November 19-21, 2004
The first sound we hear is our mother’s blood pulsing through her arteries. Drumming expresses this primal, universal power. Sound is power. Chanting, rhythmic breathing, humming, and drumming link us to an ancient method for synchronizing the mind and body, creating conditions for psychological and physical healing. The frame drum is a powerful, trance-inducing instrument and the 20th century saw a literal unearthing of images of the Great Goddess and her priestesses, frequently portrayed with a frame drum being played with bare hands.
Master drummer Layne Redmond will begin by showing images of goddesses, priestesses, women and men playing the frame drum. We’ll hear the first sound we heard in the womb and learn the basic drum sounds, and learn to organize them into the powerful healing rhythms. We’ll begin, or deepen, our ability to play and focus on the Pulse behind the rhythm, connecting us to the energies of the Earth, Sun, Moon, the elements, and the seven chakras. We’ll learn a synthesis of drumming techniques from India, the Middle East, North Africa, and Brazil.
Layne is currently exploring the humming practices of the the Melissae in Greek and the Deborahs in Hebrew. These drumming bee priestesses served the Bee Goddesses in Crete, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, and Egypt. We’ll learn yogic practices of the Bee Goddess from India, and the Four Purifications, a sequence of energy locks. We’ll experience breathing practices derived from the buzzing of bees that vibrate and realign the nervous system, brain, and body by buzzing the vocal chords, The drumming, humming, and prana-yama practices are said to develop the oracular aspect of the mind, and many bee priestesses functioned as oracles. The Pythia, the oracle at Delphi associated with the frame drum, was the most powerful position in the ancient Greek world for over 1000 years.
Experience the power of thinking mythically and working ritually — what was, what is, and what can be. Rituals are collective action — that access and influence the deep resources of the unconscious mind. Using sacred symbols, sound, and energy, we will raise the group to an intensity of shared emotion until we transform our drumming and chanting into realization. People at all experience levels are welcome and will learn much that is new.
Layne Redmond, author of the acclaimed When The Drummers Were Women and Chakra Meditation, has taught and performed at universities and transformational centers in the U. S., Canada, Europe, and Brazil and is the founder and director of The Mob of Angels. She has created healing rhythmic and drumming exercises that draw upon hatha yoga and pranayama breathing practices, Buddhist meditation, Qi Kung, and Ericksonian hypnosis. She has created vital recordings, (Trance Union, Chanting the Chakras, Invoking the Muse), and two instructional videos, (Rhythmic Wisdom and A Sense of Time). We’re honored to welcome the return of this original and visionary drummer. ”Tradition is to take something from the past, do the best we can with it in the present, and make an offering of our work to the future.” —Ross Daly.