Listening From The Heart, and Me.

I was not a drummer, nor particularly interested, when I met John Bowker at a Unicorn Voice Camp in Dorset, and went to one of his drumming classes, in a big tent, in a field, with around 30 others. But within less than a minute, I felt like a drummer....
More than that, there was something about what we did in that tent that I resonated with, and wanted more of. So two months later I flew to Ireland for a Tribal Spirit Drumming weekend in County Clare.
 It was an astonishing experience from the start. First on the Friday night as a total stranger being welcomed by Ben Coombes, one of the Tribal Spirit team, in a most genuine, open-hearted way was something that really moved me. Then to the exhilarating drumming with its energy, chants and dancers, to the overwhelming and profoundly beautiful songs, where people were moved deeply by emotions- songs sung in a way I had never experienced before and knew I had to have in my life from then on. And all sung by us, a motley crew of ordinary people, many of whom declared they 'couldn't sing'! Guided by John Bowker's skill and kindness, we sang from our hearts. On the Saturday afternoon of the workshop, I fell sick. I had a horrible, horrible headache, nausea, and could do nothing but lie down and groan. I also knew that this wasn't just 'physical', I had occasionally experienced symptoms like this before, when I was on 'Re-Evaluation Counselling' (R.C.) workshops at various times during the last 20 years. I realised that due to the unexpected and deep sense of safety at the workshop I was experiencing 'old hurts, old emotional pain', that was surfacing from the depths, trying to get dealt with. The information given at the start of the retreat mentioned that sometimes our journey could be difficult and we might experience old wounds being released, and that we should try not to isolate if this happens but stay with the process and stay with the group. So, taking them at their word I brought my blanket, pillow and shawl and lay down in the middle of the workshop, next to the candle light of the beautifully created centerpiece. Within a couple of hours I was feeling better, and by the end of the evening I was completely recovered. Wonderful. I had indeed experienced the healing power of a warm, loving, accepting group of people, with their beautiful drumming and singing. The following morning I had a brief conversation with John whereby it transpired that he had also worked deeply with 'RC' many years ago, and had incorporated aspects of the information, theory and practice into his own, unique teaching. Click click click! Many things fell into place; the information given out at the beginning of the workshop, the loving, non-judgmental atmosphere etc. etc.  So many good, sound, respectful ideas that John and the Tribal Spirit team had made their own, in their own uniquely, usefully, powerful way. At the end of Sunday, we all sat around in a big, cosy circle and we passed the talking stick, each taking a turn to speak and be listened to. People spoke from their hearts, sometimes we cried and sometimes we laughed. People spoke of kindness, acceptance, community, respect and honesty. I loved every moment. I knew I must never forget this. I went home and told everyone, "I've just had the best weekend of my life".

From many of these workshops, from the '6-dayer' healing drum camp and from the Earthsong Camps, has grown 'Listening From The Heart' work.

I love leading 'Listening From The Heart', and other sharing, listening work. Having been leading and teaching in this field for over 20 years, it's what I love to do, and intend to continue for the rest of my life. Listening from the heart is a space where we can learn to share deep attention and learn, remember and explore some skills that can help us release old hurts and negative patterns of behavior. This work then helps us to claim fully creative and fulfilling lives. So what do we do at these workshops? Well, we laugh a lot, which I love, especially when I laugh so hard I collapse on the ground in a heap! Sometimes the laughing turns into crying, or deep sobbing, and back again into laughter! It does sound a bit crazy perhaps but it's completely sane and good, and one of the things that humans do.
It seems we have forgotten in our modern cultures that emotions can, and need to be, released.
We can let go of many of our old wounds through simply crying. In our folk wisdom we know this as ‘having a good cry‘. Laughter and shaking are also ways our bodies have of letting go of old fear and stress. Afterwards we feel much better, more fully in touch with our humanity, and can think more clearly, We can access thoughts and areas where we have struggled without such an emotional overload, as we have released some of the wounds we may have been carrying for a long time.  Mostly I don't mind crying any more. For many years I was afraid that if I started to cry, I wouldn't be able to stop, or that something terrible would happen. I've since discovered that it's O.K. its good for me, and sometimes it's completely pain-free. Its a simple healing process.

An important aspect of Tribal Spirit Drumming and Listening from the Heart are our ground rules regarding confidentiality, acceptance, and respect for each other. In Listening from the Heart we usually give some information about human beings; our inherent goodness and what happens when we get hurt.
We listen to each other without interrupting, or giving advice. And Wow! how powerful this turns out to be. For me, this work is a vital and wholly necessary process to share if we are to reconnect with ourselves, and each other, and planet Earth.

Thanks John Bowker and all the Tribal Spirit leaders and allies for giving me the chance to share my passion and skills with my beloved Tribal Spirit family.

Click here for the latest ‘Listening From The Heart’ workshop poster