Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast and Blog

Photo Essay To Accompany "A Walk With A Ghost"

2012-02-14T19:09:17Z

Here are a few photos I promised to post as a supplement to the Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast episode, "A Walk With A Ghost", posted Feb. 5, 2012. And by the way, I offer thanks and a big hug here on Valentine's Day to everyone who called, wrote and emailed about the episode. I am so deeply appreciative of your loving kindness and support.

Now for those photos.
(Left) The Hawk Tree, located in a playground, is flanked on the left by pines and on the right by an open field. Behind it are two fenced-in tennis courts, and then, just beyond, The Three Titans.

The grounds I'm referring to in this piece presumably belong to the local UM Church I mention in the podcast, since they are adjacent to the church. And I also assume the congregation and its leadership carry on the core religion begun with the revolutionary actions of a Church of England cleric, John Wesley (b 1703 d 1791; photo, right, public domain), and others who believed that people have a chance at perfection. It was a radical idea, even if the "chance" had a catch!

The grounds are nothing fancy, and in fact appear rather stark in places, like the old tennis courts beyond repair. Wesley would probably have preferred it this way so that any monies collected from the flock could be devoted to the service of people who needed it instead of blowing it on fancy lawns or sports facilities. Keeping with his thoughts and intentions, I know these United Methodists offer a monthly food bank for disadvantaged people and, I'm sure, they undertake many other community and socially-oriented services and support. They even cut back on expenses last year by choosing to no longer mow the bottom portion of their land that butts up against the yard surrounding the housing track where I live. I liked their decision because the resulting grass and weed growth in that quarter or so acre allowed nature to begin reclaiming and populating it with some new plant species, along with birds and crawly critters. So the land is returning to its natural state, and to my eyes, that brings it closer to perfection. Too, it probably more closely resembles the properties Wesley would have been familiar with when he traveled to America to help found and spread his theological movement in the New World.

But I rather doubt that he would have seen the land I'm writing about from the viewpoint of my backyard in quite the same way I do. For example, I see the Hawk Tree as representing a spiritual perch. I shared a not-so-good photo of it in an earlier post ("Guns And A Prayer For The New Year," here, link will open a new window) with a hawk sitting in it. It’s a wonderful tree! Obviously, it has some friends, too, a line of fluffy pines and a few happy cedars.

About six feet above ground level, just out of reach of the tykes who play there, the tree offers a most intriguing opening in its trunk (photo, right). It’s like a porthole. It must drive kids crazy in trying to figure out how to climb up to it in order to “see through a tree.” The tree’s girth is too large to facilitate a small one’s arms reaching around it, so if kids are to peer through the intriguing opening, they must work together to reach the prized view.

Afternoon sun can also turn the area behind the hole in the tree into a whimsical scene where a one-eyed monster can appear to devour the playground equipment (photo, left).

In a shamanic context, though, the hole acts as a portal between two worlds, inviting an observer to pass his or her awareness through it into a greater reality. The shamanic journey is often predicated on the traveler passing through a hole of some kind into another world. Indeed, on a sunny day, the tree itself offers a lesson in contrasts, as the sunny side offers beauty and intriguing symmetry, while the shady side entices one with a sense of the mystery of the unknown. Their union, though (photo series, below), suggests something about the nature of perfection.

Given that the Hawk is a sacred spirit guide, there's no wonder it prefers to sit in such a spiritual tree.

Also, as I’ve mentioned before, the Hawk is recognized by many traditions as a messenger who delivers people’s prayers to Spirit. So, once again, it’s only right that this beautiful courier should wait patiently until it gets a sacred load of messages to deliver from those nearby in the church.

I am sure Wesley would fail to see perfection in that, however. Nor would he have agreed with the opinion of some Christian scholars and exegetes who consider Jesus to have been a shaman (see notes at end). Reading the Oxyrhynchus papyri, which had not been discovered until well after Wesley's time, (photo, left is excerpted from a book about the subject), it is evident that Jesus instructs his disciples to find the Kingdom of Heaven in shamanic terms (emphasis mine):

“Ye ask, who are those that draw us to the kingdom
if the kingdom is in Heaven?

... the fowls of the air and all beasts that are under the earth or upon the earth and the fishes of the sea, these are they which draw you, and the kingdom of Heaven is within you, and whoever shall know himself shall find it.”

The bottom line on this matter, I believe, is that regardless the method, we all want to commune with the Divine. Wesley would certainly endorse that!

I want to get back to the Three Titans for a moment. They have a beautiful sense of motion about them, with roots protruding in just the right proportions to imply large, heavy feet (photo, right), and with majestic crowns that move in yielding tandem with even the slightest zephyr. Because of this, and especially when the threesome heave and sway on a windy winter day, it’s easy to imagine them moving over the countryside.

Lovers also find synchronous charm with the Titans, as evidenced by these initials carved into one of them (photo, left).

In context though, growing as they do so near to the Hawk Tree, the maple trio often offer themselves as the "Realm of the Crows." Nearly every day, and particularly when the hawk is in the vicinity, the boisterous, tawdry crows blast into the maples like a biker gang. Throwing insults and threats over to the lone figure perched above the playground, they work themselves into a frenzy. Then – attack! Three, four, five or more squeal out of the maples and make for their target.

Air raid!—harassing, strafing, squawking! Black rockets! Incoming!

As anyone who watches birds can tell you, crows simply don’t like hawks. I’m not so sure that it’s mutual, though. In most instances I’ve witnessed, hawks are rather unfazed by crow attacks. From my bedroom window, I’ve watched many times as the she-hawk sat quietly up there in the tree while a band of crows did their best to chase her away. I’ve seen many other occasions where crows buzz all around a flying hawk, zipping in close to peck at a feather, and feign a mid-air crash, all to no avail. The crows have to work their wings so hard, while the hawk sails along with more lofty wings holding them steady.

But I’ve also seen instances when a hawk will fight back, like in the dramatic photo, left, courtesy of photographer Steve Gosser (you can find his wonderful work on Facebook). And man-oh-man, that always results in a brief battle! Once that hooked beak and those sharp talons get into the action, the crows quickly sound retreat.

These brief battles fought above these exquisite trees with their beauty and expressions of love and spiritual connection can give us deep insight into the nature of existence and the dichotomy which accompanies it. But amidst it all, (photo below, shot at sunset from a different perspective that reveals the Three Titans on the left, and to the right behind a few pines, the precious Hawk Tree). Who could fail to see the perfection in that?

A worthy goal, perfection, even if Wesley’s definition may differ from yours or mine. We all know it when we see it, though, and sometimes it’s right in front of us when we walk out the back door.

Aho & Namaste, my friend.
Bob

PS-- Here are a few links I had forgotten to include in the "Walk With A Ghost" post. These represent just a smattering of the multitude of references to Jesus as a shaman.

Book mentioning the shamanic characteristics of some of Jesus's acts: Rabbi Jesus, An Intimate Biography, by Bruce Chilton, Doubleday, 2002

Book which directly portrays Jesus as a shaman: The Life of a Galilean Shaman, Jesus of Nazareth in Anthropological-Historical Perspective, By Pieter F. Craffert, Wipt and Stock Publishers

Old Laura Lee Show, "Conversation for Exploration," which asks the question, Was Jesus A Shaman?

Healing Share / Prayer Request Feb. 9, 2012

2012-02-10T04:37:24Z

I have just learned of two men in Kentucky who are suffering medical problems and are in need of spiritual support. One is in his 60s; the other, in his 70s.

If possible, please whisper a prayer, or sound your drum, or do whatever you have found that offers help and healing to those in need. Many people will be doing so as soon as they read this request, and others will join in over the next few days. Your assistance can help make a positive difference in these two lives, and to all of life everywhere.

We will be drumming for them tomorrow (Feb. 10) evening, beginning around 8 p.m. U.S. East Coast time, and will certainly welcome you into the circle, wherever you are.

May the healing circle expand above, below and all around.

Aho and Namaste,

Bob

A Walk With A Ghost, New Podcast Episode

2012-02-05T18:56:07Z

Show Notes, Links For This Episode

Hello from Kentucky! This is the Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast, brought to you by Thunder Valley Drums, your source for lightning-struck drums and many other spiritual allies for your sacred exploration. I’m Bob, your drummaker and podcast guide for the next hour or so, and I am very honored and excited that you’ve joined the circle today! Welcome!

Today’s show is a personal report of my ongoing encounter with a ghost—practically in my backyard! So I finally decided to grab my digital recorder and head outside to see if I could capture an episode with the haunting figure.

Well, what can I say? What an adventure it turned out to be.

For one thing, many power animals showed up for cameo appearances during the taping, even though one was camera- and recorder-shy and thus avoided detection by my equipment. The ghost also eluded capture, by electronic means at least. But then, a most interesting thing happened. Perfection reared its head.

Here's a hint (photo, left), a trio of images, the last being a mirrored combination of the first two. You'll discover their significance early in the podcast.

So click the “Launch” button, above left, if you’re actually visiting the blog site and want to hear it instantly, or simply download the episode for later listening (the download button is near the bottom of this post). You can also catch the Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast on iTunes or other podcast service and join me for a most unusual, personal and surprising ghostbusting experience.

Today’s Musicians (In Order of Apperance):
(All Links Open In New Windows)

The first three compositions were originally downloaded from podsafeaudio.com, which I now believe is no longer operational. You can, however, do a Web search to find the artists.
1.   Bob Maus, “Borders” theme
2.   George Wood, “Crossing Over”
3.   Emissary, “2012”
4.   Kevin MacLeod, “Virtutes Vocis,” (http://www.incompetech.com)
5.   Kevin MacLeod, “Procession of the King 1,” (http://www.incompetech.com)

Suggestions for Further Reading:

1. Oxyrhynchus Papyri: Link to the "New Sayings of Jesus" book on the Open Library site.
2. Rev. John Wesley:
Wikipedia Bio: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley
Further Reading: www.ccel.org/w/wesley/
3. Gnostic Library site featuring the Nag Hammadi Library

“How To” Projects Mentioned In This Podcast and
Available Right Here On The Shaman Drums Podcast Site:

How To Make A Simple Yet Sacred Medicine Bag Necklace

How To Make And Use A Sacred Spirit Shield

How To Make A Beautiful Shamanic Gourd Rattle

Shamanism Project: Wrapping A Sacred Feather

Make An Altar For Peace & Comfort

Thanks for visiting and listening to today's podcast. Come back again!
Aho & Namaste, my friend.
--Bob

To Reach Bob...

Thunder Valley Drums Website

Shaman Drums 2.0 Blog

Email: livefree@naturalshamandrums.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lightningdrummer
Twitter: @ShamanDrumMaker

Podcast Copyright 2011, Thunder Valley Drums and The Shaman Center

(Please note: I had intended to include several photos of the scene described in the podcast, but for now will allow the two photos above to serve that purpose. Yes, that's the likeness of the Rev. John Wesley in the lead photo at top. I'll add more photos later. Thanks!)

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

How To Make A Simple Yet Sacred Medicine Bag Necklace

2012-01-27T07:14:06Z

Well, it was a wonderful time last week engaging in some fun with my hobby having to do with old comic books. This week, though, I invite you to turn your attention to another in an occasional series of "how to" articles, this one dealing with the sacred medicine bag.

It’s called a medicine bag or pouch, and you can make a simple one in as little as a few minutes. But the preparation for choosing its contents and actualizing its healing, protective and/or divinatory power can take a lifetime. You can read more about that in my forthcoming book, Make It Sacred. (More details coming soon!)

But you don’t need to know everything before you start, because now is the time for learning and doing. You are, after all, a healer in your own right, and the sooner you allow yourself to discover your true nature and to then be of service to yourself and others, the better. Your time has come! And making a medicine bag necklace is a wonderful way to explore some of the aspects of spiritual expression, healing and service.

The example shown below will demonstrate how to make a small medicine bag necklace, and will result in a bag about one or two inches in diameter and height, depending on what you put inside of it. The size can be adjusted to suit your needs.

You can make the bag out of practically any material, but I prefer the beauty, durability and powerful energy provided by suede deer skin, so that’s what is featured here.

Here’s what you’ll need (photo, left): Hammer, awl (or other strong punch, like the small nail set shown, or even a nail itself, OR you can use a razor blade/Exacto knife to cut slits), a four or five inch diameter circle of leather, and a minimum of 24- to 30-inches of lacing. The demonstration is based on the larger circle shown.

Once your materials are gathered, begin by lightning a candle. Offer a prayer, if you like, and perform a cleansing ceremony. (Here’s a basic one, a water ceremony, that is very effective and beautiful to begin your project. You can also smudge yourself and the materials. The link opens a new window to a podcast, which you can skip to the last 10 minutes or so for the actual ceremony.) Then, ask your spiritual guides, teachers and the highest Creator Source you know to bless and cleanse you and each item, while giving them thanks and gratitude for doing so. Also ask them to energize the materials and to continue to do so forever. Offer prayer, blessings and gratitude to the animal that provided the material for the bag, and to the people who were involved in providing it to you, and to the Creator Source. It is entirely appropriate to thank and bless all of those who made the tools or helped bring them to you, too. Ask that your hands be guided in the making of the necklace, and that the necklace be capable only of serving the greater good and of providing the wearer with healing energy and protection (and whatever else you may perceive as its good and rightful purpose).

Then, sit quietly for a time in order to simply be with All That Is.

When you feel ready, proceed by first punching a series of more or less evenly spaced holes around the circle, about 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch in from the edge (photo, above). I have never worried about measuring and planning how many holes to make, as once the bag is drawn closed, it doesn’t matter. I do try to punch several, though, as it seems the more there are, the better the bag will cinch tight. However, if you are a stickler for details, I would recommend measuring the circumference then dividing the result by the number of holes you wish to make, plus one. This will result in a measurement necessary to equally space the holes from each other.

Next, thread one end of the lacing through a hole and pull it through until you reach the center of the lacing (photo, left). Then thread the other end through a hole located beside the first one you threaded and pull it taut.

Lightly cinch the lacing as you go, pulling it completely through each hole and giving it a little tug. As you do so, the bag will begin taking shape. Lace in both directions until all holes are laced. Place the item(s) you want into the bag, then gently coax the folds together while tugging and cinching the bag closed (photo, right).

At this point, you can then wrap the lacing around the bag’s top, tie it off, and use the remaining lace as the necklace (photo, left).

An alternative, shown here (photo, below) with a fancier necklace I made, is to cinch the lacing with a bead, add some lace fringe, and then thread the leftover lacing through the loops on opposite sides of the bag to allow the bag to hang better. This gives your creation a more finished look, too.

You can wear your necklace inside or outside of your clothing, whatever you prefer. My preference is to wear it inside for a more personal contact and when I seek self healing/guidance/protection, or outside when I am willing or wanting to share these properties with people around me. Sometimes I’ll also wear one on my belt to boost the latter purpose, particularly during healing ceremonies or when a group needs some extra energy. This can really help to charge up a drumming circle! There’s no hard and fast rule, though, for how or when you wear your medicine bag. You are the healer, so it’s up to you!

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Coming Soon!
A New eBook from Bob!

“Making It Sacred:
A Shamanic Guide To Creating Tools
For Your Spiritual Journey.”

Watch For The Publication Announcement Soon, Right Here On
The Shaman Drums 2.0 Blog!

Day Five: Spiritual Superhero Week!

2012-01-20T20:28:27Z

What a fun week it's been!

(Please Note: Today's series ends with a l-o-n-g post, so please expect it to take a couple of seconds longer to load. Thanks!)

And what would such a week be without doing that which all good comic book superheros must deal with at some point in their careers— POLITICS!? What a subject! A real sticky-wicket!

But it's eerily similar to the main subject of this week's Spiritual Superhero series, and that's spirituality. Both subjects, politics and spirituality, were the two things my Dad always told me not to debate with people, because it deals with people's beliefs, or lack thereof, and that doesn't necessarily make for good conversation. "You'll make few friends discussing these matters," he warned. And he was right, of course.

But it doesn't apply if you're a talk show host, a journalist or a comic illustrator— zany people they are! Whoa, wait a minute, those are things I do! Oh...never mind!

Hey, it's all for fun! And what the heck, if you're upset with me for what's been posted this week, you won't be reading today's entry anyway! (And if you don't hate me yet, just hang on, 'cause today's is three, THREE big comic book pages long, so there's plenty of time left to build up steam!)

One person who understands the point I'm trying to make has just broadcast a couple of Twitter messages about the series in the past few days. She wrote (or rather, "Tweeted") the following... "Thanx. The Spirit of your SuperHero team is kinda 'unexpected': a good reminder that reverence isn't always blissful & quiet--sometimes it's just good, plain fun. A 'seeker' can lapse2 'SERIOUS.' What could be holier than to seriously laugh? -Thank you"

That nails the point better than I could ever hope to! I mean, really, what is the point of spirituality if it doesn't lead to some JOY and laughter in a person's life!?

I also want to thank Daily Planet publisher Peter Stanbury (Twitter, @PeterStanbury), across the pond in London, for including series excerpts in his wonderful publication. I am truly honored!

And finally, I want thank Golden Age Comics, also located in England, for providing downloads of classic old comics, from which I clip excerpts so I can do my nefarious and dastardly work on them! (He-he-heee!)

Okay, now for today's Grand Finale! BUT BE CAREFUL & WATCH OUT! IT'S SCARY! POLITICS AND 2012!! Arrrrggggg!!!

Thank you for sharing the week with me!

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

PS: I hope to provide a list of the characters featured in the series in a future post. But I'm taking a break now. The superheros wore me out!

See Day One here.
Day Two here.
Day Three here.
Day Four here.

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

Day Four: Spiritual Superhero Week!

2012-01-19T22:28:21Z

It's Thursday already! Wow!

To Recap The Week: I'm running a series of one-panel comicbook-like illustrations that ponder what it would be like if the superheros of old were to espouse spiritual ideas in place of their hard fists, fast guns and anti-grav superpowers! I'm also pretending that they're doing so as a series of ads for Thunder Valley Drums, but not because I happen to be paying them Zillions! Rather, it's because they are finding alternatives to violence by discovering their peaceful spiritual powers... the same powers available to us all.

Today's panel is similar in many ways to a shamanic journey, which begins with releasing the ego and connecting with the real power inside and outside. You can almost hear the lightning-struck shaman drums now, softly at first, but building to a grand crescendo...

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Day Three: Spiritual Superhero Week!

2012-01-18T19:59:04Z

It's Day Three and I'm gettin' my groove on!

I guess by now you know I'm hoping to resurrect some superheros of old and give them a chance to discover their own innate spiritual awareness while they battle the forces of E-vil. They've always stood for justice (more or less), but had to rely on superpowers, muscle, guns and dyn-o-mite to bring it about!

So now they face a new challenge, how to bring about change to a world that is now so much more bizarre and even more violent than when they flew the skies or slapped leather, and to do so in the name of peace, healing, and compassion! Good grief!

Instead of fighting to a drumbeat of violence, they now must follow the gentle rhythm of the shamanic drum and take a journey to the realization that we are all One, and that their true superpower is love.

It can happen, ya' know. You have the superpower.

Now, on with DAY THREE of Spiritual Superhero Week!

Aho & Namaste,

Bob

See Day One of the series here
See Day Two of the series here

Day Two: Spiritual Superhero Week

2012-01-17T20:53:36Z

If you just landed here on the Shaman Drums blog for the first time, here's an up-to-date summary of what you just got yourself into.

This is the second in a week-long series of posts that combines many things I love. Not everything I love, but at least a bunch. To wit, in no particular order: (1.) I love to make shamanic drums and other sacred tools for spiritual seekers, like shamanic rattles, lightning sticks, shaman's jewelry, things for your altar, shamanic spirit shields, and the like, mostly from the powerfully charged wood of lightning-struck trees (you can see 'em all on the Thunder Valley Drums Website here); (2.) I love old comic books; (3.) I love teaching, talking / reading, and otherwise engaging in shamanism; and (4.) I love learning from other spiritual seekers like you. So the series combines all of these things into a sort of fantasy I'm having about what it would be like if superheroes were to suddenly become seekers, too, and what their comic book appearances may look like, as sponsored by Thunder Valley Drums. Cool, eh? KEWL!

Oh, that last ingredient in number 4, you, is up to you. I'd love to hear from you! You can comment here, of course, or send along an email: livefree@naturalshamandrums.com

So now, on with the show! Here's Day Two of the TVD Spiritual Superhero Week! Sha-zaam!

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Day One: Spiritual Superhero Week

2012-01-17T02:12:04Z

I have dispirit thoughts to share today. But stick with me for a minute, and you'll see where I'm going with this.

I have been thinking of Martin Luther King throughout this day devoted to his memory and works. At the same time, I was working on a series of ideas that I would like to present, one for each of the days of this week. So it's only fitting that the first should be presented on ML King Day.

My next line of thinking involved what it is that I do as a shamanic practitioner and drum maker, and other things I love. For example, comic books. That's why I produced and posted the Malinda Maeko comic some time back over on the Thunder Valley Drums Website. (The link will open in a new window and may take some time to load, as it is graphics heavy.) People seemed to appreciate it (particularly the way shamanic drumming was presented), and many commented that they would like to see more such spiritual comic books and comic strips in general. Well, I'm no artist, so I'll leave that up to those with such talents and spiritual orientations.

But I do tinker with digital clippings from old comic book illustrations from time to time, and over the weekend decided to do a series of one-panel takes on a theme of what it would be like if Thunder Valley Drums sponsored a series of superhero ads about spirituality and social consciousness, from my point of view of course. Just having fun, but with an underlying hope of contributing some thoughts to possible ways of helping bring our world back into balance with itself.

This first one attempts to do both. And to honor Rev. King, too, with a phrase from his time.

I had hoped to have it ready to post this morning, but that's the way of things. So here's the first of my tributes to Spiritual Superhero Week! Zounds!

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

Cats And Dogs For Peace

2012-01-15T06:03:48Z

This great photo came Friday from friend Andy over in the UK. He didn’t provide much information with it, not that such a beautiful photo would be in need of such. But I would like to speculate a bit about it.

Andy and I have been email pals for several years, as he first started writing to share his thoughts related to various podcast episodes I posted when I first started. Though we’ve never met in person, I know for certain that Andy is definitely a seeker, and I know he practices meditation in order to stay centered in his life. So I’ll guess this photo appears to be an example of how one’s inner peace can spread to every being nearby. It's quite apparent that Andy's dog ally, Tilly, is in that wonderful energetic space that Andy established through his peaceful heart while they walked along the picturesque English countryside. It's a bucolic scene all of us would love to experience in person.

For sure, the photo can represent how peace can spread out into the world. It can start with one and spread to the other, then on and on. Peace is a symbiosis among many. But it is also a dynamic, which gives it power.

There are times, for example, when a beautiful friendship will reverse my speculation and prove that it is our animal friends who will offer us the chance to enter into serenity and peace. I experienced such an opportunity just yesterday.

I was rushing around like a wild man! I had so many things I wished to accomplish, but was not managing very well. Everything seemed scattered and resistant. At one point, while preparing to write an article about how to make a small medicine bag, I temporarily placed one of our small pouches next to the Grandmother Drum (link will open new window) in our home. I was distracted for a bit, and was grumbling and agitated when I finally returned with the camera to photograph the pouch. Instead, I discovered one of our family members had been drawn to it and was waiting to offer me a chance to slow down and find my center.

Flash, our usually very active kitty, was so sanguine and peaceful. He had connected with the good medicine in the pouch, and had simply decided to be with it in a way that was meaningful to him. And I realized he was reminding me, helping me to reconnect with Spirit and to regain my balance.

If you have an animal in your midst, you know how it can have such a positive effect on your outlook. But even if you don't, there is a certainty that you are surrounded by spiritual guides and teachers, many of whom are totemic animals.

There is ample evidence on cave and rock paintings, pottery, and other artifacts which indicates our ancient ancestors had an abiding reliance on animals and their spiritual counterparts for help and healing over countless eons. Even modern society, with all of its technological prowess, continues to remember that old, old knowledge of the special gifts of animals, even though in mostly superficial ways, like in the names of athletic teams, or automobiles or the like. There is a science, though, working on animal communications and the like, called interspecies communications. (It was even big in the UFO field for a while, I recall, and may still be, when applied in an attempt to understand alien language.) I heard a news report a few weeks ago that scientists were about the crack the code language of dolphins. I doubt that effort will get much further, however, until or unless such an approach includes "interspiritual" communications, too. It will not be so impressive when science finally figures out that a certain dolphin sound or sonic emanation equates to something like "cold water," or "big ship." But imagine what a scintillating discovery it would be if a dolphin were to mention God. Wow!

It will never happen, though, unless science opens up its willingness to allow room for Spirit.

Besides, the code has already been broken. Shamans and other spiritual seekers and explorers have practiced interspecies and interspiritual communications for millennia. Like ancient peoples, we—you and I— possess the animal instincts deep inside that allow us to connect in meaningful ways with these beings, if we but open our hearts and power down our egos for a while. Whether in the flesh or in spirit, animals know much more than we about many things. And they show us how to communicate with and learn from them and All That Is in the simplest and most beautiful way.

Just... being. Dialing out distractions, letting loose of worry, fear, expectation, cutting through the mind's chatter. Slowing down and simply allowing the emergence of our inherent state of sacred s-e-r-e-n-i-t-y... and peace.

Seems to me the world would be a much better place if, say, political leaders, business executives, religious doyens and scientists would spend more time with the animals.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

PS: Thanks for the photo, Andy. And thanks to Tilly, too!

An Unusual Blizzard

2012-01-11T19:58:43Z

(Left) The weather forecast calls for a snow storm tomorrow.

(RIGHT) But an hour ago we had a blizzard of robins.

Hmmm...

Wait a minute. Let's see...several things just don't add up.

It's January 11, 2012. Winter. A time for nasty storms, of course. And yet, this huge flock of fat spring-like robins descends into my backyard and onto the nearby high school soccer field. Naturally, I scurry around for the camera, burst out the door, they fly off, my camera malfunctions. It's just like trying to photograph UFOs, blurry images and all!

But wait, there's more.

Yesterday, there was a bluebird on the back fence... I couldn't even find the camera then! ...and the temp hit 60-degrees.

Next thing you know, an actual down-to-earth, non-elite, non-moneyed, non-prejudice, non-pandering clear thinking person will run for president! Yeah, right. I have my camera ready for that, but the odds are more in favor of a mass alien landing.

It's going to be an interesting year.

Fresh Start!

2012-01-01T17:44:53Z

Happy New Year!

The Promise For A Fresh Start Is Always There...

May Your New Year Be Bright And Luscious!

(Photo taken 12/31/11 in my Kentucky backyard)

Guns, And A Prayer For The New Year

2011-12-31T03:24:53Z

I live in a typically crowded town, but am blessed to have a soccer field and open parcel of land behind our place. At the far edge of those open areas stands a towering, strikingly beautiful oak tree, its branches now bare in winter. About a week ago, as often happens, I looked out to see the familiar presence of a sacred hawk perched near the tree’s lofty top, her tawny belly feathers glowing golden yellow in the morning sun (which my camera’s maximum zoom function failed to pick up).

Hawk is a messenger in many tribal traditions, a fast and focused ally who takes our prayers to Great Spirit.

So on that morning last week, it just happened I had a prayer to send, about the seeming unrelated subjects of guns used in violence and death, and of how we may better prepare our young people for non-violence and life. I knew the New Year was about to be born, so it was a prayer for those who will step onto an Earth journey for the first time in 2012. Millions of new lives…with new promise.

Out here in Kentucky, and in West Virginia where I used to live, the very idea of not owning a gun was anathema to many people. It is, and has always been, a way of life.

It is rather odd, then, that I should have been raised in a farm household with no guns. It wasn’t something I even thought about. That is, until I was an early teen and visited some friends who enjoyed plunking bottles and tin cans off of fence posts with the sure aim of their .22 rifles or BB guns. I came to enjoy it, too, and was a pretty good shot.

When I reached adulthood, I purchased a BB gun, a Daisy of course, on a whim and had a great time target shooting with it. I also bought a .22 for the same purpose.

With that said, I certainly have no bias against guns, except when they are in the wrong hands. But what is problematic is what seems to be our (and many other) society’s penchant for shooting each other, for real and in video games. So, naturally, this begs the question: why doesn’t our (and arguably, every other) society place at least equal value on teaching the young the value of helping each other, healing each other?

I’ve talked often in the Shaman Drums Podcast (the link is to a specific example, the "Water Ceremony" podcast, and will open in a new window) and elsewhere about the necessity of teaching our young about the deep and profound responsibility of respecting life. And even, of the responsibility we have to help others, and of our own abilities to actually help others heal. Truly, all of these are related.

It is one thing to teach a youngster about guns (which often seems to go goes hand-in-hand with the desire to teach about dominance in sports, etc.), but our society places little emphasis on teaching about the preservation of and respect for life! When I was growing up, it was common to see ads like this one (Photo, Right) from an old comic book. The “American Boys Bill of Rights” reads similarly to the ads used now by gun proponents as a way, they say, to assure that America stays free.

The Bill itself reads: "We, the Boys of America, believe in these OUR RIGHTS: the right to LIBERTY, hard-won by our forefathers; the right to HAPPINESS that comes with the growth of a healthy body and mind; the right to TRAINING, thoughtfully planned by parents, school and church; the right to OPPORTUNITY, to live, learn, play and grow up in the time-honored traditions of a free people; and the right to learn to SHOOT SAFELY. We recognize and accept the responsibility imposed by these Rights. But until we are old enough to vote, we expect YOU, our fathers, mothers and other citizens who elect America's city, county, state and federal officers, to be eternally vigilant that our RIGHTS be not abridged!"

Beneath that is a familiar quote, too: "The rights of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"

How odd that the right to SHOOT SAFELY should be lumped with the other, arguably more important rights in the Bill, though of course shooting safely should be a priority with anyone who takes aim. But the point of the ad is to play on emotions while mimicking our cherished Bill of Rights, all in order to sell BB guns.

However, what if we were to change some of that wording and the image? What if emphasis were placed on some other priorities, too? We could rewrite the words like this (my suggestions are in green, and yes, he is now holding a shamanic Lightning Stick, which is a healing tool, in the photo at right)…

“We, the Boys of America, believe in these OUR RIGHTS: the right to LIBERTY, hard-won by our forefathers; the right to HAPPINESS that comes with the growth of a healthy body, mind and spirit through learning about love & respect, for ourselves, those around us, for all peoples, and for life everywhere. We believe in the right to TRAINING, thoughtfully planned by parents, school and the workings of SPIRIT; the right to OPPORTUNITY, to live, learn, play and of growing up in the same time-honored traditions of a free people; and the right to learn how to HELP OURSELVES AND OTHERS TO HEAL. We recognize and accept the responsibility imposed by these Rights. But, until we are old enough to truly understand these things, we expect YOU, our fathers, mothers and other citizens to make sure that we adhere to them with purpose and in understanding the sanctity of life, all of life.”

Or how about this (Photo, Left)? Shouldn't there be more emphasis placed on children's rights to learn the beauty of expression without a gun in their hands?

Don't you too wonder why there aren't some cool video games, comic books and so forth more about the good stuff a kid can do, rather than to stock up on more and more vids and other violent media to blow away countless people in 3-D bloodbaths?

Like this perhaps (Photo, Below), an old comic book whose purpose I changed completely? (Ol' Lance Larson used to be a soldier of fortune whose gun was pointed right at you on this cover.)

Unless or until we begin to help our children connect with real life and all of its beautiful complexity, to open their awareness to the heartbeat of the universe and its life signs in motion, sound, light, manifestation, vibration, and the realization of the divinity within themselves, I fear they...may well become...more like us and the world as it currently is.

If you have a young child right now, or are expecting one in the new year, don't you want something better for him or her? Wouldn't it be something if you could help minimize their fears...and maximize their potential and joy?

Well, you can!

So, as we approach a new year, I now ask Hawk to put wings to a humble prayer for peace, healing and the return of our sovereign rights as a free and divine people in the great and wonderful All That Is. May we remember who we truly are, not who we are told or think we are.

Happy Healing, and teaching, and seeking in 2012 and beyond!

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

The Healing Power of Friendship

2011-12-27T14:37:59Z

Cliché Alert! You will encounter some clichés in this post, because the ones I have selected best describe some feelings I wish to share today about the nature of illness, suffering and healing.

Cliché Number One:

Love (And Friendship) Conquers All

Why is it that friends have a way of cheering you up when you most need it, even if they are unaware that you need it?

Take, for example, the photos you see here today. They come from Roger, who is “fortunate to live only about a half-hour away from the Black Hills National Forest” in South Dakota, he writes. Roger is a wonderful friend, and yet, like so many I have met through Thunder Valley Drums and the work I do, he is a friend I’ve never met in person. When you really analyze friendship, though, particularly if you are familiar with shamanic journeying or any practice that takes you to the larger reality of existence, you make many friends you never meet in person on this plane. And if you haven’t had a direct experience like this, I’m sure you’ve read or heard about them from such sources as the Christian Bible and most other holy books that report encounters with non-humans, like angels, “one like a person” and so forth.

So, despite having never met Roger, I consider him a great friend and brother. (And he is, by the way, quite human.) We probably swap emails three or four times a year, and that’s it. But we have a strong connection, nonetheless.

And so it was a few days ago that, quite out of the blue, I received an email from Roger with these beautiful photos attached.

All Of Our Best To You & Yours

2011-12-23T19:32:36Z

We send our love to you, your family, and to all of those around you. May Spirit bless and heal all. And may we grow in our awareness of our connection to each other and to All That Is.

Peace Now. Peace Forever.

Aho & Namaste

Photo Essay: A Lively Walk In The Winter Woods

2011-12-12T02:46:02Z

Winter, at least early winter, is so deceptive when we drive past a forest. It looks ... well... so bleak. Empty. Lifeless.

But if you get out of the car and step onto a forested path, you're in for a shock. The place is bubbling, cawing, creaking, snapping, EXPLODING with action and life!

I visited one of my favorite local forest haunts today, where a labyrinth of hiking / biking trails encircle the hilly terrain around a freshwater lake. Action everywhere!

For the first time in a long while, there were few people around, probably because it was so cold and getting late into the day. Perfect!

That meant I could rock with the chattering squirrels, flocks of boisterous crows, dashing water, creaking trees and a lapping lake. I hoped to hear a favored owl that usually sounds off in the crisp early evening air, but I guess she, like me, was happy listening to everyone and everything else going on.

Life was much on the move. I'd barely entered the path on top of the hill when a woodpecker jack-hammered an old sycamore in search of dinner. Crows yelled at each other across the open water down in the valley. Then all was quiet for a moment before some squirrel folk hurried noisily through dried leaves, then climbed furiously up tall trees toward awaiting nests. The air was so still right then that I could hear their tiny, agile toes click on the bark as they arose.

I descended a switchback to a beautiful stream and stood a long time on a sturdy bridge staring hypnotically into the clear water gurgling and bubbling over mossy stones and stubborn tree roots, splashing here and there over inclusions in the bedrock. The song of the stream.

From here, the path leveled out and I could stretch my legs at a good clip and in an effort to build up some body heat. A sprite breeze off the lake jostled squeaky, arthritic tree limbs overhead and plunged down around my coat collar, hurrying me along.

I could hear the long distance honking and bellowing of the Canada geese clan a good half mile or more at the far end of the lake, and I swear at one point a couple of them brought back memories from long ago when I had once heard two of my old aunts bickering with each other over the best ingredients for a rhubarb pie.

But not all of early winter forest life is noisy.

Even while most of the large tree people slumbered, the pulse was strong and steady beneath them. These are the active plant tribes who have learned to key their survival upon the season when summer's leaf canopy has fallen to blanket their roots, and when the chill of long nights is broken by a warming sun penetrating past the leafless limbs above and urging their fruit to ripen for the wheel of life to continue in the spring.

They do this quietly and efficiently. And their work is art for our eyes. Colorful berries share their charm, each inviting the eye of different birds or other critters to feast on them and to spread their seeds. I couldn't decide which of two varieties I most preferred to observe, the blues or the reds.

I couldn't contemplate them long, though, for the sunball was moving quickly and I wanted to press on for more time with other forest friends before darkness came.

I took a familiar short path to the water's edge. For this lake, "edge" has been a mercurial concept this year, as water levels dropped significantly during a dry summer, but are now rebounding toward normal levels with recent rains.

The lake has a heartbeat of its own, and today it was calm and quite comforting, a wonderful place to meditate on the union of Earth and Sky. I thought of the beautiful, loving people in my life, many of whom I've never even met, but who in one way or another have touched my life with kindness and friendship during the recent period when I was ill. Their loving embrace warmed my heart on some quite dark nights, and now, sitting at the water's edge, I prayed in gratitude for all of them, for the existence of love, for All That Is.

But once again, a slight but frosty breeze put me in motion, and I escaped its whip by plunging back into the welcoming woods.

Life was quietly doing its thing further around a bend when I came across a lovely vine clinging to a shaggy tree. It exhibits such intelligence by positioning itself where the angles of the summer sun can't burn it, but where the winter sun can nourish it.

But a bit farther down the trail, I was reminded of the axiom that the hand of man can be both beneficial and destructive to Mother Earth. To begin with, people excavated this land and built a dam to form this lake. Overall, a wonderful thing.

But in certain and unlikely places you can see trees and piles of limbs, all cut down in the name of "forest management," practices which I consider ludicrous. To think that we need to manage a forest! Housing developments are also encroaching on the area. And then, there's this:

Out in the middle of nowhere, you come across a post marked "Mile 1.0." A mile? From where? Oh, I'm sure there's a spot somewhere around this large lake where you can begin a hike and discover that you've come a mile at this point. But there are a hundred other starting places where this man-made post treated with harsh chemicals to prevent its rot means nothing as to the distance you've traveled. What's the point? Similar meaningless posts dot the trails and detract from the natural setting. I know it's a small thing. But I consider it an extension of an ego projecting an image of control. It's an unnecessary irritant to both the eye and to the Earth.

So, this is no Eden.

But elsewhere, it's close!

Though I wanted to linger, lengthening shadows along the valley hastened the urgency to return to the hilltop where I had begun my journey.

I couldn't resist, though, visiting an old friend before I left.

I call it the Reaching Tree. It's rather startling when you first see it, and on my first visit some years back, it struck in me an archetypal image of a sea monster, like a giant squid, rising out of the water and about to consume a ship. But approaching this gentle being, the image becomes that of a wise one who has anchored life in this spot for well in excess of a hundred years, perhaps more. And its imposing limbs begin to take on the form of loving arms reaching out.

I set my five-foot long walking stick up against the massive trunk, and it looked so tiny. The trunk has to be at least eight to ten feet around.

It is a talking tree with many tales and stories to tell, and I circled it three times while spreading some tobacco around it in honor of its existence.

Legend tells us that Celtic and Native American peoples alike respected trees, but always sought out the oldest in the woods with hopes of learning its prized wisdom. And on this day in the early winter atop a Kentucky hilltop in fading, florid sunlight, I leaned into the warm embrace of an old, old friend and we spoke of what has been and of what we hope will be.

So, perhaps a chance like this will present itself to you. If you're driving past a bleary-looking woods on a nice day in the winter, maybe you can pull over and walk a while along a surprisingly busy pathway. Life is happening! Many discoveries and friends await. And some reach out to embrace you.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

Thunder Valley Drums Holiday Sale! And A Free Offer!

2011-12-07T22:45:31Z

The TVD Fox Rattle

A most unique design for a rattle with the sweetest sound and hand painted by artist Glenn Lewis.

SAVE 40%

Was ~~$100~~ NOW $60 Plus $12 s/h

Read All About & Hear The Fox Rattle Here

To Order: Please See "SPECIAL TERMS" At The Bottom of This Page

Note: Please Do not use a "Buy Now" button if it appears with this item on the Website, as it will cost you more! Please see ordering information below.

The Incredible "Beaver Wand" With Quartz Crystal

Made by a real beaver (with a little help from Rabbit, Deer, A Jolly Old Shaman & Mother Earth!)

SAVE 30%

Was ~~$185~~ NOW $130 plus $9.95 s/h

Read About The Beaver Wand Here (Link Will Open In New Window)

To Order: Please See "SPECIAL TERMS" At The Bottom of This Page

Note: Please Do not use a "Buy Now" button if it appears with this item on the Website, as it will cost you more! Please see ordering information below.

The All Natural "Curved"
Beaver Wand

You can actually see the teeth marks left behind by the female beaver that made this and all such wands I offer. Also features suede deer lacing and an ancient crinoid shell, known as an "Indian Bead."

SAVE 30%

Was ~~$90~~ NOW $67 plus $10 s/h

Read About The Curved Wand Here (Link Will Open In New Window, then scroll down the page)

To Order: Please See "SPECIAL TERMS" At The Bottom of This Page

Note: Please Do not use a "Buy Now" button if it appears with this item on the Website, as it will cost you more! Please see ordering information below.

The TVD Lightning-Struck Hod

Hods? These are sacred receptacles made to hold precious water, stones, herbs, oils & other offerings you wish to make during ceremony or to place on your altar for cleansing and connection.

And this one is made from powerful lightning-struck wood, just like TVD's drums.

SAVE 30%

Was ~~$150~~ NOW $105

plus $10 s/h

Also save 30% off the Copper Hod (not shown here, but on the same page with all hods)! Was ~~$95~~ NOW $66 plus $10 s/h

Read About The Lightning-Struck Hod and Copper Hod Here (Link Will Open In New Window)

The TVD Shamanic "Root Hod"

This is a very shamanic hod. The inlaid, hammered copper trough forms a miniature waterway if you begin pouring liquid at the shallow end. It definitely puts you in the flow should you wish to do this as a little sacred ceremony. And then, place some sweet grass or herbs into the spiraling hole (see details on Website) to complete the honoring cycle, water as the beginning and the herbs as the harvest. That spiraling orifice is also an opening into the greater reality, in the shamanic sense, and with candle light nearby on your altar, you can find yourself traveling through it at the start of a journey of discovery.

SAVE 30%

Was ~~$125~~ NOW $87

plus $10 s/h

Read About The Shamanic Root Hod Here (Link Will Open In New Window, then scroll down page.)

To Order: Please See "SPECIAL TERMS" At The Bottom of This Page

Note: Please Do not use a "Buy Now" button if it appears with this item on the Website, as it will cost you more! Please see ordering information below.

LIGHTNING-STRUCK
Dolphin Wand w/
Deer Suede Pouch

It is time to take a deep breath and dive to your very depths. Down, down, down to that Light spark that is your soul, connected with the All Light, the faceted jewel at the center of All That Is. That's the message of the Dolphin Wand for you and me.

Made from lightning-struck cherry wood, with two quartz crystals, an emerald chip, and jasper stones fastened with conductive copper wire. Also comes with a protective deer suede pouch.

Extra Special On-line SALE
SAVE 50%

Was ~~$95~~ NOW $47

plus $12 s/h

Read About The Lightning-Struck Dolphin Wand HERE
(Link Will Open In New Window, then scroll down page.)

ON-LINE SPECIAL

December 12, 19, 26 ONLY

To help introduce you to my new Shaman On Call service, be the FIRST PERSON to send an email to me (livefree@naturalshamandrums.com) on any of the above dates and receive a FREE 30-minute shamanic consultation on the phone.

Be sure to put "Shaman On Call" in the header.

A $40 VALUE! FREE!

Learn more about the Shaman On Call service HERE. (Link will open in new window.)

About This Offer:

No purchase necessary.
Limit one per person, and only for the person whose email arrives First on any of the dates above.
Must put "Shaman On Call" in the header of the email.
First Email Received On Any of the Above Dates To Be Determined by Time Stamp. (If the earliest time stamp is shared by more than one email, the first one in queue will be selected.)
Consultation to be arranged.
Restricted to U.S. customers only. (Sorry, also excludes Hawaii and Alaska) When I get Skype, I'll open future such specials up to all!

Special Terms For How To Purchase These Sale Items

It's A Simple Two-Step Process For This Exclusive Sale...

Be the first to send an email to me, livefree@naturalshamandrums.com, about the item(s) you wish to buy. (PLEASE DO NOT use a "Buy Now" button if one appears with the item on the Website, because it will cost you more!)
I will email a PayPal invoice (does not require you to have a PayPal account) in reply to your email. Or, you can send a check made out to the address below, once I have confirmed your order. Your item(s) will be shipped the day your payment clears.

Shipping Costs Quoted Here Are For U.S. Customers. International Customers Please Note That Shipping Costs Will Vary According To Your Location. Please inquire.

As most of these items are one-of-a-kind, they are offered on a first come basis. Also, the items are currently on the Website and are subject to prior sale.

SALE PRICES EFFECTIVE Thru 1/5/12 ONLY Or As Noted for Shaman On Call service

Bob's Contact Info:

Email: livefree@naturalshamandrums.com

Website: http://www.naturalshamandrums.com/Home_Page.php

Blog: http://blog.naturalshamandrums.com/

Twitter: @ShamanDrumMaker

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aho & Namaste,

Bob

How To Make And Use A Sacred Spirit Shield

2011-11-17T20:19:16Z

Spirit shields were and are treasured warriors’ allies in Native American, Celtic and other cultures, and shared common purposes when it came to spiritual connection. In many Native American traditions, a warrior was provided with a totem to paint or otherwise depict on his shield, which was generally made from leather, after a vision quest. This would represent his quest for the remainder of his life and death, and he carried it into battle for its symbolic and deeply personal protective qualities. The Celtic warrior’s shield was generally an actual battle shield, made of leather-clad wood and metal, and often bore a spiritual totem animal or symbol on its front. In most cases, the shields were buried with warriors when they died.

For sure, these shields served as powerful spiritual partners, warding off the blows of seen and unseen adversaries alike, deflecting other threatening influences and helping the warrior maintain a strong connection with Spirit through right-mindedness, bravery, integrity and service. Perhaps the Native American concept best captured the essence of spirit shields by equating them with spiritual “medicine,” as in the medicine wheel.

Today, spirit shields maintain a prominence for a growing number of people on a spiritual quest. Like the vision quests of old, modern life can seem to be an unending test of one’s ability to survive amid an increasingly troubled world around them. And under such circumstances, it can be become more and more difficult for a seeker to maintain a connection with Spirit. Thus, and as with the warriors of old, many people today find strength and comfort with their own spirit shield.

It’s easy to make a spirit shield, even an elaborate one. But it’s the preparation that is the challenge.

How does one prepare to symbolically represent such a personal journey, while at the same time imbuing it with spiritual medicine and power to call on when needed? Ah, that’s the challenge.

But the fact is, if you wait until you feel completely ready to make a shield, you may be missing the point. It takes a lifetime of preparation! The complexities of modern life can be equated with a daily vision quest where the seeker undergoes stresses and challenges that can take the better part of him or her. And that is one reason why the time to make your shield is now. Find your power and focus as it is now, and imbue into the shield. It will reciprocate as you continue to grow and change. And you can update the shield as you go along. Like life, it continually expresses and creates.

How To Make A Spirit Shield

The Basics

Shape: Any shape or material will suffice, a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, made from wood, leather, metal, clay/stone, cloth, rope, hemp, even plastic, though the latter is not a personal favorite of mine because it denotes a creation at the hands of profit-driven chemists, rather than being an unrefined natural material provided directly by Mother Earth. Allow Spirit to guide you to the shape and the material that appeals.

Size: You may want to contemplate how and where you wish to place your sacred shield, and allow that to help you determine its eventual size. If you plan to place it on an altar, or in a car, or in your pocket or elsewhere, you can scale the shield to fit. Or make more than one.

Possibilities

Your shield is totally personal, so only you can know what to include in and on it. You may find the following helpful, though, in stimulating your creation.

Four Sacred Directions: In most cultures on Earth, and for sure in all early cultures, a sense of direction was paramount to survival. Long before the invention of GPS, or even the compass, our ancient ancestors could navigate any terrain. And they came to honor and cherish the four main directions and to associate various things with each of those directions. Those same peoples, however, also viewed the middle of the directions as the “sacred center.” Does that represent God, Great Spirit, you? Perhaps what goes into the center of your shield will be a focal point of your spiritual quest.

Totems: These can be symbols of your spiritual helpers, as you perceive them. Angels, animal guides, teachers of any and all kinds. Sacred objects, like rings, buttons, keys, stones, or anything else that you consider to be spiritually important can be included.

Preparation

I know I already mentioned the importance of preparation, but this time I am referencing the preparation you may want to consider doing once you have accumulated everything you want to include in your shield. This is not a hard and fast procedure, but only a few suggestions on how you may wish to proceed.

Cleansing: First comes the spiritual cleansing of everything intended for use on the shield, including you. A water ceremony is a good start, and I’ve produced a podcast (will open in new window) that provides some ideas on how to do that. Smudging is also an effective means of cleansing away the negative, and of then inviting in the positive. Soulful prayer and asking for your spiritual allies to join with you in empowering the shield (and you) is a next logical step.

Gathering, Assembling: If you have the luxury of time, devoting a full day or more to gathering and assembling your shield will reward you a deepening sense of connection, both to it and to Spirit. There is not a deadline and no “shield police” expecting you to finish this most sacred project, so take all of the time you can.

Finishing:
And when you are finished making the shield, devote sufficient time to placing it. Make up a ceremony meaningful to you in order to honor this new ally into your life.

Uses

Indeed, we all face challenges in this world. But if you are reading this article, you are definitely a spiritual seeker and a warrior at heart. You may want to spend some quiet time meditating upon those ancestors whose genes and spirits passed through time to give you birth and the fire of life. And as you contemplate these things, recall too that they often relied on their spirit shields when they faced challenges, or when they sought help with connection to the creator force of the world at the center of all things. For when you get right down to it, the spirit shield represents the heart of all things, and that is, of course, your heart. Use it wisely.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

References and Further Reading: (All links open in new windows)

http://www.support-native-american-art.com/medicine-shield.html About Native American spirit shields.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5374860_native-american-shield-design.html Some designs of Native American spirit shields.

http://books.google.com/books?id=M1RopeW8XQ4C&pg=PA60&lpg=PA60&dq=celtic+spirit+shields&source=bl&ots=SrFdHyXMSD&sig=9aEnN9cGEyQDNlqQ5xDUcYYtiUs&hl=en&ei=F67CTu6XNsHbtwee_o0F&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CGMQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=celtic spirit shields&f=false Book excerpt about Celtic shields.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/celtic-symbols-for-strength.html More about Celtic shields.

To see some shields and to learn more, just enter “ shields,” “Native American shields,” Celtic shields,” etc. into your browser.

You can learn more about the shields featured in this article by visiting my Website. ..
The “Unity” Shield
The “Prayer” Shield

Copyright 2007-2012 Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved.

A Birthday Party...For A Drum!

2011-09-26T04:30:34Z

Here's the latest video highlights of the Bear Drum's recent initiation ceremony, followed by its birthday party! We could only get seven people into the small Thunder Valley Drums shop and still have room for this big drum...and its birthday cake!

Hope you have a good bass response on your speaker system, as the Bear Drum has a big voice! (More info about the drum on the Thunder Valley Drums' Website, will open in new window.)

Is It The Beginning Of A New Day? Or Is It The End of Days?

2011-09-23T04:19:41Z

Several people have asked about the lines I read for the opening of the last podcast, "The End of the World."

I wrote it specifically for the podcast, and guess it's sort of a narrative poem.

Here it is in total (below). And thank you for your emails about this episode.

The illustration used here is a two photo montage near where we live and that features a typical summer scene from 2011 on the left and the same scene (slightly different angle) of a devastating ice storm a few years ago that brought down power lines and paralyzed the area, leaving us and hundreds of other local residents as homeless refugees for several days. The sound of thousands of limbs and trees breaking in unison though a dark, cold night certainly makes one ponder Armageddon, or at least the thin veneer and impermanence of the things we rely on in our society. If you've experienced something like this, or a tornado, earthquake or other disaster, you know what I mean. All of this, of course, is to support the notion in the podcast about the need to find your own personal power in order to help those you love in times of need, and to break free from the stranglehold of the corporate-religious-government-military complex that relies on taking your power in order to exist.

Is It The Beginning? Or Is It The End?

Is it… the End?

The sun rises and a new day begins. But, alas, the night ends.

The new light plays on the ripples of a fresh stream, embraces the stem so the flower blooms from its heart.

But the night is gone and with it, the stars, the path to heaven obscured, the sighs of Love delayed…or forgotten.

And so the world is on razor’s edge, life force ebbs, the darkness grows, and err the stricken soul longs for light. And so it goes, the night and day, when one rules all and the other dismays. Seems to me we should be able to mend, so there’s a bright start, but no starless end.

Some say the world’s beginning to break, it’s mountains are shaking, its life but a fraying thread. That all upon it are in perilous times, the timbers are cracking in the bottomless mine. That the terminus of time and the weakness of man points to the plunge, the start of the end.

Now, some gladly cheer it, this sobering thought, the crown of their ego leaning toward, self-serving actions they claim as reward.

For others it’s fear, they feel unprepared, the shifting of friends on unsteady ground. They are disconnected and silence bound. They fear the darkness when thoughts creep near, unable, unwilling to see with their hearts, that clouds are thin and above them... the stars.

Is it the beginning or is it the end?

And so it goes, the night and day, when one rules all and the other dismays. Seems to me we should be able to mend, so there’s a bright start, but no starless end.

__________________