An Evening With Steven Farmer PhD - A Native American Drumming Circle ~ Part 1
November 5th 2007 04:04
Steven D. Farmer
Woo hoo ~ I responded instantly, it’d been too long, for both my friend and I, and we knew instinctively that we have been severely starved of this form of meditation since Cherokee-Delaware descendant, Medicine Crow, returned to take leadership of his tribe in New Jersey, USA., announcing that he wouldn’t return to Oz until 2008.
For those of you who don’t know much about this form of meditative shamanic healing/balancing, there really is nothing like a good drumming meditation to help heal and balance our natural rhythms, back in-step with those of the planet upon which we walk. The bonus with Steven Farmer was to be that we would also get to learn a heap more about Power Animals, as well ... a bit of an envirowarrior myself, as well as an avid seeker of lost knowledge, it was to be a great bonus, so I booked my ticket.
Steven Farmer is Doreen Virtue’s Husband. Both with PhD’s, they used to be a part of the orthodox psychiatric world. Unfulfilled in the mundane world alone, today, many will recognise Doreen’s name from her work with the Angelic realms - through her Angel Cards and workshops. Steven on the other hand, took the shamanic route of the more tribal ‘Red Road,’ acquiring more mystical, ancestral wisdom. He has walked amongst our Aborigines and mastered among other things, not only the art of didgeridoo playing, but the symbolism represented by native Australian power animals, as well.
Chipawee Shaman and 'Medicine Drum'
As with throat chanting, when done properly, the gentle rhythmic drumming, flute and rattle will help reclaim, re integrate and realign lost parts of both your spiritual and emotional bodies, leaving you revitalised. I have attended many drumming circles and literally feltt my energy shift to a more positive vbiration as a result. If done badly, however, you can become very ill, so be sure to seek someone reputable.
It is a wonderful balm in itself, in today’s frantic world of buy, buy, buy; look here, here, here, and there, there, there … especially for those not otherwise practicing regular meditation, or prayer sessions, to help slow and calm the mind daily.
Animal power totem energy communicates throughout the world, not just in Native North America and it is prudent to understand this...
You can start be being aware of the animal power energy that exists on this planet besides our own... and the enormous privilige we are being shown in having it bestowed on us through the contact. Try to take time to stop and thank the totem animal and ask it what message it has for you.
In the meantime, you can visit my Dream Symbology blogsite and look up Animals In Dreams, the symbolism in both worlds (waking and sleeping) are almost identical.
In Part 2 ~ I'll take you on the guided Meditation we took with Steven and reveal my experience and the animals that appeared to me.
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
Wow~ I can feel your positive energy bouncing off the Orble walls - quite literally! What a fantastic experience to have had. I`ll have to get that book to read it sounds like something i would really enjoy. I am so fascinated by this type of thing - all the ancient knowledge is so much easier to understand than the crappy morals that today`s society live by. (Have you got a look at the recently revealed face of King tut? how exciting!)
I sat mezmerised at 'The Dreaming Festival' by a group of drummers. They were amazing and I couldn`t help but get drawn to their tent every time I was in that area. As one grew tired another would take their place and it went on well into the wee hours of the night - I feel asleep to the wonderful sounds whilst staring up at a clear starry sky - it was magical.
I was reading something the other day about the rhythms of the body and the link to people humming. It was interesting to note the connection as I often hum mindless tunes throughout the day - now I understand why
I look forward to hearing more of your experience. Did you see the Open Day at the Monastery yesterday? I was gutted when my friend cancelled at the last minute to go and then I got called into work GGGRRRRR!!!!!!
I feel a magic in the air Lilla, like a fresh breeze has blown off all the cobwebs and your energy has seeped into my bones off this one to only heighten it all.
Have a great night.
hugs
Ash
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
It amazes me that with only 7% communication possible through textual conversation, we manage to 'feel' so much .. it continually fascinates me... but I understand what you mean about the 'tone' of people's comments...
Humming hey? Youa re good at gine tuning yourself then, that is really good news.
I was at the Open day as I spent the weekend up there meditating and then went on this amazing 12 km hike at break neck speed! It wasn't planned and boy am I suffering today ... it is hard to return to the "real": world *chuckle* but I am really brightened by the exercise, I can tell you.
As I said, don't worry about missing it, you can come up with me when I go up next month, okay? I'll pm you.
Going now to walk a bit on the machine to try and release some of my locked muscles *cringe* *hobble* *wince*
Lilla ...xx
Comment by Techno
Geeky Blog
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
The Great White Lark, you reckon'?
Lilla ...
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
I believe in this utterly but for much more simple reasons - we used drums in ancient days, before we used anything. We knew rythyms then we cannot comprehend because back then we didnt bother!
But it sounds like something I would love to do!
Great story Lilla, cant wait for 2. And the bear? Thats exactly what Im saying with the rainbow lorikeet!
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
In fact, it was women who first held the power of drumming. Because of childbirth etc., they eventually gave it over to the men, who have (apparently) abused it … indeed, within the drumming circles I have visited, the women are slowly taking back their power and re-learning their rhythmic connection and roots. Let us hope we can all drum up some peace and re-balance the wealth in this world; and end this stupid war, too.
Now then to the rainbow Lorikeet and Steven’s book doesn’t cover it specifically ~ only in the broader sense of "Parrot.” I also have a section on “Parrot” in my Animals In Dreams post. That is the point of both this work and my own continuing research into my books on Augury, so little is known about the dreamtime meaning, drawn from this land. I have much yet to discover and learn from the ‘elders’ I commune with occasionally.
So for now (‘bear’ with me) … and let’s just take a broad look at Parrot as meaning any brightly coloured tropical birdie (including your lorikeet), to see if the meaning is relevant, okay?
Steven’s general meanings for Parrot energy are ;
-Be careful of gossip and gossips at this time.
-A good time to study the power and effects of light and colour.
-Be alert to new ideas (like drumming circles?) at this time..*chuckle* as these may give you some ideas for new growth or a new direction for yourself.
-It is time to revisit and renew something you’ve always dreamed of doing, now is the perfect time to act.
They often appear if you are (or having been feeling) depressed for a while and you can call on them to restore a happier frame of mind.
Of course, you should always thank them and ask them if they have a personal message for you - directly... tht will always be very personal when it happens...the meanings differ slightly too if they appear to you as your totem animal in a meditation or vision quest.
Gotta dash and put up the next post and go get the banking done…
Much love
Lilla …x
Comment by Kleonaptra
Kalikapsychosis
*giggles* How did I know you were the right person to ask? Everytime Im here now I hear drumming....
As I read through the meanings, I humed and haed, thinking that was true, and that, and why, I had been doing that one already, its this one......
Ive been feeling this one for some time. The birds have been living with me, everywhere I go, for months. Im just not sure what that one means.....
As for speaking to them directly I asked them, Since we are already buying meat just for the kookaburras, sharing duck food with about a million sparrows(and mice) not to mention feeding our own animals and countless other wildlife - would you guys like some fresh fruit or parrot seed?
They told me our yard is too dangerous. Theyd rather feed up with the goats. The babies would have fledged by now(I can hear them right now) if the yard wasnt so dangerous with other birds!
Thankyou so much for taking the time dear Lilla, I much appreciate it
LUV
KLEO