singing as a radical act of self-care

Both before and after the advent of modern medicine, in some cultures, if you experienced a general malady or melancholy, a shaman or healer would ask questions which are still considered pertinent at Stones Barn today. To us at the Barn, the most relevant of which is: “when did you stop singing?”

I have asked that question of many of our participants since we established in 2001. I have found, over the years, that invariably there was a moment when they stopped singing which they usually remember quite clearly. Often if the participant is above the age of 60 the moment they stopped singing was due to a bad experience at school with a teacher telling them that they shouldn't or couldn't sing. Below that age and it is often a friend or a family member commenting (often attempting humour) that they have no talent and therefore should not sing if anyone can hear them.

To assist in someone’s voice arriving back into their body and their life is magical and it is an honour to witness. Our participants assure us, too, that once they have been able to allow this re-embodying to happen, it does not leave them. They usually take the technical knowledge, notes, practices and tips on board but even if that all fades into the background through the year, there is usually more singing in the car, in the shower and along with the radio than before. Their repertoire of songs will usually increase and they will often go in search of more opportunities for regular singing.

Whichever way you slice it, SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU, so try to do it as often as possible AND DON’T LET ANYONE STOP YOU. Singing and other acts of self-care are radical forms of resistance to an unhealth modern detachment to the planet and our bodies.