dancing through my fingers

[athenagrey]

 I am still wrapped in a warm blanket of bliss from the weekend at Kripalu. I've told you before how it is sacred ground, blessed by generations of the Mahican peoples, again by the Jesuits, and again by the followers of Swami Kripalu. The blessings just seep out of the ground and envelop you.

Layne Redmond is a gifted teacher, an incredible musician, and a Goddess woman. She began each class session with a grounding meditation followed by another which energized all the chakras. She reminded us that we were following along the path of ancient priestesses who played the sacred drum, and that we were reclaiming it as a woman's instrument. 

Before we even picked up drums, we began with a series of rhythm exercises, walking to a beat, tapping it out on pairs of chopsticks, and chanting it. We became the rhythm and the rhythm became us.

When we finally put drums in our hands, we played as if we had always known how.

To be continued.

Comments

[readthisandweep.livejournal.com]

May I express a little envy? Only a little you understand - I'm delighted for you; sounds as if you've had a wonderful & fulfilling experience.

seaivy has often mentioned Layne Redmond to me - I shall definitely now go in search of her book, When Women Were Drummers.

Blessings

[athenagrey.livejournal.com]

The envy of sharing is a good thing. I want you to have this experience for yourself someday.

Until then, read and enjoy When the Drummers were Women.