The Healing Drum Retreat

The Healing Drum Retreat’s have been so much fun, and a wonderful awakening experience.  We’ve had  the physical activities: drum making, medicine bags, dream catchers.  We’ve had earth focused talks on herbs and other healthy healing plants.  There are the spiritual focused activities with meditations and blessings offered for the solstice’s and equinox, and exploring our own path in this ever changing world.

Then we have the healing demo’s, where everyone is welcome to have an energy healing.  At the last Healing Drum Estee and Kaye talked about and showed everyone the technique of using a feather as a tool for healing and energy awareness.

The next Healing Drum Retreat is not until March 2009, so what do we do until then?  We have a drumming circle day.  The first Drumming Circle Day will be at the Reiki Ranch in Adna, WA on Sunday November 30, 2008, Noon till 3pm.  Everyone is welcome. Donations are appreciated.  Bring your drum if you like, but you don’t need one to participate.

Please leave comments on this posting, click COMMENT below the post.  Let us know if you are attending, or thinking of it, or would like to make suggestions.  We’ll also have a focused guided meditation, just the ticket as we approach the busy holidays!!  We’ll post a map and directions soon.

Great Spirit
We ask for your blessings, and feel your presence in this prayer of thanks;

We turn to the East, the spirit of the stars,
where thought originates, and the cycle begins with creation.
Here we find the light, the fire, the sun,
The eagle who brings to us the power of spirit.

We give thanks to the spirit world of enlightened beings, and our great ancestors.

We turn to the South, the spirit of the plants.
who give us food and shelter,
and tools for our journey.
Here we find water, with its many forms.
The coyote gives us illusion, the mouse makes us question the illusion.

We give thanks to the spirit of the Dream World, and this mighty world of the dream.

We turn to the West, great spirit of the planet,
our great mother earth for all she provides us.
The bear holds great strength, drawing us to look within.

We give thanks to the spirit of our Cosmic laws, and its protection of our cycles and free will.

We turn to the North, and the spirit of animals.
Here we find knowledge and awareness, the substance contained in air.
The buffalo brings us assurance of the value of our own presence.

We give thanks to the Great Cosmic Forces and the law of movement.  Our continuing Cycles are contained within each Breath.

Amen (Hebrew) meaning “let it be so”

Om (Sanskrit)

Aum (Egypt)

Aho (Cherokee)

Astu (Hinduism) meaning “so be it”

In preparing for the September 2008 Healing Drum Retreat this simple Navajo prayer was found:

Before me peaceful

Behind me peaceful

Under me peaceful

Over me peaceful

Around me peaceful

Kaye, our drumming and singing leader, took this prayer to heart, and flowed gracefully into song.  We are working on cleaning up the audio for posting as an mp3 download.  

We respectfully acknowledge the history of this prayer, and in carrying this prayer forward we act with full honor for what it represents and where it leads us.  As stated by a wise Shaman, “we are all native to this planet”.  With that thought I invite anyone who seeks to know themselves and bring peacefulness to their lives to reflect on the wisdom of this Navajo prayer.

For the September 2008 Healing Drum Retreat we offered moccasin making, taught by Amanda from the Trading Post. The Trading Post is located in Roy, Washington (near Olympia) and features many native American furs, skins, and supplies for drum and moccasin making.

Amanda is a skilled leather worker, and offers a vast array of information, techniques, and know-how to her work.  We are honored to be associated with this hard-working spirit!

Unfortunately we did not have enough signups for this class at the September Healing Drum, but will gladly invite Amanda back in the future. If you are interested in this workshop, offered on the Friday evening prior to the Healing Drum Retreat, then please contact us using the form on the ABOUT page.