Drumming Emergency!

Two weeks ago I took an Occupational First Aid course. I thought this would be a good skill to learn. As usual I started off with my zestful optimistic self. This is going to be easy, no sweat. Well, it was far from easy it was intense! I studied every night 4-5 hours to the point my brain was ready to explode!. When it was time to go through some emergency scenarios I found myself screwing up over and over again. I was getting frustrated and it only got worse. The trouble was I was trying too hard. The harder I tried the worse it got. This seems to be a pattern I sometimes fall into. I recently discovered a book written by Dr. James Richards called Wired for Success Programmed for Failure, in the book it says TRYING is making a statement to the HEART that you are NOT what you BELIEVE you are . The harder you try to convince yourself what you are the more the Heart thinks your not. This was very profound to me. I would get hard on myself if I didn't get it right away. It just kept compounding to the point my brain just froze like a computer. I was thinking too much and not trusting or believing in the process, not going with the flow. During my course I was in a car accident that gave me whip-lash. That certainly slowed me down. Life sure has a way of showing you what you need. I realized that I had gotten caught up with the mind and not the heart to carry me through. Drumming reminded me to follow the beat of my heart. I was in cardiac arrest and now my heart is beating to the flow of life. Next time I try something new I will gently remind myself to breath and believe in myself, that my heart will guide me. The mind (ego) can be treacherous, down right insane!

Drumming with Nature

Finally! it's July and it seems to have taken a long time to get here. One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to take my hand drum to the beach and connect to the rhythm of nature. I find a private and comfortable spot in the sand and light my incense stick. I listen to my surroundings; breeze, seagulls, and the ocean waves. Nature becomes my conductor but not in the formal sense. There is nothing formal about nature only true harmony and complete freedom. The beauty of nature creates a feeling of oneness. Being at one with my drum helps me to integrate with nature and the biological rhythms within myself.
I warm my drum up by pointing it towards the sun. As I begin to tap on the drum, the sun has filled it with beautiful tones and oil slick colours. My hands begin to play in this kaleidoscope of sound until it finds a song.


"A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song "
- Chinese Proverb