Making space for the new

Medicine festival was an ABSOLUTE game-changer. I went deep deep. The workshops, music, meditation, breathwork, all brought out things from my subconscious I didn't even know existed. I found a better way forward on how to deal with negative thoughts, energy and memories.

Nobody told me this, it just came from within through this connection to my subconscious. It was all inside of me the whole time, who f**king knew!

So this week is going to be a little different as I’m going to share the learnings from Medicine, the science behind it, and a few practical takeaways because I believe it’s quite valuable for making day to day life more manageable.

💡Using sound and your voice as a tool for healing

Sound is a new and yet ancient modality of healing and attuning to the ever changing shifts of our world. The Soneiro Collective combines science, ceremony, ancestral arts and “neuro-sonic technology" into a a kind symphony, which invited us to go past the confines of sensory perception.

How does sound healing work?

• Calm the parasympathetic system: The parasympathetic nervous system controls bodily functions like heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate. Sound can soothe this part of the nervous system.

• Brainwave entrainment: Sound frequencies influence brainwave activity. Brainwaves are electrical patterns that our brain generates at different states of consciousness. Different types of sounds, such as binaural beats or isochronic tones, can induce specific brainwave states (like relaxation or deep meditation) through a phenomenon called brainwave entrainment. This theory suggests that external auditory stimuli can synchronize the brain's electrical activity to specific frequencies.

• Pain management: Sound therapy can stimulate the release of endorphins, which are natural pain-relieving chemicals produced by the body. Listening to specific types of music or sound frequencies can help reduce the perception of pain and discomfort.

Here are free sound meditations from the Soneiro Collective you can meditate to, specifically there is a Root Chakra meditation I have done in the below list which was very calming before bed:

💡Using breathwork as a way to tap into your truth and answer the question: what do you really want out of life?

Breathing is a very powerful tool. Slow and deep breathing (six seconds in, eight seconds out) is something I use on the reg! Especially with two small children who are constantly causing dis-regulation in my nervous system, it is mandatory that I take a slow, deep breath before engaging with them (or I literally might explode…and nobody wants that!). And due to the nature of the modern world, the constant disconnection with how we are feeling, and how we are breathing, because of TV, email, social media, etc we can sometimes become stuck in a state of stress. When this happens we go into shallow chest breathing and we remain in that state for 90% of the day. Breathwork gives you a full reset to control the nervous system and become more grounded.

The different types of breathwork?

• Deep breathing and hold: Certain breathing techniques, such as slow and deep diaphragmatic breathing or the 4-7-8 technique (four seconds in, hold for seven seconds, and breathe out for eight) can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. I use this type of breathing before a big meeting or when I’m feeling nervous and honestly it really works, it leads to this sense of calm.

• Slow breathing: Slow breathing can help regulate emotions by influencing the balance of neurotransmitters and hormones in the body. This is especially helpful when my PMS symptoms start! Slow and controlled breathing (five seconds in, five seconds out) can reduce the production of stress hormones (cortisol) and stimulate the release of calming neurotransmitters like GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid).

• Rapid breath (fire breath): Some breathwork practices involve rapid or intense breathing patterns that increase oxygen intake and stimulate the body's energy systems. This can result in increased feelings of vitality and alertness. At the festival, we did Kundalini yoga with the Kundalini Collective which incorporated this type of breathing, I felt lighter, happier and more grounded after the session, I would highly recommend trying Kundalini to cultivate more energy!

More on fire breath here:

The breathwork session I did with Breathpod, which incorporates rhythmic breathing patterns and holding enhances oxygenation and lower carbon dioxide to the brain, improves cognitive function and focus. We set an intention at the beginning of the session and then we went into a pattern of faster breathing and holding and letting it all go.

It helped me clear my mind and get in touch with my subconscious. I started having visions that I was putting hearts into my partner’s chest (we have been having a hard time recently). Afterwards I went up to my partner and held his hand and told him I was sorry for the fight we had in the car before the festival (something I do not typically do!).

If you want to learn more about breathwork, the Kundalini Collective was at Medicine and here is a series of free lessons on breathwork, check this out here, but of course if you want to try a workshop and go fully in, you can check out Breathpod.

If it’s your first time doing a full breathwork session I wouldn’t recommend doing this at home, instead joining a class in your local neighbourhood. If you live in London, here is a great list of breathwork classes that could be helpful for you.

Finally, here is a list of the contributors at Medicine if you want to discover new artists, healers and musicians who all value community and connection and healing:

And final final thought, a healer at the festival recommended Tara Brach as someone who could be helpful in learning to let go (something I am still very much learning to do), so I want to leave this here for you if you feel it is calling you:

I hope you found this useful!

Sending so much love,

Meagan

I felt inspired from this weekend and have since created a space that is more aligned to what I share in this newsletter, if you feel it will be helpful for you to follow, here you go → @hapehaven