Brazil sounds calm a troubled mind

The writer recently took an online Sound as Medicine workshop with Phyllicia Victoria through the Omega Institute. The experience was described as beautiful and deeply needed.

For the past 18 months, the writer has been going through the hardest period of their adult life. They traveled back and forth across the country multiple times to support their father through brain cancer treatment. At the same time, they homeschooled their oldest son, adapted to changes in their industry, and in recent months dealt with estrangement from one of the closest people in their life. Life felt heavy, overwhelming, and relentless. The writer relied on self-care routines such as walking in nature and reading in the tub to stay balanced.

After taking the workshop, the writer now believes sound baths should be a regular part of that routine. The session was led by Phyllicia Victoria, who works as an artist, yoga teacher, reiki practitioner, and sound healer. On her website, she wrote that she grew up feeling broken, lonely, and unworthy, with trust issues. The writer felt an instant connection because they could relate. Victoria began facilitating sound baths after noticing how sound helped settle her own thoughts and quiet the chatter in her head.

The workshop had the same effect on the writer. The combination of Victoria’s soothing voice, uplifting words, and the resonant, hypnotic sounds created a transcendent experience. After the sound practice, Victoria led gentle movements and stretches. Then participants were invited to journal about what came up during the meditation.

The writer began by listing words that came to mind: release, peace, spaciousness, ease, clarity, calmness, and gratitude. Then they wrote a longer reflection. They felt a deep sense of relief from stressful thoughts that had been gripping them earlier. The sound transported them in a way words alone could not. They felt the vibrations deep within their body, as if the sounds were cleansing the noise of their own mind and creating space to simply be, without judgment.

When other sounds happened — such as their father moving around and turning on a faucet in the kitchen — the writer told themselves, “No judgment — just new sounds.” They reminded themselves to simply hear the sounds mixed in with the more calming sounds of the singing bowls and chimes, and then release them without thinking they should not have been part of the experience. The writer thought this was a wonderful practice for life. Often people hear more dissonance than harmony in their days, but sometimes it is the other way around. Training the mind to hear the dissonance without getting lost in the story allows one to shift focus back to what is beautiful and healing.

The writer decided not to listen to the question-and-answer session at the end of the workshop so they could stay in the space they had created within themselves. They have read that sound baths can calm the nervous system, reduce stress, and help relieve tension and physical pain. After the session, they felt deeply relaxed, both physically and mentally, and better equipped to handle whatever might come in the day ahead.

The writer expressed gratitude for their recent partnership with Omega because of the value of what the institute offers. Omega has put together a page of free resources specifically for the Tiny Buddha community. The writer also noted a few workshops on Omega’s campus in New York that caught their eye this summer: “Get Healthy with Sound: Tuning Forks & Voice for Vibrant Health,” “The Journey Inward: Frequency, Neuroscience & Longevity,” and “Holotropic Breathwork: Sacred Geometry & the Healing Nature of Mandalas.” They also reshared previously recommended programs, including Omega’s emotional resilience workshops — which focus on training the mind for the best life possible, healing from betrayal and toxic relationships, and more — and Omega’s nervous system regulation workshops, with programs on accessing neuroplasticity and healing the nervous system.

The writer said that if they could attend an in-person workshop at this time in their life, they would be there immediately, as Omega’s campus is known as a true sanctuary for meaningful connection and deep healing. They encouraged others who feel the way they have been feeling to explore the free resources and to share about any workshops they decide to take.