HEALING SOUND IS SACRED, AND SACRED SOUNDS CAN HEAL Going beyond meditation and relaxation there is a form of drumming which resonates within us in special ways. Under certain circumstances the beating of a drum can alter the way we feel about ourselves and the world, and in many instances, it is how we feel that influences how our body reacts to outside pressures. Strange though it may seem, bereavement lowers our immune system whereas falling in love increases it. Changing the way we feel, therefore, is often the fist step towards deep physical and spiritual healing. (For more on this first stage go to Meditation and Relaxation) However, certain forms of drumming take us much further than just relaxation. It is the ability of a drumbeat to take us into the realms of imagination which is its most important feature. And in this respect the Bodhrán is particularly advantaged because of the wide range of tones and nuances it is capable of portraying. These subtle notes and resonances bypass the logical and language parts of our brain and lock onto the emotional centre which in turn is connected directly to our immune system. In practical terms the rhythms adopted will be entirely subjective, and there are no hard and fast rules. The guiding principle is the intention. A clear statement of intent and affirmation, is a defining feature of the healing process. It is our intention which gives meaning to the drum. The formulating of an intent should also lead to a recognition of the special nature of the events about to take place. A period of cleansing and preparation should precede this sacred work. Washing the hands, honouring the drum, lighting incense and a candle, or even wearing some special item of clothing may all contribute to a sense of the sacred. Now, concentrating more on the resonance than the actual drumbeats, a tonal sound should be created which matches our present emotional state. This is the starting point. Once the emotion has locked on, the mind is free to begin the visualising process, which is the key to healing. To be whole we must not only see that it is possible, but more importantly, to visualise that it is so. This is no selfish desire but an earnest wish to be well, so that our spirit can sing its own song to the universe. Some researchers and practitioners testify that this desire is the single most important element in spontaneous remission of many illnesses. On the simplest level, merely allowing a few moments of daydreaming has proved effective in distracting the mind and its perception of pain, but it is possible to go much deeper than that. Abundant scientific evidence now exists to show that the imagination is capable of triggering chemical reactions within us which not only increase our immunity, but also actively fight disease. Here is a simple example of a drum healing process which can be adapted to any circumstance. There are many others. Having achieved a quiet and meditative state as described above, and with the intention in mind, allow the drumming to take its own course, let its resonance vibrate where it will within you. As your mind daydreams from one place to another, notice where the drum seems to sing. Imagine this song welling up inside you, rising from your solar plexus through your heart, then, still rising through your throat and out of the top of your head. Then, before it can fly away into the universe, catch it, and bring it down into your solar plexus again. Then, let it rise again, but now intensify the song, make it louder. Keep drumming as the song rises in you again and as it pours out of the top of your head, bring it back down again and into your body. Let this revolving wave of power, become more and more intense and vibrant, until it is a glowing wave of song going round and round, faster and faster, intensifying all the time. Then in a flash!! Send it cascading into your intention. Let it fill your intention to the brim. Let it overflow until this power of wellbeing floods over you. Bask in the warm glow of fulfilment for a while, slowly letting the drumming subside to a standstill. Be at peace and give thanks to the drum for being the vehicle of healing. Finally, just a word about an extreme form of drum healing called Spirit Drumming Spirit Drumming is the quantum physics of rhythm. No matter how regular the action may appear, no-one can predict when any individual beat will sound. A strange and mesmerising form which has distinctive mind altering characteristics. The technique depends on high speed ghost-noting where intuitive movements of the hand bring it to the drum in a random but patterned way. It's hard to describe but for those interested I have included a Spirit Drumming track on my ‘Drum Dreaming’ CD. The track is called ‘Reindeer’ Peace be with you. Alan