I recently had the pleasure of joining a handpan retreat offered by Lyndon in the peaceful setting of The Glade in Dartington.
Marco and I had welcomed a handpan just before our move last year but had not prioritised much time to explore it. The retreat gave us the opportunity to connect with this highly relaxing instrument – and what I discovered is so inspiring and relevant to what I do that I can’t keep it just for myself!
What is a handpan?
Handpans are made of two metal domes glued together to form what looks like a UFO. The ding at the top of the dome is the root note of the instrument. The other notes appear like indents around the central note, and are (mostly) all tuned to harmonise well with it.
I find it fascinating that this instrument only appeared about 20 years ago. I think this is no chance, but the manifestation of a wider movement rising from within our collective consciousness. Why? Let me tell you a bit more about the workshop, it’s pure magic!
‘Trust the melody that plays through you’ – this is how Lyndon started the workshop. I was hooked! This wasn’t about technique, but about being with the instrument in front of us. After a few basic instructions to know how to get the sound out of the handpan, the focus became the exploration of our own sounds, in harmony with the rest of the group.
It struck me how this process is about tuning in while listening to the other sounds surrounding us – other people’s, and nature’s as well. It is about exploring and remaining true to who I am in this moment, to my base note, while at the same time finding the best place for me to play my melody and weave it with everything else around me. It is about listening – for sounds, and even more for silence, for that space where my melody can contribute to the overall vibration.
Why is this important?
It speaks to me about our overall aim as human beings – to create for the benefit of all, contributing our own unique melody. This may go unnoticed, perhaps even hidden and sometimes forgotten under all the duties and roles we have been assigned, and we may need some help to find it and cleanse it from all the unhelpful beliefs we have likely accumulated to make it shine again.
I found Lyndon’s workshop very much in tune with this, and I left the retreat feeling refreshed and energised – I highly recommend it if it’s your thing.
Of course, you don’t need to play a handpan to do this. Based on what calls you, there are lots of different ways to tune into your base note and make it shine again. Here at The Soul Path we provide a variety of sessions to help you achieve this – Family constellations and Hypno-psychotherapy are already on offer, with Yoga, Meditation and Gong baths coming soon. Stay tuned with us – you can subscribe to our newsletter, follow us on Facebook or check our website.
May your melody find its rhythm and rise💙
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