What's "Projective Dreaming?" got to do with Monochords?
We're very blessed to have so many amazing people in our intuitive sound-making community who bring their unique perspectives to this work with therapeutic sound instruments.
We'd like to share a special highlight video featuring Michelle James of Oneonta, New York - who was our special guest at our live "Monochord Monday Meetup" back in November of 2025.
Michelle shares the concept of "Projective Dreaming" - a group practice in which a person shares their dream and the others are invited to interpret this dream as if it were their own and dream on further. Michelle applies this notion to sound as she offers up a sonic interpretation of a recent dream of hers performed on feeltone instruments (Monolina and Tinka Tong tongue drum), then allows us to take this inspired rhythmic playing and dream on our own instruments for our 7 minutes of playing time.
Michelle James is a contemplative ritualist, an animal chaplain who weaves soul to soil, essence to presence, and silence to sound:
"As a companion, collaborator, and traveler, I am here to bear witness, hold space for the laughter and tears, and offer gentle support when needed.
I orient by way of Earth-honoring, place-based, animist values which include acknowledging the seen-unseen, named-unnamed, known-unknown as a part of our spiritual journey.
Your lived experience is the basis of our journey. The call of the soul may be whispering or raucous; we spend our time learning to return inward and listen, step-by-step coming home.
My vision is to reweave the relationship between inner and outer, soul and soil, timebound and timeless. To create containers where individuals and groups attune with a felt sense of welcome, coming home to wholeness through reflection, contemplation, revelation and liberation." - Michelle James
The monolini is an exquisite instrument with resonance that invites peace and well being. Thank you to Gabriele for our conversation and welcome into a community of like-minded people.
I had purchased the Sansula Basic on the recommendation of Laura Inserra - sound alchemist. I loved the tone and used it regularly in my classes. I purchased the padded case and all was well until it slipped out of my hand onto my yoga mat and to my dismay the membrane exploded into many pieces - I was both shocked and very disappointed.
I called the company right away and the owner explained I would have been better choosing the more robust version as I was transporting it regularly and that the basic model is much more delicate and is more suitable for studio work. As repairing mine would involve costly shipping back and forth to Germany, she recommended I purchase the Renaissance model at the repair program discounted price, which I did.
So lesson learned, buy the more robust models if you plan to use the Sansula in classes or for travel. Thank you We Play Well Together.
I recently purchased the monolina and I am extremely satisfied. The customer service was outstanding and the product arrived very fast and in perfect condition. Highly recommended!
When I first heard the Monalina at a sound bath I knew I had to have one. I bought one in F just to hear it. And then for Christmas my wife found Joules online course and signed me up for it. I was hesitant at first because I was just strumming it for fun, but I knew that the people that were taking her course would actually be utilizing it more fully than me. I was also nervous because I hadn’t played any instrument in front of people in quite a number of years. But Joule made me feel comfortable and relaxed and made the whole group feel as though that we were one in experiencing the weekend together. It was wonderful and I will never forget one minute of it. Plus as a trained musician it was nice that she actually has a musical education because then I knew that she knew not only how to play the instrument and how to get the most out of it but also the science behind the sound. I wouldn’t change a thing and she did a wonderful wonderful presentation. She was so into it. It was so much fun!
