Colibri Heartsong

My Story

Living with freedom, health and grace begins with self expression.

Throughout human history, we have shared the core need and desire to be seen and heard. To leave a mark of who we are as a legacy.

My gift is facilitating others to free themselves through vocal and musical expression. It is such a pleasure for me to create safe, beautiful and fun environments where people can release, express and enjoy their unique sound.

My journey started as a little girl who was naturally drawn to music and creation. I remember sitting alongside my dad by the piano and getting lost in the endless tunes we could replicate and create.

I went down the classical route of learning the piano and used to love finding the sweet spot of learning pieces as well as I could and then surrendering to the moment to allow it to play itself.

I grew jaded with the linear method of learning music and the striving for the next grade. During my twenties I lost my connection to creativity and expression in an attempt to fit in. This resulted in periods of internal suffering and an eating disorder.

I found yoga by chance and it opened me to devotional bhakti chanting. This was the first time I had experienced music in a whole new way: as a means to open my heart and get in contact with the divine.

Explorations with music deepened further as I discovered the world of plant medicine in Peru. This opened my mind further to the healing power of music and how we can free ourselves across all aspects of life simply by allowing sound to move through us.

For the last 3 years, I have worked as a vocal activation coach, ceremonial musician and retreat facilitator. Through this work, I have found that vocal activation supports psychedelic integration, accompanies any other therapeutic work, and enables those who feel things very strongly to access a channel of release and creativity.

As a human, I am constantly evolving. But here are some core things I have learned and live by:

Singing is our birthright and EVERYONE can sing
There is no 'right' way to sing
It is imperative to 'run the dirty tap water' — aka allow yourself to be a little messy — in the beginning stages of exploring your vocal expression
Expression is the best antidote to depression
Beauty ironically comes from your most authentic, imperfect expression
Feelings want to be felt, moved and made into magic!

We all deserve to feel free and turn our difficulties into gold through the most sacred channel of music!

I look forward to singing with you,
Helen xxx

Lineage & Training

2 years holding kirtan, song circles and cacao ceremonies
2 years facilitating ayahuasca and huachuma ceremonies
200 hr yoga teacher training
3 years of plant dietas, Shipibo lineage — Maestra Ynes Sanchez, niwe rao xobo (Pucallpa) · Maestro Ricardo Amaringo, nihue rao (Iquitos)

Work Together

Four ways
to step in.

Everything Helen offers begins from the same place — your voice, your body, and what's waiting to come through.

Voice Sessions

One-to-one · Online worldwide · In person across the UK

1:1 Vocal Activation4 × 90-minute sessions · All genders

For these sessions, we will open up a ceremonial space together and explore energetic blockages through breathwork, play, chakra toning, improvisation and vocal journeys. By the end of 4 sessions you will be able to identify blockages and have somatically moved through them to begin to discover your unique voice.

1:1 Voice & Guitar Lessons4 × 90-minute sessions · All genders

You can expect to learn basic chords and finger picking on the guitar alongside opening up your voice. We will use the technology of mantra and medicine songs to gently explore a deeper connection to sound.

1:1 Voice & Womb WorkFor womb carriers

This work revolves around restoring connection to the womb using sound. It is directed towards womb carriers who have suffered trauma in this area or simply feel a lack of connection to their power and creative energy.

Book a session

Song Circles

Group · UK & Online

A held space where people come together to open their voices and their hearts. Regular gatherings across the UK and online.

Join the next circle

Retreats

Women's Immersions · Upcoming

Multi-day immersions weaving voice activation, somatic release, ceremony, and community. Rooted in the traditions Helen has trained in, held with the care she has built over years of sitting in sacred space. Join the waitlist for what's coming.

Join the waitlist

Live Performance

Ceremonies · Festivals · Events

Helen plays guitar in ceremony — a rare thing. Available to perform at ayahuasca ceremonies, kirtan, wellness festivals, women's events, and intimate gatherings.

Get in touch

On the work

Run the dirty
tap water.

There is a moment before clarity where everything is murky. Where the sounds that come out are strange, or ugly, or embarrassing. Where the voice cracks, or refuses, or says something you didn't expect.

This is the work. Not the polished note. Not the correct technique. The running of the dirty tap water until it runs clean.

"It's not just about the voice. It's everything — somatics, inner child work, all the stuff I've really done to be here. I'm constantly doing it and constantly learning."

Helen's approach moves through ceremony, body movement, improvisation, and permission — permission to be imperfect, to be ugly, to be too loud, to take up space. What tends to come up is almost always the same: I'm not good enough. What moves through is always different.

The voice isn't broken. It's been waiting.

Listen

In her own
words.

Helen joined the SolSeed Podcast to talk about singing, medicine, the eating disorder that started it all, and what it means to lead from your voice. It's the most honest introduction to who she is and what she offers.

SolSeed Podcast Ep. 03 — Singing as Healing with Helen Pickles

Singing as Healing — SolSeed Podcast Ep. 03 Watch on YouTube

"The body is a sound machine. We're allowing sound to come out — and we're allowing spirit to come through."

Helen Pickles

"I just want my life to be like a musical. And it is. It's this beautiful musical — and I'm still going through the challenges."

Helen Pickles

"Music is a bridge — the language of life. It doesn't even have to be words."

Helen Pickles

Voices from the Circle

What people say.

"Working with Helen completely changed my relationship with my own voice. I came in convinced I couldn't sing. I left having made sounds I didn't know were in me."

— Placeholder Name Voice Session Client

"The song circle was one of the most unexpectedly moving experiences I've had. Helen holds the space in a way that makes the impossible feel easy. I sang in front of people for the first time in my life."

— Placeholder Name Song Circle, Brighton

"Helen's musicianship in ceremony is like nothing I've witnessed. She reads the room, she reads the medicine, and she plays from a place that can only come from deep training and genuine devotion."

— Placeholder Name Retreat Participant, Sacred Valley

Colibri
Heartsong

Living with freedom, health and grace begins with self expression.