GNOSIS THROUGH
VOICE | SOUND | PLAY
Welcome fellow explorer! This site is a living organism, a work in progress that will evolve with my consciousness.
I believe we are our own greatest teachers. For that reason, throughout these pages you will find invitations to explore your own self. I encourage you to participate and experiment with an open heart and spirit. Who knows what you might discover?
The Vocal Voyage
The Vocal Voyage is a philosophy and a practice. It is my process of deepening my relationship with myself through my own voice and synthesizing those experiences and learnings into offerings for others.
The voice is a fractal of the whole, an ever-changing fingerprint of the universe. As such, it is both infinitely complex and incredibly simple, a sandbox of unlimited possibilities.
The voice cannot be developed by force. It teaches one how to flow through life with balanced engagement that is neither passive nor overly effortful.
The voice is truth, as nothing can hide from those who know how to listen.
The voice is creation. When we are no longer attached to producing sounds as we think them, a world of endless possibilities opens up. We can experience that which we could never have dreamed of, let alone thought up.
The Vocal Voyage is a personal journey. And it is available to anyone at any moment. For the voyage is not one that can be provided to you by another. It is truly a devotional practice. It is frustrating at times, challenging, and nonlinear. Chances are high that our paths will be different, but we can still learn from each other and support one another as we venture out ever deeper into the unknown.
If you feel the call, come play with your fellow travelers.
The Vocal Voyage
The Vocal Voyage is a philosophy and a practice. It is my process of deepening my relationship with myself through my own voice and synthesizing those experiences and learnings into offerings for others.
The voice is a fractal of the whole, an ever-changing fingerprint of the universe. As such, it is both infinitely complex and incredibly simple, a sandbox of unlimited possibilities.
The voice cannot be developed by force. It teaches one how to flow through life with balanced engagement that is neither passive nor overly effortful.
The voice is truth, as nothing can hide from those who know how to listen.
The voice is creation. When we are no longer attached to producing sounds as we think them, a world of endless possibilities opens up. We can experience that which we could never have dreamed of, let alone thought up.
The Vocal Voyage is a personal journey. And it is available to anyone at any moment. For the voyage is not one that can be provided to you by another. It is truly a devotional practice. It is frustrating at times, challenging, and nonlinear. Chances are high that our paths will be different, but we can still learn from each other and support one another as we venture out ever deeper into the unknown.
If you feel the call, come play with your fellow travelers.
INVITATION
Set a timer for 3 minutes. Make continuous sounds for the duration of the time. Hum, grunt, groan, sing, laugh, cry, speak words (real or made-up). Whatever wants to be expressed. Just don’t stop. Observe the evolution of the process. Notice any resistance or self-consciousness and if/how your thinking mind tries to make sense of or control the experience. What happens when you surrender?
“The Masters of the secret teachings say that the truth learned from another is of no value, and that the only truth which is living and effective, which is of value is the truth which we ourselves discover.” – The Secret Oral Teachings in Tibetan Buddhist Sects, Alexandra David-Neel and Lama Yongden
Offerings
My intention is to support you in guiding yourself as you transform intellectual understanding into embodied knowledge.
It’s taken me a long time to give myself permission to chart my own course in life, to pathfind. I always longed for there to be clear answers and for someone else to be able to give them to me. Now as an explorer of worlds, inner and outer – of voice, music, sound, mindfulness practices, creativity, community, consciousness – I collect experiences, tools, and techniques for tapping into gnosis, the universal wisdom that emanates from within.
I do not think of myself as a coach, a healer, or a shaman. I am an artist. And our work together is a collaborative creative expression, a dance with the divine.
Though my emphasis is on exploration through voice, my offerings are ever shapeshifting and flowing as I learn every day through focused training and working with individuals and groups.
My offerings fall into two broad categories:
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- Group experiences that range from hours-long workshops to week-long retreats
- Individual mentoring
If you resonate with the essence of this website, let’s connect.
Upcoming Events
Vocal Voyage – Every Tuesday | 3:30pm – 5:30pm (beginning 2/27/24) @ Center for the Enlightenment Arts
Sound Meditation – Friday, April 19 | 6pm – 8pm @ ONEYOGAHOUSE
INVITATION
Close your eyes (after you finish reading) and say the following aloud: “I am my own guide.”
Speak it as many times as you feel called, pausing each time. Notice the sensations in your body, any tensing or releasing. Listen to the cadence, the pitch, the tonality, and the resonance of your voice. If you’re here for a return visit, notice what is different today.
Some variations of phrases you could try:
“I trust myself.”
“I give myself permission to chart my own path.”
“I have everything I need.”
Or try your own that feels most resonant for you.
Who am I?
My name is Tobin, though that doesn’t tell you very much. I hope you can get a window into my journey and perspective through this website. I see everything I do as an experiment informed by study and inspiration, and always with the acknowledgment that there are deeper levels of awareness and understanding.
I travel globally to deepen my practice and to learn from and collaborate with vocalists and facilitators from a wide-variety of musical traditions and backgrounds. Currently based in NYC, I lead workshops around the United States, as well as in South America and Europe. My sound meditation mentors and voice teachers include David Shemesh, Elian Zach, Alexander Tannous, Rhiannon, Neal Harrelson, and David Jones.
The irony of me describing myself to you is that the more I define myself, the further I get from the truth of who I am. We are so much more than, or perhaps less than, our stories. Therefore, I encourage you to schedule a call with me so we can connect.
“Now, actually, this world is not complicated at all. It is perfectly simple. It’s only complicated when you try to think it out… Because every nerve end in your body is alive and aware, every organ is functioning without your thinking about it. And that’s you.” – Alan Watts
Scheduling
My schedule is constantly in flux. If there is little or no availability, check back soon for last-minute openings. If there are no times on my calendar and you would still like to connect, please send me a note. I would love to hear from you.
If we’re speaking for the first time, please book a 30-minute window.
Thank you!
Send me a note
INVITATION
♥ Phone a friend! ♥
Trusting our inner guidance doesn’t mean that we have to live isolated and alone.
On the contrary, I find that community and connection reminds me who I am.
It’s not about turning to someone else for the answers. It’s about being held with love as we explore ourselves.
And connecting with others is always rich in opportunities for us to practice using our voice!
