CALMLY grew out of my personal process for dealing with stuck emotions and learning to connect more deeply with myself and God. Meditation has been difficult for me, for I have always had a mind that races from one thing to the next and a body that is always in motion. Processing emotions in a healthy way was not something that I was ever taught. I have learned the benefits of going deep within myself to unravel my emotions and thoughts. I find that when I empty myself of “me,” I am able to find a more loving, compassionate and gracious way of looking at myself, others and the world around me. Music allows me to experience a state of deep contemplation and stay present when silence is difficult.

I am a professional classical musician and I recently retired from 23 years as a music educator. I’ve also spent many years as a singer, arranger, conductor, and pianist for various worship ministries. I am a certified sound healing practitioner, meditation and retreat leader. As a wellness artist, my mission is to use music/sound to help heal the body, enhance mental clarity, and teach others to process emotions in a healthy way.

I write and record music that helps listeners pause from the hustle culture and experience a curated space to connect with themselves and meet God on a deeper level. In the last several years, my own personal challenges have been a catalyst for  learning about the connection between emotions, energy, wellness and spirituality. I am passionate about my work which is based on my experience and research;

• The body keeps track of emotional wounds and trauma that can be stored in the body as stagnant energy. Left unprocessed can lead to illness and disease, but also affect our relationships and worldview.

• Emotions are important clues to knowing ourselves, and need to be processed in a healthy way, rather than suppressed or dismissed by ourselves or others. 

• Many women feel shut down by others, by those that tell them to “just move on,”  “get over it” or because of past conditioning from their childhood. This can lead to feeling ashamed to express what we feel even to ourselves. 

• We are often not taught any process for processing our emotions effectively, either from parents or other mentors. 

• Many women are afraid that allowing their emotions to come through will lead to a feeling of being out of control.

• Outsourcing our sense of validation to others is common, and often something we are conditioned to do, but eventually leads to a sense of insecurity, powerlessness, and lack of knowing our own values. 

• Spiritual and emotional maturity are connected, and can only happen when we learn to listen to our inner guidance, the Holy Spirit. Our inner voice, guided by the Holy Spirit, is best heard when we can quiet ourselves, often with contemplative practices like meditation, solitude and silence. 

My Story

I grew up wanting to be strong and stoic, because I thought that having emotions made me seem weak. My parents’ generation, like so many of us, just didn’t have the emotional tools to pass on to me. The problem was that denying my emotions, and pretending they weren’t there didn’t make them go away. I’ve experienced many challenges in life, but the end of a close relationship was the tipping point. My emotions were uncontrollable,  I could not stop overthinking, sleep was impossible, and I couldn’t  find peace even through prayer. I discovered mindfulness and meditation, which helped me to quiet my racing mind and begin to listen to my own needs. I was  inspired by the Franciscan spirituality that I had discovered on my many trips to Assisi, Italy and I was moved by those practices which produced in me a more authentic spirituality.  I began to understand the commonalities between spiritual practices, biblical teachings, and vibrational medicine and how they could be leveraged to improve mental and emotional wellness. Of course, I already knew about the power of music to help shift emotional states. 

In 2024, I created the CALMLY meditation series for my first retreat in Petersham, MA. In the past four months, CALMLY has already been used by retreat leaders in Alaska, Florida, Georgia, and California, and online.  

CALMLY synthesizes mindfulness, meditation, and music within a faith-centered (Christian) context. The process will help you become more present to each moment, process and release stuck emotions in a healthy way, and feel more connected to yourself and Spirit. Over time, it will help you create a life that aligns with your deepest values and experience more wonder and joy.  

Each letter stands for a specific intention. For example, (C-Cave of Wonder, A-Awareness, L-Let Go,-M-Make Space, L-Listen, Y-Yahweh). After you listen to the guide for each section, you’ll immerse yourself in the corresponding musical soundscape to meditate on each intention. The steps and music are on separate tracks, allowing you to pause or focus on what resonates with you the most. I’ve added journal prompts for each section so that you can record your insights and experience. 

The CALMLY Meditation series is a uniquely transportive experience that includes 25 minutes of music and takes approximately one hour to complete.  

How does it work and who is it for?  

I have greatly benefited from having mentors, neuro-linguistic programming to rewire my thought patterns, and talking to others!  However, I believe that real inner change happens when we are able to  wrestle with what is inside us, although this process is something that most of us resist!!  CALMLY will help you find your center as you become more aware of limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, self-sabotaging thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that prevent you from thriving and experiencing joy. The process invites you to gently let go of these things so that you can open yourself to divine thoughts, direction, and purpose. CALMLY curates a safe space of deep listening and non-judgemental awareness. CALMLY is for women who;

• are afraid to feel their emotions

• feel that you emotions unseen, invisible or dismissed by others as ‘too sensitive’

• are looking for a more personal and deeper spirituality

• are looking to break through their spiritual plateau

• feel that life is too stressful, too fast, too busy, or feel overextended

• have unprocessed emotions, physical ailments and conditions

• are spiritual leaders for others

If this sounds interesting to you, purchase it now by clicking the link below

CALMLY meditation series

To hear a free sample, click here:

CALMLY free sample.

To purchase only the music associated with CALMLY, click here: 

Leslie's Album

Once you experience Calmly you will realize that is so much more than a meditation technique. It is a way of approaching your life and each problem with intention instead of reactivity. Calmly is a way of learning to listen to yourself in the moment so that you can make immediate adjustments to your mindset while shedding light on  the “root” of your emotions and reactions.  

Get started with this series today and learn how to become more present to each moment!  Download a free sample or purchase The CALMLY meditation series by clicking on the button below:

Live Life CALMLY t-shirts are available at my store!