Healing Power Of The Drum
 by Annette Jones

From the dawning of humankind on this beautiful earth, from every continent and island upon her, the sound of drumming has been heard. It is the most basic of sounds, one that is familiar and shared in common by all people regardless of race, religion, culture, age or gender. The first sound we heard while in our mother’s womb was the sound of her heartbeat and the steady rhythm of her breath. Is it any wonder so many cultures have used it in rituals, ceremonies, communication, rites of passage, music, dance, celebrations, community building, cultural events and most importantly healing.

At a time on our planet when we are awakening to the remembrance that to love is to connect, we find ourselves sitting in circles, hugging, crying, laughing and dancing in public. We have also been known to drum with great pleasure. Drumming circles have been a part of healing rituals since antiquity. As they say “Everything old is new again.”

Drumming can help us heal at all levels of our being. Scientific studies have shown that T-cells (responsible for immune system) increase after just one session of drumming. Studies have also shown that repetitive drumming changes brain wave activity, inducing a state of calm and focused awareness. We’d all love that. Drumming also awakens dormant emotions and unexplainable feelings of excitement, peace and ecstasy. It decreases depression, anxiety and stress. It helps break down social barriers, promotes unity and co-operation.

There are so many ways to connect with the drum, some do it alone, some drum to the trees. How good is that? Some gather in circle with others, some use it for healing therapy sessions, while still others use the drum to make a difference in the world.

There is an amazing group of dedicated healers, dancers and vocalists from Alaska traveling around the globe with a very sacred 7 ft. wide crystal inlaid kettle drum. The largest in the world of it’s kind. The drum was named The GrandMother Drum by a group of 22 native elders who have been communicating in spirit to a Seneca woman named White Eagle Medicine Woman. White Eagle was given very specific instructions for the making of this special healing drum. Many gathered to assist in the year long process it took to build her. Upon the completion of the drum, they were guided to take her into the world as an international symbol of the universal heart, to assist in the healing of humanity in preparation for a time of peace upon this planet.

Soon after the GrandMother drum’s birth in 2001 she was invited to be the heartbeat for Alaska’s largest human rights march. It was an Alaskan native sustenance march gathering over 5,000 people. 2002 and 2003 were the beginnings of “The Ring of Fire World Tours, traveling over 20,000 miles through countless aboriginal communities in Australia on a mission of reconciliation and peace, through the power of the drum. In 2004 The GrandMother drum broke the world’s record for the largest drum ensemble, connecting 4,000 drummers with another 150 cities in 50 countries to drum for world peace. After traveling 18,000 miles during their 4th world tour from Alaska to Guatemala in 2007, White Eagle was guided to take the GrandMother drum through the United States to heal the waters. The 2008 tour will bring them to Michigan May 2, 3, and 4th.

There is so much good in the world to pull inspiration from. We are an amazing species. We hold the power within each of us to heal ourselves, our communities and our beautiful planet. Anyone who has ever drummed in a group will attest to the joy, exhilaration and feeling of connection that is instantly created in drumming circles, so let us lift up our hearts, our thoughts and our drums as we heal individually and collectively into our great spiritual awakening and the purification of the heart of humanity.

Rev. Annette Jones is an Inter-faith minister and co-pastor of The Center of Light Spirituality Center in Oxford. Among her many passions in life is the full moon drumming circle at the center. She is honored to be co-hosting the GrandMother Drum 2008 healing waters MI tour in May. (248)236-0432 www.centeroflight.us Annette@centeroflight.us