SOUND journeys
what is a sound journey?
Nature and I play with sound together to guide you on a journey of transformation. Using guided meditation, vocals (ranging from traditional Scots Gaelic songs to sonic animal embodiment to Tibetan Bon chanting to overtone throat singing), and percussion, I intuit a unique experience from your energy to help you relax, release physical and emotional tensions, and open to your highest potential. We set this experience outside in Nature, where the wind, birds, deeply rooted trees, flora, and fauna chime in to compassionately support you. I do not use any digital devices apart from a small speaker so that you can hear the softer range of sounds. The wind and local avian friends enhance the intention of the session at just the right moments to create absolute magic. You may arrive with your own intention for transformation or healing, or you may just surrender and trust that the sound always knows exactly how to best support you on your path. All physical discomforts, physical ailments, and unwanted behaviors stem an energetic source, which is at its essence a blockage of energy flow or low vibration. Skillfully used sound can support the healing process by targeting the energy blockage or low vibration, similar to how an ultrasound machine breaks up kidney stones. Please read the “Client Reviews” section at the bottom of the page to learn more about how renewed and nourished my clients feel when they emerge from a journey. I’m thrilled to share our stunning Nature and this powerful sound experience - let Nature guide you.
Journeys are fully intuitive and are not timed, though they usually last about 1 hour. I provide chairs, and I encourage you to bring your favorite mat if you’d like to sit on the ground or lie down. Sound Journeys are located under a shade structure. Please bring water - hydration is important when we move energy through the body with sound.
Individual Journeys - approximately 1 hour, $120
Group Journeys - approximately 1 hour, cost tailored to your group size
Please use my Contact Page to inquire about booking.
for you & your animals
Animals LOVE grounding and soothing sound experiences! I offer Sound Journeys for animals on their own, or for you and your beloved animal friend together. Animals feel much more sensitively than humans. All physical discomforts, physical ailments, and unwanted behaviors stem an energetic source, which is essentially a blockage of energy flow or low vibration. We can aid healing and improvement by targeting the energy blockage or low vibration. It can be helpful to know something about the ailment or unwanted behavior, but it’s not necessary, because skillfully used sound vibrations shake it all loose as they pass through and around your animal friend. Animals who are experiencing an energy blockage - likely reflecting your own similar blockage - will find relief and release through my carefully crafted sound journeys. The sonic waves help move or dissolve the energy blockage, just like an ultrasound machine breaks up kidney stones, allowing animals to re-ground themselves and thereby feel relief physically and emotionally. Animals don’t attach to pain like humans do, so we see energy move through them much faster. Depending on the ailment or behavior, one session may be enough or a few follow-ups may be needed. Sessions are always more effective when both owner and animal are present, since the animal reflects some aspect of their human’s inner state.
Both domesticated animals and wildlife gather around as I play with vocal sound. Some will remain awake, continually releasing and grounding themselves, while others will drift into slumber to process. If your animal friend is experiencing a deeper physical ailment or unwanted behavior, I will interweave Qigong energy movement with sound to help move that deeper blockage.
Our animal friends reflect our human energy, emotions, and behaviors. A Sound Journey for owner and pet together can be transformative for the relationship and opens up more expanded connection, understanding, and partnership for the pair.
Whether offering a Sound Journey for animals on their own or for owner and pet together, it is important that animals be relatively free to move about (i.e. dogs off leash, horses free of tack, etc). Animals use movement on micro and macro levels to move energy through their bodies, so they need to be allowed to express themselves physically for sound to have its greatest effect. For these sessions, I bring the Sound Journey to your environment or to another familiar location where your animal friend feels safe. Animals know when they are complete, and while most Sound Journeys with animals tend to last under a half-hour, some animals will want to stay immersed for longer.
Time and cost are tailored to your pet’s needs and location.
Please use my Contact Page to inquire about booking.
why sound?
“Creation begins with the activity of consciousness, which may be called vibration, and every vibration starting from its original source is the same, differing only in its tone and rhythm, caused by a greater or lesser degree of force behind it. [. . .] It is by massing together that the vibrations become audible, that at each step toward the surface they multiply and as they advance they materialize. [. . .] All things being derived from and formed of vibrations have sound hidden within them, as fire is hidden in flint, and each atom of the universe confesses by its tone, my soul origin is sound.” Hazrat Inayat Khan, The Mysticism of Sound
All life is made up of vibrations, from the diaphanous wings of a dragonfly to the tough skin of an elephant, from air particles to granite, from joy to grief, from digestive enzymes to cancer cells. We are sound, and so it follows that we can feel so moved by sound, so transformed by sound, so uplifted, hurt, soothed, and invigorated by sound.
Through the law of entrainment, slow, steady drumming can lower the heart rate of both humans and animals, thereby activating our Parasympathetic Nervous System of the ANS. This puts us in a “rest and digest” state where we get a break from adrenaline and the body can repair and restore itself more effectively. A low-tone drone can entrain our brain waves down to a meditative Theta frequency. In this state, humans and animals not only release stress and experience a deep sense of calm, but also connect more strongly with intuition and ignite vast creativity. Furthermore, when we hear sounds that we like, our brain often sends the signal to release endorphins.
In this modern world jam-packed with adrenaline-pumping input and pressure to compete for externally created standards, honor yourself and/or your pet by relaxing, releasing, and healing with a Sound Journey in Nature.
client reviews
Chris, San Francisco:
“What an amazing experience! I’ve never done anything like this, right away Hilary made me comfortable and safe to try something new. My first session took me to a place of knowing I am deeply grounded in my body/Spirit. For days and days nothing moved me off of this deep centered and grounded knowing. On my second session through the sounds, her voice, drum, and chimes I was guided out of my body to join my animal guide. My take away was a very clear feeling of flow. Just move and flow with the energy around me and in me. I knew it was a deep time because it took me quite a while to come back. The Ranch is welcoming and Hilary is a powerful guide.”
Shannon, Santa Rosa:
As Hilary guided me through the sound journey, I gradually became aware of the individual layers of sound surrounding me, from the most prominent road woosh of cars in the distance down to the light breeze brushing past my ears, or the birdcalls nearby, or the guided tones. Each sound became a translucent frequency layered one upon another until I could hear a whole organic symphony, yet each sound still separate, subtle and quiet. This profoundly relaxing immersion has stayed with me and has increased my sense of presence wherever I am.
Chevi, Santa Rosa:
“Take a sound journey with Hilary! You will be grateful you did. I have journeyed with Hilary several times now, each time unique and different than the last. Hilary is adept at blending organic sounds with the raw noises of nature in a way that delights both body and mind. Her process is gentle and intuitively tailored to you in a way that must be experienced to be understood! You may feel lasting side effects such as calmness, enhanced presence, mental ease and even joy! Thank you Hilary!”
Bonnie, Rohnert Park:
“Hilary's Sound Journeys are memorable. Each session feels like being wrapped in a soft warm blanket. Deeply comforting.”
Grace, Santa Rosa:
“My experience of the sound journey with Hillary felt like a gift of release. In the stillness of my body and conscience the sounds carried me through this immersing feeling of energy that allowed for me to really surrender and let go. At moments I could feel the built up or stored thoughts and feelings bubbling out of me, it was like my energy was boiling over and it all evaporated. She planted thoughts and we all set our personal intentions which also led to beautiful imaging for me, almost tangible, so real and eye opening. Over all the journeys I’ve taken part of have been memorable and giving!”