The Great Drum

The circle of the Earth

is the head of a great drum.
With the day,

it moves upward—booming.
With the night,

it moves downward—booming.
The day and the night are its song.

I am very small,

as I dance upon the drumhead.
I am like a particle of dust,

as I dance upon the drumhead.
Above me in the sky

is the shining ball of the drumstick.

I dance upward with the day.
I dance downward with the night.
Some day I shall dance afar

into space like a particle of dust.

Who is the Drummer who

beats upon the Earth-drum?
Who is the Drummer who

makes me to dance his song?

—Ojibwa

Solstice Blessings to Everyone

Solstice Blessings to Everyone - thank you for your friendship and support over the past year.

The Shamanic Origins of Christmas

Have you ever wondered about the origins of modern Christmas traditions? What is the origin of the Christmas tree, with the star on top, decorations about, and all the brightly wrapped presents beneath? This Christmas, as it's been done for generations, stories of Santa and his reindeer will be told around the world, including tales of how Mr. Claus flies around on his sleigh in the middle of the night delivering presents to all the good children while they sleep snug in their beds. Where do these stories come from – and better yet: what are we actually celebrating on Christmas morning?

Although most people see Christmas as a Christian holiday, many of the symbols and icons we associate with Christmas celebrations are actually derived from the shamanic traditions of the tribal peoples of pre-Christian Northern Europe. The story of Santa and his flying reindeer can be traced to shamans in the Siberian and Arctic regions. Santa is a modern counterpart of a shaman, who consumed mind-altering mushrooms to commune with the spirit world, according to one theory. Read more.

Cycling with Spirit Animals

2001 Oregon Bike Tour

Bicycling is possibly the greatest and most enjoyable form of transport ever invented. I've been cycling ever since I was a five years old. One of the most important days of my life was when I learned to ride a bicycle. After 56 years of cycling, I still get a thrill every time I coast down a hill. I ride virtually every day of the year. Nothing lifts my spirits more than mounting a bicycle and going for a spin down the road, without thought on anything but the ride I am taking.

Cycling is the closest thing I know to the flight of birds. While I am riding, I often call upon my winged power animals, inviting them into my body and consciousness. I take on their feelings, embody their spirit, and enjoy their identity throughout the ride. On level terrain, I may pedal with a steady rhythm like a raven flapping. I might plunge downhill like a diving osprey, or soar like an eagle with the wind at my back. It is such an empowering and freeing experience.

As much as I love the flight of birds, when I need great power and stamina, I invite the wild, untamed energy of horse into my body and awareness. I open myself to the experience and emotions of Spirit Horse, that exalted, buoyant state that shamans mount and ride from plane to plane. When I connect with Spirit Horse, my bicycle becomes a flying horse that carries me to where I want to go. I am able to power up hills or into the wind like a fiery steed. I ride a bike... not because it is green transportation or good exercise, but because it provides my spirit with a sense of freedom and helps me develop a kinship with my animal relatives!

American Indian Poet John Trudell Walks On

John Trudell (February 15, 1946 – December 8, 2015), an American Indian poet, actor, spoken word artist and political activist passed away on December 8, 2015, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends. John Trudell was the spokesperson for the United Indians of All Tribes' takeover of Alcatraz beginning in 1969, broadcasting as Radio Free Alcatraz. During most of the 1970s, he served as the chairman of the American Indian Movement, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. John Trudell led a life dedicated to indigenous human rights, land and language issues. He helped spark a spoken word movement that is a continuation of Native American oral traditions. His last big media success was the book, Lines from a Mined Mind: The Words of John Trudell, a collection of 25 years of poetry, lyrics and essays from Fulcrum Publishing, 2008. This collection is a tribute to the man, his legend and legacy.

"We must go beyond the arrogance of human rights. We must go beyond the ignorance of civil rights. We must step into the reality of natural rights because all the natural world has a right to existence. We are only a small part of it. There can be no trade-off. We are the people." -- From "We Are Power" speech by John Trudell (July 18, 1980)

Music for the Shamanic Journey

Music for the Shamanic Journey. The Shamanic Journey is a powerful technique used by shamans and shamanic practitioners worldwide. Music -- often drumming -- is a favorite vehicle for the journey, helping to focus the mind and invite the spirit body into the non-ordinary reality. Shamanic music awakens your innate ability to commune with your inner self and retrieve information. Your inner self is in constant communication with all aspects of your environment, seen and unseen. You need only journey within to find answers to your questions. You should have a question or objective in mind from the start. Shamanic journeying may be undertaken for purposes of divination, for personal healing, to meet one's power animal or spirit guide, or for any number of other reasons. I have created a playlist of music to support your shamanic journey at: YouTube Music Playlist.