how i got here
I remember as a fifteen year old, in a vain attempt to figure out the next step, I read the entire careers handbook from cover to cover but, apart from architect, which I ruled myself out from, having at the time no discernible artistic skill, I was unable to find anything that sparked my interest. Had ‘Sound Healer’ or ‘Gong Master’ been in there I am not sure that they would have caught my attention either but it certainly would have been interesting to see the recommended career path because everyone who finds the world of Sound comes to it by their own route with a vast array of experiences and prior competencies. Anyhoo, here is a brief synopsis of my checkered past which has brought me this work I so love.
My first career was as a technician in lights and sound working both in venues and in educational settings. In parallel with this I also joined a band and learnt the drums (in that order) and began teaching myself various other instruments to the point where, as a mature student, I attended The University of Brighton to study Music with Visual Art.
After graduating, I began work in the community sector working as a youth worker and in housing support. Initially this was as a support worker but increasingly I was able to shape my career and began doing more and more music/education projects both with young people and with he homeless. Simultaneously I had begun exploring various trance based healing modalities, firstly hypnosis then shamanic practices and it was during this time, in 2010, that I first discovered the gong (cue choir of angels, the clouds parting and rays of heavenly light. ahhhhhhhhh). My love of music and sound, the prior training I had done and my interest in the esoteric found a natural home. since this time I have undertaken significant training and become a gong practitioner. I began assisting and then facilitating training in ‘The Way Of The Gong’.
Relevant Training to date:
BA Hons Music and Visual art
Hypnotherapy: Diploma in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, Conversational Hypnosis professional hypnotherapy, Hypnotic presentation and speaking.
Shamanic: Trance Dance Facilitator with Trance Dance International, Wilbert Alix. Shamanic Training and Initiation in the Ecuadorian Andes.
Gong Practitioners training with The College of Sound Healing. Gong Master Training (multiple times) with Don Conreaux and Aidan Mcintyre. Gong Yoga with Don Conreaux (Module 1,2 and 3), Gong Teacher Training with Don Conreaux.
Many of these trainings where deep and rich experiences’. I have been lucky enough to study with several generous and knowledgeable Teachers who also infuse their teaching with a tremendous sense of play. I hope and trust that some of it has rubbed off on me because it is my aim to do my best to bring these qualities to any work that I do.