experience
an immersive, deeply relaxing
Mary McDermott, certified sound practitioner
Welcome...
When was the last time you took an hour, just for yourself? In our non-stop world, exhaustion and burnout are all too real. Finding the time to be still and quiet our minds is daunting.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine walking into a space of quiet and calm….where you are welcomed in with soft lighting and hushed voices, where your shoulders drop as you feel the tension ease… a space where, just for a little while, there are no phones, no screens, no to-do lists.
The only thing you have to do is breathe.
Does it seem like calming your nervous system, nourishing your soul, or even just breathing deeply have all started to feel like indulgences to be saved for "someday"?
Welcome to your someday. I’m so happy you're here.
During a sound bath session, participants lie or sit comfortably on the floor while a sound practitioner creates a deeply relaxing soundscape with instruments such as crystal singing bowls, chimes, gongs & drums.
What to expect
A typical sound bath will begin with a short guided meditation, followed by an immersion in the sounds of a variety of instruments. The length of a session can range from 30-90 minutes.
What to bring
Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat and/or blanket(s). Floors are not always carpeted and may need a bit of cushioning. You are also encouraged to bring a pillow, an eye mask/eye pillow and water.
Sound baths are generally considered safe. However, if you have sound-induced epilepsy, a pacemaker, metallic implants, severe mental health issues, or are pregnant, please consult with your doctor before attending.
What is a Sound Bath?
Why Spiral Path?
The spiral is one of the oldest ancient symbols, and was often carved into walls, tombs and at ceremonial sites. Spirals can be found frequently in nature ~ snail shells, whelks, fiddlehead ferns, and pinecones are just a few examples. Our DNA twists into a spiral helix and we live in a spiral galaxy.
Spirals have long represented journeys of introspection. We travel inward to the center of our knowing, travel the same path out again, and we are often changed by the quest. With each journey, we carry new experiences and discoveries inward, and bring wisdom and self-knowledge back out into the world.
It is my hope that the experience of a sound bath will be an opportunity for you to quiet your mind, to deeply relax, and to follow the path of the ancient spiral to your own inner knowing.
Caregiver Sound Baths
Two things can be true at the same time: caregiving can be deeply rewarding, and totally exhausting. I have a special place in my heart for caregivers and I know how overwhelming the responsibilities
can be.
These offerings can be customized to include elements that the recipients find especially soothing and supportive: background music (perhaps birdsong, ocean waves, or other nature sounds), a longer, guided meditation with an unhurried yoga nidra, extended silences, and candlelight. Together, we will create a decision-free bubble of calm to allow your nervous system to rest.
Pajamas are encouraged!
Earth and Sky
Sound Baths
Earth and Sky Sound Baths are special experiences centered around the cycles of the seasons, the Full and New Moon phases, Equinox and Solstice celebrations, the Elements (earth, air, fire, water), ancestral wisdom and zodiac/constellation influences.
These offerings include guided meditations specifically tied to seasonal and celestial themes. They may also include oracle card pulls, suggestions for rituals and ceremonial practices, as well as nature-inspired craft activities.
Services
Group and Community
Sound Baths
A community sound bath offers the opportunity to reconnect with yourself
in the company of others. In a time
where people are feeling increasingly isolated, this shared experience creates a harmonizing group energy that can be both reinvigorating and restorative.
There are many settings in which community sound baths are
becoming increasingly popular:
Yoga Studios
Corporate Wellness Programs
Nature and Retreat Centers
Art Museums, Sculpture Gardens and Planetariums
Community/Hospital Wellness Centers
Special outdoor locations, such as lavender farms and vineyards
Art and Pottery Studios
If you are interested in incorporating the benefits of sound baths at your venue, I will design a custom experience.
Creative Inspiration
A sound bath can offer a unique twist on traditional creative gatherings,.
The calming, meditative atmosphere can help the brain to relax into a flow state, allowing creative energy to flourish.
Quiet activities such as writing, journaling, knitting, sketching, watercoloring, embroidery and other needlework all lend themselves beautifully to a group setting.
Whether you already belong to such a group, or you are a solo artist who would enjoy gathering with other creative people, I will design an event that combines creative activities with the relaxing benefits of a sound bath.
The sound bath can be offered at the beginning of your creative session, or it can be offered as a background soundscape during an intentionally meditative gathering, while participants work quietly on their individual projects.
Either way, a sound bath can enhance the creative experience for all involved.
Private Sound
Baths
A private sound bath for your small gathering can be a unique and memorable way to mark a milestone event, celebrate a special occasion or provide a personalized, meditative element to your regular group get-togethers.
A gathering of friends and family is always a celebration…I can work with you to create a sound bath of unforgettable energy and connection just for your group:
Birthdays
Family Parties
Women’s Circles
Book Clubs
Bachelorette Parties
Ladies’ Night/Self-Care Evenings
Home Energy Reset
Whether you are moving into a new space, or you would like to refresh the atmosphere in your current home, sound waves can help to clear stagnant energy to make room for a more harmonized vibe.
I will help you to identify the four coordinates of your space (North, East, West and South) and use instruments such as gongs, chimes, ocean drum, and thunder drum to call in the corresponding energies of those directions: Earth, Air, Water and Fire.
The ceremony will be followed by a sound bath and guided meditation offered with the specific intention of filling your home with love, health and happiness.
My journey
My name is Mary McDermott. Throughout the years of traditional corporate work, motherhood and caregiving, my spirit has always felt the call of the nature-based practices and lore of my Celtic ancestry. And, once I discovered the calming effects of sound baths, I realized they provided a way to combine my interests in ancient philosophies while also sharing the specific benefits of this beautiful practice. I earned a Level One Certification in Foundations of Integral Sound Healing for Groups and a Diploma in Integral Sound Healing with Groups (Level Two), both from the UK-based Sound Healing Academy, as well as a Reiki Level One certification from The Reiki School & Clinic in Lambertville, NJ.