Tag: drumming

Well, a year has passed since we gathered to create a synchronous wave of vibration around our home planet and the 10 Billion Beats call is going out once more to pick up the beat and drum! Last year on the 16th of September Carlisle Bergquist and the 10BBs crew rallied us to participate in a sonorous global shift for realising heart centered healing through our drums – 16th through 17th September 2011 is our date for renewing the wave – follow this link to get the full details.

Drumming is ‘energy work’, working with the power of vibration and rhythm – we can change the state of things, as well as our consciousness, through this medium, and what we can achieve now is unprecedented. We are greater in numbers and the message that 10BBs is supporting is growing and spreading. We can see the same message emerging globally in many different ways, so be creative! Every energy wave that we create now increasingly carries the power for transformation.

When we pay attention to something it changes – we can change its state, its structure and its energetic expression – but, this is very old knowledge now being explored through new science and metaphysics. Our times are primed for a big shift however, the current conditions on earth are unique, and these are conditions that accelerate change. We have entered an exponential trend that is pulling our awareness into transformation. Our awareness is growing. Collectively we are entering a new phase of our human development and history. It is a time for global co-operation in bringing the changes we most desire to our life-ways and relationship with our home planet. With this in mind 10BBs looks all the more important this time around. Global Drumming is a way of energetically paying attention to our fundamental energetic Earth matrix….just chew this over for a moment……

How each of us work with the drumming will be as unique as our selves, but, we are in the midst of a field change that our drumming will feed no matter how we work – so, pick up your drum, bring out your creativity and take to your feet, or let your spirit ride your drum’s dancing hooves. Whatever your delictation let it come from the heart……this way we will all bring genuine healing into this world. We do not have to have the ‘right ideas’ for this to happen, its not about ideas or thinking, its about being true to ourselves, authentic, genuine. From this place of personal power we can work within context, should we choose. We don’t have to look far to find a context that is relevant to us as individuals.

We are working within a field of growing mutability; old (………) structures are challenged, the world is becoming more fluid, and, if we have a mind to we can let our turbulent times teach us. We can clearly see that much of the challenge is for us to change how we consciously work with energy and power. This means revising how much our transactions define our relationships. We know that we will have to change our consumer ways – in fact, we have already become addicted to blind consumption, our lives literally being devoured by this rogue culture we and our ancestors have created. Over and above our everyday consumption of power and the debt of pollution that this creates, our relationship with nature rests upon this – providing we are not following the scientific fundamentalism that says science will provide the solution. There is another way – human nature and Nature moving into unity requires a deeper understanding of who we are and where we have come from than simply replacing one consumer model with another. When we can re-member what gives us life we can learn about our interrelationships – this way we all evolve as we learn, consciously, spiritually and physically. Everything is connected. Imagine then what happens when the global drumming includes the re-membering – it feeds those changes in our relationship with all that gives us life and, if we really want to get to this place, we must come from the heart. The heart is the place of our deepest memories……the seat of our indigenous soul.

When we bring energy to that place we create a re-volution within ourselves, and for there to be any genuine revolution it must start within – otherwise we tend to lapse back into the old patterning and amnesia. This is our opportunity to break the pattern……..

Our re-volutions here are evolutionary, gathering momentum that is bringing change through infusing our indigenous souls with new energy – and drumming is a powerful vehicle for this, pulsing energy into our earth matrix as well as our hearts. It is also dimensional, an immense opportunity to send prayers to the spirit worlds, to express our passion and commitment, and to ask for help. In our drumming we encourage the fire at the heart of our global community into life, and drumming brings the energy of our own center fire alive within our own heart – try stopping your body from moving in the thrall of an insatiable rhythm. When we work from this center we are in balance and connect. So, 10 Billion Beats is very much a part of this, creating an uprising of sap in the world tree; it is a re-surgence of our humanity.

Can we be audacious and claim our vision here and now?! Some would say yes, others that we’re not ready, others that we do not share the same vision……I would say no one person is wrong. What matters most is when a significant number are right, that is to say feel right within themselves, right in the sense of being genuine. So, if you have a vision why not claim it and feed it into the drumming?! Talking of visions……

I took a look at the stars for this years event…….what came through is a journey. We start at the heart of our Solar system, and from the Sun travel out towards the stars. With each planet as a way marker, a personage, this journey has a different feel to it – see what you can find en-route – here is the sequence……

….given that 10BBs is happening on the same days as last year…..

….the Sun has returned to 25º Virgo; bringing the ethos of ‘service to humankind’ into our drive for thoroughness in carrying tasks through to fulfillment – the accomplished healer.

Moon is at 23º Taurus; natural processes are refined through our creative abilities, embodying our innate genius and gifts – the inspired artist.

Mercury is at 15º Virgo; balance achieved through consciously consolidating the inclusive healing values of ‘leaving no stone left unturned’ – the truth speaker.

Venus is at 4º Libra; spiritual communion with kindred spirits around the center fire of compassion as we enter untrodden pathways – the sacred fire-keeper.

Mars is at 30º Cancer; the challenge of release from the constrictions of traditions while carrying forward their highest values and expressions – the mentor.

Jupiter is at 10º Taurus; willingness to see both sides so that we can bring an altruistic expansion of healing to those in the dark and understanding to all – the seer.

Saturn is at 18º Libra; awareness of consequences as we take the risks necessary to realise our deepest convictions and bring transformation, embodying a shared purpose that transcends ego-driven gains – keeper of natural law.

Chiron is at 2º Pisces; gathering the medicines and knowledge needed for survival and protection – the keeper of sacred lore.

Uranus is at 3º Aries; the agent of change through which the innate power of the whole initiates enlightened transformation – the avatar.

Pluto is at 5º Capricorn; sustained use of physical and emotional energies in the spirit of purification, solidarity and unity of purpose – the spiritual warrior as alchemist.

Neptune is at 29º Aquarius; accepting initiation and joining in sacred company within the realms of higher consciousness – the initiated elder.

A company of 11, the number of mastery and movement to the higher level – a pathway initiating a journey from the heart of the solar system outwards into the greater community of the cosmos…..here the signs, Sabian symbols and planetary signatures are given roles that embody their energies at the time of the drumming. I have used the final phase of the drumming for the timing as this will complete the energy signature of the wave. The narrative must be supplied by each of us, according to how we relate to each of the planets. This is nearer to the oracular style of divination, but, it is certainly not the usual method of reading a chart. Take some time to follow and explore this planetary path and notice how their roles and sequencing resonates within. The return journey helps image the incoming energies as they enter our solar system’s spiral path from the galactic realms.

It is enough in itself, but, then, the planets have a voice of their own. So, here are the most prominent aspects between the planets, continuing the approach. As we look at the aspects we’ll stay with these roles and expand upon the dynamics they are emphasising through relationship……

Sun opposes Ceres – the earth mother is at 24º Pisces emphasising our Dharma as the path to realising oneness with the Earth. With the Sun in opposition she asks us to balance our self healing with our role as healers. Here is a mandate for our personal work as well as the role that each of our individual drum-beats can carry…..

The Sun is also involved in a yod – Sun sextile Mars, both quincunx Neptune. When mentoring and healing are brought together in energising relationship here they find expression through the initiated elder. Ceres role will aid Sun in this and bring the healing capacity within mentoring to a higher level, more fitting to the Elder’s role – it may be that the time is coming, with Neptune turning direct and heading for Pisces, that the energy we initiate now will help us restore the valued role of the Elder. This in itself a sign that inspiriting and transformational changes are at work, and there are many stepping up to this particular plate in our world right now……..

A second yod is formed by Mars sextile Venus, both in quincunx to Chiron. When the energies of the sacred fire keeper and the mentor activate each other they find expression in the keeper of sacred lore. Venus is bringing the unifying consciousness of the goddess, the fires of awareness that are at the heart of all things, into energised relationship with the guide to maturity – she enables this guidance to marry our innate gifts with the divine feminine creative power and here we re-claim our rites and rights as guardians of sacred lore. Our future may depend upon our ability to bring balanced male and female energies into these roles, they protect and preserve our future, and from these we can build its foundation within community……and, a little side note on Mars as mentor – here is the person who has seen lifes battles and knows how to heal them: with Venus carrying the eternal flame his mentoring becomes illuminated from within, he compliments Pluto’s role in forging the heart of the sacred warrior….Chiron’s healing abilities are directed at the heart, the seat of wisdom and the soul……

Venus role comes to the fore again in opposition to Uranus. The elightened energy and otherworldliness of the avatar finds direct corresondence with the spark of life, the central fire tended by the sacred fire-keeper – the opposition is a conduit of fire from the source, embodied here at two extremes, a symbol of kundalini as awakening cosmic energy uniting root and crown. When the electric nature of the universal energy of creation is realised all becomes connected, we realise our interconnectedness and goddess consciousness becomes manifest…..we are on the verge of this breakthrough, everything is pointing towards it…….

….it is held in balance within our world by our ability to work with the role of spiritual warrior as alchemist – Pluto squares both Venus and Uranus. This is helpful in understanding the energies that this role is challenged to work with. Fire is essential to the alchemical process, both for burning off the impurities and heating the elixir. The balance is exemplified in the current upsurging of passion for change that clears old regimes and lies within the human realm and within the activated energy field of the earth – with Pluto at the balance point we know this is a process that will completely re-structure our relationship with ‘power’, both human and natural. Our world work depends upon the balanced regulation of the fires, timing and modulation of intensity will determine whether the fire we work with has predominantly creative or destructive effects……..Pluto’s alchemy is our transformation into the sacred warrior…..cleansed ofour destructive ways, carrying the sacred fire in our hearts

There is an interesting correspondence between this drumming event and the last – in both instances the Moon is trining the Sun. In the first, last year, the Moon was approaching fullness – this time it is in its third quarter. We have moved on from the youthfull phase and are ready to birth – at a soul level this is speaking of embodying our innate spirit and fulfilling our soul path. As co-creators we can bring healing into our world and participate in evolution – our individual souls purpose rings with power through this and the vision we hold shifts with it. It helps to think of our purpose as mutable – when we came into life our personal story, our soul seed sung from the spirit world, gave us the songline which would help us orientate along our life path. We know when we are deviating from that path, feeling it at a soul level, but, as we follow we also learn how to navigate. As we grow in maturity (which is different from aging!) we can develop our path and become creative with it – in this there is a balance between fate and destiny. Collectively, we must turn to Saturn to help us understand how this dynamic is present with us in the drumming.

Firstly Saturn is conjunct Juno – she is at 17º Libra. Juno is the healer of relationships, but, she also takes past actions and deeds very much into account. At this degree of Libra this role is expanded through remembering crises from the past that can inform the corrective wisdom of the future. In this wisdom we can re-build our relationships and this is especially important to creating a fair and just society. With Saturn she is saying ‘be aware of your mistakes in the beginning’, an ancient and pithy Chinese saying that is associated with wise rulership. It requires risks to change, to be creative and to head into uncharted territory, and with Saturn sextile the North Node this becomes the leit-motive for our collective soul journey. Our challenge is openess and honesty where there has been deception, especially where this damages our relationships. Think about this in terms of governance, use of power, ecology and social diversity…the message comes home. But, we can achieve this…..

As if to emphasise the matter Mercury squares the North Node – only with complete and open knowledge we can bring balance and a solid foundation to our collective journey – our honesty supports our integrity. In waning trine to Jupiter Mercury, our conscious awareness, has become charged with deeper insight and his challenge to us is to carry this forward. Embodying this is our starting point.

At the outset of this years drumming the Moon is conjunct Jupiter. By the end of the drumming she will have progressed into exact trine with the Sun. Between these two points in time she will form a yod with Saturn/Juno and the North Node. In mundane astrology the Moon is the people – the healing vision that Saturn and Juno are re-enforcing the North Node with, our path to a collective destiny, can become manifest and we can energise it at the very heart of our drumming. At 18º Sagittarius the North Node has an uncanny relationship with Jupiter – Jupiter rules this sign so this is a powerful confirmation for our soul journey. The 18th degree also speaks of expansion into the ‘super-physical’ realms, beyond matter, dimensional and galactic by nature, but, the emphasis here also falls upon safe practice as we do so. Again, balance, within dynamic relationship, is key. Saturn and Juno fund this with their unified wisdom. To  freeing ourselves from poisonous habituation and enter the unknown, we must be wise to our past mis-demeanors as well as responsible for our journey – there are no passengers here……..

There are many strong people in the world but no-one is more powerful than a person in possession of self-knowledge. Although our course is still as yet unknown, each of us has a vision to contribute, of who we are and of where we could go. We have not yet achieved a level of unity in consciousness in which our evolutionary potential can be realised collectively – we are still learning, but, our learning is an exponential feedback loop that is fostering the awareness necessary. How we change will now also become increasingly energised by change itself. As we transform we achieve integrity, in both senses of the word, and realise in ever more tangible ways that we are all a part of one organism. To me, the roles that the planets have revealed in this special moment suggest that we are fully capable of following the initiatic path to completion. It is a path through which we can find and embody our roles as sacred warriors, each with our own unique experience and gifts to offer the world. That we are able to do so, as a collective, depends very much on clearing the wound we have created, of poisons of our own making, both environmentally, collectively and individually – this means living responsibly, and making our every action count. More than this, it relies, with all its implications, on the fully conscious realisation that we are capable of changing our world, and ourselves. The sacred warrior is the archetype of one who has realised the transformative power behind their life experiences and transformed themselves through initiatic immersion in their sacred flames – one who has forged a new spiritual body .

In the times of our ancestors, specifically here in the ‘western world’, where the path of maturation and the initiatic rites of passage were once a part of our active and pervasive traditions deeply embedded at the heart of our cultures, they are now embedded within secular everyday experience. They are  largely de-sacralised and therefore made impotent and incomplete. At the same time, the wisdoms of the mystery schools, the mystery of becoming empowered through initiation into the living knowledge, has become overlayered with and buried beneath our everyday world experiences. We experience and have built a culture based upon an exile from spirit. Our culture itself tries to assuage the hunger that our souls feel through this. A paradoxical malaise, and polarisation of consciousness has grown out of this, and yet, although we may not live within the consciously realised circle of their cultural matrix, the living energies of our initiatic path live on within – they speak to us in our dreams, with the language of our spirit dreaming, through our creativity, in life’s cycles. It is natural that they do so – we are nature too and these are natural energies and cycles. We are still seeking to bring them out, to re-member them and give them new form. Realising our own role of sacred warrior enables this – it is natural for us to connect with spirit in the heart…..to let spirit sing through us,  songs that carry innate memories, vibrant even now with life force and vital to our well being, but also a part of the larger evolutionary process……..but, hey!….there’s nothing like a good rhythm section to bring a song alive…….

……..every beat of our drums at 10 Billion Beats is a pulse that drives the soul vessel of humanity forward on our journey towards claiming our true gifts, as sacred warrior guardians of the Earth Garden – as initiates within the community of the cosmos. What a year we have had – what a future we can now drum up! Listen. Earth is heaven……..how we experience heaven is in our own hands. Lets drum!!