Rewilding the Voice at Stone Moss
Rewilding the Voice at Stone Moss
Are you ready to explore the self-healing power of your voice and the nurturing energy created by singing in community? Before humans spoke, we sang. This powerful, primal connection to our soul, our lineage, and land has been muted by modern culture, but not erased. Come remember your wildness and power through one of the most ancient of human technologies: your voice.
During this half-day outdoor experience at Stone Moss Eco-Retreat, you will have time to immerse yourself in nature and discover just how versatile an instrument you have. You will learn techniques and practices to process and express what is often deeper than words. In this 4-hour workshop, we will move, sing, grieve, rage, play, and connect through our voices:
Part One is all about grounding in ourselves and includes a short gentle movement practice to warm up the body, led by Milissa Link.
In Part Two, we’ll tune into our voices and breath through guided visualizations and technique play with Natalie Nowytski, who will empower us to connect our voices with our environment and ancestral traditions, find “home” in our unique instruments, and release difficult emotions through a community grief singing practice and post-care.
After a break, Part Three celebrates the voice and its capacity for building community through Primal Singing with Laurel Armstrong: We’ll practice call-and-response, improvising with a drone, and creating emergent music in community.
We will end the session with a re-grounding and short discussion/fellowship. Tea and light snacks will be provided. No singing experience necessary—just an openness to explore through a supportive circle of voices in a beautiful healing environment.
Facilitator Bios
Laurel Armstrong has been involved in the performing arts for over 30 years in many different capacities. Primarily trained as a performer in theater and music, her focus the last five years has been around the foundations of how and why humans create and use performance to navigate existence. Primal Singing is the practice she developed from combining her training in Western theater and music with the principals of more ancient singing traditions and community practices from other parts of the world, especially those of her own Irish and Scandinavian ancestry.
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 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
Photo by Koreen Valdovinos
About Stone Moss
Stone Moss is a 20-acre woodland and prairie eco-retreat tucked into the bluffs above Lake Pepin in Wisconsin’s Driftless Region. The property is rustic and off-grid. We will have access to open prairie, grassy areas, wooded ravines, unpaved trails, and multiple outdoor gathering spaces. A rustic structure will be made available if the weather is inclement.
A few things to know before you come:
Travel: Stone Moss is approximately 1.5 hours from the Twin Cities. Please plan accordingly for the drive.
Off-grid: There is no electricity, running water, or Wi-Fi on the property.
Bathrooms: Privy facilities and wash stations are available onsite.
Terrain: Much of the property is natural and uneven, and sturdy, comfortable footwear is recommended.
Accessibility: Unfortunately, Stone Moss is not wheelchair accessible.
Weather: In case of inclement weather, we will be in a rustic indoor space.
Snacks & Beverages: We will provide light snacks and beverages.
What to Bring
Because all of our time will be spent outdoors, please dress for the weather and bring layers, rain protection, sun protection, or other gear appropriate to the forecast.
Bring a water bottle, yoga mat, camp chair and anything else you need for comfort (e.g., blanket, cushion), as most of the session is seated on the ground. Let us know if you need us to provide a chair.
As we will be out in nature, we recommend wearing sturdy, water resistant shoes to walk the grounds.
Note: This workshop is led by experienced wellness facilitators who take great care in supporting your self-healing in a safe environment; however, sometimes people who have experienced deep traumas may be triggered by aspects of these practices. If you’re unsure about your participation, we encourage you to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider.