DRUM MEDICINE

Ceremonial cacao and drum medicine for women. Lie down, receive and surrender to the rhythm and resonance of the sacred drum. DRUM MEDICINE is an intimate gathering for just three women, held in the comfort and privacy of my beautiful home in Islington. This is not a drumming circle. You don't need to bring a drum or know how to play one. You simply lie down and receive — allowing yourself to be immersed in the rhythm, resonance and vibration of the drum. We begin with ceremonial smudging with sage or palo santo, before opening the Medicine Wheel — a framework I use as part of my practice. The Medicine Wheel appears in different forms across different lineages and traditions. At its heart is an understanding that, just as nature moves through cycles of emergence (spring), growth (summer), shedding (autumn) and rest (winter), our own lives move through cycles too. Some are the larger cycles of a lifetime; others may be unfolding within our relationships, our work or our inner lives. Recognising where we are within a particular cycle can sometimes help us feel a little less lost, offering a way of orienting ourselves and bringing ourselves back towards balance. I'll share something of the directions within the Wheel and the qualities associated with them, before giving you time to settle on an intention for the session. We'll then share ceremonial cacao together before it's time to lie down and receive the drum. I work intuitively, beginning by dowsing, or sound-mapping, each person as a way of sensing areas within the energetic body that may feel stagnant or in need of attention. From there, the drumming begins. The rhythm varies in pace, intensity and volume — sometimes deep and steady like a heartbeat, at other times moving into the faster, repetitive beat associated with shamanic drumming. The drum gives way to the rattle, used to stir and loosen what may still feel stagnant or held in the energetic body, followed by gentle feather work over each person’s energetic field. Voice, shruti box, ocean drum, chimes and other subtle, evocative sounds gradually bring the experience towards stillness, with optional grounding touch and time to rest and integrate. We finish slowly, coming back together with time to share anything that may have arisen. There is never any obligation to speak. Why the Drum? Repetitive drumming can be profoundly relaxing. As our brains begin to entrain to the rhythm of the drum, some of our usual mental chatter and everyday defences can soften, creating a quieter, more inward state of awareness. In that space, thoughts, feelings, images or inner knowing that can be harder to hear amongst the noise of everyday life may have more room to surface. The drum isn't there to give us answers. It can simply create a different kind of space in which to listen to ourselves. What we do with anything that emerges afterwards is entirely our own. For some people the experience is visual or emotional; for others it is deeply physical. You may notice memories, imagery or sensations, sleep particularly well afterwards, or simply experience a profound sense of rest. There doesn't need to be a revelation for the experience to have value. There is something very simple at the heart of it: our bodies understand rhythm. Breath, heartbeat, movement, sleeping and waking are all rhythmic. When life leaves us scattered or overstimulated, sustained rhythm can offer an opportunity to settle, reconnect and come back into resonance. Who is it for? You don't need any experience of meditation, sound work, drumming, energy work or the Medicine Wheel. You don't need to arrive with a problem to solve or even know what your intention is. You might be moving through something, longing for some clarity, feeling overstimulated or depleted — or simply want two hours in which nobody needs anything from you. There is nothing to perform and nothing to get right. Preparing for Drum Medicine Come in loose, comfortable clothing. Mattresses, bolsters and blankets are provided, and you're welcome to bring warm socks or anything else that helps you feel at home. I'd recommend avoiding alcohol the night before and on the day of the session, and recreational drugs for at least 48 hours beforehand, so that you can arrive rested and clear-headed. It's also best to avoid a very heavy meal immediately before we begin. Water will be available, and you may want to bring a journal if you'd like to write anything down afterwards. Otherwise, there is nothing you need to do to prepare. “Drum sound rises on the air, its throb, my heart. A voice inside the beat says, ‘I know you’re tired, but come. This is the way.’” — Rumi