Traumatized by "Sound Healing" that feels like New Age Faux Spiritual Misappropriation?
This conversation may be music to your ears.
In February I made a "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT" on my personal Facebook page, and hundreds of people who know me and my professional background well chimed in. The comments are GOLD, and I wanted to share the perspectives in a series of blog posts so you, dear reader, could benefit. Perhaps you'll even find community in like-minded souls?
Here was the public announcement I made to my friends and followers:
I’m (finally) open to using the term “sound healing” to describe what I do. I have some conflicted feelings about it though, and I’m curious:
- What is the first thing you think of when you hear the term “sound healing”? (Please be honest!)
- Does your impression of me (and my work teaching mantra, chanting, Indian music, nāda yoga, etc.) fit within your perception of “sound healing”?
I feel like I have some clarifying to do, to set myself apart from what I think is the public perception… and distinguish the level of my professional expertise, but maybe I don’t. Help me?
Even if (*ESPECIALLY IF!*) you’re not “in that world” I’d really like to know your impressions. Thank you!!!
I got hundreds of comments that answered the two questions, but this was a particularly hot subthread that I LOVED:
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New age faux spiritual cultural misappropriation (which I know is not your intention nor what describes what you actually do) Be careful labeling your work that. It’s a sticky slope to fall into… especially coming from CA and seeing what people have done here and beyond with that label. So why the need for that word? It’s a little like selling organic vegetarian food and labeling it “healthy” or good for you? What you do IS absolutely healing, but branding your work as that is in my opinion not the best idea. In fact most times it triggers a trauma response in me. I don’t think people (even knowing that the work is authentic, traditional, or respectful) at this point could change that negative connotation for me. I know that may be an unpopular opinion, but you asked!
I think the consensus is that it needs some other word or words to distinguish it from that, and there’ll always be an educational element. I very much have to educate people about what I do in the chant world, yoga world also. I’m used to it!
as long as you know that when people see it who have a negative association with it will be immediately turned off by your offerings, then I guess go for it? Most Indian (and western) people I associate with who have seen what “sound healing” is will not wait around for you to explain what you do. They will see another white face in the sea of white faces branding their content to get more followers. It’s like when Bhakti Fest became a “world music” festival to sell more tickets. Yes they had some pretty amazing world class musicians - so why the need to rebrand? Money…. I see your point of wanting to expand your audience, but you may end up turning a whole lot of people off too.
I agree. Thx for making it easy for me not to have to type of my thoughts about it.
Yes! I resonate with all that you've said here dear.
I was going to type something similar! I think those of us who’ve spent a lot of time living on the West Coast of USA especially have seen a whole lot of snakeoil “healers” and steer a wide path from anyone using that terminology to sell events, sessions, and workshops.
If I see an event billed as sound healing or sound healer I pretty much run in the other direction.
Anandra George changing the word order to “Healing Sound” at least makes the meaning clear that it is the sound doing the work, and not the practitioner claiming to heal people. The language can either give agency or take it away. Too often someone goes to a sound healing weekend workshop and walks away launching a website and services as a “sound healer” so make sure you are clear what people are getting qualified or certified to be and do.
Much love to you all!
yes, “healing sound” is fine too - but seriously, anything with the title “healing” I run the other way too. That’s why I’ve never labeled my art or classes that way even though I know that making art can be healing for many people.
I agree. I also think about how this kind of “healing” language reinforces identification with woundedness in a way that could potentially be unhelpful for growth and adaptation. My thinking on these lines has only gotten stronger since experiencing major intensification of several medical conditions and spending a great deal of time in medical support groups. Not that we should bypass trauma or ignore our illnesses or wounds, but that at some point we could accept things as they are and do our best to live fully rather than perpetually chasing “healing” for another several decades in this incarnation.
The nearest new age nexus to me right now is Sedona and I observe from a distance some pretty alarming cults and a lot of toxic philosophies.
I’ve distanced myself from all cults + toxic philosophies… every single one.
*Anyone claiming to heal me at this point on a postcard, flyer, or website through any practice or modality would get an immediate pass from me.
Just the line “new age nexus” makes me go into full mind and body cringe!
*and no thanks, I don’t want to share why on FB anymore… been there, done that.
I’m really appreciating this little sub-thread. I have a lot of trauma from being new age-adjacent all my life and having various “healings” shoved down my throat. I also observe many people almost obsessively pursuing the next “healing” modality, practice, or experience, to the point where I wonder if they’re chasing a high (which I can certainly relate to—we all have our vices). Mantra can certainly have a healing effect, but that is not it’s actual purpose, is it?
If I didn’t know you and wasn’t already familiar with your work and background, I would run the other way seeing the words “sound healing” associated with Mantra! But I expect others would be attracted, and I know your offerings will be wonderful regardless.
Much love to you beauties!
sub-threads are where it’s at! Off the much beaten path where it doesn’t garner too much attention;)
Yes to all of that… I trust that Anandra George will choose the correct wording for her work… She has up until now and having seen it firsthand I know it’s really good quality…
So interesting how so many of us have been traumatized by the new age stuff. Is there a healing group somewhere we can all attend to heal from that?!?
Yup… “chasing a high”…
Sending back! So nice to see other people on the same page - I remember a time when we would be crucified if we ever went against the grain on any of this stuff… or
I am also with Jennifer Mazzucco and Brianna Prajna Vieira. Sound Healing puts you into a bucket with a lot of folks you wouldnt want to be bucketed with imho. Sad that this has to be this way but I am feeling the truth of this.
yes, it is kind of sad. Healing is actually a good thing. But it’s just been taken too far in a really weird direction.
I'm adjacent to, but not in that world. I think of new age people with little regard for the depth and history of the traditions they draw from. I think of people in their 20s looking for a quick fix to their emotional challenges. I think of spiritual bypassing.
I also love the sound of the big white bowls that are common in sound healing events, and don't believe these in particular actually correspond to a particular long-standing cultural tradition, but nonetheless, I have these associations with the people who organize and attend.
Edit: oh! Reading through the comments, I see now that the white bowls were adapted from Tibetan bowls, so yes, cultural appropriation/borrowing with little regard for honoring/respecting the culture that this practice comes from.
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OH HOW I LOVE MY FRIENDS!
Most of the folks in these comments are my personal friends, some have taken the Heart of Sound trainings, and all are wicked smart. I have tremendous admiration for their perspectives and wisdom!
I decided to dabble in using the words "healing" and "sound" in on my website, and to describe what I do, because I value the opportunity to educate and uplevel our expectations around the transformational power of sound.
I hope my publishing of this sub-thread helps you, dear reader, understand that I am very much aware of the weird associations people have with "sound healing"! I remain deeply committed to providing high quality sound yoga therapy training, by whatever name you wish to call it!
The future of "sound healing" may be "sound yoga therapy"?
I'm a yoga therapist myself (C-IAYT) and the Heart of Sound is a member school in the highly regarded International Association of Yoga Therapists. We are in the process of undergoing the very rigorous accreditation process with IAYT, to be able to offer the world's first and only 800hour sound yoga therapy program!
