“It rings true.”

To most this means there is either some truth in something someone says. To René Jenkins it means “All is in alignment”. From Sonoma, CA, René is a multi-instrumentalist, ceremonial sound practitioner, speaker, teacher and professional musician for over 25 years playing trombone, piano, and ancient indigenous instruments. René understands the sense of sound.

I spoke with René recently about a collaboration for an Experiential Intentional Creativity Painting Retreat called “Reclaim You” that I am facilitating on May 20-21 in Sonoma. I am very excited that René will performing a healing sound concert during the retreat. René’s work guides his clients to remember or return to their “center”, their creativity or life force. Our center is where we are most calm, at equilibrium within ourselves, a place of knowing, of neutrality and vibrant activity.

René’s solution to feeling creatively blocked? “Go out in nature, take a walk, tune into his own breathing which is like the wind outside, and fuel for his instruments. Or take a bath with candles. Light a fire if it’s cold. Go ice skating. Let go of any agenda and do what feels right to still yourself and give mental, emotional and physical rest. Blocks are our pushing to make things happen, unless a push is needed if stuck in habitual patterns. Spin in the opposite direction to bring equilibrium to yourself.”

Walking a walk out in nature opens channels to creativity. Here are René’s suggestions on how to approach it.

“Rhythm is in everything. The pulse of your heartbeat and waves of breath are natural rhythms we create. Walking in rhythm puts you in an open state partly because your arms and legs aren’t crossed.” René follows the beats of his own footsteps as he walks and explores other rhythms with his hands by lightly beating on his belly or chest to create counter rhythms. “It’s actually very mathematical. The rhythm of breathes divided by half-time steps makes a natural groove you can play with while following the beat of your steps.” The order of this sparks his creativity. “Then I’ll hear baselines and melody, then more ideas flow from there. Yes, so the songs sound very march-like, coincidentally, like my next cd release. I’ll bet John Philip Sousa got his inspirations from this type of activity?”

Another way to find your Center is to “listen to your own breath and focus on your breathing. Follow the rhythm of your own body allowing yourself to really feel the physical sensations. Paying attention internally quiets the mind like turning off a leaf blower. Notice how this helps you to be in the present moment. Next with each in and out breath make a sound, a tone in whatever way your vocal cords want to resonate. Starting with “OM” works well. Follow the breath from the shape of your mouth, noticing the hum coming thru nostrils when your mouth is closed, and allowing your body to feel the vibration in your chest. Following your breath through to the pause before taking another in breath. This relaxes and slows down the moment which opens a whole world of sound that is sacred…because it’s all you.”

René says “Imagine if for five minutes at beginning of the day or at every business meeting and every trip to the store everyone did this exercise with their breath how would be different things would be. Everyone would be in a more receptive state with higher consciousness and the world would be different.”

The power of sound in opening creativity. It rings true.

You’ll find Rene Jenkins at www.VIbeTherapy.org, and also at my very special event, “Reclaim You: An Experiential Intentional Creativity Painting Weekend” in Sonoma, CA May 20-21. Check the Events page at www.KerryLeeArt.com for more information. Next week I’ll share some thoughts on Creativity and the Senses – Scent.

Kerry Lee, a 25 year Benicia resident, is a Certified Intentional Creativity® Teacher and Coach, leading group workshops, experiential retreats Mobile Social Painting Parties with a Purpose (May 28 at The Chill, June 9 at Angel Heart 4 You, June 27 at Vini Wine Bar), Customized Corporate Team Building and Corporate Social Responsibility events and teaching essential oil lifestyle and wellness classes. Find her at www.KerryLeeArt.com / #TheAlchemicalArtist

Photo by Rene Jenkins

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