Winter Solstice Celebration & Sound Journey
with Ruby Koa & Candace Blair

The Winter Solstice is a reflective time of year when we prepare to move into the light, not only physically but with our intentions as well. Utilize this powerful time to uplift your consciousness, balance your energy, and unlock the joy from within. This healing experience will be beautifully orchestrated from beginning to end with a handful of musicians from different walks of life.

Rainbow Medicine-Walker (see bio below) will be leading a Winter Spirit Dance with her drum and powerful voice to strengthen our inner and outer selves for the challenges of the dark season. Ruby Koa will lead some gentle stretching, movement , and breathing (all beginner level) to allow the nervous system to prepare for the sound vibrations while Jay Darling plays his handpan drum and other instruments in the background. There will likely be a guided relaxation such as Yoga Nidra offered to settle you even further.

We are so blessed to have gong teacher and enthusiast Roger Tjoelker from Seattle who will be conducting the gong playing segment with Ruby to create a sound journey (50-60 minutes long). There will be 3 planetary gongs, (Pluto, Moon, & Neptune, 2 Chau gongs, one wind gong), 5 Bilos, or planetary gong plates, ocean drum, and chimes. A variety of mallets will also be used to bring out the full spectrum of beneficial vibrations and frequencies. Just as a body massage works out tight and knotted muscles, the "sonic massage" of the gongs works out emotional issues that we need to release in order to move forward in life. The listener only has to let go and let the sound of the Gongs do the work. The experience is effortless and the results profound.

The sound of the gong creates deep relaxation, releases us from the torrent of thoughts our mind continuously generates and stimulates our glandular system to a higher frequency of functioning.

While everyone has their own unique experience with sound energy, many have found it to open pathways to relax, quiet their mind, balance energy, meditate, release emotional tension, retune internal systems, have a spiritual experience, heal themselves, inspire creativity, or feel a deep sense of peace. Our innate intelligence appears to use this type of sound energy to promote well-being within.

Gong Bath Meditation Benefits: 

Promotes relaxation and stress relief

Restores vibrational balance and mind-body harmony

Stimulates immune system and glandular functioning

Encourages the movement of life force energy

Clears habitual negative thought patterns

Supports deep spontaneous meditation

Improves concentration, creativity and will-power

Advances spiritual exploration and self-discovery

With: Ruby Koa, Roger Tjoelker, Rainbow Medicine-Walker, and Jay Darling

When: Sunday December 17th, 6:00-8:00 pm

Where: Presence Studio, 1412 Cornwall Ave. (across the street from my old, Inspire Studio) The studio is just to the left of Bellingham Bar and Grill and is located upstairs. Allow for time to find parking and please arrive 10 -15 minutes early to settle in.

Price: Early Bird Rate until 12/14: $40*, $45* after.

(15% off for monthly autopay members and students, get code from Ruby)

A few sliding scale spots are also available as well as a few work exchange positions for set up and take down. Text Ruby if you're interested at 360-447-8778.

*Payment Note: The credit card fee of $1.50 will be included in your total.

To avoid the fee (if there are still spots available), you can send your payment via Venmo and include your name and email and/or phone number, my handle is @ruby-koa (just please don’t press the "purchases" button as I get a fee).

Or you can use the email [email protected] to find me on Zelle, or to contact me to arrange payment by check or cash.

Just put in the comments 10/17 Event, and once I receive your payment, I will register you manually.

What to Bring: The room may feel slightly cool as we'll turn off heater at some point to increase the sound quality, so dress in layers. The sound journey is usually experienced lying down on your back or a similar comfortable position. Some blankets, bolsters, and lovely silk eye pillows with optional lavender aromatherapy essential oils will be available to use. We'll probably be lying down for at least an hour, on hardwood floor, so please bring whatever you need to be comfortable

- yoga, Pilates mat (optional thick blanket for extra padding)

- blanket and/or pillow

- water bottle

- ear plugs may be helpful in case you discover you’re sensitive to certain sound frequencies.

Each prop can have a powerful influence on your ability to relax and sink further into the rest & digest state, to receive the most benefit, so best to be prepared.

There will also most likely be one or two intuitive energy workers there to support you in releasing and grounding. The event concludes with tea, sweets, snacks, and community.

Cancellation/refund policy: If you can’t attend the event, please get in touch. Refunds are usually only given when the cancellation is made 48 hours before the event starts as space is limited and we’d like time to contact anyone on the waiting list. However, you are always welcome to give your ticket to someone else or if you contact Ruby as soon as you can, you can let her know what future event or class you’d like to be registered in with your credit.

Note on Hearing Aids: We cannot guarantee that the sound will be pleasing with hearing aids, so unless you're accustomed to using them in sound healing scenarios, you may want to take them out or turn them down during the sound journey segment.

About the Facilitators:

Ruby Koa:

Ruby, founder of Inspire Studio has been teaching yoga in Bellingham since 2009. She offers a variety of classes including various forms of Vinyasa Flow, Gentle Flow, Yin, Restorative, and Kundalini Yoga. Ruby’s aim is to cultivate a sense of community and she loves working with the divine feminine as well as the medium of sound healing. She has crystal and Tibetan singing bowls, a Chau and a Planetary Moon Gong. In addition to her Kundalini Yoga and Vinyasa Yoga 200 hr. She has also completed a level 1 & advanced gong training and is now a 500 hour RYT with specific certifications for teaching yin, restorative yoga, and more.

Roger Tjoelker:

Roger, founder of Transformative Sound and Blosm studio in Seattle, is a professional gong player, instructor, and a Transformational Breath® facilitator. Formerly a corporate CFO, he first heard the gong played well at a Transformational Breath® Seminar and instantly knew that he had to learn to play and bring this amazing sound energy to others. He offers group and private gong sound immersions and uses several gongs to provide a full spectrum of transformative sound energy.

Rainbow Medicine-Walker is an enrolled member of the federally recognized Cherokee Nation. She is the granddaughter of Cherokee Admiral JJ Clark, Chief Water Dweller and Chief Thunderbird.

Rainbow is an Elder, Veteran and Ceremonial leader with over thirty years experience in Spirit Warrior Trainings, Individual and Family Healings and Public and Private Ceremonies for Special Events. Rainbow has led ceremony for groups in Australia, Finland, Norway and Canada as well as closer to home here in America.

She can be contacted at: [email protected]

Jay Darling understands that music is food for the soul. Jay has been helping people of all ages move and cut loose in the spirit of play for decades. Jay plays instrumental and body percussion, handpan, and vocalizations. He can be contacted at: [email protected]