I often feel pressured by capitalism, the Instagram algorithm, people on the internet, but mostly by myself, to find and claim “my thing”. I recently heard adrienne marie brown on the We Can Do Hard Things podcast share about how we are all longing to find our thing, the one thing that defines our work and drives our creativity.
*please note: I’m not directly quoting adrienne, just summarizing what I got from the interview, it’s a great episode, definitely recommend checking it out.
While listening to this interview I had all kinds of feelings, most notably some low-level panic and ensuing anxiety about not having claimed “my thing”.
I do many things — lead sound baths, host a podcast and interview incredible people, write a substack newsletter, host retreats and journeys, guide rituals…all these things are different and I don’t feel ready (or willing) to claim just one of them as my thing.
And so I arrive yet again at the paradox of BOTH AND.
I believe that we humans are BOTH made up of many things, complex and layered, not able to be contained by just one thing, AND we all have unique gifts and talents that inspire and propel us to be who we came here to be.
As I’ve been sitting more with “my thing” I’ve been seeing a common thread weaving through all the things I do. This thread is holding space. Whether it’s a sound bath, podcast interview, retreat, or newsletter —
I feel my gift is creating and facilitating safe and sacred spaces for people to be and feel.
I’m still working on releasing myself from the pressure of committing to my one thing, it’s a process like anything else, but I do feel grateful and grounded in knowing in my bones that the spaces I create and weave together are safe and sacred spaces for being and feeling. And that, my friends, is enough.
Speaking of the spaces I hold…I want to share an important (and long time coming!) sound bath update with you. I’ve been offering sound baths for 5+ years now. I can’t believe it’s been that long already. What a wild, beautiful, and winding journey it’s been thus far!
For a while now I’ve had more requests for sound baths than I can meet. Well, let me be honest, it’s been more often the case that I’ve scheduled as many as 5 or more sound baths in a week and burned myself out…maybe my fellow artists, creatives, and spaceholders know the feeling? Nevertheless, the requests for sound baths continue to roll in rapidly and I continue to find my balance and capacity, constantly in an inquiry about what is enough and what is too much.
I know deeply that this work is powerful and needed. I’ve seen time and time again the beautiful and healing experiences people have during my sound baths.
And people regularly share intimate reflections of their sound bath experiences with me — that they’re transported to faraway lands, brought back to cherished memories of childhood, that their lingering back pain has suddenly subsided, that they feel more relaxed than they have in years.
I’m regularly working with incredible people and organizations — UVA’s Darden School of Business and Chemistry Department, The Boars Head Resort, Common House, The Batesville Market, The Wool Factory, Well Room, The Haven, Swannanoa, IX Art Park, Camp Friendship, and many more yoga studios and community spaces.
All that being said, I’m finally ready to raise my prices.
I’ve come to this point kicking and screaming, mainly because I want my work to be financially accessible. To be honest again, (I’m sensing a theme here…) I don’t want to serve and work with only wealthy white people, yes, I said it. It often feels strange to live in a world and culture where we offer our gifts and talents in exchange for money when for most of human history we shared our gifts and talents reciprocally with one another. But alas, we live inside of capitalism and need money to support ourselves.
Starting in the new year / January 2024 my sound bath pricing will go up (new prices will be announced late this fall/early this winter). When the new prices take effect I will also be launching a sound bath scholarship fund with priority given to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ folks.
In closing, I want to follow the thread of honesty that I’m weaving here and say that it’s taken a lot of time and work to have the capacity in my system to raise my prices, and even more work to feel worthy of doing so. I’m feeling butterflies in my stomach as I type and get ready to send this email. I’m noticing feelings of nervousness and uncertainty about how this decision will affect my business and my clients. I’m also noticing feelings of excitement and empowerment. More than anything, I’m trusting wholeheartedly in myself and knowing that the time has come.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out waverly@waverlydavis.com.
If you’re new to my sound baths and want to learn more, visit my website — waverlydavis.com/sound-baths
Thank you to all of you who have supported me and my sound baths. Every single one of you means the world to me and has made following this dream of mine a reality. I am eternally grateful!
With a full and open heart,
Waverly