If someone had told me that the focus of my work would shift to the use of metaphysics in voice coaching and women’s empowerment, I would have said they were crazy! It wasn’t until I had a crisis of the heart concerning my own authenticity that I would begin connecting my lifelong love of magical practice, astrology, the cycles of nature, tarot, crystals and reiki into my existing professional voice coaching and music programs.
I am a dedicated practitioner of various metaphysical arts. Still, whenever I thought about openly incorporating them into my business doubt would creep in. I chided myself, “How would the businesswomen who come to me for professional voice strategy sessions react if I were to pull out my tarot cards and discuss the elemental forces while designing an action plan for how to influence a high net worth prospect?”
Torn inside, I searched for a way to integrate my whole self into my business. I sat with it for several years. Eventually, I decided to do an experiment with a few long-term clients. It worked… like a charm! They loved it! The response was overwhelmingly positive.
It was then it occurred to that me my clients were loyal because our work together provided creative expansion and activated the right brain! They gained permission to leave linear thinking behind, tap into their emotions and intuition, and have fun! The tangible reward lay being able to express a level of deep authenticity they had never before achieved.
I also realized I had been coaching the physical and metaphysical voice subconsciously all along minus the props. Since then, I have integrated my love of all things metaphysical deeply into my business. May the foundations of this guidance offer a new perspective on how you relate to your voice.
One of the most effective techniques for activating your personal expressive power is aligning the elements of nature and the seasons of the year with the elements of voice and music. Don’t worry! No musical knowledge is required! The Art of Memory™, meaning your personal memories and life experience of the seasons along with that of the collective consciousness, will lead the way.
The beginning of the astrological year is springtime. Earth begins to wake up. Birds start chirping and as babies make their first vocal sounds, so too will you find your true melody!
Summer comes next. This is when things heat up! The sun is high in the sky, nature is in full bloom and the whole world is moving with the rhythm of life.
Autumn brings us to the harvest. We lived it up in summer and having found our stride, now reflect on how far we’ve come and whether we’ve lived in harmony with both our inner self and others.
Winter is the end of the year, the time of slowing down, relaxation and rest. Nature appears to sleep. In music, a “rest” symbol represents silence. It is now time to become quiet and turn our full attention inward.
How does this relate to your voice? In what ways could you use this knowledge to ignite your personal voice presence? Each of these voice elements; melody, rhythm, harmony and silence can add dynamic vocal interest, deepen personal expression and bring a sense of authenticity to all of your communications whether they are in speech or through song.
Invoke Mother Nature with the following voice element exercises. Invite her to be a co-creator on your journey to amplify your message and be heard in a noisy world.
Melody
Start each day with a sacred voice ritual. Take a nice deep yawn when you wake up! Notice how your throat feels open and relaxed. Yawn a few more times as you go through your morning routine. This will allow you to stay tuned in to that open, relaxed feeling. Sigh softly a few times. Inhale gently and as you exhale just let the sigh come out. If you have time, hum to yourself as you get ready for work. Describe things along your route on the way to the office. This ritual acts as a vocal warm up, preparing your voice for the hours of use ahead.
Rhythm
Creating vocal interest is most easily done by adjusting your speed and articulation. Many of us are lax with sounding the consonants L, D and T. To get a sense of the speed and clarity with which you speak say these consonants in combination with the vowel “ah”. For example: La-La-La-La-La. La-La-La-La-La-La. Try it with D, then try T. Did the tip fo your tongue touch the gum line behind your two front teeth? It should. Practice varying your speed and changing vowels (a,e,i,o,u) to make it more interesting and fun.
Harmony
Harmony teaches that your voice has an emotional effect on others. The most important thing you can learn for improving your communication skills and your ability to have successful outcomes, whether it’s getting your dream job or your dream relationship, is that the sound of your voice has an immediate, emotional impact on your listener, more so than any other feature. It can create instant rapport or recoil, purely based on sound. Record yourself! I know this may feel scary at first. Still, it’s non-negotiable. You must hear yourself as others do. If you don’t like what you hear, find a voice coach you trust and enlist her help. It can change your life!
Silence
Silence can be the most challenging of all voice elements because it requires surrender. Accept that you do not need to fill every moment with sound. All communication begins and ends in silence. Engage with the power of the pause. Before you speak, connect to your audience using your eyes. Smile. Look for the people who smile back. Make them your focal point while you gain confidence. Our world is so noisy! I urge you to make a commitment to silence even if it’s only for five minutes before you fall asleep each night.
The Magical 5th Element: Your Spirit
Your spirit is the key that opens the door of possibility. Each of us is an incomparable creation. All of our expression is formed by our individual recollections and experiences of life.
Contemplate nature’s voice elements periodically. Are you remaining true to your Melody? Do you manage the Rhythm of your life or is your calendar in charge? Do to live in Harmony with yourself, your community and the world? What inspiration can be found in Silence? How can you empower others by sharing your voice?
Every day is a microcosm of Mother Nature’s elemental wisdom. We wake up, we get going, we wind down and we rest. Bringing your voice into alignment with nature is a giant leap forward in your voice evolution. Allow yourself to blossom as you invite the voice elements into each day. The reward will astonish you.
