8-week Vocal Freedom Container
Begins March 25th
Expression is our nature.
Expression is our medicine.
Expression is our liberation.
Expression is our contribution.
Are you a Sacred Song Carrier?
All humans feel a stirring of pleasure within when they hear a melody or rhythmic phrase that resonates with them. They have a desire to listen again, to repeat it, to capture it as a small keepsake of joy. For most people, that means singing it in their heads, in the shower, in the car, or under their breath while they walk for a little while, until a new song catches their ear.
But some of us feel a deeper calling – a recognition of the sacredness and potency of these vibrations – and a desire to spread them on the wind. We yearn to carry these songs with us wherever we go, and use our voice as incantation, to activate a great remembering in all those we encounter through the wisdom encoded in the words and frequencies. Some have had this desire since childhood, and for some it has sprouted up from the awe of a recent ceremony or song circle.
Those of us that feel this gravitational pull of these songs of earth, stars, sun and moon are known as song carriers.
Are you a song carrier? If while reading this, you’re feeling some tingles, some excitement, and perhaps some fear, then the answer is: yes, you are.
Whether you’re brand new to music, or a seasoned musician who wants to deepen into song as prayer, your journey into stewardship of sacred songs awaits you.
Letting that old story go
Stepping into the role of song carrier requires much courage: one has to bring to light all the old stories that have been lingering since childhood about the validity and importance of their expression, so that they can be a clear conduit for the music. These are some of the biggest stories that keep people stuck (1, 4 and 7 have been my biggest challenges):
- My voice isn’t good enough
- I’m not musical
- People won’t take me seriously
- I’m an imposter
- It’s too late to learn a new skill
- The better musicians will look down on me
- I don’t like being witnessed in something I’m not good at
Often these stories are deeply embedded and are affecting all aspects of one’s life, including their ability to speak their truth and set boundaries, to communicate desires and needs in intimate relationships, and to claim their purpose in the world.
Chipping away at these old stories until they crumble is one of the facets of the work we’ll be doing together in the Sacred Song Carrier initiation.
The Sacred Song Carrier curriculum
Sacred Song Carrier is an 8-week container, consisting of 8 group sessions, 8 weekly video modules, as well as a 1-on-1 deep dive session with me. The curriculum will consist of:
- Sacred song sharing/leading instruction (medicine songs, mantras, heart songs, etc) – melody, lyrics, and chords or rhythm
- Vocal instruction/instrumental instruction
- Guidance on how to create and hold sacred space – in ceremonies, song circles, yoga classes, etc.
- Somatic and exposure practices to clear fear and doubt blockages
- Primal activations to tap into your expressive power
- Online video modules
- Weekly progressive homework challenges that allow you to slowly expand your capacity to be comfortably witnessed in expression
- Development of your own journal entries, poetry, and personal mantras into songs that ring with universal truth
Upon completion of this initiation, you’ll be more able to:
- Share your music in ceremonies, song circles, and yoga classes
- Create and hold musical spaces for healing and remembering for others
- Invite people into their truth through singing yours
- Spread codes of authenticity through trusting your innate guidance and deeply honoring and owning your unique gifts
- Let go of the stories that prevent you from being in your natural states of play and flow
- Release the need to be performative, so you can allow your voice to be used as a tool for prayer
- Allow yourself to be witnessed in the ecstasy and vulnerability of your uncompromised truth
What’s Included:
- 1 75-min 1:1 session with me – tailored towards your goals: learning and carrying songs, embodiment practices and working through fear, creating and holding musical sacred spaces, etc
- 8 weekly 90-120 min group musical sharing/expression + QA workshops
- Online curriculum with videos and docs
- Unlimited workday access to me via video and voice messaging, allowing you to get real-time feedback and questions answered between sessions
- Lyrics, tabs and playlists of circle songs
- Weekly exercises and challenges to progressively build confidence and explore creativity
- A WhatsApp community that will be built of fellow sacred song carriers
- Video recordings of all of our workshops (and optionally, individual session recording)
Testimonials
Ivan has been a huge inspiration for me not only in a musical world, but also on my Bhakti path.
I never played any musical instrument in my life and never thought I would, but Ivan gave me the confidence where now I can share my singing and playing in front of other people with absolutely ease.
– Natalia Hostylo
I’m thrilled to have found Ivan as my mentor in sharing songs and learning the harmonium. I’ve been to a couple of workshops that have helped me to feel more confident in expressing myself in a group setting. He is patient and encouraging with no judgment. It’s always been really healing for me going to his kirtan and workshops. Highly recommend!
– Eliza Moon
Ivan is kind, patient, and a great communicator. After only a couple lessons I’m able to fully play some songs that offer great opportunities to explore the edges of my abilities.
Most importantly, the lessons with Ivan have been really fun ✨… and I tend to learn best and practice more if it’s fun!
– Dr. James Stang
Ready to join?
Pricing is as follows:
You can use the button below to checkout, or Venmo @ivan-durst . Payment plan available – you can email me here.
Not sure if this is for you yet? Click here to book a free 20-min call with me to get your questions answered or learn more about what the experience will be like.
Questions?
I’m happy to answer any questions or concerns, or to hop on a call to see if you’ll be a fit for this program. Please email me here.
Q&A
- I have exactly zero musical experience / I can’t sing on pitch / I have no rhythm. Am I welcome here?
- You are 100% welcome here exactly as you are. There is no hierarchy, and no expectations of any level of proficiency. A willingness to show up and be vulnerable is all that is required.
- I am an experienced musician who’s wanting to learn how to share in/create ceremonies, song circles, or yoga classes. Is this for me?
- Yes, you are in the right place. Our individual sessions will prepare you with the songs and skills you need to share heart songs, medicine songs, and mantras, and our group sessions will be your training ground.
- Will I write my own songs?
- If you desire to, yes! I will guide you in some of my favorite songwriting practices to get you creating songs that are true to your heart.
- How is safety created?
- Through a slow pace, somatic exercises that get us out of our mind, and through invitations to express your unique needs so that they can be met.
- I have a deep-seated fear of expressing with my voice / I’ve been told I’m a bad singer / My voice shakes when I try to sing. Is this for me?
- This is especially for you. Part of becoming a song carrier is working through these profound challenges, and finding the joy on the other side.
I’ve been intuitively guided through participating in and hosting many initiations on my path, including yoga + conscious leadership trainings, plant medicine journeys in the jungle, song circles around the sacred fire, ISTA, and multiple trainings in embodied coaching, tantra, and mens work.
Through this winding journey, I’ve realized that the path into the heart is not an upward ascension, but rather a planting of ourselves down deep in the fertile soil, where the darkness lies, and a trust in the wisdom of our DNA to sprout us into the light, thriving in the sunshine, but fully tapped into the power and sustenance below the surface.
I’m a lifelong musician and lover of sacred sound. Some of my personal hobbies and practices include dance, chanting, breathwork, qigong, meditation, mythology, photography (you can view some here), skateboarding, and beach volleyball.