In this week’s edition of New York Art Life Magazine, an exciting interview with Tim Morrison takes center stage. Tim Morrison is a renowned Australian artist, and his international acclaim as a multi-instrumentalist, ceremonialist, and trauma-informed facilitator is genuinely awe-inspiring. But that’s not all – he is also the visionary behind SPIRITUS Breathwork + Somatic Healing, a groundbreaking approach to healing and self-discovery. Tim guides individuals on a profound exploration of breath, sound, and movement in his transformative journeys. He empowers people to access their innate wisdom and unleash their inner power, helping them tap into altered states of consciousness for healing. It’s truly remarkable how he facilitates this process with great sensitivity and understanding of his participants’ deep emotional and spiritual needs.
Through his workshops, immersions, and retreats, Tim leads people toward liberation, freedom, and a deep soul connection. His unique approach goes beyond traditional therapeutic methods, incorporating elements of music, movement, and spirituality. This holistic approach allows individuals to heal their traumas, discover their true selves, and connect with something greater than themselves. What sets Tim apart is his ability to create a safe and nurturing environment for his participants. He understands the importance of trauma-informed practices and ensures everyone feels supported throughout their journey. His expertise in breathwork and somatic healing techniques allows individuals to release stored emotions and experience profound shifts in their mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
It’s no wonder that Tim Morrison has gained international recognition for his work. His unique blend of artistry, spiritual wisdom, and therapeutic techniques has touched the lives of countless individuals around the world. Through his transformative workshops and retreats, he has helped people find healing, empowerment, and a deeper connection to their souls. In this interview with New York Art Life Magazine, Tim Morrison shares his insights, experiences, and the philosophy behind his work. It’s an opportunity to delve into the mind of a true visionary and gain a deeper understanding of the power of breathwork, sound, movement, and spirituality in the healing process. This interview is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring new avenues for personal growth, self-discovery, and healing. Tim Morrison is an artist whose work transcends boundaries and brings about profound transformation in the lives of those who seek it.
New York Art Life Magazine: You are a renowned practitioner who has developed SPIRITUS Breathwork, a unique technique that blends breath, sound, toning, and movement. What inspired you to create this method, and what personal experiences led you to recognize the potential of breath as a tool for healing unresolved wounds and trauma?
Tim Morrison: SPIRITUS Breathwork was born out of my journey through healing and transformation with plant medicine, which inspired me towards the healing power of the breath. Over the years, I explored various healing modalities, from breathwork (both therapeutic and functional), energy healing, tantra, kundalini, plant medicine, shamanism to different somatic therapies, and I found that breath has a unique power to access parts of ourselves that we have deeply suppressed to bring forth for healing and integration. I found the breath helps to regulate our nervous system and completed interrupted survival responses and bring life and reconnect parts of the body that have been disconnected. I also discovered how we can also use our breath to create new realities for ourself by accessing the Quantum field. So using this style of conscious-connected and rhythmic breathing that we call SPIRITUS and combining it with sound, toning and movement, I realized I could help individuals not only tap into their deeper emotional and energetic layers but also create a new level of being an operating for themselves. There was such a deep connection to what I had experienced when working with plant medicine, when I first began myself, I came out of a breathwork experience and my first thought was “wow this is like doing medicine work, without drinking the medicine”, however it was much more integrative. When working with clients I saw how quickly people were able to come out of the minds and into their bodies and heal and process years and years of suppressed emotions. For some people they had cried for the first time in 20 years! There’s so much happening when breathe in this ways but one is that we shift our brain wave states and go into an altered state of consciousness, we move from the ordinary world to the non-ordinary world, the breath acts as a bridge between the conscious mind and the unconscious self, allowing unresolved wounds and trauma to surface and be processed in a safe and transformative way. Through this altered state of consciousness we also access the Quantum Field and can create and anchor new realities for ourself. Through this method, people can move towards wholeness, liberation, and a profound connection with their authentic selves. Our breath guides us to our own untapped creative potential and our bodies innate healing wisdom.
New York Art Life Magazine: In July 2022, you founded your Breathwork school to share SPIRITUS Breathwork with others. What motivated you to take this significant step, and can you share the core values and mission of your school? How do you envision the school not only equipping and training facilitators in your unique method but also building a supportive community dedicated to the principles of your practice? Additionally, what are your plans for expanding the reach of SPIRITUS Breathwork and empowering others to facilitate healing and transformation in their communities?
Tim Morrison: Establishing the Breathwork school in July 2022 was a natural progression of my work and a response to a deep calling I felt to share SPIRITUS Breathwork on a larger scale. I was motivated by the belief that this practice has the potential to create profound change, not just for individuals but for entire communities. I envisioned a platform where I could not only share SPIRITUS Breathwork with participants but also train facilitators who are passionate about carrying this work into their own spaces. The core values of the school are centered around empowerment, integrity, authenticity, and community. We’re not just training facilitators in techniques; we’re equipping them with a deep understanding of trauma-informed practices and the ability to hold a sacred, safe space for others with compassion and integrity. Our mission is to build a supportive global community dedicated to the principles of SPIRITUS Breathwork, where facilitators feel connected, inspired, and empowered to make a difference. We started with online Level 1 and Level 2 trainings, and have since expanded to in-person trainings, with plans to travel to various countries to train facilitators worldwide. My vision is to create a network of skilled facilitators who can bring this work to diverse communities, allowing more people to experience the transformative power of the breath. By expanding the reach of SPIRITUS Breathwork, I hope to empower others to facilitate healing and transformation, ultimately fostering a more compassionate and connected world.
New York Art Life Magazine: Your commitment to breathwork has established you as a leader in the field, particularly with your holistic SPIRITUS Breathwork approach. Could you discuss how the integration of breath, movement, and sound toning specifically contributes to the healing process? What do you believe are the key elements that differentiate your method from other breathwork practices?
Tim Morrison: Breathwork, by its very nature, is a holistic practice that impacts our mental, emotional, physical, and energetic bodies. What differentiates SPIRITUS Breathwork is not just the use of the breath, but how we integrate movement, sound, and toning into the process to create a truly multidimensional healing experience. When we incorporate movement into our sessions, we’re allowing the body to somatically unwind in its own unique way, tapping into the body’s innate healing wisdom. This isn’t about forcing or directing; it’s about honoring the individual needs of each person’s nervous system and respecting their capacity. Our goal is to guide clients into an optimal state of healing where organic release can occur naturally. Unlike some approaches that might push someone towards a specific emotional release, we create a space where healing unfolds at its own pace, without pressure or expectation.
Sound and toning play a critical role in this process as well. By using the voice and encouraging clients to explore the sounds that arise from within, we’re not just facilitating a release; we’re helping them reconnect with parts of themselves that may have been suppressed or silenced. It’s less about directing them to express a specific sound of an emotion and more about asking, “What does this sensation sound like as it moves through your body?” This allows for a deep reclamation of power, especially for those who have felt their voices were taken away at some point in their lives. We often refer to SPIRITUS as “ceremonial breathwork” because every session is a ceremony in itself. We are creating a sacred space for transformation, honoring the journey of each participant, and weaving in elements that go beyond just the physical breath—integrating intention, ritual, and a deep respect for the healing process. This approach not only sets SPIRITUS apart but also makes it a deeply personal and profound experience for everyone who steps into the space.
New York Art Life Magazine: Beyond breathwork, you bring a unique element to your sessions through your talents as a multi-instrumentalist. How does your ability to create live, improvised soundscapes using instruments like the guitar, didjeridoo, Native American flutes, and harmonium contribute to the overall healing experience in your sessions? What role does sound play in enhancing the breathwork process?
Tim Morrison: Sound plays a pivotal role in my breathwork sessions, as it has the power to move energy and create a deeper connection within the healing process. As a multi-instrumentalist, I use live, improvised soundscapes to intuitively respond to the energy of the group, crafting a sonic environment that supports each participant’s journey. Instruments like the guitar, didjeridoo, Native American flutes, and harmonium bring unique vibrations that resonate with different aspects of the body and spirit, helping to facilitate emotional release and energetic shifts.
The didjeridoo, for instance, produces a deep, grounding sound that can help participants feel anchored and connected to the Earth but also brings in a deep activation from within, while the can flutes have a gentle, uplifting quality that invites introspection and emotional openness. The harmonium and crystal bowls add layers of harmony and resonance that support relaxation and healing on a cellular level.
Vocal toning is another powerful element I incorporate into my sessions, using my voice as an instrument to guide the energy and flow of the session. By performing vocal toning live, I can directly influence the group’s energetic and emotional states, using my voice to explore what wants to come through in the moment and allowing those sounds to resonate deeply within the space. Toning isn’t about making perfect sounds; it’s about tapping into the primal vibration of the human voice, which can unlock restrictions within the body, encourage release, and help reclaim our personal power—especially when it has been suppressed or silenced.
As I tone, I create a resonant field that supports the participants’ journey, helping to unlock and release emotional or energetic blockages. My voice acts as both an anchor and a guide, offering a familiar, human element that participants can connect with on a deeply personal level. This vocal toning invites them to engage with their own sensations and emotions in a healing way, helping them to express and move through whatever is present in the body.Live looping allows me to layer these instrumental and vocal sounds in real-time, creating a dynamic, evolving soundscape that mirrors the breathwork journey. This approach is not about playing music as a backdrop but rather using sound as a co-facilitator in the healing process. Sound vibrations penetrate deeply into the body, helping to unlock restrictions, release stored emotions, and encourage participants to connect with their own voices. It’s a way of amplifying the breathwork experience, making it more immersive and transformative, and helping people to access parts of themselves that might be unreachable through breath alone. Sound has this incredible ability to bypass the mind and speak directly to the soul, guiding participants to profound insights and healing.
New York Art Life Magazine: You are a dedicated facilitator who regularly tours to offer unique spiritual and transformative eventsYou offer transformative events like the Soul Flight Ceremony, which combines cacao, breathwork, and sound healing. What can participants expect from this immersive experience, and how does the combination of these elements facilitate deep emotional and spiritual exploration?
Tim Morrison: Soul Flight Ceremony is one of my most cherished and longest-running offerings. It was a gift from a journey I had years ago while sitting with Ayahuasca in the Peruvian Amazon jungle, where I received the vision that has now manifested as the Soul Flight Ceremony. This three-hour immersive journey is designed to take participants deep into their inner world, allowing them to explore and heal in a sacred, supportive environment. We begin with a cacao ceremony, known as a “heart opener,” which not only helps process our emotions but also cleanses and purifies our energetic bodies, guiding us on a shamanic journey. Cacao is a powerful yet subtle plant medicine that works synergistically with the breath to help participants access deeper states of consciousness, facilitating a connection with the heart and spirit.Throughout the ceremony, I incorporate sound healing using my unique method of live looping instruments to connect with the group’s energy. This allows me to intuitively guide the ceremony with the power of sound, helping to release blockages and facilitate profound emotional and spiritual insights. The soundscapes created through instruments like the didjeridoo, Native American flutes, and harmonium, combined with vocal toning, serve as a bridge to deeper layers of healing, enhancing the overall experience.
The combination of cacao, gentle breathwork, and sound creates a powerful container for transformation, where participants are not only invited to release what no longer serves them but also to reclaim parts of themselves that have been lost or suppressed. It’s a holistic journey that touches every layer of the self—physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. Participants often leave feeling renewed, lighter, and deeply connected to their true essence, with a sense of clarity and peace.This ceremony is truly an experience that must be felt firsthand to be fully understood. It’s a journey that goes beyond the mind and into the heart, creating space for profound healing and self-discovery.
New York Art Life Magazine: Your event SPIRITUS focuses on SPIRITUS Breathwork and somatic healing. How does this experience differ from the Soul Flight Ceremony, and what specific outcomes do you hope participants will achieve? How do these two events complement each other in your overall approach to facilitating healing?
Tim Morrison: The SPIRITUS event is a deep dive into the SPIRITUS Breathwork method and somatic healing. Over the course of three hours, participants engage in somatic meditations, practices, and an hour-long SPIRITUS breathwork session designed to release stored trauma, emotions, and tension from the body, reconnect them with themselves, and help create a new future. The main difference between SPIRITUS and the Soul Flight Ceremony is the approach: in Soul Flight, we incorporate cacao and restorative breathwork, creating a non-cathartic, inward shamanic journey. SPIRITUS, on the other hand, focuses more intensively on the breathwork itself, emphasizing its ability to facilitate somatic release, with sound as an integral guide throughout the session. SPIRITUS can be more expressive, but we never push participants beyond their capacity. It’s about allowing their bodies and emotions to unfold naturally within the space we create. Participants can expect a powerful reconnection with their bodies, the release of old patterns, and a renewed sense of clarity and embodiment. The aim is for them to leave feeling lighter, more grounded, and aligned with their true essence.
In terms of how these two events complement each other, Soul Flight Ceremony offers a gentler, more introspective journey that supports emotional openness and heart connection, while SPIRITUS brings a more direct, somatic engagement that encourages participants to embody their experiences fully. Together, they offer a balanced approach to healing—one that honors the inner journey while also empowering the body to release and integrate. This combination allows participants to explore different aspects of their healing in a supportive and dynamic way, providing a holistic path to personal transformation that touches on both the heart and the body. By offering both experiences, I can meet participants where they are, whether they are seeking a quieter, introspective journey or a more active, somatic release. Both events serve the ultimate goal of helping individuals reconnect with their true selves, heal old wounds, and step into their power with a renewed sense of purpose and presence.
New York Art Life Magazine: Shamanic breathwork plays a significant role in your practice, rooted in ancient techniques that activate the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. How did your journey into the shamanic path and your experiences with spiritual and plant medicines influence your breathwork method? How have these experiences shaped your approach to guiding others?
Tim Morrison: My journey into the shamanic path and experiences with spiritual and plant medicines have profoundly shaped my breathwork method and approach to guiding others. Working with plant medicines like Ayahuasca, Huachuma, and other traditional shamanic practices taught me so much about the breath, primarily through a shamanic lens. Each time I sat with these plant medicines, there was always some form of guidance with the breath, revealing that facilitating and mastering breathwork was part of my life’s purpose. The plants showed me how the breath could access altered states of consciousness, activate both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, and facilitate profound healing by releasing stored trauma and reconnecting deeply with the self. I also went through a six-month “shamanic awakening” where I experienced spontaneous altered states, communicated with spirits, saw energy, and received energetic activations. I was learning from spirits in dream spaces and navigating realms I had never encountered. This awakening pushed me to explore what was happening on a deeper level, leading me further down the shamanic path. It was a transformative period that intensified my connection to this work and expanded my ability to guide others through their healing journeys with greater depth and understanding.
Through this process, I also learned the power of sound from the plants, along with learning from my mum who is a renowned sound healer, who taught me how to use it intentionally to guide people in their healing. This understanding of using sound and breathwork as interconnected tools became a core element of SPIRITUS Breathwork. I incorporate these teachings by creating soundscapes that support the breathwork process, helping participants move energy, release blockages, and connect with their inner wisdom. These shamanic experiences, combined with my awakening, taught me the importance of creating a sacred and supportive environment for healing. This respect for the sacredness of the space is something I bring into every session, ensuring that participants feel safe to explore their inner landscapes with vulnerability and openness. My approach is to honour each person’s unique journey, allowing the breath and sound to be the guides rather than imposing a specific outcome.
Ultimately, these experiences reinforced my belief in the interconnectedness of all aspects of the self—the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual—and this holistic perspective is at the heart of SPIRITUS Breathwork. My aim is to empower individuals to reclaim their personal power, heal their wounds, and find their own path to wholeness, guided by the breath and sound, just as I was guided through my shamanic journey and awakening.
New York Art Life Magazine: For those interested in exploring the introspective and spiritual aspects of breathwork and shamanic practices, what advice would you offer? How can someone new to these practices begin their journey with openness and curiosity, and what steps can they take to deepen their engagement with these transformative techniques?
Tim Morrison: For anyone interested in exploring the introspective and spiritual aspects of breathwork and shamanic practices, my advice is to start with an open heart and a curious mind. The journey into these practices can be profound and sometimes challenging, so it’s essential to approach it with a sense of readiness and a willingness to explore whatever comes up, without judgment or expectation. Begin by finding a safe and supportive environment to learn and experience these practices—whether it’s through a trusted facilitator, workshops, or community gatherings. Start with guided breathwork sessions where you can learn the basics in a space that feels comfortable. It’s crucial to listen to your intuition when choosing the right setting and teacher, as the energy and intention behind the guidance are just as important as the practices themselves.
For those who are new, it’s beneficial to take things slowly and allow yourself the space to integrate what you experience. Breathwork can be intense, bringing up deep emotions or memories, and it’s important to honor your own pace. Journaling, meditating, or simply spending time in nature can help you process and ground your experiences. As you deepen your engagement, be open to exploring different modalities within the shamanic realm—whether it’s through plant medicines, shamanic journeys, or other energy practices that resonate with you. Each of these can offer unique insights and deepen your understanding of yourself and the world around you.
The key is to maintain a sense of openness and trust in your own journey. These practices are deeply personal, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Allow yourself to be guided by your breath, your intuition, and the teachers and experiences that come into your path. Stay curious, stay present, and know that every step you take is part of a larger unfolding. The breath and shamanic practices are powerful tools for healing, self-discovery, and transformation, and they have the potential to reconnect you with your true essence and the deeper wisdom within. And remember that breathwork isn’t for everyone as there are certain contraindications that may prevent you from partaking in an hour long breathwork journey so please ensure you check in with an experience and well-trained breathwork facilitator like with what we provide at SPIRITUS.
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