Thanks to the efforts of a community coming together, two Island women who share more than just their names will benefit from a fundraising concert Sunday, March 8 at the Charlie White Theatre.
Anne L. Carlson and Anne M. Carlson are both battling advanced stage ovarian cancer, undergoing physically gruelling treatment and financial strain.
Sound healers and intuitive musicians Nancy Watters and Mikeoula welcomed the chance to offer their services, to not only send out healing vibrations to the Annes, but also help raise funds to ease their medical costs.
Nancy Watters is opening the afternoon with a soundscape using at least 20 of her Alchemy crystal singing bowls and her voice.
“I’m setting the stage for this gorgeous afternoon of music, and just presenting this devotional, prayful, healing afternoon of music,” she says.
Watters uses a patented design of crystal bowl made of 99 per cent pure crushed quartz crystal, inlaid with various gemstones or precious metals.
The resonances from the bowls have proven healing effects on all manner of illnesses, says Watters, and she points to renowned oncologist Dr. Mitchell Gaynor’s work with cancer patients specifically as evidence of their benefits.
Intuitive musician Mikeoula is headlining the concert, playing a set of silica-based crystal bowls, keyboard and guitar, as well as singing. She will be accompanied by Allannah Dowe on the cello.
“The sound goes right down to your cells and gives you a lovely cell massage. To me that’s the absolute magic,” says Mikeoula, “that it bypasses the intellect. Your body knows intuitively where to take that sound.
“I’m a very strong believer in the healing power of sound,” she adds.
The different chakras, or energy centres, in the body each have a particular note, and the crystal bowls are each tuned to one of those notes, she explains.
“Then there’s the scientific research that shows that the bowls change your brain waves, and take you into that lovely deep state of relaxation,” says Mikeoula.
Her performance is entirely spontaneous and will feed off of what’s going on with the audience.
“The sounds that we create on that day will be beneficial not only for the two Annes, but for everyone who’s there.
“I go there with an open heart,” she says. “It’s just become a wonderful opportunity to share the healing energy that we will be co-creating on that day. We’ll be setting that intention for these ladies, and for the community, and it just expands from there.
“The true purpose of this concert is to raise much needed funds for these two lovely ladies,” says Mikeoula. “The fact that there will be an educational component and divine music and sound is truly a bonus.”
In the spirit of the afternoon, Phillip Sutton, theatre manager, offered the use of the Charlie White Theatre at no cost. Both Annes are hoping to be in attendance, health permitting.
A silent auction begins at 1 p.m. and the concert at 1:30 p.m. at the Charlie White Theatre at the Mary Winspear Centre, 2243 Beacon Ave. in Sidney. There will also be educational resources about ovarian cancer available.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the box office, marywinspear.ca or by calling 250-656-0275. Donations are also accepted by clicking the ‘donate’ tab at marywinspear.ca.