Vocal Embodiment

EMPOWERING : CATHARTIC : IMPACTFUL

Each of us is gifted with vocal medicine that soothes our souls. By embracing the power of our voice, we harness this medicine and empower ourselves to navigate life with compassion, integrity, and fullness. Tuning into our unique vibration unleashes our healing power, inspiring those around us to live from a place of integrated wholeness.

a vocal embodiment
journey looks like…

Organizing a Mindful Gathering?

ELEVATE YOUR GATHERING
WITH A VOCAL EMBODIMENT JOURNEY!

Vocal embodiment workshops are a collective experience for those wanting to awaken their voice within a ritualistic container filled with affirmations, chanting, movement, and singing. This journey offers a route to self-liberation and evolution, rather than technical singing skills or performative qualities. Echoing the cyclical nature of the seasons and the rise and fall of a sound wave, this journey begins with meditative silence, crescendoes with embodied movement and chanting, peaks with an ecstatic vocal release, and solidly lands with positive affirmations and introspective humming.

All Clare of the Solstice vocal embodiment journeys include a brief pre-event consultation and a 60-90 minute journey.

Seeking an integrated alchemical journey?

BOOK A VOCAL EMBODIMENT
+ SOUND HEALING PACKAGE!

Expand your vocal embodiment experience with a customizable sound bath. In addition to the cathartic choral wave, including meditation, movement, chanting, vocal release, positive affirmations, and humming, this journey is softly cradled in vibration. The fabric of a collective vocalization falls, blanketing the space in silence, and the void is filled with resonance. Imbued with unleashed energy, this offering settles into a sonic landscape orchestrated for soul synthesis, allowing space for the embodiment of your transmuted vocal power.

This integrative container includes a 60-90 minute vocal embodiment journey and a 30 minute sound bath.

EMPOWERING

LEAD WITH YOUR VOICE

Speak your truth and live from your sovereign center.

CATHARTIC

LET GO OF LIMITING BELIEFS

Shed your skin and surrender to your soul self.

IMPACTFUL

INSPIRE THE WORLD

Be the ripple that changes the current around you.

“My voice is the vibrational embodiment of my soul.
Hear me, for I am here.”

- Clare of the Solstice


The Origins


The ancient concept of vocal release, where the voice serves as a powerful medium for emotional expression, healing, and spiritual connection, has resonated deeply across many cultures for centuries. From the shamanic chants of indigenous peoples to the sacred hymns of ancient civilizations, vocal practices have been central to spiritual and cultural life. These traditions not only offer a means of connecting with the divine but also facilitate personal empowerment and communal well-being.

The ancestral lineage of cathartic vocal magic has global roots. The Druid bard songspells in ancient Celtic traditions were powerful vocalizations used for magical and spiritual purposes. These bards, revered as keepers of history and tradition, employed songspells to heal, tell stories, and cast spells, weaving their voices into the spiritual fabric of their communities. Similarly, in ancient Greece, Orphic hymns were used in religious rituals to seek the gods' favor and tap into their mystical powers. Greek theatre also utilized vocal expressions in the form of dialogue, chanting, and singing to facilitate emotional catharsis, demonstrating the profound impact of vocal release on both individual and collective levels. Using the voice as a vehicle for Earthly embodiment and spiritual ascension is an ancient practice threading us together through an unbroken vocal timeline.

The universal nature of vocal release in ancient cultures underscores its importance as a tool for emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. Whether through the ancestral Australian Aboriginal songlines, to the sacred chanting of Hindu mantras, the meditative recitation of Buddhist sutras, the ceremonial songs of Native American traditions, or the ecstatic practices of Sufi qawwali, vocal expressions have played a vital role in connecting individuals with the divine and fostering communal harmony. The rich traditions of Nordic vocal weaving and Siberian throat singing further illustrate the diverse and profound ways in which vocal release has been woven into the fabric of cultural and spiritual life. By exploring these ancient practices, we gain a deeper understanding of the timeless power of the human voice to heal, connect, and transform.

By delving into the vocal traditions of the past, we uncover the profound ways in which the human voice has been used to bridge the physical and spiritual worlds, providing insight into the enduring capacity of vocal expression to effect personal and collective transformation. As we fuel our ancestral need to fully embody the vibration of our unique voice, we keep the fire burning from an age-old tradition that has fed the souls of humanity for millennia.


The Science


The ancient practice of vocal release, where the voice is harnessed for emotional expression, healing, and spiritual connection, has been an integral part of human culture for millennia. Modern scientific research is now uncovering the profound benefits of these vocal practices, affirming their transformative power. This exploration into the science of vocal release reveals its capacity to enhance emotional, psychological, and physiological well-being, bridging the wisdom of the ancients with contemporary insights.

Engaging in vocal release offers a sanctuary for emotional and psychological healing. Singing has been found to reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels and increasing oxytocin, the bonding hormone that fosters feelings of connection and well-being. Studies published in *Frontiers in Psychology* highlight how group singing can significantly diminish stress and elevate mood. In the same vein, research in the *British Journal of Psychiatry* shows that participating in community singing groups leads to marked improvements in mood and reductions in depressive symptoms. This ancient practice of vocal expression also aids in emotional regulation, with findings that illustrate how singing facilitates the processing and expression of emotions, promoting mental clarity and balance.

The physical and social dimensions of vocal release are equally compelling. Singing acts as a powerful exercise for the respiratory system, enhancing lung capacity and function. Research reveals that singing exercises strengthen respiratory muscles and improve lung function, particularly in those with chronic respiratory conditions. Additionally, singing harmonizes the cardiovascular system by inducing relaxation and lowering blood pressure, as demonstrated by studies in *Heart*. On a social level, vocal release fosters profound connections and cognitive enrichment. Group singing nurtures a sense of unity and belonging, and regular singing practices have been linked to improved cognitive function and memory in the elderly.

The exploration of vocal release through a modern scientific lens reaffirms the timeless power of the human voice to heal, connect, and transform. From alleviating stress and enhancing mood to improving respiratory and cardiovascular health, vocal practices offer a holistic approach to well-being. These findings resonate with the ancient traditions that have long celebrated the voice as a conduit for emotional and spiritual liberation. As we continue to embrace and understand the profound benefits of vocal release, we bridge the ancient with the modern, unlocking the full potential of our voices to achieve a harmonious and balanced life.

References:

Kreutz, G., Bongard, S., Rohrmann, S., Hodapp, V., & Grebe, D. (2004). Effects of choir singing or listening on secretory immunoglobulin A, cortisol, and emotional state. Frontiers in Psychology.

Coulton, S., Clift, S., Skingley, A., & Rodriguez, J. (2015). Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of community singing on mental health-related quality of life of older people: randomised controlled trial. The British Journal of Psychiatry.

Vickhoff, B., Malmgren, H., Åström, R., Nyberg, G., Ekström, S. R., Engwall, M., ... & Nilsson, M. (2013). Music structure determines heart rate variability of singers. Heart.

MY FIRST Experience



My relationship with my voice has always been delicate, a fragile connection that eluded me for much of my life. Until February 2024, I felt an energetic block that prevented me from sharing my voice with the world. Growing up in a musical family, surrounded by performers, I internalized the belief that singing meant performing. This limiting narrative kept me from fully embracing my vocal potential. It wasn’t until I embarked on my first vocal release journey that I began to unlock and understand the profound healing power of my voice.

In the spring of 2022, I embarked on a transformative journey with Nessi Gomes' Vocal Odyssey course. It was within this sacred space that I discovered the enchanting practices of tonal vocal therapy and the ancient Nordic art of vocal weaving. The true power of our voices as instruments of healing began to reveal itself to me. However, it wasn't until a few days later, during a deeply immersive sound bath, that the full realization struck me. As the gong's reverberations cascaded through my consciousness, I experienced a profound epiphany—my voice was not merely a tool for performance; it was my medicine. I am a healer, and my voice is my sacred gift. This revelation opened a portal to the depths of my vocal potential, inviting me to step through and embrace my true calling.

Songwriting has always been a deeply therapeutic practice for me, a personal sanctuary where my emotions found release. Yet, for a long time, my songs remained within the confines of my own heart. Everything shifted once I recognized the profound potential of my voice. I began sharing my songs and chants in women’s circles, where singing songspells around a fire with my sisters became one of the most empowering and healing experiences of my life. The energy of sisterhood fueled my vocal journey, guiding me to new heights.

On Imbolg 2024, Brigid’s sacred day, my song "Sacred Fire" was played at a festival in Ireland. In a moment of deep silence, honoring the Goddess Brigid, I received a divine message: "You are meant to share your voice. It is why you are here." Embracing this celestial guidance, I began to share my voice freely, receiving affirmations from the universe that I was aligned with my true path. This realization continues to guide me, allowing my voice to heal and inspire in ways beyond expression.

My journey with my voice evolved during a transformative sound healing retreat in the summer of 2024. Guided by the legendary gong master, Don Conreaux, I discovered the profound power of the shruti box for vocal release. Every day, I sang from the depths of my soul, unleashing my voice in ways I had never imagined. The retreat offered countless jewels of wisdom, but the most potent revelation for me was that I have an innate medicine within me, and when I release it, it holds the energy of the room in womb-like resonance. As I shared my liberated voice, I felt empowered, as if I had opened a direct channel to source, and I was the line through which it traveled. My voice became a sacred doorway beyond myself, transcending my horizons and transporting my soul to another dimension where I am free. This experience deepened my connection to the infinite, solidifying my understanding of the limitless potential within my vocal essence.

Though I am still at the dawn of my vocal journey, my voice has always been a source of inner healing, a sacred tool nurturing me from within. Now, I invoke this vocal power as a central part of my purpose in this lifetime. I am a bard, weaving songspells through the ether, channeling my sonic magic, and sharing it with all who seek its healing. As I delve deeper into the ancient and transformative power of my unique vocal medicine, I align ever more with my true path, letting my voice shine as a beacon of healing and connection in the world.