This March, I celebrate the anniversary my first sound bath facilitation—a milestone that represents not just a single event, but a testament to resilience and the unwavering support found within the most unlikely spaces. It commemorates the day I stepped into the unknown, sharing my healing journey through sound with others for the first time. That moment was not just a personal triumph; it was the beginning of a path filled with deep healing, meaningful connections, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Before I discovered sound healing (or rather, before it discovered me), sound itself was my greatest challenge and limitation. After sustaining a diffuse axonal injury to my brain and spinal cord in my early twenties, my sensory integration systems were severely damaged, leaving me hypersensitive to sound in ways that caused immense pain, vertigo, nausea, and disorientation. The injury also disrupted my ability to process verbal communication, driving me into social isolation, and deteriorated my mobility to the point where I relied on a wheelchair and was unable to navigate the world independently.

For years, I underwent intensive physical and occupational rehabilitation alongside seemingly constant medical treatments, but rarely experienced signs of improvement or symptoms of relief. Despite my efforts, my team of healthcare providers ultimately instructed me to prepare for a lifetime in an assisted-living facility, bound to a wheelchair and dependent on institutionalized care for life—a prognosis that felt like the final stripping away of my autonomy and the future I had once hoped for.

After years of rehabilitation efforts, my body was failing me, and my spirit was worn thin from relentless pain and isolation. Then, when I had nearly lost all hope, I felt an undeniable pull toward a place I had never been: The Spiral Goddess Collective. The journey to the city of Bangor was agonizing, the urban noise overwhelming, and my body resisted with every step. When I finally reached the building, my heart sank upon the realization that I could not simply walk up the seemingly endless flight of stairs. I didn’t know why I felt so called to that particular workshop, but I sensed deep within that it was important, so I decided to crawl, my limbs trembling, my breath shallow. And then, in a moment that still feels like a miracle, I crossed the threshold into that strange, unfamiliar space — I felt entirely overwhelmed and out of place, terrified my disabled body would not be accepted in a “Yoga Studio.”

When the owner greeted my arrival, I could barely understand what she was saying amid the sensory input my brain struggled to integrate. Yet, she remained patient and warm-hearted, kindly assisting me in finding a comfortable space to sit. And then, just as the workshop began, a sound I’d never heard before reverberated throughout the room. A single, delicate chime rang out. Instead of pain, I felt something shift deep within me. The relentless cacophony of the city, the unbearable sensory overload—it all fell away. The noise that had once felt like a blunt force to my body disappeared, and for the first time in years, I felt stillness. For the first time in years, I sensed relief. In that moment, I realized that sound—something I had feared and avoided for so long—might actually be a tool for comfort and healing.

That single moment changed my life forever. That night, I began researching sound’s effects on the nervous system, discovering that sound could be my ally rather than my adversary. Through deep study, I learned how frequencies, amplitudes, and resonance could support my nervous system, ease my pain, and reconnect me to life beyond my injury. Despite my limitations, I returned to the Spiral Goddess Collective week after week, immersing myself in embodied healing practices. That fall, I took my first steps toward studying sound healing, earning certifications in The Fundamentals of Sound Healing, Sound Healing with Tuning Forks, and Sound Healing with Crystal Singing Bowls.

In January 2024, I received my first set of crystal singing bowls through a small grant from the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and began playing daily, noticing profound improvements in my sensory processing capabilities, pain levels, and energy. Soon after, a fellow Curator at the Spiral Goddess Collective stepped forward to collaborate on a brand new program: Sonic Yoga Nidra, a fusion of sleep meditation and sound healing. I started with only a set of crystal singing bowls and a handful of borrowed instruments, but each month I have reinvested my earnings back into my practice to share with the members of my community. Over the course of the last year, my humble starter kit has transformed into a professional collection, incorporating ten Nepalese singing bowls, crystal singing bowls, crystal singing pyramids, Koshi chimes, flow chimes, a temple wind gong, Native American-style flutes, and a selection of drums from around the world.

With the incorporation of these instruments into my daily life, my health has improved in ways I never thought possible. My pain has lessened, my energy has increased, my mobility has improved, and my sensory integration systems continue to heal over time. I can now navigate the world with greater ease, no longer trapped in a cycle of unbearable sensory overload. I now have the pleasure of living in an active suburban neighborhood, engaging in a loving and supportive relationship, and working part-time—things that felt entirely out of reach in the not-so-distant past. Most importantly, I feel deeply connected to my path, my purpose, and my community, surrounded by people who uplift and support me. Every step of this journey has been hard-fought, but today, I stand in a place of profound gratitude, knowing that healing is possible and that my story is still unfolding in ways I never could have imagined.

Today, I am honored to pursue a Practitioner’s Diploma in Integral Sound Healing at the International Sound Healing Academy, expanding my knowledge and refining my skills in this practice. This education is not just for me; it is a gift I hope to share with the Spiral Goddess Collective community and beyond: In the last few months I’ve been honored to offer my first individualized sound healing sessions with members of my community, facilitate a heart-centered drumming meditation at our monthly Community Practice for Radical Careworkers, participate in Wellspring’s Engaging Life Fully Program at the Bangor Area Recovery Network, and offer free community drumming circles twice monthly at the Wilson Center in Orono. Each of these offerings have created a unique opportunity to foster healing, connection, and empowerment through community building and sound.

I am especially grateful to Kate Mikkelsen for her collaboration in Sonic Yoga Nidra. Her support, presence, and dedication have been invaluable in shaping my practice into what it is today. I am also profoundly grateful to Sarah Hentges for offering me the space to learn, grow, heal, and transform within The Spiral Goddess Collective, a place that has become a sanctuary for me. Her unwavering support, along with the kindness and encouragement of the Spiral Goddess Collective Community, has allowed me to develop my personal sonic healing practice and share this work with others. To be embraced by a community that believes in my healing, my vision, and the power of sound is a gift beyond measure—one that continues to shape my path every day.
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My journey is a testament to the profound power of sound, not just as a tool for healing but as a bridge to a fuller, more vibrant life. It has allowed me to move beyond survival and step into a place of joy, presence, and service. Through sound, I have rediscovered a sense of agency over my own healing, unlocking possibilities I once believed were lost forever. Each vibration, each tone, has guided me toward greater connection—with myself, with others, and with the world around me. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and sharing this work, and I look forward to seeing how sound can bring transformation to others, just as it has for me.