The Barn and The Moon

We had drumming circle again last night. There is much that I really enjoy and find thought provoking about Native American spirituality. There is also much that I am beginning to find uncomfortable, but I think that comes from specific people in the group and not so much from the way the circle is being led and presented. There are several people in the group who are deep into spiritual healing of physical brokenness and this makes me uneasy. Too often the language and behaviors of these "healers" blames the victim, particularly if they are not healed and made whole immediately.

But, maybe this is all just me. And. . .it's good for me to sit in a circle and be exposed to things I don't agree with, right? {nodding appropriately}

Last night we did several meditations that are still with me this morning. One was brought forth by a member of the group who I find fascinating. She's older, with fun and funky grey hair and is full of a kind of magnetic energy that I enjoy being around. We were meditating on the season of Thanksgiving and the fact that fall is a time of letting go of the things in our lives that no longer serve us well when Suzanne gave us the following quote to think about –

my barn burnt – now i can see the moon

The more I thought about this image the more I was moved by its truth. How many big, devastating events have happened in my life? {Many} How many of those big, devastating events eventually made room for growth and new life in unexpected ways? {All. . . maybe not in ways I expected – or even wanted – but growth came anyway.}

And then the inevitable questions come for me to sit with in silence today –

What am I missing because I'm focused on the close-up, minute, negligible concerns of my small life? The vastness and power of creation?

This is why I continue to explore God through Native American drumming circle. . .

Drumming

Last night we did something I've always wanted to do – we attended a drumming circle. It's officially called the Shuunka Drumming Circle and it meets once a month at Oakwoods Nature Preserve.

It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had.

There were about fifteen or so in attendance, both men and women, young and "more experienced." This group has been meeting in Findlay for 14 years and talk freely about the spirit of unity and diversity that they have helped birth into being in our community. We went there expecting just to watch and listen but they were so welcoming and embracing of newness that we were quickly handed drums, smudged with sage smoke to purify us and told that we could participate as much or as little as we felt comfortable with.

We participated fully. And it was amazing.

Not really knowing what to expect, it was equal parts meditation, music, spirituality, relaxation and energy-giving. We talked about sickness and healing, life and death, humanity and nature and open spirits of change. The words were significant but the actual drumming was transformational.

It's difficult to explain and I've been thinking about it all day. There is something about sitting in a circle, being in community and engaging in simultaneous activity that seems not only to send energy into the world – even more than that – it's like the reverberations of the drumming itself somehow send energy into your own body and soul and complete some kind of spiritual circuit. That doesn't really do the experience justice, but it's the best description I can come up with.

I didn't know much about Native American spirituality before I went there. I know a tiny bit more now and I imagine that there is probably no end to the depth of what there is to learn.

I wanted to take pictures but I didn't want to be disrespectful of what was going on around me. Most people in the room had drums of their own creation and they were truly works of art. Made from the skins of buffalo, horse and other animals, each has it's own specific power they believe can be given to the person playing the particular drum. I played one that the creator had painted with a tree of life containing a labyrinth of life painted inside of it.

I'm excited to attend again next month and see new friends who fully embrace life, in all it's complexities.

Anyone want to join me?