Sounding Ground

Sounding Ground is a weekend devoted to experiencing the feeling of home in our bodies, our vocal expression, and our relationship to land. Designed by artist and healing-practitioners Laurel Armstrong and Natalie Nowytski, this weekend takes place at the beautiful nature retreat Silvae Spiritus. Participants will experience forest bathing, dawn-yoga, a forest sauna/cold-plunge, and workshops that explore the voice as one of our primal technologies for connection, healing, and expression.

This event is centered on women/femme folk, and spaces are limited to honor the intimacy of the weekend. Meals will be provided both mornings, and on Saturday evening. Participants are asked to bring their own lunch for Saturday afternoon. Nourishing snacks and tea will be available throughout the event. 



All workshop tickets include access to the campground where participants can set up their own tents. Lodging in one of Silvae Spiritus’ spa-inspired spaces* can be purchased for an additional cost (availability is limited.) Participants can also stay elsewhere in the area and drive in for workshops and activities, but we recommend staying on the land if possible.
*The Treehouse and Guesthouse sleeping spaces are accessed via narrow staircases. 

Bios 

Natalie Nowytski is an award-winning composer, performer, voice coach, and sound healing practitioner whose music lives at the intersection of ancestry, language, and human connection. With over 50 cultures’ music traditions in her repertoire and deep roots in Ukrainian heritage, she creates bridges between generations, homelands, and deep emotions, helping people reclaim confidence in their voice and discover what “home” sounds like in their body. She’s a regular collaborator on sound baths and is currently in an international diploma program for 1:1 client work in sound healing. natalienmusic.com

Laurel Armstrong has been working professionally in the arts as a performer and creator her entire adult life. For the past five years she has been combining her artistic background with her spiritual and somatic studies, especially at the intersections of art, healing, community, ancestry, and land. Her passion for playfully bringing different elements together led her to create Primal Singing, a practice in accessing the primal elements of vocalizing for individuals and groups. She has studied a lot of things with a lot of people, and is in the middle of making a very good website about it all.

Theresa Priya is a transformational guide and the creator of YOUru: you are your own guru. She holds a Masters degree in Integrative Studies with a unique blend of leadership, holistic wellness, and human development. She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT), Reiki master, and hypnotherapist who meets each person where they are, offering intuitive exploration, inner listening, and guidance on journeys of transformation. Her immersive workshops, online content and 1:1 work is rooted in science, academic study, and lived experience to help each person discover and embody their YOUru, the guru within. https://www.yourucenter.com/

Schedule (subject to change)
Friday, July 24th
6:00PM-7:00PM Arrival & Setup at Silvae Spiritus
7:00PM-9:00PM Introductions, Opening Sounding Circle

Saturday, July 26th
6AM-7AM Greet the Dawn Yoga & Song
8AM-9AM Breakfast at the Guesthouse
9:30AM-12:30PM Forest Bathing & Singing With the Land Workshop
12:30PM-2:00PM Open time (journal, explore, eat, etc.)
2:00PM-5:00PM Finding Home & Primal Singing Workshops
5:30PM-6:30PM Dinner at the Guesthouse
7:00PM-8:30PM Sauna/Cold Plunge
8:30PM-9:30PM Evening jam session

Sunday, July 27th
6AM-7AM Greet the Dawn Yoga & Song
8AM-9AM Breakfast at the Guesthouse
9AM-10:00AM Closing Circle