Shamanic Sound Bath at Soul Sanctuary in Coventry, Rhode Island

I’ve always been someone who leans into curiosity, even when curiosity comes with a side of nerves. So when I was invited to try a shamanic sound bath at Soul Sanctuary in Coventry, I was excited to say yes - and spent most of the drive talking myself into being okay with lying in the dark with a group of strangers. It's not my comfort zone, but I wanted to go in open-minded. 

The room was softly lit by candles, with large crystal singing bowls at the front. Seven or eight of us lay on yoga mats, and the shaman, Danielle, began by guiding us into stillness with gentle drumming and mindful breathing. Her voice was calm and gentle, asking us to root first. To settle into the earth like a seed before growing upward. It was a different orientation than I was used to. My inner compass tends to aim toward airy, expansive energy, so sinking down into the ground took effort. But I was there to try, and I did.

Then the singing bowls started. 

Each sound seemed to move through the air — and sometimes through me — in ways I couldn’t predict. One tone danced across the end of my nose, another - my favorite - made my torso feel as if it were expanding. It was odd and unfamiliar, but I was curious to see where it led.  Some vibrations hovered around the room without touching me; others felt deeply personal, hard to explain in words. A few tones were uncomfortable, high and insistent. Street noises from outside pulled me out of focus more than once, and getting back was harder than getting in. I found myself annoyed with myself for being distracted, and having to slip back into the experience sideways.

When the last tone faded, everyone sat up at their own pace, until finally we sat together in candlelight and shared a few thoughts. I didn’t have much to say at the time. I felt present but not quite landed. That settled by morning, though the experience stayed with me. Finding words for it took a while.

What I’ve realized is that shamanic sound baths "hit different" than meditation I've experienced. They create a space where sound becomes a bridge between body and spirit, and sometimes crossing that bridge takes practice. At Soul Sanctuary, I found a calm guide, a welcoming group of women, and a sense of safety I hadn’t expected.

I’d go back. And next time, I think I’ll arrive a little lighter, a little readier to sink in. To start again as a seed, waiting to grow.

If you’d like to try it for yourself, Soul Sanctuary is at 808 Tiogue Avenue in Coventry, with a cozy studio space that hosts sound baths, yoga, Reiki, and other holistic wellness events throughout the month. You can explore their current schedule and special offerings online, and maybe find your own evening to lie back, listen, and see what the sound has to say.