Shaman Drums 2.0 Podcast and Blog

Shamancrafting With Bob: Make A Shamanic Drumstick

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sat, 26 May 2012 02:25:34 GMT

A shamanic drumstick is more than a mere stick, even though its appearance may not suggest so. This is a shamanic tool every bit as sacred and cherished as, say, a shaman's drum or his/her medicine bag. It's both an extension of a shaman's hand and heart in one, enlivening and energizing a beautiful connection with Spirit while simultaneously aiding to fortify protection around the circle and all within it. To move former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote around a bit, this is the stick to carry when you are talking softly, but want a big voice!

You can make a drumstick in a matter of minutes, of course. Whittle any old stick and—voila! But if it is to be a powerful asset in a spiritual quest or journey, in other words if it is to be a shaman's drumstick, it should receive your utmost attention and devotion. In return, you will have an unfailing and devoted partner. The more special you treat your quest to find the perfect stick, the better will be the energy and connectedness you will feel when using it in ceremony or journey work.

I realize that it may be difficult for some people reading this to find a suitable stick. Your access to trees may be limited, and in some cases impossible. But take heart, as you need not be a big hurry to make your drumstick. Simply focus on your desire, and in time an opportunity will present itself. That is the way with so many spiritual tools. They will make themselves available to you. Allow this to happen, and one day, probably when you're not even thinking about it, you'll be led to a drumstick.

I offer more thoughts about this, as well as a step-by-step fully illustrated guide to actually making a drumstick like the one shown above, in a new Shamancrafting With Bob Worksheet (.pdf file) just issued by Blue Planet Publishing.

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I know some people live in places without trees, or simply don't have time to gather up what they need to make a beautiful drumstick. So I'm offering a Shamanic Drumstick Kit that has most of what you need (you'll only need to provide your own glue and a pair of scissors).

Here are the details:

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Other "Extras" Vital To Making This Unique Drumstick

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There is nothing like making your own shamanic gear. I absolutely guarantee you will agree after making your very own shaman drumstick.

Aho & Namaste, my friend.
—Bob

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

Executive Power At Thunder Valley Drums

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Mon, 21 May 2012 00:12:48 GMT

Now that the headquarters of the giant international conglomerate known as Thunder Valley Drums has been consolidated into our home, my executive powers have multiplied. I can now decide on my own at exactly what time I wish to take out the garbage, or how I will go about completing the to-do list I'm given every day. Such power and control! Heady.

My responsibilities have also expanded, the result of a lifetime of preparation for leadership at the executive level. For instance, I am now the full time pest controller, tasked with chasing recalcitrant spiders or flies that penetrate our defenses through the back porch screen door or windows. My expertise is also required in breaking up the occasional cat fight in the back yard. So I can add "Security Expert and Conflict Negotiator" to my resume. I'll bet even Donald Trump can't make such claims.

Given that it's Sunday afternoon, I can now lounge around however I wish... with that to-do list provided by the CEO in the living room. Let's see... "wash car," "clean front windows," "sweep walk," "fix bird fountain," "weed the garden," "move that saw thing" — a reference to the table saw which is currently sitting in a corner of the bedroom. Humph! I didn't think she'd notice. After all, I draped a sheet over it. Oh, and then I see near the end of the list..."wash sheet."

No reason to despair, though, 'cause at the end of the note is this: a hand-drawn smiley face inside a heart, and a signature, "I Love You." Now, how many work orders do you get that are signed like that?

Okay, the fact is, she doesn't actually give me the list. It's posted on a kitchen cabinet as a reminder of chores we both need to accomplish when we get a chance. But it does have the smiley face in the heart and the accompanying message.

The best part is, we always seal our deals and end our chores with a kiss. THAT is real executive privilege... the power of love.

_______________________

This isn't to say that I've been sitting around ignoring the to-do list. I've actually been making good on my promise to restructure and overhaul the TVD Website. Here's a screenshot (right).

The site is more streamlined and loads faster, per guidelines from pro designers whose blogs I've read. Hope you like it.

I'm also still looking for a home, both for the blog and for us!

A GoDaddy rep told me several weeks ago that I should move the podcast and blog because the company is no longer even advertising the service. That can only indicate an eventual elimination of the service altogether. So the search is on for new blog digs.

As for our house hunting, well, that's a much slower process. We're still hoping to be moved by the end of summer. I'll keep you posted.

Meantime, I sure appreciate your emails and the other ways you are expressing your support. I treasure our friendship, and both of us here in the executive suite thank you from our hearts.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

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Three Allies To Help You Awaken Your Spiritual Power

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:33:52 GMT

Meet Your Three Guardians

Shaman On Call Service
(see below for more services)

I have written extensively here on my blog about "going inside" and awakening your spiritual power. It's time to do it, you know, because it's time to remember who you are. And that's impossible without connecting with this special power.

Oh, it's not something I give you. Fact is, you began your Earth walk with this power. It was granted to you long before your birth. It's not gone anywhere, you just need to get in touch with it. It's inside, waiting to be recognized. And I can help you do it.

Do Any of These Reflect Your Current Situation?

You cannot find a fulfilling sense of connection with Spirit.
You constantly feel tired and/or frustrated.
You have not settled into a satisfying lifestyle or profession.
You know there is more to your spiritual life, but can't seem to figure out how to tap into it.
Your relationship(s) are disappointing.
You cannot seem to find happiness or satisfaction.
You seem to have a hair trigger of anger that can go off at the slightest provocation.
Buying things seldom gives you more than temporary happiness.

A "yes" answer to any of these may be because you're not in touch with your power. I have helped many people like you to find or focus their power by identifying their three Prime Guardians.

The plain truth is that you are never alone. These three spirit guides await you. They have been with you since you started your Earth journey, and they have certainly helped you to survive to this point. Even though you might not remember your true spiritual identity or the presence of your Guides, they are with you nonetheless. And like all relationships, the more you learn to recognize, accept, connect, and communicate with them the stronger your spiritual connectedness will be, and the greater your personal power will become. Once you hear their names and we discuss them during our phone call, you will go instantly to a new level of understanding of how to be in a very personal partnership with these three Guardians to:

Overcome life's problems, loneliness, frustrations
Gain clarity about your life purpose
See clearly Spirit's messages just for you
Make good decisions
Experience the love and support of your greater spiritual family
Empower your attitude and confidence
Be led to healthy new relationships and be guided in the healing of relationship wounds
Achieve fulfillment as you walk the earth path
Develop harmony of mind, body, and spirit

Your prime guardians await. Find out Who they are today and awaken your spiritual power. When you are ready for loving guidance and unfailing support, this is a first step into a lasting spiritual relationship that can change your life!

For friends and family, this makes a wonderful gift, as well. Only $25.00.

Reserve Your "Three Prime Guardians" Session With Bob Now Via PayPal

Notes:
1. Once I receive notice of your payment from PayPal, I will contact you to arrange a time for our phone consultation.

2. Offer Currently Available Only To U.S. Mainland Customers.

3. If you do not find the session useful, I will refund your payment. Guaranteed.

4. Please click HERE for a complete list of the services I can offer to you, no matter where you live in the U.S.

UFO Season About To Begin: Jabberwocky & Intrigue Combined

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:06:50 GMT

Oh, my, I haven't written about UFOs for a while, so what better to do on a Sunday night?

Considering it's such a potentially exciting field, it's really sad that it doesn't change much. That's at least partly because...

1.) the same old people continue to dominate it. A lot of the so-called leading lights in UFO research should be settling into retirement and taking their tired old theories and presentations with them.

2.) The field is also suspected of being so hum-drum because an alleged power elite controls the message and intentionally flummoxes any legitimate information, the better to influence societies toward predictable behaviors and desired outcomes, and possibly to cover over potentially illegal, unconstitutional and / or downright immoral acts. These first two reasons may be more related to each other than we realize, at least in certain instances.

3.) Another reason, also related, is that few legitimate scientists or metaphysicians show much interest in doing real research into the associated phenomenon, and that's because there's no money being offered to sustain the sort of effort that would be required. Nor would the two parties necessarily EVER consider joining in a shared effort, which I believe is a prerequisite to true breakthroughs in understanding. If our government had any real gumption, and was truly innocent of any complicity in the above, it would fund such a program on an interdisciplinary level with our best universities (assuming there are any left) and independent thinkers. It would throw a few journalists into the mix to keep it public, too. (No, I'm not volunteering. Been there, got the commemorative Roswell coffee cup.)

All of that tends to leave us with folks, the honest ones at least, who may mean well but who lack sophisticated testing equipment and/or a quantum metaphysical view large enough to move us toward understanding such a diverse and often bizarre subject. They are stuck with reporting and debating the merits of reported encounters and conspiracy stuff. And advocating, of course, their endless theories.

As for UFO percipients and experiencers themselves, me included, we have only our stories to tell. Our accumulated experiences provide a load of evidence, titillating perhaps, but little more. People who experience UFOs want to understand what happened to them. And so far, no one has been able to provide suitable explanations.

So, the field at the "retail" level spins its dissociative wheels, eh, saucers, its myths, hoaxes, its misdirection and downright silliness. And now that summer is about to heat up the U.S., it will soon be UFO Season, and once again the leading lights, the stories, conferences, the serious and the surrealistic all get tossed together and spun into a big and sometimes intriguing and often entertaining sticky ball of jabberwocky, like a giant sack of cotton candy in the hot sun at the county fair. Here is a very brief overview of some of what we can expect this summer, the highlights and not so highlights, beginning with a very neat story from Navajo country.

According to an announcement from the Phoenix, AZ MUFON group (all links open in new windows), their May 12 meeting will feature two officers attached to an actual federally-sanctioned state law enforcement unit known as "The Navajo Rangers," (screenshot, right, from Phoenix MUFON site) who patrol Navajo Nations of the U.S. Southwest to enforce laws, protect public works, historic and archeological sites, parks and wildlife, and for the past 10 years, have also been tasked with investigating "UFO sightings, Bigfoot, Skinwalkers" and other paranormal events and reports on tribal lands.

This is absolutely fascinating, and is a story that needs to be fleshed out. This is perhaps the only publicly-acknowledged, legitimate law enforcement agency within the United States that openly discloses its mission of looking into the paranormal, a most enlightened perspective. I do hope the MUFON locals in Phoenix stream the presentation, either during or after the event. Their site features a short news video which includes one of the officers explaining some of the unusual cases his unit has investigated.

These guys and their stories have GOT to be made into a movie.

There is another interesting MUFON meeting coming up, too, with an unusual, notable speaker. An announcement from the Los Angeles MUFON (MUFON-LA) group headlines its scheduled meeting in Studio City, CA (May 15) with a presentation by none other than President Dwight D. Eisenhower's great-granddaughter, Laura M. Eisenhower. She will, according to the notice, share her various contact experiences while also explaining how she refused taking up an offer from "trained intelligence agents to recruit [her] to move to a government-run survival colony on Mars" in 2006. Though I wonder if the message had been different if coming from untrained agents, this should be an intriguing presentation. She is also, according to the announcement, carrying on Ike's legacy of uncovering the dark secrets of the military-industrial complex, and will delve into how the "global power structure" uses "quantum-access technologies and mind control techniques to further an agenda designed to suppress humanity’s awareness of its true origins and potential." To top it off, she'll also talk about the Archons, says the notice.

Finally, says the announcement, Ms. Eisenhower (screenshot, left, from MUFON-LA site), whose middle name is Magdalene, according to a Tweet the group posted on its Twitter account, is purported to be closely connected with "the Sophia" and Divine Feminism, which Eisenhower believes is being suppressed by a cabal of extraterrestrial-influenced global elitists.

That should be one interesting presentation! It covers so many facets of the UFO phenomenon and touches on many spiritual subjects, too. Mention of the Archons used to be rare in UFO circles.

If that doesn't interest you, though, then perhaps a more legal-oriented approach will. In which case you can catch attorney Peter Gersten speaking May 18 at the Sedona, AZ MUFON meeting as to why he thinks a portal will open at nearby Bell Rock on the winter solstice, 12/21/12, according to the group's Website. Gersten, a defense trial attorney with a 40-year practice in both New York and Arizona, and reportedly with a 30-year record as a "UFO Lawyer" who has some success filing FOIA cases against the government (Army, CIA, etc.), will also speak on the "11-11 phenomenon," and other topics, according to the site. Odd.

If you've had it up to here with male speakers, you can find relief when eight women speakers will present their views at the First Annual Women's UFO Symposium in Glen Rose, Texas, May 19-20. Particular attention will be paid to the 2008 "Stephenville Lights" story, according to the promoter's site. Turns out men will speak, too.

If you want to wander down memory lane with some UFOldsters, there's the Missouri MUFON 2012 UFO Conference on May 20 with the granddaddy of all presenters, Stanton Friedman, who'll shake his stack of blacked-out pages and probably not mention his once-claimed "sold-out" appearance at the Flatwoods Monster conference in West Virginia several years ago, which I attended along with six or eight other people. Alas, he'll only be at the Missouri conference in bits and bytes, via Skype, and not in person, but you can bet the auditorium will be a sell-out. Also appearing in phantom image only will be "Coast to Coast AM" host George Noory, to conduct a 30-minute question and answer session to plumb his extensive knowledge. Should be enough time for that. Reportedly, there will be actual people present as speakers, too.

The tired old Roswell 2012 Conference will be June 28- July 1. It looks like there will be at least three guys under retirement age to speak on UFO topics, along with a bevy of AARP type UFO presenters.

Speaking of retreads, the official MUFON Symposium will grace Kentucky this August 3-5 with fresh appearances by, you guessed it, paper-wielding Stanton Friedman, grey-haired Brit, Nick Pope, and oldsters George Filer and "Mr. Roswell" Donald R. Schmitt, among others. Yawn. The MUFON gang is excited and ready, according to their site, for their presentation of the "42rd" iteration (screenshot, left) of the organization's annual conference, which presumably means 42nd.

So that's some highlights and otherwise from the current state of retail UFOlogy for the summer of 2012. Quite a few fresh hits, along with a lot of the same oldies. Though some of my report is delivered tongue-in-cheek, I do applaud the folks who honestly research and try to make sense of such an enigmatic phenomenon, excluding, of course, those who are paid to obfuscate or mislead, or who have otherwise contributed to the construction of destructive mythologies in the name of selfish interests. The honest ones have taken to a Quixotic path if ever there was one. And not all of them will enjoy the luxury and adulation of presenting to sold-out shows.

If you've never attended a UFO conference or event, you should try at least one. There's nothing else like it on Earth.

Notes:
1. Here's a site that lists many upcoming UFO conferences, meetings, etc., from which I retrieved information to use in this report.

2. My Previous Posts About UFOs (These links open in same window):
Flatwoods Monster
Parsing UFOs & Religion
Why U.S. Government UFO Disclosure Will Never Happen, And What To Do If It Does
Podcast Version of the Disclosure Article

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Conclusion: Wandering Toward Enlightenment

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:06:51 GMT

Chris Hedges won a Pulitzer Prize for news reporting, and is a leading voice for truth and justice in an unjust world. His recent TruthDig article, "Welcome to the Asylum," powerfully delivers insight into the Western capitalist juggernaut that has supplanted religion and societal order like the rapacious beast portrayed in the Christian Bible. He is, in effect, saying what you have probably sensed for some time, and that is, changes are needed or, as George Bush, Jr. said, "This sucker could go down." Ironically, Bush spoke those words while approving a $700-billion taxpayer-funded bailout of certain wealthy investors and bankers, the people who are leading to the demise of civil government and society.

But leaders need followers, and that's where we all fit in.

Inevitably, it will go down, according to Hedges, because we can't stop and get off the thrill ride. The momentum will carry us, as it has all civilizations, into the dust.

His cautionary observations are not without a glimmer of hope, however. He cites the success of various past Native American governmental and social structures as examples of future options we could choose for the continuation of an improved civilization. In this vein, he is in agreement with many observers, like James Howard Kunstler for example, who foresee a time after a major economic collapse when people return to the land and start anew. That is and has always been the adaptive virtue of humankind.

Hedges is also right-on with seeing a need for a return to creativity, poetry and soulful expression, things which are currently suppressed by our lust for power, profit and control. He laments our lack of interest in connecting with nature in the meaningful way our ancestors did, though he points out the drawbacks of the old ways when the dark side of human cruelty would often manifest. (I daresay, however, that even those ancestors who did exercise cruelty would be shocked at more modern examples and at the scope and scale of its hideous reach.)

He notes, too, Karl Marx's interest in Native American governance and how the 19th Century Prussian philosopher incorporated some of those concepts into the formation of Marxism, which blossomed into 20th Century communist societies. (In picking and choosing Native American ways, however, Marx left out some vital components, which I'll discuss in the future.) To Western ears, the mere mention of Marx can spur memories of a long Cold War, nuclear fear, and so forth, but if one reads the basis of his thoughts, it lays out a scenario of a dynamic friction between workers and the elitist class that is becoming more easily recognizable in Western Society today, and that Marx believed would eventually impale capitalism and destroy its segmented civilization.

In reality, of course, it turned out to be just another philosophy that looked good on paper but didn't work out so well in reality. Democratic Republicanism (link gives a plausible definition), on the other hand, the basis for so-called Western democratic societies, worked well in its time, but now seems to be becoming more problematic to the power elite as they seek to dismantle its basic principles.

So we find ourselves in a position of being caught in a philosophy that degenerates right in front of our eyes while sucking away our power behind our backs. And that's why I advocate the need for you to discover your own spiritual power inside (Part Two of the series), and to build that into a means to serve the greater good. It is not a philosophy, but rather a means of living a fulfilling life. It may be as close to enlightenment as we are capable of in this brief passage on Earth.

I will end this short series now by observing that, while writing it, I began to notice a penchant for quoting and linking to people over the age of 50. I guess I'm age-centric and biased that way, but my bias extends far wider to include a once deeply held belief that my so-called Hippie Generation could indeed "make a better world." So I am not only biased, but naive.

I used to think that my generation was a little too poetic, a bit too unfocused to serve either as leaders or captains of industry, but that those qualities would serve society well in our capacity as visionaries, poets and tellers of stories. In a way I was right, as the current masters of business, government and philosophy are mostly North of the age of 50, and to my eyes, they've contributed mightily to the mess we find ourselves in. Lest you think I only point a finger away from myself, I freely admit to contributing in my own way to the current mess. But the generation also expanded philosophy, provided a basis for the deeper examination of the nature of things by broadening science and spirituality, burst open literature, radically improved communications and social intercourse, and yes, became profoundly good story tellers.These are visionary things.

Despite Hedges' sobering assessment, and my own at the beginning of the previous installment of this series, I still firmly believe, I know, that change can occur in an instant, and that it can be for the good of all. It is inside of you, and in every living being. It is the light, the Illumination that shines brighter than a thousand suns. It started it all with the power of love and expression. And when you seek it, it burns brighter, and when you express it, it grows in power. Where there is light, darkness cannot dwell.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

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

Thunder Valley Drums Has Moved, But My Dedication Has Not

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:03:11 GMT

Yippee! It's finished!

Thunder Valley Drums has a new home!

What a job! After ten days and a 10-day backache, the task is at last finished, and I can now answer the phone, work on a drum, record a podcast and make a necklace, all without leaving my chair! Yes, it is incredibly cramped! You wouldn't believe it if you saw it. Thank goodness it's only a temporary situation as we begin preparing to relocate to a more permanent homestead.

I'm still busy rearranging and straightening up the mess, but I'm as happy as a bug in a rug and ready to make your drum (all links open new window), whether a hoop type or a lightning-struck drum, though the latter will be a while. I am also working on three sacred powwow drums like the Bear Drum I showed you last year. The first drum from the new location will be heading to Canada later this week, followed by others, of course, here, there and yonder. I would be honored to make yours soon. Or, how about a necklace, or a sacred wand lightning stick? Spring is such a good time to renew your altar, too, so you may want to consider adding a sacred hod to your spiritual space. Not many people know about hods, so you can read more about them on the site. I can also answer any questions you may have about them, or anything on the site, any old time you would like.

So, while the studio and healing center location has changed, my dedication has not. In fact, I am charged up by the move and refreshed by establishing a new circle, always associated with energetic beginnings and opportunities for dedicated service. We performed ceremonies to prepare then initiate the sacred circle space, so it is ready for spiritual healing, creation and connection with Spirit. Even before moving the studio, I used the circle for several remote ceremonies people have requested through my Shaman On Call service.

So I thank those who waited patiently for the big move (as well as some who had to wait while supplies were in transit). And I thank you for continuing to support our mission and work together. I am dedicated to be of service to you in any way possible.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

PS: I'll be tweaking this blog over the next several days, so you can expect some squirrely-looking layouts and odd colors. This will result, I hope, in a more seamless connection with the main Thunder Valley Drums site, in both content and appearance. It's been on my to-do list for some time, but now that the studio has been relocated, I can get down to it.

I may even change the podcast name, but certainly not the content. I'll let you know more as I progress with the make-over.

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

On The Move and Talking Money

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:05:02 GMT

Yipes! And Now He's Gonna' Talk About Money!

I'm temporarily consolidating the Thunder Valley Drums studio into our home, all in preparation for what we hope will be an eventual relocation to a larger place, perhaps sometime this summer or early fall. You wouldn't believe how cramped we are!

But the energy and motivation for change has been building for some time, and animal friends have signaled its portent since early January. Besides, I've been jumping between the two locations far too long, working at my desk in one, at the workbench and in ceremony in the other. The arrangement was too expensive, too. And that brings me to the point of today's article.

Assuming GoDaddy's statistics report is accurate, more than 4,000 people a week are checking into this blog. It seems you are about as equally interested in how to make shamanic items as you are in reading the various articles or listening to the podcast episodes I post. People copy or download a lot of the information here every day. For example, in less than four months (dating from January 1, 2012) more than 2,500 people have downloaded or read my article on how to make a gourd rattle (all links open in new windows); well over a thousand have downloaded the podcast episode where I explain how to do a shamanic water ceremony; and thousands more have found help, advice or useful information in the dozens of other articles I've written. One of the all-time most popular articles centered on my idea about why UFO disclosure will never happen (podcast version). Scores have written emails to me, and dozens have clicked the "Liked" buttons at the end of posts to indicate their interest in articles. Only one person out of these thousands has clicked "Disliked"!

That's all well and good, as years ago I vowed to try to be of service to anyone and everyone who sought help or information related to shamanism, whether they could pay or not. I am honored to do this for you.

But this brings up a subject that I see mentioned more and more often on independent sites and blogs where actual people labor to be of help to others, like I do, in the Internet Age. And the subject is money.

Putting it plainly, I need your help. I spend hundreds of dollars and hundreds of hours to try to give you something of value.

This is such a complicated subject when it comes to spirituality. To begin with, there has always been a perception that spiritual people don't need money, or that they should not be offered money, or even that they should not charge for what they do. Well, that used to work perfectly fine for spiritual healers whose patrons lived in the same town or village where they did. The people would bring gifts or food, or some other item of value in exchange for services. Also, the village/town would support the healer in other ways to assure that he or she was able to exist. It may still be the case in certain places today. But not where I live.

I have to pay rent, buy groceries and gasoline, pay for utilities, pay for Internet services and everything else in life, just like you. And I spend a great deal of my time and a big chunk of my limited income trying to give you something. But not much is coming back in return. Just in the past week, this blog has received nearly 5,000 visitors. In fact, though, not one person has ever hit the donate button.

I think I understand why, and must admit to falling prey to an assumption in the past: when I visited a site to retrieve information, I often saw a "Donate" button that offered the consumer of that information, me in that case, a chance to make a financial donation to help support the person who offered the information. I used to assume that someone else in a better financial position than I would click on the donate button to help out the provider. It wasn't that I felt stingy, but rather that I just did not think about it, or did not have the money to offer at the time, or didn't really think it would help make a difference in the provider's income stream, particularly if the site "looked prosperous."

I don't do that anymore. In fact, about a year ago I started clicking the donate button and paying at least a few bucks as a way to say thanks for any information I found interesting or useful, whether a site looked prosperous or not. And I ask now that you consider doing the same for me. It is a fair and equitable exchange of energy.

Though I have a long way to go to master Web design and coding, I think my sites look prosperous. This is because I have some graphic design skills and love to write. But because a site may look good is no indicator that its owner is rich and well off. That's certainly true in my case.

I'm not asking for you to make me rich, though. But, in fairness, I am asking for your financial support. If you find the information on this blog of interest and / or useful, please donate if you can. Pressing that little Donate button in the left column can have a big impact in helping to perpetuate this blog, podcast and the services I give to those who can't afford to pay. We go through this world together, and I am committed to helping you in any way I can. That is my sacred vow.

I deeply appreciate your support.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

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

Wandering Toward Enlightenment, Part Two

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 17:02:48 GMT

In Part One we discussed the work necessary to engage in a trek toward enlightenment. I presented Seven Steps that seem necessary to developing the work habits and organization one may need to accomplish the goal. I had also asked for postcards from enlightened people so that I could report to you what it’s like to be in such a state. Cleverly, I had masked the real motive behind that request, which was simply to see if I could trick an enlightened respondent to reveal a shortcut the rest of us could take! Alas, I have not received any postcards. So we must press on. (The invitation is still open, though!)

In Part Two, we’ll look at the rather grim situation facing us in this world, and how to overcome it by doing the work of “going inside” to find your personal power. It's offshoot is joy, so it's worth the effort.

A few caveats: This piece is meant for seekers who aren't settled in their skins and know there is more to life than they know. They feel a pull to explore beyond their current beliefs. If you don't sense that in yourself, then you can save time and skip this article. Too, if you are pleased and contented with any or all of the following-- your government, your religion and the corporate scheme of things in this world-- then there is nothing of interest for you in this article. That does not mean that this article is about you and / or that I wish to talk behind your back. Nor is it an attempt to demean any of your opinions or beliefs about the subjects mentioned. But I am entitled to express my opinion about them, and I am certainly open to learning what you think. Free and open discourse is a good thing. That's why there's a space for you to comment at the end of this article.

And finally, I acknowledge that an enlightened person would probably not begin an article like this with such a sobering review as follows, but then again, if I were enlightened, I wouldn’t be writing it. And I haven't had a good rant in a long time.

Part Two:
Checkmate

In practically every way imaginable in today’s world, it seems as though forces are aligned against us in order to compromise our power.

In America, and elsewhere I’m sure, big corporations assault us from all sides with constant mind controlling advertisements while picking our pockets and seducing our compliance to their agendas that dictate the choices we make in practically every facet of our lives, even our personal behavior and habits. This is the insidious way that corporations siphon away our power.

Their partners, the U.S. Congress, President and Courts, assure this control by granting corporations standing as citizens, but citizens with extraordinary rights that allow them and their well paid CEOs, boards of directors, lobbyists and other sycophants to circumvent or write their own laws while fattening themselves with tax breaks or even with direct payments of taxpayer funds because they are too big to fail. That is a lot power, at your expense.

Religions perpetrate adherence to skewed and conflicting human interpretations of Divine Truth, with the consequence of turning human against human in a never-ending drama of clashing philosophies and constant warfare on a planet-wide scale. Not only does this obfuscate possible ways for us to connect directly with the Divine, but it also often severs it altogether, leaving us with a sense of powerlessness.

It is no wonder then that the fallout from these circumstances leads to systemic institutional decay, where ...

healthcare can’t heal,

schools can’t teach,

government can’t govern,

courts can’t be just,

public safety isn’t safe,

insurance won’t insure,

religions can't bring peace,

media can’t report,

science can’t be trusted,

and the public square can’t be occupied by the public.

About the only thing America can do effectively is to “make the business deal,” to spy, to make terrifying and gruesome weapons of war, and to design very nice cell phones (which are actually made elsewhere by exploited laborers). Everything else is degrading, downsizing and otherwise slipping through our fingers. Our cherished freedoms are corroding faster than the Rust Belt, and with them our personal power.

Today there are two watchwords in America: Fear and Profit. There are multitudes of examples with each day's news headlines, but here are a few:

• According to an in-depth article by Wired Magazine, the U.S. government’s National Security Agency (NSA) is building a colossal facility in Utah that will be capable of spying on and examining every phone call, email, Facebook or Twitter posting, or any other form of electronic communication you make, no matter who you are or where you live—anyplace in the world. The NSA originated the unconstitutional “warrantless wiretapping” protocol years ago, the article contends, and now seems to be implementing it on a worldwide scale. ( http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/03/ff_nsadatacenter/ All links open in new windows.)

• The use of drone aircraft, so feared by both our enemies and friends abroad, will soon fly American skies. (http://digitaljournal.com/article/319564)

• According to an article in Women’s Health Magazine, hospitals kill nearly 100,000 people a year because of medical errors. About two million more people a year pick up infections in hospitals, and approximately 90,000 of them die as a result. (http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/are-hospitals-safe) (http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0310/086.html)

• Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies reported record profits in 2011, even with warning labels on their products that increasingly portray lethal side effects. (http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2011/08/pharmaceuticalhealthcare-industry-sees-record-profits-despite-poor-economy/) Insurance companies profited handsomely when their powerful lobbyists played congress to relax pay-out rules, such that they now pay out only about 80-percent of what they take in. It used to be 96-percent. Result? Less or no health coverage for you, more profits for them. http://www.iwatchnews.org/2012/04/16/8656/analysis-health-insurers-try-fool-congress-fuzzy-math

• A survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life revealed one of the fastest growing religions in America is “no religion,” which is to say that people (16% of Americans) are discovering the major “organized” religions are not meaningful to their own search for spiritual connection and understanding. (These are my interpretations of the survey, not those who wrote the survey results.) Perhaps that’s why the survey also mentions that nearly half (44%) of religious followers are changing their affiliations with various faith traditions as they search for one that can actually be of value to them. (http://religions.pewforum.org/)

Where I live, in a city of about 35,000 people, big box mega-churches are springing up like weeds. Church officials are building immense, lavish structures, reportedly with marble flooring, sports facilities and daycare centers, and they send out fleets of plush vehicles to transport their followers to services, often where rock bands deliver what nowadays passes for the sacred message. That “old time religion” is even offering fireworks displays on the 4th of July and other special occasions.

It’s all about who can best implement marketing strategies amid a wild competition to fill the pews, no matter what it takes. And to fill the offering plate, too, of course. After all, somebody’s gotta’ pay for all those fireworks.

But without saying it, the Pew survey mentioned above reveals that the audacious display of wealth and power in the world of religion belies the signs of decay that will eventually lead these bloated dinosaurs to a date with extinction as people search for answers that churches cannot provide. Seekers are “getting it” that these religions are moribund, empty and lacking anything but a worn-out philosophy that, in America’s predominant Christian religion, goes something like this: “You need salvation because from the moment you are born, you are a sinner, a flawed being, a shameful product of the fallen ones from the Garden of Eden. Your only hope of redemption is to accept the church creed, whatever it may be and however we may morph it over time, so you can feel better about yourself. VISA/MASTERCARD accepted.”

So, if there were a Second Coming today, Christians could be in for a surprise, for Jesus would probably first tell adherents the same thing he originally told people in his time, break out of the church box. And then he would more than likely enter the sanctuaries and overturn the corporately-owned ATM machines lining the walls.

Despite this, religions reported taking in about $100 billion last year. Religion is big business, and it too knows how to “do the deal.” ( http://sowhatfaith.com/2011/04/07/has-church-giving-rebounded)

Indeed, it’s getting difficult to distinguish between religious and corporate dogmas, and their extension into popular governance. And if that isn’t enough, there are an increasing number of crazy people in charge of these institutions.

We are hearing more and more about the increasing influence of psychopaths at the highest levels of business, industry, government and religion. It’s not that I think every business/corporation, government or church is greedy or staffed by psychopaths, but this world relies on your labor and money, which are two sources of your personal power. And the more you give to them, the more power they get, and the more freely are those operating within the pathology to wield it in service to their own ends. A recent report suggests that up to four-percent of top business leaders in the world are psychopaths. That may sound like a low figure, but not if one of them is squandering your pension or savings account at an investment house somewhere. Increasingly, experts are pointing to the “psychopath problem” as the root cause of the 2008 worldwide financial crash.
(http://www.sott.net/articles/show/243545-Psychopaths-flourish-at-top-of-corporate-ladder)

One need only consider Goldman Sachs executive Greg Smith’s letter of resignation printed in the New York Times on March 14, 2012. He pointed to a corporate culture that was so corrupted with greed and unspeakable disregard for the rest of humanity that it could be described as no less than psychopathic. (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/14/opinion/why-i-am-leaving-goldman-sachs.html?_r=2&hp)

There are enough problems with corporate influence peddlers in our world without adding a psychopathic twist to them. One modern writer refers to the tendency of large businesses to influence more and more of your life as “corporate colonization.” It’s as if you are a surf in service to select CEOs, clever investment brokers, and expansionist-minded religious gurus, all of whom are the modern day equivalent of the priest kings of old. And these modern kings of money can stack elections and buy favors, no matter whether they sit behind a desk or stand behind a pulpit. The truly shrewd ones “invest” their fortunes in running for office themselves, then use the magical revolving doors in and out of government or public/private enterprises to build wider circles of wealth, power and influence, all in the name of business or of saving your suffering soul from your wicked self.

If you don’t think it’s possible that such reprehensible behavior can influence an entire society, then how else can you explain the erosion of democratic government in a country where the machines of war are more valued than the care of its citizens? For example, a recent study finds that more than 17 million children in America are hungry and never—NEVER get enough nutritious food. So, when was the last time you heard that America can’t continue a war because we’re out of tanks, planes or ammunition? We feed war… and starve our children. (http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap/map-congressional-district/~/media/Files/research/map-meal-gap/TX_CFI_2009.ashx?.pdf )

The U.S. Supreme Court not only granted corporations the rights of citizenship, but they also assured them the opportunity to buy favors by allowing them to spend unlimited funds to sway elections and to thus feed the war machine, among others. We are told this is good because these merchants of deadly weapons are "job creators."

It’s easy to see that poor people and the disadvantaged don’t have persuasive lawyers or lobbyists to represent their interests. And there aren't many jobs to be had in feeding hungry children. As Voltaire said, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”

That reflects the mindset of many corporate entities around the world—produce the cheapest goods with the cheapest laborers, charge maximum prices, make ungodly sums of money, fund politicians who are then under their control, and be masters of the world. It's always been this way, and that's why so few have worldly power. It's the most sought-after commodity on Earth.

An example of the nexus point between government, corporations and religion can be found in Jeff Sharlet’s book, C Street, which the Washington Post summarizes as “an expose of the Fellowship (also known as the Family), by far the most influential evangelical ministry in the nation's capital. Sharlet extends his investigation of the Fellowship to a string of Republican sex scandals, anti-gay legislation in Uganda and a purported evangelical takeover of the U.S. military.” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/29/AR2010102904033.html)

But God makes it to rain scandal on Republican and Democrat alike. And let us not forget the worldwide sex abuse and pedophile scandals, and religious bank improprieties that continue to rock various churches and faiths.

The Quest For True Power

On the whole, I believe, if enough of us give away our power, when we no longer have a deep trust in ourselves, but have chosen instead to relinquish our identities, our personal truths and our beliefs into the hands of those who claim dominion over us, we become not only a passive and compliant society, but we lose touch with our own hearts and the wild aliveness we have, deep inside. This leads to a profound disconnection from Spirit, pathological thinking and the widespread social and soul-sickness that we see everywhere around us now.

And there is one stark fact staring us in the face: we have helped create the sorry state of the world!

Under such an assault, we forget our power and begin to believe the message that we are hopeless sinners, feeble-minded workers, human resources available for consumption. Powerless.

That’s the thing about power—you use it or lose it. Consider this:

If you are constantly swallowing the effects of things that happen around you and yet you take no action, you are in effect giving away your power. Your silence lets others take control, and they need your power to do it.

If you constantly give in to the pull of needing to “Buy, Buy! Buy!” you are compromising your power.

If you lack a personal way of regularly connecting with the great realization of truth within you, you are denying yourself a great source of personal power and its renewal.

If you are feeling fearful, or are not sure what to do in such a crazy world, that’s because your power is leaking out of you like a worn out faucet.

Everyone else wants your power.

Do you want to give it to them?

Everyone else wants your money.

Will you give that to them, too? (We have a saying in our house: God doesn’t need money, and the devil can’t exist without it.)

Everyone else wants to explain God to you as a complex conundrum that only they are capable of deciphering.

Are you willing to believe them and to not delve into the subject yourself, to see if, in fact, God is beyond your own capability of exploring? Or even to ask if there is a God at all? To whom will you entrust such important power? To those who want marble flooring in a great sanctuary? Or to the one deep inside of yourself who seeks peace and union, love and service?

The power I speak of is the kind that begins inside of a person. It is born neither as the result of religious nor political belief. Nor does it originate from the power of a government or the hegemony of a corporate dynasty. And lastly, it is not the form of power which breeds a leader or a follower of monetized wealth or control over others. Its energy doesn't serve others in order to be noticed or glorified, but because it originates in love.

It is a personal power inherent in each person on Earth. And it burns brighter than the light of a thousand suns.

It is the power granted you upon your birth. You are an expression of the perfection of creation into physical matter, subject to house rules. (I discuss this in greater detail in my podcast, "A Walk With A Ghost.")

You can find that power. Inside.

Break The Chains With Your Own Personal Power

There’s only one way to recover and to expand such power. We must work every day toward building and maintaining personal power as a way to resist the momentum of the herd as it heads toward one fad or another while failing to notice the approach of the edge of the cliff ahead. Gotta' break the chains.

And I’m not talking about 10 minutes a day during a lunch break to go out and ohm with a tree. I’m talking about making a commitment to yourself to free yourself from the chains that hold you now, this minute.

There are many such ways, but they all require you to do the work, to investigate the larger reality, to commit yourself to finding Truth no matter what, as outlined in Part One of this series. And it starts inside, deep within beautiful you, where awaits a spark of God made manifest on the ground, as the Kabbalists have stated in the far distant past. You can find that spark in there. It need not be all that complicated. In fact, if you were to devote as much time every day to doing the Seven Steps I outlined in Part One as you perhaps now spend in tinkering with that fancy smartphone of yours, you could be amazed at your progress.

Without realizing it, millions of people get the right start toward realizing their own power every day. They step into a cocoon by strapping on the cell phone, juicing up the iPad, plugging in the ear buds and thinking they are connected. But that is a virtual reality, devoid of power, make believe. It is impossible to text your way to personal enlightenment.

But the idea of going into a cocoon is right on.

Spiritually speaking, the process of transmuting fear into personal power begins in the chrysalis of self reflection and connection. And that means simply turning off the cell phone and the iPad and all of the other external titillation, distractions and flim-flam assaulting you, and to begin sitting with the silence and your heart. That’s when the iPhone fades insignificantly to the much more important discovery of the divine “I” inside.

Before the church co-opted and re-purposed his phrase in order to make it appear as a recruitment tool, no less an authority than Jesus told us this. “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21, KJV, Cambridge ed.) And he told us that the pathway, the "gate," into ourselves was narrow, indeed, and quite elusive. In effect, he said it was difficult to locate it without doing the work, and that without doing the work, few would find it.

But, what’s it mean to go inside and to find that "kingdom?"

There are lots of methods, like drumming, meditating, chanting, and so forth, and the point, ironically, is that in order to find yourself, you must first lose yourself. There will definitely come an opening in doing such a practice that will result in you forgetting to think about yourself. And that’s a BINGO! You will have accomplished the goal! For when you stop thinking about yourself, new clarity will come, new understanding.

That’s only one short step away from then setting your intentions to help someone else!

But, first things first.

When you lose you, you find your power, the place where you can find the strength to resist those things which assault your heart and mind and to finally take a stand against them. The ramped up power is a natural result of letting loose of who you think you are. Then, without knowing it, you become who you truly are! The power of love! Of joy!

And you do not even need cash, a credit card or an ATM machine.

You can do it, that is if you feel moved to do it. Not everyone is in a position to take on the hard work. Many are in denial. Some are too afraid. Most are so busy with the external world that they think they have no time to do it. The point is, though, that it is time to be real and to find out who you really are, if you can.

If you feel in fear right now, or feel troubled and are not sure why, if you experience free floating anger and can’t figure out why you have a hair trigger, if you feel powerless at the sheer immensity of problems sweeping the planet, then you have a calling, a need to find answers. The world manifests all of what its consciousness stirs up. And it seeks relief, healing and union. That’s our true nature.

And it begins, as Jacques Cousteau said, by not being a slave to your own beliefs.

One at a time, each of us can find the common path of love, cooperation, compassion, integrity, and service to each other. That’s real freedom. And if you do the work and begin to manifest your true identity, the world will begin to change for the best as you wander toward enlightenment.

One thing is for sure: the more weird that things become, the stronger you can become to be of service to others who may need your help and guidance. But I can’t tell you how special you are, even though you are. You’ll have to find that out for yourself.

You can begin by blasting away a lot of the stress you make up for yourself when you're in the modern world, a lot of which is make-believe. That $500 cell phone of yours only makes you think you're connected. The real connection occurs when you toss the phone aside and fire up all seven cylinders of that body-mind-soul machine you walk around in.

I am certain you can do it. Our ancestors were right…You are God made manifest on the ground.

So, who can we look to to transform corporate tyranny into corporate responsibility? Who could possibly turn around a government that is bent toward stealing our freedom and selling it to the highest bidder? Who, indeed, can lovingly offer help to the religious seekers who stray into the dogma trap? Why, God made manifest on the ground!

_________________
Aho & Namaste,
Bob

_________________________
This article is Copyright, 2012, Thunder Valley Drums. All Rights Reserved. Please contact the author if you wish to reprint any or all of this article.

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

How To Make A Beautiful Gourd Rattle

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:04:36 GMT

There's Nothing Like Making Your Own Shaman Gear

And Here's A New Book From Shaman Bob
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Now, learn the ways of shaman master-crafting to make your own sacred shamanic gourd rattle using inexpensive and widely available materials.

Easy step-by- step instructions from Shaman Bob will also lead you through three powerful ceremonies to activate you and your rattle partner for shamanic journeying and healing service.

This Book Includes:

Full Instructions For Making Three Variations Of Bob’s Preferred Rattle Design
40 Color Illustrations "Secret Ingredients” To Include In Your Sacred Rattle
Tips & Techniques For Maximizing The Rattle’s Voice
How To Use Your Rattle
Bob's Colorful Commentary & Spiritual Insights
60 PAGES IN ALL!

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Medicine Bag Necklace and More Now Available at Thunder Valley Drums

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 03:05:48 GMT

I posted several new necklaces, including a unique Medicine Bag Necklace on the Thunder Valley Drums Website last night. What joy I felt while making them. (More photos below)

It all started three or four weeks ago when a good friend from whom I purchase many supplies offered me a limited quantity of some beautiful suede deer skin lacing, and I was off to the studio with glee! You will be so surprised and pleased when you touch these sumptuous all-natural necklaces that also include lightning-struck cherry pendants, lilac pendants and a wide variety of other materials. There are copper and jasper beads, a real feather on one, some antique Ethiopian copper beads, brass and wooden beads, and some Peruvian ceramic, too.

The lone medicine bag necklace (there will be more!) even includes a Columbian Copal (photo, left), which is a form of resin produced by trees and very similar to amber, only younger, according to the experts who sold the beautiful piece. Its color is exactly like amber, and this particular copal reminds me so much of Jurassic Park because a mosquito is encased (or is an "inclusion" as experts call it) within it, just like in the film. But copal is typically only a few hundred years old at most, whereas amber could be thousands or millions years old. The copal energy is a very soothing and quite useful in shamanic ways because, like its older amber cousin, is associated with drawing out, clearing and transmuting energy, and even with fertility and the associated notion of giving birth to new ideas. The medicine bag necklace is pictured on the right in the main photo at the top of this post. Opposite it in that photo is a lilac necklace.

The lilac necklaces are so gentle, energy-wise. Little wonder, since the plant's properties are so commonly equated with love, healing, expansive thinking and spiritual openings. But they are also powerful protectors. (I read a recent article mentioning that lilacs were originally planted in New England to repel evil.) These are perfect necklaces to wear during healing ceremonies.Of course, though, one doesn't have to be in ceremony to wear them, as many who have purchased them over the years have told me. These folks simply liked the looks of the necklaces and were not really interested in their spiritual qualities.

The lightning-struck necklaces are of a different spiritual energy altogether. One of the prime properties associated with them and all of the lightning-struck shamanic tools I make is a more aggressive healing vibration, even akin to the "Kali Energy" of destruction and creation, as in the destruction of illness and the creation of healing. (Elsewhere, I've written extensively about the other powerful and sacred properties of the lightning-struck wood I use in practically all of the shaman gear I make, so won't go on and on about it here. The link takes you to a page where you can download e-Booklets I wrote about the subject.) This year, I decided to engrave most of the lightning-struck pendants with various totemic animals and symbols, probably because I've always sensed such a powerful connection to the universal ancestors who always inscribed their amulets and pendants with animal likenesses or symbolic markings, regardless of the culture or time in which they lived. The necklaces include a Hummingbird, Turtle, and ancient symbols of the Triskele and Tree of Life. I wanted to emphasize these engravings like the ancestors did, so highlighted them with gold paint.

I'll be adding more shamanic necklaces over time. Oh, and I will include a small hank of sweetgrass and a packet of herbs to help you smudge and activate the necklace you buy. I've always done so with most everything I sell, but never advertised it before. This may not be important to some who, like those customers I mentioned, are not "into" spiritual healing and energetic jewelry, but merely like the looks of a necklace. Either way, I hope you enjoy them.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

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

Wandering Toward Enlightenment Amid The Whirlwind, Part One

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:17:49 GMT

Please Send A Postcard!

This new series highlights some concepts I’ve shared with you in person during shaman training classes, or at conferences and/or in podcasts about how my quest for enlightenment has not been in a straight line. This is the first time, however, that I’ve actually published them in written form. I hope you find them helpful in your own spiritual quest. And when you get there, please drop a line or send a postcard and tell me what it’s like to be enlightened. I’m eager to know!

Part One: Seven Steps To Doing The Work

Okay, first I want to tackle the concept of “DOING THE WORK.” And wow, so many people have told me about their frustration with what they perceive as a lack of any, or at least very slow progress along their spiritual path. Well, I sure understand that feeling, completely, having experienced it over and over myself. I mean, really, why can’t it be easier? I want truth and I want it now. Gimme the God pill, already!

Oh, if only there were a pill we could take to get spiritual! For most people who are unsettled about their spiritual connection and who feel there must be more, the path to enlightenment can seem like a long slog up a mountain. Most find it's not awaiting them in a weekend workshop or in a single moment. Gotta’ do the work, and then, the scary part—gotta’ simultaneously go quiet, turn off all the distractions and go inside! OMG!

Aw, don’t worry. Here are some ways to go about the process of pushing back from the spiritual smorgasbord, which never seems to satisfy, and for getting some focus for getting in touch with the one you think you are…and the other one you are. What a magnificent couple!

First, sorry to say, anything worthwhile takes time and patience. And it requires work.

Our impatience is the result of ego, sure that there are answers there for the taking, that we can know God, master our lives and know perfection, with the result of unlimited good stuff and no suffering. And all in no time at all!

But timeless questions don’t work that way, and neither do the answers. In fact, and in my own experience, there has only been one such answer forthcoming rather quickly. Love.

There it is.

In and of itself, that’s a hard one to grasp. Oh, it’s easy when it comes to things and people we are fond of, but it seems impossible for things, tasks, people and all other aspects of life that we don’t like. That takes practice—to love something or someone you don’t like. I’m certainly not a master of that yet! It may take a lifetime or many lifetimes to accomplish such a state of awareness and acceptance. But it sure is time to start!

So love is one answer, the most important answer, but it is certainly not the only answer. And even it has more layers than we can know. How frustrating!

What to do?

Well, we have to get down to work. And we must persist even though the whirlwind of life churns and twists around us. I think doing the work simply means to become deeply, unshakably aware of your own worth as well as the worth of others, which leads to a sense of personal empowerment, spiritual peace and service to others. On the surface, this may seem to be something you feel you already know, and maybe you are one of the fortunate few who is at one with our world and yourself. But for the rest of us seekers who are looking for answers about life, we all have a great deal to discover about ourselves below the level of our conscious assumptions. Doing the work is about finding out who you really are as a spiritual/physical being and then, expressing your life using all of your inherent, wondrous potential... regardless of what is chaotically swirling around us in the outer world. This is the firm spiritual foundation talked about in scripture and by spiritual masters. It is that which we search for, but all-too-often are unable to find, perhaps because it requires a lot of hard work. Yep, no two ways about it. The Godnow pill isn’t available, so until it is, I think we have to buckle down and get to the task the old fashioned way.

Spiritual seekers are always searching beyond prescribed boundaries for meaning in their lives. And yet, that does not mean that it comes from the outside, but rather from the inside. That was the message, I believe, which Jesus attempted to deliver. In short, doing the work empowers you from the inside…as opposed to looking for power outside of yourself, or looking to powerful others to tell you what to do, who to be, etc.

To achieve a new world of enlightenment and peace, it all has to start where most of human kind has not gone before: the unexplored territory of the inner self. Of all the scary places humans try to avoid, this may be the most terrifying. But, why? Well, it sort of goes like this. We’re told that concentrating on ourselves is Narcissistic. Too much admiration will result in our being conceited and obnoxious. Always better to help others. And this: if we examine ourselves, we are terrified of finding ourselves lacking in __________, or feeling angry, regretful or guilty about______________(fill in the blanks).

In fact, Narcissism and such is a compulsion that replays constantly in one’s head, and at its worst, it is pathologically damaging. I don't think most people experience this compulsion to such an extent, and I really doubt that true spiritual seekers suffer from it at all, given that they sense there is far more to existence than what they see in the mirror. Fear, terror, regret and guilt about ourselves, on the other hand, are immobilizing emotions like layers of an onion that cover up an inner truth wanting to burst out—accept, forgive, move on! But you gotta do the work to overcome any Narcissistic tendencies or to peel the onion.

It begins with finding self love first, then not lingering on it. Helping others come next.

It’s simple, really: Love begins at home, in the heart. And how can you love others without knowing the depths of your own self, both the shadow and the beautiful fountain of love that wells up from within you, and the power this gives you?

Inevitably, the search for self love begins with the search for the Divine (a term I use for convenience, and ask that you try to strip it of the usual confusion attached to it from competing religions and philosophies). Once you begin this search, it’s a wild ride. It’s like the teacher Carolyn Myss says, if you ask to see the face of God, you’d better fasten your seatbelt. All of the false stuff in your life will fall away. I can practically guarantee these will include:

•    The loss or radical alterations of some relationships; the forming of new ones
•    A near complete reassessment of your occupation and life goals
•   A big change in your perception of the world
•    The surprising disposal of most all of the things you currently think are indispensible

I could mention more, a whole lot more, but I don’t want to scare you off the trail before you even step onto it. Why? Because it’s worth the trip!

To do the work, awakened to your own worth and to the meaning of serving others, there is a period of time needed for facing your shadow side and for then lifting yourself above the level of your ego and the external influences that keep you held down like a slave. And these require you to work at it. And yes, doing the work is “work!” in the sense that you have to have both discipline and an attitude of responsibility to your self development, just like most other important things in life.

Spending effort to “get spiritual” isn’t something that appeals to most people in a world where conquering life and having all the stuff we can lay our hands on is the generally-accepted goal, as promoted by the world at large. So, many people settle for shortcuts to their spiritual lives in order to have more time to scramble for the stuff and pleasures, getting a more satisfying relationship, obtaining a great car, having the perfect smart phone (with voice / retina recognition and an incredible display!)—always seeking, grasping, restless and unfulfilled in the quiet moments…never really satisfied. Buy, buy, buy!

Well, if that’s the case with you, and if you don’t feel whole and comfortable in your skin, then it’s really an invitation from your soul to “do the work.”

In my own experience, I’ve found that doing the work involves at least seven points to consider. I’ll be brief, I promise. I know you’re in a hurry!

One. The first step is simple, yet profound. And that is to declare to yourself that you are ready to undertake the work, and that you will dedicate yourself to it, for however long it may take. (Of course, this is voluntary, and you can get off the train anytime you wish and go back to the way you were.) But making a good declaration and affirming it can go a long way toward helping you to step onto or remain on the path, and to continue to explore it.

Two. Next, doing the work requires working the brain and the mind on subjects of a spiritual nature. Though we aren’t necessarily only what our brains may perceive us to be, we do have to work the brain to get in tandem with whatever else we may be in order to build some momentum. So that means we have to read, and read widely, for starters. The ancient holy books are a good possible starting place, for they will help you understand the basics of the world’s religions and spiritual thought and thus give you some points to consider about whether you accept or reject what their writers observed. And doing this tells your brain that you are putting a priority on something you want it to continue to grok, or to think about, even when you sleep.

Oh, I’m not going to tell you what to read, for this is impossible. Besides, it’s part of the real fun of awakening, for you get to finally get in touch with yourself for direction. So, this requires some inner work of a different kind which I’ll talk about later. In essence though, it is listening to your inner voice, which often is the translator of Spirit.

Three. Also, doing the work requires an open mind. The whole exercise, after all, is to set out on a quest for something that you can not yet identify. So if you do it with expecting to find something you already know to be true or possible, what’s the point? Rather, one should go into it not only to discover new things, but to challenge things you take for granted. After all, you’re tired of the way things are, so to change, you are going to have to change many things you are currently relying on that make you tired of them! Explorer Jacques Cousteau said it best: ‘Don’t be a slave to your own beliefs.” Right on!

Four: To do the work, one must also find a way to make the work at least partially enjoyable, else it will all begin to taste like sour medicine…or seem like hard work! Hey, it’s a volunteer job, so have some fun while you’re doing it. You’re in charge, after all, so make some rules that allow for fun! Eventually, fun will turn into its more potent form: joy! Then you’re in the zone!

At the same time, you will have to accept that some things are going to make you upset. Let’s face it, not many jobs are always easy.

Five: I think it’s also valuable to understand that the work doesn’t have a definable end. Perhaps that’s one of the most difficult parts of awakening. One just keeps on keeping on. Oh, I’m not saying there isn’t a point, nor even that there isn’t a goal. For sure there are both! But, once again, it’s such a personal thing that there is no way for someone else to tell you what it is, and likewise, there’s no way to know it for yourself until you have found it. And it doesn’t come in full meal deals, but in appetizers. So you must have patience, and if you don’t have patience, then be prepared to learn lessons in patience, for Spirt is patient and will help you learn how to be so.

Doing the work is sometimes like starting a journey, but not quite knowing the destination. Like so many masters I’ve read about and a few I’ve met, it seems the process is, rather than sprinting, more like wandering toward enlightenment. Intriguingly, it’s also one of those things that, should you achieve it, you no longer find it important! Why? Because you are enlightened! Enlightened people don’t ask themselves if they’re enlightened! And they seldom advertise it. Get it?

Six: I also believe one must develop a spiritual ritual and discipline of some sort, where you can both track your progress, as in journaling or somehow recording your thoughts and observations along the way, while also honoring what you’ve learned. You can do this by developing your own ceremonies and rituals, or by making a special place where you can place a favorite book or whatever physical object you have found that is somehow symbolic and instructive of your quest to date. All religions have such special places and ceremonies, and that’s for the simple reason that they recognize the human need for spiritual connection and ritual. Some people find it difficult to connect with things that others find important, so there’s no reason why you can’t make your own and do it yourself.

Seven: And finally, I think it’s immensely helpful to find someone to share your findings with, and to ask questions of, and to bounce around ideas with. But of course, doing the work is still up to you. In the same vein, you can also call upon helping guides and spirits to help you when possible.

And now for the fun part…or at least another fun part of doing the work necessary to walking a spiritual path in order to find greater meaning, purpose and strength in life amid the whirlwind. It’s something you’ll be doing while going through the Seven Steps above. And that is, going inside. What? Looking at that terrifying abyss deep within?

Right.

We’ll explore that in Part Two.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Notes (All links will open in new windows):
1. There are many, many ways to develop your own rituals and ceremonies on your path. If you're interested in shamanism and its beautiful ceremonies, I can give you some ideas to help get you started. Begin by checking out the category archives on The Shaman Drums Podcast and Blog. There are also some links on the blog to connect you with others who practice these sacred ways.

2. Main graphic at top of this post was remixed by Bob, and consists of these two images: Background image of Whirlwind by Photonut: http://www.rgbstock.com/user/Photonut; Man silhouette by Michal Zacharzewski: http://www.rgbstock.com/user/mzacha

3. All other graphics by Bob

Copyright, 2012, Thunder Valley Drums, All Rights Reserved
Please contact me if you would like to use excerpts or to reprint this article: livefree@naturalshamandrums.com

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

Healing Share / Prayer Request 3/13/12

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 19:36:27 GMT

We will convene a drum circle tomorrow (March 13, 2012) at 5 p.m. EDT (U.S.) for the man mentioned in the previous post. He has asked that his name be withheld, but that he welcomes your love and healing energy, and wishes to return it in kind. His operation is scheduled for 1 p.m. on March 14 in the Kentucky area.

Many have already expressed a desire to join in this sacred service, and we invite you, too. Please join us from your location wherever you are so that the circle ever grows above, below and all around for this beautiful soul.

Aho & Namaste,

Bob

Healing Share / Prayer Requests, 3/4/12

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 04:11:41 GMT

First, an update to the Feb. 9, 2012 request: One of the men mentioned in that post, who is in his 70s, has made wonderful progress toward a full recovery. The second man needs our continued efforts, though. He now faces surgery on March 14. We are planning a circle for him, but have yet to set a date/time (so please check back, as I'll post a notice as soon as possible). Meanwhile, if even right this second as you read this, please sound your drum or send a prayer or do what you can to envelope him within the great circle of protection and healing.

Also, a Facebook friend asked that I post this notice: A drumming circle for Cincinnati, OH, resident Kimberly McAninch has been scheduled for Sunday, March 11 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. U.S. East Coast Time. Here is a link to the Facebook posting: https://www.facebook.com/events/280019785403252/

We are planning to join in this effort from our home, and invite you to join, too, wherever you may be.

We receive and honor many requests for circle inclusion from many who do not wish the information to be made public. And we stand ready to receive yours and to honor it in any way possible, should the need arise. Please be sure when making your request to indicate if you wish to have a public notice posted here or if you would rather for it to remain private.

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

Aho & Namaste,

Bob

New Gourd Rattle Kit! New Newsletter! NEW BOOK!

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 20:18:15 GMT

It's NEW time at Thunder Valley Drums! Today I offer a new TVD Newsletter, a new Shamanic Gourd Rattle Kit, and a NEW book! Triple new, just for you.

Here's a link to the Thunder Valley Drums Newsletter! You will see the Bear Drum in action at its new California home and catch up on what else is going on out here in the Kentucky bluegrass at the TVD studio. There's a valuable coupon in it, too!

I also want to introduce you to the new Thunder Valley Drums Gourd Rattle Kit (photo, left), and a bonus! It has everything you need to make a beautiful rattle, including a very nice gourd and handle, a crosspiece, and way more than enough top quality suede deer lacing to do it up right. Perhaps best of all, it also comes with a specially selected piece of lightning-struck wood, an emerald chip and a copper eyepiece to attach them to the rattle. Order yours now for only $20 plus postage! Here's the link for all the details.

And here's an early bird BONUS for Shaman Drums Blog readers who buy the kit now. Order a Gourd Rattle Kit now and receive a FREE COPY of my new book! (PDF version, anticipated publication date, 3/23/12)

Make It Sacred: A Step-By-Step Guide To Making Shaman Gear, Vol. 1, contains fully illustrated instructions for how to make a gourd rattle, along with three separate sacred ceremonies you can perform to help activate and use this healing ally. It's like sitting in the TVD shop with me while we make a rattle together!

More than 40 pages in all! Full Color Photos. Published by Blue Planet Publications. Retail Price: $2.99 (PDF version) Your free copy will be emailed to you the same day as your gourd kit is shipped (after 3/23/12).

Of course, if you already have the supplies you need, you can purchase a copy of the book separately. Order today by pressing this Buy Now button through PayPal! (You do not need a PayPal account in order to take advantage of this offer.) Anticipated shipping date is 3/23/12

More New Books On The Way, Too!

I had originally envisioned the book to encompass many shamanic projects, but followed suggestions to instead write a series of books concentrating on one project at a time. It is less expensive for you this way because you need only purchase those books which present projects that interest you. I'm working on those other books for the series right now, so keep checking this blog for future announcements about their publication.

Aho & Namaste,
Bob

Photo Essay To Accompany "A Walk With A Ghost"

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:09:17 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:37:24 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:56:07 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:14:06 GMT

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!

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 20:28:27 GMT

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!

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:28:21 GMT

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!

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:59:04 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:53:36 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 02:12:04 GMT

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!

Cats And Dogs For Peace

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:03:48 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 19:58:43 GMT

(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!

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:44:53 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:24:53 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:37:59 GMT

(Re-posted After Some Changes)

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. They could not have come at a better time. So, thank you Roger.

And thank you, my friend.

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

All Of Our Best To You & Yours

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:32:36 GMT

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

dedebob@windstream.net (Bob) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:46:02 GMT

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.