National Foundation for Giving Voice
Giving Voice Residential 2005
DISCOVERIES
“I found the “ real me ” … light, bubbling joy, feeling cleansed and pure.
“[I discovered] the core value of music to transform and align all life's experiences – tragedy & triumph; mundane and monumental, individual & universal”
“[I found] a sense of peace, focus and fun which has been sadly missing lately!”
“I felt a lightness of being and an awareness of people and things that gave me a new ‘ease' with myself”
“I became aware that I don't allow myself to receive. Also block the expression of my feelings.
“I felt totally involved and had a powerful sense of belonging to a loving and aware group”
“The support and guidance was very good when I listened to it properly!”
“Seedling nurtured in a weekend hothouse – and I'm not merely referring to the weather! … “At the beginning I knew nothing but was curious. At the end I feel more aware and even more curious about GV's simplicity, complexity, and healing potential”.
“My experience of GV has been developed and reinforced. This residential has helped with the [advanced] course I am doing.”
“I have more understanding of the process of integration and my part in it.”
“I really experienced being connected with song deep in my heart- with all songs”
“Words cannot explain”
“The weekend has allowed me to mourn my loss but then transform that to a profound sense of oneness and joy”
“I don't often feel energised so that is uncommon. It was wonderful to feel moments of peace amongst the cacophony of emotion that usually runs through me” |
NEGATIVE FEELINGS
One person summed up how negative feelings could be – and were – dealt with: “I had moments of confusion, panic, fear, being uncomfortable, unwillingness. I believe they were changed towards positive feelings of clarity, calm, peace, comfort and acceptance respectively. The “negative” was resistance to change – it was only when I let go, surrendered that everything happened.”
Another person recognised they could actively use GV to move through negative feelings, and reported using two particular songs to facilitate self-acceptance and to move through some tears and pain.
HIGHLIGHTS
(using a scale from 1 - 9, 1 being ‘not at all significant', 9 being ‘extremely significant')
High: a door opened inside me – I allowed it to happen – the sound penetrated into my heart – cleansing: scale 9, after I felt free, cleansed, pure, bubbling lightness and joy.
Low: song with different parts – name? – Sunday pm, my head became very intense, unbearable, very loud. The significance I'm not quite sure yet, but I know it touched a block in my left hemisphere – brain – deep fear?
“ Loads of them!”
“Being sung to was profound, like being held by mother earth …”
“e.g. of highlight: Sunday's session with [particular song]. Significant (8) in its group unity and support, overt and hidden scars of childhood/other lives; individual differences yet linked – bonded humanity; courage, skill, sensitivity, trust and partnership of facilitators”
“The whole weekend was a highlight …”
“Feeling a sense of fun and acting on it = 9”
“I enjoyed all the activities, even the difficult bits!”
“ When I sing [certain song], it sings in my heart. I feel strength and beauty in my voice and inside me…just being – whole”.
THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE FOUNDATION COULD OFFER PARTICIPANTS
A number of people mentioned what the Foundation could offer them after they had left, eg:-
“Ongoing support – being connected”
“Support in my life”
“Greater assurance of my on potential and the opportunity to more fully realise it.”
“Support and tools to grow and develop my self and an opportunity to share this process with others”
“A continuing awareness of life”
THOUGHTS ON HOW TO USE GV OPPORTUNITIES TO THE FULLEST IN THE FUTURE:
“Be present and focused.”
“Better preparation before activity. Clearer focus. Greater trust in the process and self and others”
“Take responsibility to create regular times for GV/singing at home and in events. Joining [one of the ‘advanced' groups] has made me realise I am not as far away as I thought”
“By being more aware – and receptive”
OTHER COMMENTS
“Venue: perfect. I found whatever happened was appropriate … it was a matter for me to let go of expectation just to allow …”
“I loved the venue – the bed was uncomfortable but it didn't stop me!”
“What I took home was the [a particular song] … for months, when walking outside – I was breathing and let the air I breath caress me, the wind that touched my skin and I felt truly worthy of all the gentleness and caressing and absorbed it deeply into my being.”
“The process in my head after Sunday PM song is still happening …!