The Sound of Grace – Lizzie’s story

So I sit here ready to type the heart felt words that my sister-in-sound Lizzie wrote – and I have to pause.

Pause because my heart is full of Love.

And pause because she is no longer with us…and my heart breaks a little more (although yes, she dances free now).

I met Lizzie at a yoga afternoon, we spoke for literally five minutes in the tea break and she asked me what I did…so I explained about chanting, cross-cultural music, and how I had created The Sound of Grace programme for women…she just looked at me and said “I want to know more.” I wrote down my website address, and at 9pm that evening she booked her place.    Speaking to her the following day I asked

“What was it that called you to The Sound of Grace Programme”?

She replied…”Well, you really.  I don’t know what I’ve actually signed up for, I just felt so drawn to you and what you were saying, the chanting, the healing energy within chant (which I’ve never done before).  So it’s a mystery, but one my heart tells me to follow.”

TRIGGER WARNING…(Lizzie was diagnosed with terminal cancer, this may be difficult for some of you to read.  Although there is such joy in her sharing too.

So here are Lizzie’s own words...

“I have stage four bowl cancer and am in the position of knowing my life is limited.  My consciousness of living day to day has shifted in new, interesting and intriguing ways.

Although my engagement with healing chant practice has been relatively recent, it has become the root of sustenance in every part of being here and now.  The veils of connection between the ancestors and me are disappearing.  The lineage of sounds and chants are palpable.

Many will identify with the experience of love’s removal where nurture was expected.  Chanting has, balm like, poured warm honey of love, forgiveness and release through the fissures and wounds.

I met Sarena at a Yoga retreat day, where she told of her course The Sound of Grace.  A multi-faceted programme for women incorporating the various spiritual practices of world cultures.  An emphasis on the the use of our individual energy working with our own voice to meet our core being.  It was for me, that moment, when and what I had to be doing.

So I met my “Sisters in Grace”, my ancestors and myself. The programme was expertly conducted, and we were “held” in a nurturing, stimulating and beautifully safe physical and spiritual space.  Sarena guided our absorption and embodiment of her selected chants.

The chanting has become the roots, trunk and branches of my days.  They run like a constant river.  The sounds and chants, some with mudras (hand gestures) form a tool box for life – enriching, healing, pure joy!  the chants bring a myriad of nuanced states – joy, resilience, resolution, peace. Often answering a need not even registered by my conscious self. The privilege of joining with other soul voices is special and a connection I feel regardless of corporal presence.

I know I shall dance out of this life on the star bright pathway, ringing with the enduring sounds of timeless love.”

Perhaps the most important aspect of Lizzie’s experience was the healing, soothing balm that chant provided for the deep wounds created by “love withheld”.  We all carry those wounds – where our parents or care givers did their best, with the knowledge and parenting they had received, in the culture/time of their parenting us.  Alongside other challenges that would have impacted their ability to give (single parents, lack of money, working long hours etc).  Ultimately the only person who can heal those wounds is you; taking responsibility, knowing we have a choice now, and realising that endless blame only injures us more deeply.

So The Sound of Grace programme is fundamentally about healing, nurturing and receiving nourishment through the different sound modalities shared.  And an important part of your healing journey is to find and express your authentic voice, to develop the confidence and self-esteem so that you can speak up for yourself and to recognise you are worthy of loving self-care.  On a deeper level connecting to your True Nature (not the personality, or your successes or failures, or the negative self-talk that you’re so expert at!) – but your heart or soul – self.

Finally…for the 2024 – 2025 programme I am delighted to be joined by Wendy Ruddick of Wild Heart Wellbeing, who brings her training and experience in shamanic practices, sound healing and drumming to the the programme.  You can learn more about the programme healing modalities, my journey with healing sound and cross-cultural music, and Wendy’s background HERE.

AND you can hear Lizzie’s personal testimonial HERE (it’s a bit of a wobbly video, but we had fun recording it!)