Drum Journey Circle

Drum Journey Circle (currently per Zoom)
Shamanic experience required

If you have attended my shamanic Foundation course (or a similar basic training), and would like to apply and develop your journey skills, please join us for our Circle.

The goal of our 'journeys' is to connect to our inner essence and the wisdom of the universe in order to find guidance and healing. Sometimes we do partner work and look at other shamanic methods, however, this is not a training course, but a circle of people who like to be on the shamanic path together.

You do not need a drum to attend these evenings.

Content

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In every circle:

Welcome: Opening ceremony, introductions and sharing with the talking stick
Drum, rattle or chant together
Journey work - we usually do one or two journeys, and you can bring in your own questions or intentions. If you have not done this before, you will receive guidance.
Sharing circle about our journeys

In some circles:

Exploring the healing power and teachings of the Medicine Wheel
Breathing exercises and body movement - to connect to your power animals and teachers and to manifest new insights. Vision dance journeys (tree dance, dance of the true self, etc.)
Chanting - to explore the healing power of song
Journeying for each other, basic healing exchange, group ceremony and outdoor work (depending on the experience level of the participants)

Sacred Pipe Ceremony after the Drum Circle

The pipe was given to the Lakota tribe many centuries ago, when the Buffalo herds had gone away. The absence of the Buffalo might have been a sign that the people had lost some of their deep connection to each other, to nature and to spirit. The pipe was brought to them by White Buffalo Woman to help re-create this connection. Connection is what we need in our times as well.
The pipe can help us reconnect with our essence, with each other, with mother earth and the world community. The pipe is also an important prayer tool; with every pinch of tobacco or sacred herbs we put into the pipe, we also say a prayer. The prayers are taken to the universe through the smoke of the pipe, through our breath that we give into the pipe.
Prayer is much more than just sending a 'wish list to god'. It is talking from our heart to the universe, being authentic, being true. It is asking for help and offering our gifts to the community.
When we do the pipe ceremony online, I will load the pipe with the initial prayers - calling in the seven directions. We then meditate or journey with the pipe - what does integration, balance and connection mean for us right now? I then will symbolically offer the pipe to everybody; I will hold the pinch of tobacco for you, and will put it into the pipe when you finished your prayers. I will smoke the pipe in ceremonial ways, while all attendees can connect to mother earth, breathe in her blessings and send them out with their breath.

Details

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Dates: Currently not scheduled, if you are interested in Drum / Journey work, please consider our Guided Drum Journeys Outdoors

Where: Fireside Lodge, Hanwell, West London
Costs: 15£ per session, pay in advance (non-refundable). If you only join us for the pipe ceremony, this is free of charge.
Sign-up: Please sign up by Wednesday before the event, places are limited (send an email or use the sign-up button.). If you sign up and cannot make it, you will have to pay the full £15, unless you give one week's notice.
Pre-requisites: You must have attended my Shamanic Foundation course, or a similar training, and have solid journey skills.
Joining instructions/directions will be sent once you signed up.

How we honour the circle

This is ceremonial work, not therapy - your guidance and healing will come from your inner wisdom and the wisdom of the universe, not from the group facilitator or other participants. Please do not chat or give each other advice during the ceremony - the spirits will know best what each participant ought to learn through the journey work.
There is no social break between the Drum Circle and the Pipe Ceremony. We will remain in ceremony, even if some people may need a drink of water or take a comfort break. If you have to leave after the circle, please do so quietly. The same applies if you only join us for the Pipe.
What is said in the circle remains in the circle: confidentiality
Please do not use other therapies during the circle - we want to explore shamanic working.
If you are a therapist or health professional, please do not interrupt the flow of the circle by promoting your services. There will be a place where you can put your materials, but please do not actively approach participants of the circle.

Sign-up

Example: Jeremy recounts his Drum Journey

The purpose of my meditation was to seek guidance on how I can find more clients for my catering business. When the drum started, I was guided to imagine myself walking in a lovely garden. I was told to look around to see whether I could find a bird or another animal, and sure enough, there was a spotted woodpecker. I introduced myself to the woodpecker and asked him whether he could show me some answers to my question.
He invited me to come and fly with him, and we both took off high into the clouds. Up there, I saw a neon sign, bright with red and yellow colours. Nothing written on it though; it was just a blank board. Woodpecker told me to write my name on it. I did not know how to do this, and I asked woodpecker for help. He plucked one of his feathers and used it as a writing pen. His ink was a drop of blood that had come out from his skin when the feather was plucked. He gave me the feather and told me to write. I felt reluctant and shy to do it. Woodpecker kept encouraging me. Finally, I wrote my name on the neon sign, and it lit up even more and started to turn. Then I heard the call-back signal of the drum, Andrea told us to give our thanks and say our good-byes. Then I went back to the garden and into normal reality.

What did the Journey teach me?

I noticed that I had been reluctant to believe in myself before this meditation. Yes, I wanted to put my name ‘out there’, but I was not self-confident enough to really stand out from the crowd and believe in the quality of my offerings. Woodpecker taught me that I had to be more self-confident and really put more of myself - even a ‘drop of blood’ - into this business. This was a real boost for me. I keep imagining the neon sign and I still see it turning and shining up there - a good reminder that I ought to believe in myself.