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Of the many people who have claimed benefit from GV, it's possible that only a few people disclosed their history of abuse. Of those who did, here are a few encouraging stories – Sexually abused as a child/teenager, Zita had sought help for her self-harming behaviour, including around food, “but to no avail”. Wanting to learn a new way of being, she attended two 6-session GV courses. During the second one she found herself writing “I don’t need anybody. I can prove it! My body is larger than life!”. Then, after engaging with two particular songs, including one that Jill created especially for the course, she realised this was bravado, and that "I don't want to be cut off from my body any more". She did 'homework' every day, and found the songs offered her a way through. She reports realising that she was learning how to allow herself to be supported, including by song. After the course, Zita realised she could now move through difficulties using GV as a tool – “I feel I have moved on; become more alive ... Allowing ‘negative’ feelings to come out seemed to release me of them and any hold they had on me ... I feel stronger now [and] more trusting of other people. I don’t feel afraid any more: I’ve learnt to let go of fearful habits and replaced them with habits that help me move forward ... [GV] helps me to express and nurture myself." Instead of smoking and drinking to relieve stress, she now uses other means, including “listening and bringing to mind the songs ... This also enables me to feel more powerful." "Feeling joyful and empowered is a new way of feeling for me.” More about Zita's story can be found in Jill's article in Positive Health. Janet, sexually abused in childhood too, wrote to Jill after exploring GV for a few months – "I realise how far I’ve come given where I started from – overdosing, cutting, bingeing, vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, living in a windowless attic room, apologising for existing. I’ve moved light years. There is an enormous change in my level of self-criticism. I used to beat myself to a pulp on a very regular basis and I don’t do it half as often or to such an extent. I can feel a contentment in myself that I didn’t have before. I can feel very loving to myself sometimes, without having to consciously ‘work’ on getting in touch with feelings of self-love. They jump up out of the blue on a regular basis and make themselves known. It’s good. I’d never have believed that getting in touch with my voice could have had so many good side effects. ... I’ve taken what was available through our work and I’ve used it to alter my feelings. I’ve drunk from the water you took me to. And continue to drink!" Janet used to feel that her pain/turmoil was being negated when joy was mentioned. Remarking how this feeling too had lessened through using GV at home, she wrote one day, “I even felt happy (yes HAPPY) all weekend. What an admission!” Our book reveals more about Janet's story, and how she – and others – have engaged with song to effect change in their lives. Janet sent her friend Diane, a fellow-sufferer, a copy of Jill's Songs for Universal Peace and Healing. She wrote back – “Listening to ‘Old Man’ ['A Song about Finding Peace'] I have the strangest sensation of watching something on the surface yet being aware of a stillness underneath at the same time. It makes me feel very settled inside, peace and contentment spread through me ... I feel everything is OK, there is no need to worry about anything. It gives me a really lovely good feeling. Thank you very much [for the recording]. Jill has a beautiful voice and listening to her songs is like a balm to me inside. It is very healing.” The story of the song Diane refers to is described in the book, where many others' stories can be found, together with 'Handy Hints' on how to unlock the song's power. The song is often used in GV for Peace, and can be found on our GV for Peace CD too (available for a donation, to aid the promotion of peace). Another abuse survivor wrote after attending a short course, where the above song was shared, together with a number of others – “Experienced lots of positive feelings, which I’ve stored within ‘like jewels’ – and which am currently using to sustain myself through a traumatic time. Also gained much clarity and understanding about my life. I feel really able to use what I’ve learnt in the future … I couldn’t get over how I experienced soothing and calm – almost despite myself, I couldn’t get over that. It made me think.” Some sexual abuse survivors share after a day of GV ... “I felt confident for the first time ever – for such a substantial amount of time.” “For the first time, I felt the real me coming up. I couldn’t believe it!” “Thank you so much for enabling me to feel whole for the first time since I was a very small baby.” ... Some abuse survivors share after a short GV session “[I learnt] I can deal with issues through voice - it’s more than just an ‘escape’" “I enjoyed it (and I didn't think I would!)" "A very calming experience. I feel uplifted and positive" “A sense of strength and inner peace, joyfulness … a wonderful experience” “A sense of well-being and healing” “It soothed me and made me smile” "“Empowerment” "Confidence and Liberation!” "A revelation!” “Sense of richness, relaxation, happiness” “Helped me regain some equilibrium and perspective” “I’ve gained some confidence and also a feeling of optimism. I’ve always felt scared about using my voice” "I was able to ‘let go’ more” “I went away with my mind having been gently caressed” “Thank you so much for enabling me to get in touch with ‘happy’ feelings” See also Our relationship with music – GV's impact and Our relationship with singing – GV's impact for some remarkable discoveries by survivors of abuse.

Sandra was attending a Giving Voice (GV) and Mental Health course, to see if it might help her after the death of her son in violent circumstances. Like other participants, she was encouraged to explore using this approach at home.* After doing this one day, she wrote the following in her diary – “The last half hour has just been a most unbelievable experience. I’m looking after my 14 month old grandson. He’s having a bad day, teething, crotchety and to cap it all he trapped his fingers in the cupboard door. We snuggled down into the chair and rocked. I See Beauty [on our CD and Song No. 3 in our book] surfaced from deep within. I couldn’t believe it. [Previously Sandra had been having great difficulty with this song emotionally.] I began to sing quietly. He settled to sleep in the warmth and comfort while I sang and cried. Does each tear help to empty that great well of sorrow? My initial reaction is to question and try to analyse what happened – but instead I have just accepted the experience and feel the calm relief ripple though my whole being.” A few days later, “I feel very solid after the last group … my feet still feel to be connected, and drawing strength from the earth, while anxiety drops from my shoulders and my mind feels clear ... “ After completion of the course, “[GV] has been my Golden Apple. See the beauty of it then experience the healing properties as I continue to nibble. I am learning to savour the delights of this fruit ... It has opened my heart and mind to allow song to seep osmotically in and work its magical qualities … Thank you Jill for being so supportive and encouraging. Your skills have opened up an amazing new vista for me … I feel so lucky … I’ve been given a goldmine! It's been a lifeline. It still is” 6 months after the course's completion, Jill received a phone message from Sandra, having again found herself singing the same song – “I just had to tell you! I’m glowing. I feel beautiful. Thank you so much ... Initially I did not like the song – now it blows my socks off!” * Our book gives guidance on how to do this, which Sandra had learnt about in the group. Deciding whether we 'like' a song or not is something discussed in the book too. In The impact on our relationship with music Sandra describes how her entire relationship changed after engaging in the GV Process.

"For seven years I’d been living with a diagnosis of M.E. and for the first two of those years I was confined to bed much of the time. As I learnt to manage my condition better, I could spend more time out of bed, but needed frequent rests. In time, and using Giving Voice (GV), I eventually reached a point where I could start looking for work again – at the time I was in my 30s and a single parent. Establishing a resting routine at home ... By now I had begun a routine of resting every day after lunch ... I’d learnt to do this whatever I was feeling - not tired at all, too tired to rest, and anything in between. I often rested with a song in my heart. When I was offered a job, before accepting it, I explained to my manager that I would need a ‘reasonable adjustment’: a daily 20 minute rest after lunch, lying down. She was great and saw this as no problem, so I started part time work. ... and at work Every work day after lunch, the meeting room was booked for my 20 minute rest. I had sheep skins and a blanket to lie on, an eye mask and ear plugs, and an alarm clock. The song I had in my heart, every time, was A Way Through Uncharted Territory. I was definitely in uncharted territory: starting a new job after years of severe illness and disability, and attempting to enrol my employers so I could maintain my functioning. The words sank into my body and became reality: letting go of fear, anxiety, tension and stress, letting in love and breath and feeling parts of me joining up into one whole. Relaxing my brain and thoughts, experiencing trust, sensing my heart, becoming really present. Feeling joy, feeling rested and the deep joy in that restfulness. This state of being pervaded how I was at work every day, and how I was treated at work too. Using GV, I’d done loads of work on my feelings and thinking patterns in relation to being ill, let go of much resentment and bitterness, and was in touch with the joy and miraculousness and purposefulness of being back at work. It felt remarkably easy, and I rarely had time off sick. Changes at work We moved offices and the meeting room was lost. Instead I had to rest in my manager’s office. This room was in high demand for other meetings and for her to work at her desk, so the whole team of 20+ had to juggle the availability of this room. My need to rest was always accepted and accommodated: by me and everyone else. At one point I felt upset about being singled out as needing the room to rest when other people needed the room just as much for other purposes. My manager had the brilliant idea of making a sign for the room when it was in use: 'do not disturb: meeting or resting in progress'. My rest was put on an equal footing with meetings. Another radical change that became normal and part of the culture at work. Then the manager left and a new manager arrived. I continued to rest every day with the song and together the team and the new manager found our way through that new territory. Recommitment and reconnection As my recovery progressed I was in danger of becoming less disciplined about resting, because I could get away with it on some days, and function through the day. But I very quickly learned that if I skipped even one rest, it would have a cumulative effect for days and weeks afterwards, and my health would deteriorate. So I did some more work with the song, to recommit and reconnect to my routine. The new manager even started reminding me to rest if by 1.30 I hadn’t done so. The fantastic support around me continued. Resting when out of the office When out on a training course for example, whoever booked me on it would request a place for me to rest, and an extended lunch break for me. I was very moved by the positive response of all sorts of organisations. Sometimes I had to do some internal work to avoid feeling embarrassed or isolated, but often the trainer or people at the venue were so lovely it was a pleasure. I rested in all sorts of places: libraries, counselling rooms, faith centres, on floors and sofas and yoga mats. On one memorable occasion the training provider booked a hotel suite for me to use for free and I had 20 minutes of luxury! Being inspired and inspiring others to rest Once I was delivering a training course with a co-trainer from a partner organisation. He was really supportive: we didn’t have time for an extended lunch break so he ran the session on his own for 20 minutes after lunch while I rested. Later he said he often felt too tired to work in the afternoons and, inspired by me, had approached his own work place with the idea of creating a space to rest at work. He told me they have now provided a bed and all the employees can use it when needed. This song almost instantly takes me to a deep place of rest and relaxation. With a bit more effort it can also take me to a place of deep joy and ease, which can then be present in my work too. This means I and other people experience my resting as positive rather than disruptive, less of an interruption and more of a benefit. I love it and it helps me love myself and accept myself as someone living with illness and needing adjustments. It helps me experience these adjustments as gifts. Thank you Jill for this amazing song and for GV. It enables me to participate in society as a disabled person, to give something back, to have a job and earn a wage to support myself and my child. "After more than 4 years I sometimes rest with different songs, but often, still, with Uncharted Territory.” The song Rachel refers to is No. 7 in Unlocking the Power of Song: A Companion for Challenging Times Note from Jill: Rachel had already done a lot of GV before her diagnosis, and she had also undergone the longish training and apprenticeship to become a GV teacher. So she was extremely skilled. Both she and I hope that her detailed description might help others who want to explore using GV to support them through illness and/or at work. If Rachel's managers were emulated elsewhere, who knows what life-enhancing possibilities might transpire!

Hi Caroline here I had a bit of a shock a couple of weeks ago - a positive Covid-19 test! Luckily I only had VERY mild symptoms. However in the context of rising cases and death tolls, I knew I had to take this seriously. My usual modus operandi is to power through illness: I am inclined to ignore it and just get on with life regardless – my friends call me robust. The potential impact of Covid required me to behave differently, not least because I needed to self-isolate. My colleagues Jill and Rachel had been editing the chapter in Jill's book about her Have a Lovely Restful Day song, and during an online meeting Jill shared it with me. I don't think I had heard it before; it certainly hadn't made an impact. But boy I needed it now. Rest is so underrated in our speedy, speedy world. Both Jill and Rachel have needed to learn about rest to support their health issues, but in many ways this was new ground for me. For most of the 10 days of my self-isolation, I connected with this song. Sometimes out loud, sometimes silently in my heart.* Our Facebook Group (see below) gives some guidance about how to do this – it’s not something that most people are familiar with, and I certainly wasn’t when I first came across Giving Voice. Connecting like this really helped me to rest and be restful, to rest my heart, mind and body so that I could heal in the best possible way. It was a lifeline and a major support. I have the song singing in my heart as I write this – as I move back out into this strange lockdown world. My relationship with the song is different now. As I get back to my ‘to do’ list, it’s supporting me to be restful ‘in action’, helping me reveal my authentic self as I engage with the world again. Interested in Giving Voice and how song can be used to survive and grow in these challenging times? Why not join our Unlocking the Power of Song Facebook group, where you will find resources to engage with, which are designed for people to work with on their own. Each session takes 20-30 minutes. Various recordings are available there, together with guidance on how to use them, among other material you can read. If you listen to a recording, do make sure you follow the guidance – it’s designed to help us unlock the power of these songs, and gain benefit from what they offer. – just like I did. We plan that the 'Have a lovely restful day', will be added to the resources of the group in the next few weeks. * Jill's book explains how to do this

By Rachel Healey In this article I look at aspects of how Giving Voice (GV) differs from singing in a choir, even a virtual choir. GV is a personal resource for exploring our relationship with song and with ourselves, developing inner harmony and connectedness, as well as offering an experience of taking part in something universal and eternal, whenever and wherever we do it. Recently I took part in a virtual choir online – shout out to Becky Owen and her PopUp Choirs! Everyone except the leader had their sound turned off, due to problems with latency. But it was lovely seeing everyone and getting the feeling of singing together. Becky is so skilled, she made it seem easy. It was really fun and joyful, and we sang 2 songs in 3-part harmony. There was a sense of community, belonging, and feeling resourced. There are a lot of wonderful initiatives happening to keep people connected and taking part in singing together, as well as people sharing songs and tutorials. Before the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to social gatherings, we offered real-life GV groups. In the sessions we aimed to teach people how they can connect with songs on their own, away from the group, and grow through that very personal process. The ongoing groups were there for people to share and celebrate their discoveries, get support and input, as well as enjoy singing and being together. GV has always been offered to people remotely, as some of our participants are people who are isolated at home due to long-term illness, people who can’t drive or travel long distances, or people who have caring responsibilities. We offered individual sessions, and also group sessions, where some people or everyone took part from wherever they were, in the context of their own lives, being in touch with the group facilitator by phone. Initially we used cassette tapes for distance participants! Then CDs and emails, and more recently, personalised web links. Jill’s book: “Unlocking the Power of Song – A Companion for Challenging Times” is designed to help people learn how to use the GV Process on their own in the context of their lives. Some extracts are available on our website , and in our Facebook group. I have used GV in my own life for over 20 years, with ongoing support from Jill. Now it has become a daily practice, in a way that meditation and other practices are for some people. In fact the GV Process is perhaps closer to meditation than singing in a choir. There are many types of meditation, including singing meditation. Many aspects of GV could be termed meditational or mindful, since it involves focus for example, and being present. And as with some forms of meditation, it facilitates growth in awareness. Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, founder of mindfulness, describes it as an adventure, involving “Paying attention in a particular way — on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgementally”. He described his original approach of “ethically-practised mindfulness” as "a radical act of love”. We feel the same could be said of GV. Yet it’s still different. One way is that the songs themselves can be like companions, and our relationship with them can have many facets. And the power of music is inherent in GV. As Jill herself says, "I used to get so much from singing with other people, I would never have believed what was possible on my own. It was only out of necessity that I discovered more than I could have possibly imagined: not only could I have the most all-consuming experiences when it was ‘just’ me and ‘just’ the song. Often the most profound experiences occurred when I wasn’t even singing aloud at all. This was an astonishing discovery for me. And over the years, many others have discovered this too – through this extraordinary phenomenon that I call the Giving Voice Process." Initially I was surprised that using the GV Process on my own gave me an experience of singing together. I reached a deep knowing that I’m interconnected with other humans and beings on this planet and in the whole universe. That might mean something to you – whether it’s about physics or biology, atoms and particles, or something you think of as divinity or “energy”. I discovered that it’s possible to experience myself as part of all-that-there-is. It’s awesome and it offers me an experience of connection at any time, in any context – and the more I do it, the easier it is to find it. The GV Process also offers an experience of harmony within ourselves - at home with ourselves. Depending on how and where we are, that can feel easy or challenging. But again, the more we do it, the more accessible that experience becomes. Developing and singing from a place of greater harmony within ourselves facilitates an experience of greater harmony in our singing – whether we are physically alone, or in the same physical space as other singers. All my life I’ve loved singing, and have tried lots of approaches, styles, groups and choirs. It was when I first did GV that I had an experience of coming home. It also felt like joining in with something eternal. I sometimes say in my group sessions that the songs are singing all the time, we just join in for a while. The GV Process teaches us to have a relationship with song that goes beyond our individual experience, that we can still have on our own. It’s really fulfilling and exciting, comforting, and filled with peace and joy. I recommend it! Want to know more? Head over to our Facebook page or explore the rest of our website and our other blog articles. If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, please give us a like.

By Rachel Healey In this time of the global pandemic, there is a lot of fear and anxiousness around. Fear for ourselves and our loved ones. Fear of the unknown. Fear about whether we’ll be able to cope, and how long for. Understandably, there’s a lot of anger and despair too. This particular article is about feelings of fear and anxiety, and how Giving Voice could help. Anxiety in the air When I walk in the park, there’s an atmosphere of anxiousness. Some people are getting too close to each other, and to me. Some are coughing and wheezing. Joggers and cyclists pass by exhaling forcefully. Many people look anxious. Will I catch the virus? Will someone report me for leaving the house twice today? When I turn on the news, there are the awful latest death figures, and gloomy speculation about how bad the impact of Covid-19 will be, on people, society and the economy. It’s terrifying and devastating. When I work from home, I’m trying to learn new ways of working, using new technology and new processes. I worry that it’s all too demanding, that I won’t be able to keep up. I’m finding it difficult to learn new things. I think about key workers and front line workers putting themselves at huge risk, and I feel guilty for feeling anxious about my own situation. There’s often an anxious atmosphere in my home, where I really need peace and rest. My home life is quite simple: I live with one housemate, my child is grown up and left home a few years ago. I think about families home-educating children, caring for babies and toddlers, and wonder how on earth do they manage? What can I do to address feelings of anxiousness and fear, and create an atmosphere of calm, relaxation and flow in myself and in my home? Using the Giving Voice Process Pretty much any song we use in Giving Voice can help address anxious feelings: we don't have to worry about finding exactly the right theme or words. We can even use songs without words. Engaging with a song using the Giving Voice approach reminds me of a few things, which are good tips for managing feelings of anxiety and worry in any context: I remember to breathe and to feel physical sensations in my body I admit to myself that I’m feeling anxious I’m taking action to do something about it, as best I can I’m interrupting thoughts that might be recurring or obsessive, and focusing on something else I’m making time to take care of myself I’m part of a community of people who practice in this way and have found it helpful Spending time with a song alone, whether listening to a recording, or singing silently or aloud, is a great way to connect with something deep within ourselves, and feel connected with something bigger than ourselves too. When I do this, I feel my anxiety shrink in proportion. Usually, I can gently bring my attention to other things – feeling nurtured, feeling powerful, feeling that I matter, and feeling calm, for example. Connecting with a song that I’ve learnt in the context of Giving Voice reminds me that the atmosphere in my home, in my body, and in my mind is within my control. If I attend to what is possible for me – the things I can control – and practice keeping those free of anxiety, it really helps. If I am able to turn my focus away from my anxious feelings, I notice there are plenty of other things there too, which are more helpful. Such as love, joy and calm. Then I can choose to focus on those. I sometimes use the song to feel like I’m pouring water and nutrients on to those helpful things, to make them grow in my home and in my awareness. Often I have an experience of sacredness. It’s difficult to describe, but it’s about the potential beauty and preciousness of the space within me and around me, if I choose to attend to it. All this helps me and it helps the wider world too. How I am within myself sets the tone for how I interact with others, even at a social distance. It affects how I perceive non-human things too, and I appreciate the good things more. It has an effect in more subtle ways – it’s like finding a current of hope and helping to direct that, rather than being sucked in to anxiety. To become more regularly free of feelings of worry and anxiety, and get the most from Giving Voice practice, it’s important to commit to working with a song regularly, ideally daily at the same time each day. To help people do this, we at the National Foundation for Giving Voice have put lots of information and tips on our Facebook page, and there is a Facebook group 'Unlocking the Power of Song' where people who want to work with a song can access recordings and other information, as well as facilitation from Giving Voice teachers. It’s important to add that if you have longstanding mental health difficulties, Giving Voice is not intended to play the same role as therapy or medical help. It can be used alongside, so you could talk to your therapist or mental health professional about that, and you or they can be in touch with us to get more information. If you’ve found this article interesting, please give us a like and a comment, and visit our Facebook page or website to find out more.

– over and above the exhilaration, the joy, the beauty, that can be experienced though singing? Here Jill Rakusen, founder of Giving Voice (GV), reveals aspects of what this approach offers, including in daily life, and particularly when isolated. She gives some examples, and summarises ways in which we at the Foundation offers opportunities – so people can develop skill in using it, regardless of health status or perceived singing capacity. GV opens up unimaginable possibilities (before I discovered it, I couldn’t imagine these possibilities either!). It can be helpful in so many ways, particularly when times are challenging. For example it can help us: build our capacity for rest and renewal establish and draw on resourceful coping mechanisms maintain connectedness – so useful when obliged to be on our own find ease and release from stress learn better how to live with uncertainty It’s been used in extremely stressful situations, including during danger or its aftermath. Marie, for instance, found herself harnessing it whilst stuck in her car, when wondering not just when, and how, but whether she could be freed from it after a serious accident. It helped Sandra recover from a traumatic bereavement, and Arlene drew on it during and after being held at knifepoint in her home. Arlene has described not only finding strength and courage during her ordeal, but also compassion for her assailants. It’s got a lot to offer when we’re in enforced isolation – as I was when I developed it, living with chronic illness and often confined to bed.  In fact, when we’re alone it has most to offer us. It’s not dependent on anyone else (it’s available to draw on in virtually any situation), and it involves a process that's unique to each person’s needs in the moment – very useful when living in unprecedented times. And we don’t have to be in good health to do it. Often, believe it or not, the most profound GV experiences happen when we connect with a song in silence. Children as well as adults can find it helpful – in fact they often take to it like ducks to water. There’s a whole report about this and I’ve recorded my Song About Finding Peace especially for children, which can be accessed by joining our group from our Facebook page. It’s rooted in something I realised early on, that what a song offers is profoundly affected by how we approach it. This is one of the ‘key elements’ involved in how to ‘unlock the power of a song’ – the title of my book. Obviously the choice of song is important too. Most of the songs used in GV have been born out of challenge, and people often discover greater depths in the songs, and in themselves, because they are facing significant challenges. At such times, we tend to shed any cynicism, ambivalence or embarrassment – knowing that that familiar self is no match for what we are facing. We in the ‘civilised’ world are learning about aspects of life that the rest of humanity has known for millennia: life is precarious; we are all connected – to each other, to the earth, and everything on it; and song can play a profound role in deepening our awareness and facilitating our growth. That’s what the GV Process is designed to do. It helps us perceive the present more clearly, act with more courage, care and compassion, and shape the future – not just our own. Alongside the entire global environmental emergency, the virus has given us a wake-up call. GV can help us grow in our ability to rise to it. Oh, and GV is a resource that’s open to us 24/7. At the Giving Voice Foundation we’re committed to helping people discover how to unlock the power of song – and to develop this skill in their day-to-day lives. Since we can’t currently teach it face-to-face, we've been exploring new ways of doing this, such as running events online (please see Recent and future events). Of course, our approach isn’t a panacea, nor is it for everyone, and it’s definitely not a replacement for mental health care for those of us who need it. Also, to achieve lasting change, some commitment to what we call ‘personal practice’ is necessary. Many of our blogposts reveal what others have found through engaging in the GV Process. Here's a flavour: “The pain dissolved. And I don’t even ‘do’ music! The peace and joy I can now access is unbelievable.” “I let the song nourish me, just soaking it up. Eventually I experienced a massive surge through my body. I felt I was experiencing my own power. I felt a sense of wonder.” “I [was] full of rage with a silent scream. By the end of the song the anger had gone ... I felt at peace.” “I’ve got a lot of strength – to carry on. I’m more aware, and I feel I have more power over my life ...” For how people have made discoveries like the above, and how you can too, please see my book – Unlocking the Power of Song: a Companion for Challenging Times. It gives step-by-step guidance, and much else besides. And do remember, you can harness a song's power without even singing a note! Want to know more? Purchase Unlocking the Power of Song – a Companion for Challenging Times Join our 'Unlocking the Power of Song' Facebook group Contact us or comment below Thanks for reading, and whatever you do, it's worth remembering that the power of song can be greater than we might imagine – when we know how to unlock its power.

My name is Rachel Healey. I teach Giving Voice and have been practising it in my own life since 1998..  This is my first blog.  In this article, I’ve written a bit about myself and about my relationship with Giving Voice, how I became a teacher, and how I use it in my own life.  Finally, I’ve said something about how Giving Voice could be really useful for me and others at this particular time, during the global coronavirus crisis, to help us cope with, and even grow through, enforced isolation and lockdown. My first experience of Giving Voice was a residential weekend with Giving Voice founder Jill Rakusen. I loved it so much that I set up a group in Leeds, where I lived, for Jill to come and teach on a regular basis.  I also asked her if she would train me to teach Giving Voice. She had to think about it for a while, but eventually said ‘yes’.  I graduated in 2005, after completing a first level training followed by an apprenticeship. I’ve been teaching GV regularly ever since.  Jill and I jointly set up the National Foundation for Giving Voice, and together with GV teacher Caroline Thorpe, we now run the Foundation, which is a charity overseen by a Board of Trustees. In 2006 I became ill with a long-term chronic illness.  I was bedridden a lot for the first 2 years, then got around using mobility aids, before eventually getting back on my feet.  Giving Voice was an absolute lifeline - it was something I could do alone at home, without even having to get out of bed. I used it in so many ways to support myself during that difficult time. I went back to regular work in 2010, and back to full-time work in 2016.  Giving Voice continues to play a major part in my ongoing recovery and managing my condition. I don’t know how I’d cope without it. This blog has been prompted by the coronavirus pandemic and the amazing initiatives around the world linking people up using social media and online platforms. Giving Voice is such a wonderful resource for people who are isolated, alone and/or ill, as well as a great way of bringing people together to deeply experience what togetherness can mean.  It helped me a lot when I couldn’t leave the house, and stopped me from feeling completely cut off and useless. I can still feel like that sometimes.  Doing Giving Voice practice, and teaching it, helps me appreciate how much each of us matters, how much everyone has to offer and contribute, and how we can give and receive support in subtle and surprising ways. Social media and online links can be the way you get hold of material about Giving Voice, and get a sense of the community of people involved.  Then you can go offline to practice with it, and hopefully tap in to that sense of belonging and togetherness, without having to be on a device or connected to the internet.  It’s certainly a welcome break for me, as I find being online and looking at a screen really tiring. I do Giving Voice practice every day for at least a few minutes, and sometimes up to an hour.  I have a big repertoire of songs that I work with, but usually stick with one for a few weeks or months, so I can develop a really deep relationship with it.  I also have an intention that I bring to mind before I do my practice – what do I want from this?  At the moment it can be to address my anxiety about the pandemic, tackle the overwhelm I sometimes feel, and cope with feelings of fear and disconnection.  It feels like building an inner resource that I can draw on, and be more resilient and fit enough to get through each day, and when needed, to connect with and support other people. During this coronavirus pandemic I want to spread the word about this amazing resource, enable more people to learn how to use it, and to connect with others who are also using it.  If you’re interested, have a look at our Facebook page.  If you want to learn more about unlocking the power of song, you can join our Facebook group find the link on our Facebook page. If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, please give us a like or a comment.

This blog post is about my experience with A Song About Finding Peace, created by Jill Rakusen, founder of Giving Voice.  I take you through my process, step by step, in a kind of poem.  Then I’ve written a bit about the Giving Voice process, unlocking the power of song, and using it to help ourselves through this particular time of global crisis. By Rachel Healey Here’s what I experienced... Old Man, walking, pacing steps of peace … As I start singing and being with this song, I can feel myself dropping, Into layer after layer, Each more peaceful than the last. I’m breathing more deeply, My focus is coming in to the present moment, My emotions of anxiety and fear are subsiding. Instead I’m noticing feelings of calm and spaciousness. My physical sensations are of softening, My face and belly relaxing, My shoulders dropping, My spine uncurling. I’m becoming aware of a peaceful yet enlivened space around my heart. New thoughts and sensations Are gently coming in to this space. The wonderful thing about the thoughts is that I’m less attached to them than usual – I can feel myself as witness, saying, Ooh Look at that thought, that’s an interesting thought.  Is it true?  Is it useful? For example, I’m thinking, how much peace do I want? Do I want to continue with this practice, Dropping through more layers, Letting go of the fear and anxiety I’ve been carrying Since the start of this coronavirus pandemic? Or am I quite attached to the fear and anxiety? Is there a sense of community in participating in it? If I let go of that, will I be even more isolated – Who will join me in this non-anxious state of being? Will I be alone in my semi-peaceful state? Then I drop into more layers, Where my anxiety about that subsides, And I start to experience myself as part of something, Just by the fact of being human, Being here Being aware. It’s such a relief! I know that I don‘t have to do anything, I don’t have to be in any particular way – Just allow the song to be there with me, For me and the song to be here Together. Old Man, talking, speaking words of peace … This is a peace that has eluded me for days now! Yet it only took a few minutes connecting with this song to find it. Why on earth have I been depriving myself of this? Old Man, listening, hearing sounds of peace … There’s so much around me that I could be enjoying, Drawing on. The wind outside, the odd bird, The sounds of my breath and my singing - I could be enjoying them more! Old Man, watching, seeing signs of peace … The softness of the daylight, Colours in my environment, Spring buds on trees And in the earth. The song continues to resonate. I’m enjoying more. Relaxing more. My mind becomes quiet, As I unlock the power Of this song. -—o0o—- I’ve learnt how to do this through something called the Giving Voice Process, developed by Jill Rakusen. I’ve had years of practice developing this skill; at the same time, it reminds me of what it was like the first time I came across it, and many other times in between.  I felt present, relaxed, gently focused, enjoying each moment, feeling part of a greater whole.  At my first Giving Voice event, I experienced myself as part of an eternal singing community, stretching into the past and into the future. I felt part of a line, a chain, a movement. This process isn’t all about being with other singers and doing something together in the same room: it’s an inner experience and something I carry within myself, always.  It feels as if it’s always been there, I just needed to learn how to unlock it and let it out! I’m drawing on the power of song so much in this time of crisis.  So are other people already involved in Giving Voice, who are engaging with this and other songs in their own lives and homes, like me. Knowing other people are engaging with this special song at this time adds an extra dimension: it reminds us we are interconnected and part of a greater whole, and that, simply by doing this, we can offer something to others, just through being open to what it offers.  And by affecting the ways of being of those who sing or listen to it, in turn this can impact on others around them too. There’s more information available about this song and how to begin to unlock its power. Do get in touch if you want to know more and get involved. To learn more about Unlocking the Power of Song, visit our Facebook page, and join our Facebook group.  If you are interested in Giving Voice for Peace, take a look at our website.  If you want to join our mailing list, in due course we’ll let you know about the launch of our forthcoming book: Unlocking the Power of Song - a Companion for Challenging Times, and any options to order advance copies.  We’ll be publishing some advance draft chapters from the book in our Facebook group. If you’ve enjoyed this blog post, please give us a like, or leave a comment. Rachel