Sarah Patterson is a creative visionary and a sound and energy pioneer. She loves to explore the way singing is medicine for ourselves, for others and our evolving planet in a vital way.
‘I believe our singing makes a difference in the world. Through singing we connect with ourselves. We become more conscious of what we are offering others and connect with them. And as our sensitivity increases we deepen our relationship with aliveness with all beings and the earth herself.’
Whether co-creating with world musicians, recording in the studio, singing wild in nature or traveling to meet with different communities in the world and share spontaneous songs, singing is her joy and a way of vibrationally, consciously creating with life.
Sarah lives in Devon loving its’ wild nature and clear, supportive energy. She enjoys communicating with the wild ponies, foals, sheep, buzzards, trees, gorse, rocks, the land itself and much else.
“I find it very strengthening and yet softening at the same time. Itʼs a powerful energy vortex, clear and radiant and it supports my work and my being. I love sharing this experience with others. The land loves sharing with people too. Thatʼs why I offer some of The Singing Path workshops here.”
Sarahʼs spiritual practice and openhearted approach to life features in her recordings. Her albums include the 2018 ‘BuddhaSongs’ a glorious bridging of songs and mantra. And then there is the beautiful ‘White Tara’ CD. Here the chants, music and prayers inspired by the Tibetan Buddha White Tara can be enjoyed, used as a practice in itself and also to clear and enhance spaces. A glorious meld of classical, Tibetan and Irish influences make it a unique offering. “Talking with Panchen Utrul Rinpoche at Jampa Ling In Ireland helped focus my understanding White Tara. It is a daily practice there.”
Her upbeat world music childrenʼs CD is ‘Songs from Nanditaʼs Dream’, a singalong dance to favourite. It features Black Umfolosi, Sheema Mukherjee, Jullian Marshall, Lawrence Kelson, Sura Susso and many more. There are wonderful childrenʼs vocals from the Rainbow childrenʼs choir she assembled for the recordings. The inspiring website www.nanditasdream.com hosts the book “Nanditaʼs Dream”, the CD and the “children who love the planet” section where children around the world can share their dreams for their lives and the planet. You can also check it out on Amazon. Sarah offers workshops for children based on the project.
Sarah has a background in traditional acupuncture which informed her development of sound, breath and energy techniques and bodywork. Her Medicine Singer workshops include some of that experience and direct work with Medicine Buddha in the Tibetan tradition. She works with the feminine energies, Tara and Sherab Chamma – mother of all the Buddhas.
Her family nurtured creativity, writing, music and body awareness. “Now I see the freedom in their example. I was also lucky enough to go to a piano teacher, Rene Waterman, who loved the music in me and called it forth. I follow her example now in my own work with people. Her loving, bright spirit was as important as the actual training she offered. With her, the music was just called out through me. She held the space for it with her attention. It was easy and natural to follow my own path with singing and creating music when the time came. I was able to create a blend of voice and connected practice that was unique and call to that in others finding their own unique way. I love that we are all different.”
“I feel I can follow any sound and flow of energy as it emerges and let my voice and heart just go there. I tend to hear the harmonies and instrumentals simultaneously in my head which supports the composing and recording process. I also hear energy and bathe in that which is renewing. Itʼs a deepening, joyful experience of being alive.” Singing with wonderful pioneers in natural voice approaches such as Frankie Armstrong, Chloe Goodchild and Giles Petit helped give her a grounding and a freedom in practice.
“Actually I was rigorous and disciplined to a new level with voice practice. I just turned up and sat every morning early and began. It really helped me show up in the fullness of my spirit. Iʼve worked with people in medicine traditions all over the world from the Hawaiin Kahuna to the Amazon Achuar to the Australian Aborgine… and it has shown me how many of us are bridging into new paradigms, welcoming ancient and new wisdom alike. Such a great time to be alive on the planet, aware of the multileveled nature of our beings, consciously co-creating, dreaming new dreams and loving each other, the earth and spirit. Years ago I can remember Ram Dass saying “Are you in there? ʻcause Iʼm in here.” That says it. We can have such a good time together and it feels so good to recognize each other. For me itʼs a time of being heartfelt with our humanity and following that every breath of our now.”
“The Singing Path has become a way of exploring anything – anything at all, from emotional experience to burgeoning creation, the universe, a beautiful beetle… In the now, the presence of everything, in the rhythm in our blood, the flows of the oceans. We are at heart creators and innovators. I know when someone opens their mouth to sing I will hear something that has never been heard before. The Singing Path is about exploring the possibilities in our lives, the paths radiating out for us to follow. Often at night here on Dartmoor I look out and see silver paths from the moon between the trees and it reminds me of the glorious mystery and potential of singing.”
