching people who share a passion for living and writing, to have all my meals prepared for me, to have the space and freedom to stretch out of my cage and check in with who I am, what I want, and how best to get there.

Laura is a skilled and nurturing teacher who encourages her students to take risks, to grow as human beings, and to be vulnerable. She has provided me with a forum where I can gain all my CEUs and learn techniques on how to become a more engaging writer, all while completing yearly emotional rehab.

I return home from each of Laura’s trip a little wiser, a little more open, and a lot more compassionate. I greet my family, friends and daily life with sparkly, clean energy and a renewed patience, brought about by way of re-writing old stories that I needed to let go of. I come home ready to move forward in my life.

A retreat with Laura Davis is one of the best gifts I ever received and gave myself. It took many years to realize that I was worth the time and financial investment, but now there is no looking back.

Julie Sheehan, Livermore California

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