As I browse through my photos of my summer experiences, fond memories fill my mind. I have been home for just a few days and miss the island terribly. On my last evening on Kauai we had a traditional going away party, typical of how I conclude each of the workshops that I facilitate. Or so I thought it would be typical!

Island Energy

What a way to end the Advanced Shamanic Training workshop!

We started off at the octagon, which is in the Kahuna Valley. The energy in the valley is potent. It is at the base of the Makaleha Mountains, and from the valley you can see thousand-foot waterfalls pouring down the sides of the steep cliffs above. It is like being guarded on all sides by old wise warriors. The feeling of safety and ancient wisdom fills the air.

After taking in some much-appreciated beach time, we met back at the house to prepare for the going away party. Thanks to the women staying with me, the house was clean! In a matter of moments, salads were prepared, and what is known as “Toby’s juicy chicken” was on the barbecue along with a couple of racks of ribs.

As usual, the fun began right away as the additional participants arrived. I was quite thankful to have John Dumas and his beautiful wife Kana there. We also had the pleasure that evening of having the kava master of the island attend: my friend Gary Mack showed up with a cooler full of kava, so we indulged in this traditional Polynesian drink as the food was cooking.

Polynesian Beverage Kava

Toby and Gary drinking kava.

Kava is a traditional Polynesian drink. What we were drinking that night came from the island of Vanuwatu. It’s an interesting drink, coming from a plant related to the pepper family. It has a sedative and anesthetic property. With a rich, earthy flavor, what you drink is made from the roots of the plant. The kava we were drinking that night was prepared on the island, then sun-dried untill it became a powder. This powder was then mixed with water, producing a wonderful-tasting kava drink straight from the land of its origin.

Great thanks to Gary for bringing this wonderful beverage to all of our gatherings, and for providing me with a personal supply that I am now enjoying very much in Park City!

Spirit of the Aloha

After the kava, the food was consumed vigorously. Once it was gone, the drums came out! John manned his didgeridoo and flutes, giving us a powerful healing melody. The drums followed this melody to create a magical effect in the room. As the drums echoed off the walls, those who were listening could not help but start moving. And as John wandered through the room, connecting with each person by vibrating the drone of his didgeridoo into each one’s heart, the joy of the island expanded (a result of this can easily be seen on the faces of Danny and Tanis in the photo as they hijacked the cacao while we were playing).

Danny and Tanis pre-sampling the dessert!

All in all, it was a wonderful evening. Everyone was sent home with the magic of the island in their hearts, the rhythm of the drum resonating in their souls, with the beautiful drone of the didgeridoo grounding them firmly with indigenous energy, and the beautiful melodies of the flute inspiring their joy.

It was wonderful experience for all, made more profound than ever by my dear friends who brought the spirit of aloha in the authentic Hawaiian way.

Linda drumming at the Oceanside Pavilion.

This last month we had a rocking Healing Drummer Advanced Shamanic Training Workshop in Hawaii. Part of the magic we created included a couple of good drum jams by the ocean. It’s amazing how inspiring it is to drum to the rhythm of the waves and watch the sun dip behind the beautiful mountains as the rhythm resonates through the hills.

One particular night when we were drumming Linda really stepped up to the plate with some amazing skill and veracious beats! As she ripped off a great solo the way a soul rider surfs a wave, Rebecca joined right in and added the voice of her new drum to the mix. That’s when things really took off. We also had a couple join us all the way from the United Kingdom. I was truly amazed, as one of them had never played the drum before, yet caught on to the rhythms almost immediately!

There was so much magic in the air that evening I don’t even know how long we drummed. I just remember that the faces of the people across from me, 10 feet away, began to disappear in the darkness. It was then that we decided it was time to go.

Making a House a Home

An amazing thing about drumming together is the sense of community that forms in the group. Three of the workshop attendees were living at the house with me for ten days. Now, I normally live alone and really appreciate my alone time . However, there was not one moment that I regretted having these people stay with me. Their kindness and willingness to help around the house made it so nice, comfortable, and easy for me. It was truly a blessing.

The Wild Kauai Guys!

In addition, there was a cohesion that occurred with the group that I don’t think would’ve happened if we hadn’t spent so much time together. The people that stayed at the hotel just a few blocks away spent a lot of time at the house as well. We had some amazing get togethers that were completely spontaneous! We would get done with class graphs and beach time, and then out of the blue people would show up at the house with food and drinks, and the group party would erupt!

Oftentimes my friends Danny Hashimoto and John Dumas would stop by to add additional inspiration to the get together. With John on his didgeridoo and flutes, me on the drums, and Danny cooking up a mean dessert, the energy that we created drumming at the ocean spilled right into the house. Everybody was dancing and eating the wonderful creations that Danny brought. And one by one, after consuming copious amounts of raw cacao, people would lay down and get drummed on while John played over them with his didgeridoo.

Thankful for Experience

Besides her awesome voice, Rebecca can really drum!

Good food, good music, and awesome healing experiences were abundant! Many times what started out to be a simple drumming evening went long into the night and expanded to be an experience of magic and transformation!

It is with profound gratitude I acknowledge the magic of these people. Not just the ones I discussed in this posting, but all of the people who were present. Thank you all for the goodness that you bring to the world on a daily basis and for the happiness and joy you have brought to my life !

Mahalo! (“Thank you” in Hawaiian)

Many of you know that I have done extensive training with Malidoma Somé and in my work with him have learned a lot about creating a space of fun and welcoming for the ancestors. When we do ritual, it’s usually in a very festive atmosphere. Good beverages, oftentimes a cigar, and always drumming!

I recently read an interview with Malidoma where he talks about spirituality and seriousness. Here is a small excerpt from the interview that I thought was very interesting, and definitely worth putting some thought into. Needless to say, these words of wisdom from Malidoma can come in handy in each of our lives!

Playful Spirits

Interviewer: Some people make an assumption, often unconsciously, that any spiritual practice worthwhile needs to be serious and somber. Can you speak to the role of play and fun and spontaneity in ritual work?

Malidoma: You must understand that the other world doesn’t know anything about seriousness. The issue at hand is that anytime I’ve had an encounter with the other world, and I mean that literally—we have little people in my culture that we call Kontomblé—every time you meet them, they’re playing around. They look like irresponsible people jumping around, finding you rather funny looking and serious. So it has led me to wonder: where do we inherit this solemn attitude, in fact, associated with the word “serious?” I tried to understand it by way of trying to find out whether there is an equivalent in Dagara of the word “serious”—there is none. There’s no word for “serious!” The closest word to it is literally translated as “red eye!” It’s funny! But this is as serious as it gets! Because “red eye” means you can’t close your eye, you’ve gotta keep it open, because you might miss out on something! So there is a direct connection between ritual and fun and also play. Where does it come from? We can see it in children whose world is all about play and the choreography of it. Why do we grow up and find this rather childish, as if childish is less important than solemn and serious? I really would try to do be more playful just to see whether in fact there is a greater chance of success than this seriousness.

The bottom line is the further away from the sacred a culture grows, the more serious and solemn they become. That simply suggests that the closer a community or a people get to the sacred, the more access to joy, playfulness, and a lot of laughter! So it’s up to us to choose. Modern culture seems to understand that. Even the corporate world understands that. That’s why they have such a time as “Happy Hour!” Every time, everyday between four and five is a happy hour where the drinks are cheaper, but it’s only between four and five. After that everybody’s back to seriousness—I’ve got a problem with that! The playfulness associated with work has been shrunk so much down to an artificial happy hour that you cannot even be playful or come close to happiness without the help of a couple of glasses of heavy duty liquors! That means the genies of laughter and happiness are becoming really thin, and we’re approaching the idea of laughter and joy from a serious deficit and that’s why we need the substitute of liquor in order to make that happen.

That being said, the fundamental piece is for us to look at ourselves from the perspective of the amount of joy that we’re willing to bring into our lives—how much of that is in there—and to raise the question that puts a balance between what we are able to achieve and the amount of joy that accompanies the initiative towards that achievement. Are our failures due to a rather pathologically seriousness given to life? Or are the things we fail to achieve associated with a deficit in joy due to too many repressions and repressed things within us that are blocking the channel of joy? These are pertinent questions that we should ask ourselves. We just can’t make a laconic statement saying, “Well there’s not enough joy; there’s not enough laughter; there’s not enough playfulness!” We have to associate that with our productivity, with our capacity to muster healing and transformation in our culture and see whether it is not the reason why we have an industry called “entertainment.” In other words, in order for you to laugh, somebody must be over there making a fool of himself so that you can giggle a couple of times! The point is that it’s revelatory of a deep apology that is keeping us away from each other, keeping us away from the healing power of joy and laughter. Anyway, I don’t want to be too serious about it! (laughs)

The Benefits of Random Laughter

Interviewer: Malidoma, as we come to the conclusion of our interview, is there anything you would like to share about what’s bringing you joy or passion or excitement currently in your work with spirit and with your teachings?

Malidoma: What I do brings me a deep sense of peace inside. The core of what I understand as joy is a deep inner peace, the kind that is really hard to put in words. It has less to do with random laughter and superficial socialization; it has to do with a deep sense of joy experienced whenever change in the right direction is seen in a person in whose life I have intervened. The truth is I derive tremendous pleasure in it, and I think that this is something that everybody should be entitled to. This is radically different from entertainment—I’m not entertained by that, I’m overjoyed by it! At the same time, I can sense the pull to grief and I take that as a sign that my heart is not closed, and that I derive joy! It is the contribution to the sense of peace, which for me is authentic.

I stay in this work, regardless of its turmoil and the fact that, as I said in the beginning of this session—that I hear more bad news than good news—but I stay in it simply because one healing at a time is proportional to a massive influx of joy and peace inside of me. This is something that I see being needed by most everybody in this field who end up taking what they’re doing too seriously and as such become a prisoner of very bad weather that they’ve chosen to lock themselves into. People say my lectures are too funny; that whenever I start teaching something, every minute I’ve got to add a little joke in it—I can’t help it! Just don’t take things too seriously! It is true we’re all in pain, but sometimes you laugh at pain, and pain gets panicked! You start looking at pain with the strange eye of the clown and the pain says, “Usually this is not how these people behave!” And then the pain wants to go somewhere else!

It is important to realize the healing aspect of this whole thing. For me, after gauntlets of 15 years in this work, I realize the best healing for me is humor, to stay within the field of humor. I think this is something that people should entertain. Let’s get together and crack ourselves up with all kinds of things, because in the end, it is this inexplicable sound coming out of our throat chakras that sends a message to all—that which wants us to look so weighed down by the bad news, that it can then enjoy watching us. The minute we’re cracking up in front of it, then we start creating tremendous discomfort in it. And that’s a show of our capacity to heal each other, as opposed to waiting for some kind of salvation agent to come down with a basket full of it to toss around—that doesn’t work. Or if it works, only a few benefit from it and the rest are left even hungrier than before. So for me this is what I’ve ended up embracing because my own salvation, my own well-being rests on that. And I hope it can expand sufficiently to affect as many people as possible. Contagious laughter is healthy!

Thank you, Malidoma, for your words of wisdom!

This rejuvenating ritual is based on mineral. Mineral represents communication: how can our purpose be communicated within ourselves to to the rest of the world? Each of us has and lives a story. Some of us feel this story is out of sync with who we really are. This mineral ritual can benefit us in so many by allowing our old stories to be finished and our new ones to begin.

Connecting with Nature

You will need an ordinary stone or crystal for this ritual. Search for a stone in your yard, on a walking path, in the park, or wherever. It doesn’t have to be a fancy stone, but should be comfortable to carry with you. I’ve done healing work with many people who have used a crystal in place of the stone, and it worked beautifully.

For three consecutive days, keep this rock or crystal with you. It can be carried in your pocket, purse, or even in a pouch around your neck. The point is it should remain with you throughout the three day period. For fifteen minutes each day, hold the stone or crystal in the palm of your hand and close your fingers around it. During this period, focus on connecting with the stone, asking it to grant you a new story that can help improve your life. Be open to receive whatever new story comes your way using this mineral ritual.

When you are finished downloading your new story, take a moment to thank the rock for helping you in your discovery. If you found the rock in nature, please be sure to return it.

Start a New Chapter of Self-Improvement

Far too often we get stuck in a rut. We automatically support the stories in our lives that are not necessarily the ones that we want to continue. The problem is it’s easier or more habitual to do this, because we don’t have a new story to replace the old one! We end up stuck in the same, repetitive story.

So use this ritual to start a new chapter. Ask for a new story! Take the time to really focus on how this new story can change the current unhelpful conditions in your life and support you as your continue down your path of purpose.

I would love to hear what each of you gets through this exercise! Please let me know your stories of renewal at toby@healingdrummer.com.

Elijah Ray, Toby Christensen, Hazar Courson, Tiffany Tatum and John Dumas

Greetings from the island of Kauai!

I’m having an awesome time here on the island. One of the treasures of Kauai is the number of healers and spiritually-connected people that live here. It seems everywhere you go, you meet open hearts, smiles, and hear “Aloha!”

The vibe of the island is old and sacred. Last week I had the pleasure of doing a concert with some of the amazing beings on the assignment. All of us are dedicated to the practice of sound healing. It was truly a night of miracles, healing, and tremendous spiritual expansion. My co-conspirators were Elijah Ray, Tiffany Tatum, Hazar Courson, and John Dumas. I have played with Elijah before but never the other three. What a pleasure!

As we began, Hazar lead the group in an exercise helping them to connect to their own ability to create sound and open their energy. As she finished her exercise, John took over with his flute and didgeridoo and brought the crowd to an all-new height. This led Tiffany into a beautiful chant, and other percussive instruments to rally the energy of Elijah, who in turn did a beautiful job of looping track after track after track, creating a choir-like angelic feeling to the room. He got a rhythm going and gave me the nod, prompting me to get the djembe started. And for the next hour the room was rock steady: each person shining their light in the world, being featured doing vocal solos, didgeridoo solos, flute solos, and Elijah rocked it out on the djembe with me. What an amazing time!

Hazar and Tiffany do some beautiful toning while the guys lay down the rhythm track!

As you can see in the picture, the drumming was strenuous. My shirt is completely soaked! What a time! We had the place rock’n and rolling: people were dancing, laying down on the floor, and receiving healings. Danny Hashimoto came in and was delivering his magic cacao! It was truly an evening of magic. I have never worked with such skilled vocalists.

It was amazing to hear the variety of sounds that came from these women. The beautiful angelic soft multi-harmony tones, combined with piercing sounds that were definitely “otherworldly.” Hazar is on the left and Tiffany on the right with the painted face. There was a girl by the name of Rose in the audience who is a masterful body painter. So Tiffany—along with many of the other participants in the audience—had beautifully painted faces and images painted on their bodies. It was quite amazing. Everybody brings their gift in a different way, and it is all very valuable.

John Dumas with Elijah Ray in the background

At one time, some of our setup crew had to remove chairs to make enough room for everyone to dance. There was one moment when John, Elijah, and I were playing so vigorously, I thought we might set off a fire alarm! Then the energy would settle down and these beautiful tones would float through the air supported by the rhythm of the drum and the drone of the didgeridoo. It was as though we all had a conductor that was leading the orchestra, yet every moment was free-flowing magic.

Sometimes John plays the flute, and sometimes the didgeridoo. He also happens to be a very accomplished percussionist. The melodies of the flute were haunting. The drone of the digital was powerful and earthy. It was a night of great beauty.

Stay tuned for more information about this concert and other events I experience here on the island. I want to thank my colleagues for joining me on the stage this beautiful night. Thank you for bringing your gifts to the world and I look forward to playing with you all again!

I’ve recently released a new album called Tribal Medicine. This CD features healing rhythms that are intended to restore listeners’ hearts and souls as the sensations of the healing drum infuses the body.

Tribal Medicine offers inspiration through tribal connections. I’ve been told over and over again that while experiencing the album, a sensation of being present at an ancient indigenous ceremony often comes over listeners. It’s a powerful experience to feel the wisdom of African, Native American, and Eastern shamanic healing traditions through healing rhythms!

African Djembe Drums

Each track on Tribal Medicine supports a particular energy and offers different rhythms and sounds that, collectively, make the album a powerful healing experience. Let me tell you about my intentions with the opening track of the album, “Call of the Ancestors.” In the Dagara cosmology that my work is based on, the ancestors are those who have come before us, whose blood runs through our veins. Because we are part of them, they have a vested interest in our well-being. So they are the ones that we call to when we need help.

The chanting in “Call of the Ancestors” brings to mind a person in great need calling upon the ancestors in a language that is beyond words. It is a language of emotion and raw spiritual energy, calling for the ancestors’ help and guidance in life. The voices overlaid on the track are from different cultures: African, South American, and Native American voices all calling to their ancestors for healing of their minds, bodies, and spirits, as well as the world!

Listen to a sample of “Call of the Ancestors.”

Call of the Ancestors

Tribal Medicine features me, Healing Drummer Toby Christensen, on djembe drum and percussion, and the talented Rebecca Holt on vocal toning. Skilled artist Carolina Woodrich shared her stunning original artwork for the album!

To purchase a copy of this healing rhythms CD, please visit my shop. I invite you to engage your body, mind, and soul with the powerful rhythms of Tribal Medicine. Enjoy!

People say the kindest things…

I thought you might enjoy reading (or just scanning) a sampling of the warm words people send me. The comments are from private sessions, drumming workshops, performances, and from people listening to my music CDs.

“I closed my eyes and took a few deep, full breaths as the drumming began. As I listened to the sound of the drum, my perception began to change on its own. I began to feel the sound instead of just hearing it. The drumming beats became less individually distinguishable until they began to morph into a tribal-like, ceremonial pulse that I could feel in the marrow of my bones. I had a sense of continual change, somehow as if outside time. Gradually, or suddenly, I’m not sure which, my self-perception faded as I shifted. First, I could feel every cell vibrate, then, I became the vibration. The healing drum and I were one—our pulses, our rhythm, our heartbeats were the same. I found myself in a state in which I no longer identified with my physical body. Instead, I felt a state of peace unlike I had ever experienced, as if an inner rheostat had been turned up and I was an expression of the brightest light.

Although my physical eyes remained closed, I looked up and found myself lying in the center of a circle of unfamiliar faces…or were they? I knew that this was a circle, a community that was called by the drum on my behalf. I felt powerfully and lovingly held as I watched them dance, chant, rattle, and wave their arms in purposeful motions. I knew that these were my people, and that they had come together with me to celebrate my initiation back to my indigenous Self. This was the moment I learned that it is, in fact true: ‘The sound of the drum is the tuning of the Soul.’” – Jill in Calgary, Canada

“The personal drum healing session with you blew my socks off, opened nooks and crannies in my body and being, warming the cockles of my Scottish heart. As a Samhain birthday babe, I’ve always felt a connection with the other worlds…the fairies, earth spirits, angels…even the wisdom gleaned from playing with worms in the garden and stuff like that. After my session with you, all this is expanding with greater clarity and playfulness.” – Noreen in Cincinnati, Ohio

“This has been amazing. After our session on Tuesday night, I found myself lighter and more energized on Wednesday than I have felt in a long time. Someone at a class I taught on Wednesday asked if I had a new boyfriend since I was so up. Big thanks!” - – Lori in Portland, Oregon

“The experience that you opened for me on Wednesday morning was of such healing impact that I

Drumming in the change

have continued to take it all in…you are certainly an angel who provides a path to a heaven of perfect healing. I can appreciate the hard work that you maintain to create this path for others in need. It was such a privilege to receive your healing talents this week. The drumming has opened areas in my mid body, as I feel an energy there that I have not felt for six months. Much healing is taking place physically and mentally. I feel renewed and ready to focus on rest and nutrition in a way that I have not been able to respond recently.” – Debra in Los Angeles, California

“Thanks for another wonderful session! You’ve helped me help myself so much in the past year and I’m so grateful to have crossed your path in this lifetime. Each session has been an experience in releasing that years of ‘talk therapy’ can never touch.” – Kim in Washington, DC

“I will tell you, I have had a lot of therapy, treatments, and medical weirdness to get well; but nothing has changed me and my life-depression, outlook, mood…everything…more than my healing experience with you! As Paul McCartney said, “Baby, I’m amazed.” All I can say is wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you. Please come back. Your talent and compassion is the best.” – Will in Columbus, Ohio

“It was the greatest pleasure to be touched by your magnificent healing drumming talents today. I shall never forget it! You have an energy and high vibration that is rarely experienced on this earth plane. Your new music is a perfect spiritual presentation.” – Dera in Portland, Oregon

“In my session with you the other day, I asked for emotional clarity as well as self-empowerment. It seems I was given what I asked for…I continue to be in awe of the amazing experiences that unfold. Even though I hold a very strong vision and knowing about you and the gifts you bring to the world, I am deeply moved by each occurrence. Your magic and the trail you leave move me beyond words. I’m so grateful for you and all you bring to my life.” – Barbara in Wyoming, Ohio

“I must admit that I was somewhat skeptical about the drum beats being able to change how I felt. However, after listening to the first song on one of the CDs you sent me I started to feel very energized. It was amazing! My mind is starting to open up to the possibilities.” – Bubba in San Marcos, Texas

Toby and Dave mix it up on stage

“Toby Christensen is a master drummer and highly trained Shaman who, as he claims, doesn’t do the healing but uses the drumming to facilitate it…I didn’t know what changes might come over time, but I did know that it was impossible for my body to process so much energy without tangible change. And for the rest of the evening every cell in my body hummed harmoniously with the joy that I believe is inherent in us all. Thank you, Toby, for your exuberant energy and love.” – Randy in Vancouver, Canada

“I’ve worked with some incredible healers in my life, but I would say this has to be one of the most powerful healing sessions I’ve ever experienced.” – David in New York, New York

“Thank you so much for the session yesterday. It was wonderful! I feel healthier, clearer, calmer and happier than ever. Another interesting and fabulous effect I’ve noticed since last evening is that I no longer enjoy smoking cigarettes. I’ve only smoked three and a half today (normally it would have been at least ten by now) and the last half of one I smoked tasted absolutely nasty. I couldn’t finish it!” – Pam in Leesburg, Virginia

“I am amazed and humbled by the awesome strength and power that is unfurling here…like a magnificent cloth billowing fully in a slow motion wind. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Toby! You have gifted me in an unforgettable way. I am indebted to you in a deep and sincere way.” – Cindy in Tacoma Park, Maryland

“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t feel gratitude for the blessing you are to the world. It’s a beautiful thing to watch people recognize and honor you. You have a way of opening hearts, and if Spirit has its way, minds will follow. Over and over again, I watch the love and kindness you extend come back to you in expanded ways.” – Brenda in Los Angeles, California

“My life is easier and more fun by the day, and my experiences and feelings are becoming richer, deeper, and more powerful. I am more alive than I’ve ever been, and I thank you for all you’ve done in helping me get to this wonderful place…and this is just the beginning!” – Pam in Denver, Colorado

“I have been able to maintain a calm and positive outlook, despite some very difficult situations. I would not have imagined this possible otherwise. What a gift you have.” – Lana in Spokane, Washington

“Since our session, Toby, I definitely can feel the difference…what a wonderful thing that I came to see you. Thank you for your time drumming for me.” – Barbara in Stafford, Virginia

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping me achieve even more magic and joy and fun in my life. Since my session with you last week, I have continued to shift and flow and I enjoy my life, and each breath that I take, even more deliciously than ever. One of the coolest things I’ve EVER done is to effortlessly and delightfully transform myself from a 30- year smoker into a woman who does not, and hasn’t ever, smoked. Thank you for helping me achieve something that is impossible! I will always be grateful for the wonderful energy of you and your drum, and the healing that it has brought to me and to so many people that I love. Thank you so much for your beautiful work.” – Pam in Frederick, Virginia

Drumming The Good Vibe

“The drumming session was amazing! I am still vibrating! – William in Cincinnati, OH

“Well, my session with Toby was wonderful…oh, my word…wonderful!” – James in MD, Canada

“My session with Toby was incredible! I feel like he really cleared the path and set the intention for where I am going now.” – Amanda in Calgary, Canada

“Thank you again so very much for the wonderful gifts which you made possible for me to receive earlier this afternoon during my session. You gave me such a safe space within which to reconnect with my power and heritage. I cannot adequately express in English how much appreciation I feel for what you have done in assisting me in this miracle. I feel such a strong sense that I am myself again after experiencing so much pain and difficulty throughout the earlier parts of my life…and now all of that has changed. I will carry the memory of all that I had endured, but I will not continue to relive it each day.” – J. in Lexington, Kentucky

“I am very grateful for what you have done for me…there are no human words to express my gratitude ” – Melissa in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

“I just wanted to send you a quick note to say THANK YOU for the beautiful energy you brought to Calgary this past weekend. What a blessing! I have definitely experienced a huge shift, both gentle and profound. The best way I can describe it is that I feel fully and completely in my body while feeling like I’m also somehow radiating beyond it. So lovely! I have to say, after a lifetime of struggling to embrace my body, yet never quite succeeding, I finally feel free of the self-judgment I have weighed myself down with.” – Tina in Alberta, BC, Canada

“Wow, Toby! Thank you so much for that truly amazing session! That was one of the most amazing healings I have ever experienced and I have walked in energy teachings for eleven years now. You held such a beautiful space and your music and energy has so much depth and healing…the whole session was so powerful, healing, and profound!” – Tara in Kapaa, Hawaii

Hot Group in Dayton, OH

“My session with you was truly a phenomenal experience and has touched my very soul so profoundly. Words do not do justice as to how the drums connect with every fiber of my being. For the very first time in a long time I feel like I’m alive again, waking up from a long slumber. Bless you for being the beautiful bright light that you are and spreading unconditional love and JOY into the lives of millions of people who need deep healing and happiness in their lives…uniting and bridging the different cultures and sowing the seeds of FUN through the beat of the drums.” – Fatima, Leesburg, Virginia

So if you want to feel like these people….give me a call or shoot me an email! I’ll hook you up!

http://www.healingdrummer.com/contact/

Drumming in Africa with Malidoma Some'

People ask me all the time, “How did you get into doing what you do?” I was recently on HayHouse Radio on John Holland’s Show and it came up again so I’d like to share with you a bit of my story…I call it…

What Zombies Taught Me About Transformational Drumming

Toby Christensen, here. In 1999, I had the privilege of traveling to Africa and living for a month with the Dagara tribe. I immersed myself in their culture and cosmology, experiencing both profound rituals and their realities of day- to-day living. It was an amazing experience.

Malaria Times Two

Returning home was pure culture shock. I arrived in the U.S. with two strains of Malaria, so I was going in and out of 105- degree fevers twice a day for about ten days. It was a very difficult time. As I began to recover, I started to have a recurring dream.

Before describing the dream, I’d like to share that when I was a young child, I used to have nightmares about zombies coming to get me in the night. I’d scream at the top of my lungs for my parents to come and save me. These were horrifying dreams, and they happened many times.

Lucid Dreaming Nightmare?

OK, back to 1999. As I recovered from Malaria, I began to have a recurring dream. I was standing in the middle of a grass-covered football field surrounded by a huge but deserted sports stadium. It was nighttime, but the arena’s overhead lights illuminated the field. I was lucid, knowing who I was and that I was dreaming.

As I stood in middle of the field, I began to wonder what I was doing there. I became aware that I had my djembe strapped on. All of a sudden, the grass before me began to push up to form a small hill. Then the newly created mounds of earth began to tear apart and these filthy, rotting hands clawed out of the soil. A monster crawled out of the hole, stood, and stared at me. It was just like the zombies in my childhood nightmares.

I Stood Over the Zombie and Began to Drum

Doing Ritual With The Elders

The zombie flailed toward me, his arms outstretched. As he got closer, I could see that his right eye was decomposed, hanging out of his skull. He stumbled right up to me…but instead of me feeling any fear, screaming, and running away, I instinctively started to drum. As soon as he heard the drum, he laid down on his back in front of me. Somehow I knew to stand over him and begin to drum. The rhythms I played weren’t of any specific form; just intense, intuitive patterns that arose in my dreaming. As I drummed, he began to be restored. After a spell, he jumped up, looked me in the eyes—his eyes clear and filled with life—and said, “thank you.” Then he ran off, vibrant and transformed.

As I stood on that football field, the scene continued to repeat. These mounds would push up from the surface, boney fingers would tear open the green grass, and the zombie would run toward me. Paradoxically, I remained relaxed and centered. When they arrived, they would lay down and I would restore them to perfect health by playing rhythms on my djembe. They’d jump up, connect with me in gratitude, and run off. The scene would repeat until I awoke.

Just Another Pizza Dream?

Rousing from my dream state, I sat up in bed and said aloud, “What the heck?!” After pondering for a minute or so, I assumed I must have eaten something strange for dinner. (I sometimes refer to that kind of experience as a “pizza dream.”) Well, the following night I drifted off to sleep and once again became lucid. I had the exact same dream. When I awoke, I began to sense that I must have been receiving some kind of message.

In The Sacred Cave

“The Ancestors Are Giving You…”

The third night I had the same dream. When I woke up, I decided to call one of my trusted African teachers. At that time, was working with Malidoma Somé. I called and reached him looking for direction and sympathy, sharing my dream of drumming over zombies and watching them be fully restored.

My teacher, in their African way, said, “I can’t believe it! You don’t get it! You are being shown exactly what you are to do!” they took a deep breath and continued. “Toby, the ancestors are giving you clear instructions. You are being shone one of the gifts that you can bring to the world. You are being given an aspect of your life’s purpose.” They paused, and then said in an even stronger voice, “And I don’t want to talk to you again until you are doing it!” Then they slammed the phone down and a dial tone met my ear.

We Can Take Action Without Knowing All The Details

Malidoma and I

I trusted My teacher’s potent advice and decided to take action. I didn’t know what I was doing, but that was OK. What I did know was that in the dream I drummed over people…well, zombies…and they would get better. During that time, I was taking a shamanic training course. On my lunch breaks I would ask people, “Could you lay down and let me drum over you and afterward tell me if you feel anything?” Most people agreed and I stood over them, playing on my djembe whatever rhythms somehow felt correct. I was surprised when people began to share stories of powerful transformations. I had no mental frame of reference about what I was doing. I was simply drumming as the dreams had shown me.

He Was Dying of AIDS

A woman who reported a profound breakthrough from one of these early sessions referred a friend to me who was dying of AIDS and had been told he had a very short time to live. When we met, he shared that his viral count was over 40 million and his T cell count was virtually undetectable. He could only  get out of bed a day or two a week, and then, for only short periods of time.

We did a drum session, and afterward he was energized, sensing that some of his health had already been restored. We ended up doing a series of sessions, connecting every week for a month, every two weeks for three months, and then once per month for a total treatment time of six months. After our drumming work together, his medical tests showed his viral count was zero and his T cell count was 870. We were amazed and profoundly grateful for the healing that occurred. I still hear from him regularly, and his healing status is always stable.

The Fire Of The Drum Burns

Doors Open

Those early sessions opened the door and the phone started ringing with people wanting to experience the transformational, healing power of the drum. I worked in my local region throughout the rest of 1999 and 2000, began traveling part-time in 2001 to 2003, and then sold my restaurant and coffee shops in 2004 and began to travel full-time. In 2009 I traveled three hundred days, sharing the Healing Drummer work far and wide.

I’m humbled by the enthusiastic response to Healing Drummer Private Sessions. I can’t tell you how great it is to connect with so many people and be of service by doing what I love.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed answering a number of questions about the Healing Drummer Private Session work. I hope you find the information helpful, and please let me know if you have any questions. My contact info is at the end of this special report. I’ll be delighted to provide any information you need in order to decide if you would like to schedule a time to work together.

Check me out at www.healingdrummer.com and to schedule an appointment shoot me an email to toby@healingdrummer.com

Stay tuned for Part II there is more to come.

Home With The Family

I am writing you from Seattle Washington. I arrived here three days ago to find my father just out of intensive care and resting comfortably in his hospital room. The day before my mother had been unable to wake him from his sleep after a day of being sick. My father has emphysema, and in the last few days prior to his hospitalization had contracted pneumonia. For those of you know about respiratory illness, this is a very serious situation. My sister arrived a couple of days ahead of me, and has been doing a splendid job of caring for my father, and consoling my mother. I am often so busy ordinary world business sometimes doesn’t seem to exist. I feel that I am always feeling with critical situations for others until suddenly a critical situation drops into my own  lap. As my father’s illness has progressed I have become more and more grateful for my good health and each blessed day that we have dad around.

Community to the Rescue

As soon as I became aware of my father’s condition I knew where to find help. I went to Facebook, and Twitter, and alerted the many healers who stay in touch with me through these community network devices. It was only moments until I began to receive responses from people all over the world, the farthest of which, was New Zealand. People began to take time out of their busy lives to send my father healing energy. I am very grateful. It was shortly after I began receiving responses of people feeling that my father was responding favorably to the healing energy they were sending that I also received word from the hospital that there was an unusually favorable response to the medication and treatment he was receiving at the hospital. It is beautiful when Western allopathic medicine and ancient healing can dance together to bring about wellness. The results were so profound that my father ended up leaving the hospital three days earlier than we anticipated. When he arrived home she had energy, and appetite, and actually was very active until late that evening. Thank you to all who helped!

Coffee with Dad

This morning I had the pleasure of having coffee and pancakes with my dad. He has good color in skin, sparkle in his eyes, and plenty of energy! It’s funny how perspective can change so quickly. It seemed as though I was coming to Seattle initially to propagate some new work. Instead, my pace has slowed dramatically, my schedule has freed itself up, and I am able to be of service to my family. I have been sweeping  patios, hauling garbage, washing dishes, and changing lightbulbs. What a delight!

Thank You!

I want to thank all of you who took your time to say a prayer, send healing energy, or even tossed a thought into your mind for my father’s healing. It is wonderful to know in this busy world that we live in, that there are kind hearted people, who whether I know them, or they know me, or whether we don’t, that we will bring our gift to those who need our help any time. The response was overwhelming. My father expresses his tremendous gratitude to those who sent him this healing energy for this truly remarkable and miraculous recovery.  The community of healers who have rallied to create this miracle is a testimony of the goodness that resides in the world!

THANK YOU!

By the way, just so you know, there were over 130 responses to my Facebook and twitter over the last few days.

This month I would like to focus attention on healing the Earth. Watching the devastation of the Gulf Coast here in the US brings strong awareness that as inhabitance of this planet we need to rally our forces and bring healing to the other beings that share this great earth with us. I hear all kinds of blame and see lots of finger pointing. OK already, lets find a solution! I have been drumming each day asking for the Ancestors to intervene in this dilemma. Please join me in this endeavor.

The thing I realized as I began the healing process is that the maladies that inhabit the Earth are often the maladies that inhabit our lives personally and culturally. If we look at the Gulf Coast  situation, we might ask ourselves, “What is leaking poison into my life that is hidden deep in the darkness of my ocean?” Even more specifically, where have I allowed greed (as we see with the oil companies) to override my integrity? My Core Values? Do you even have an idea of what your core values are? These are very important questions. I hope we are all headed for a revival of core values of love, honesty, integrity and impeccability. Not just talking, but acting in accordance with these values. There are many “spiritual leaders” or mentors that scream integrity and impeccability but are running their organizations contrary to what they teach. Walk your talk or change it. As we walk with true integrity and in alignment with our message we will experience great empowerment in all areas of our lives. The more focused and undisrupted our intentions are, the more powerfully we will experience what we desire to create in our lives. Be clear, Live clear, Create clear.

An exciting aspect of our Hawaii trip this September because in addition to earth healing we will experience the blessings of the ocean and the energies that reside there. You can find out more about this shamanic adventure at

Be well and remember to send healing to the Earth and focus this month on the Gulf Coast! Here are a couple of photos that help to make clear the situation

here is a diver from BP in the gulf verifying that there is indeed a problem.

Blesssings,

Toby

One of my goals for 2010 is to open 3 new major territories. A couple of months ago I made my first steps towards doing that with my first workshop in Denver Colorado. With the help of Dr. Peter Bonaker, Valerie Zampino, and Carolina Woodrich I had a very successful trip and am thrilled with the response from the Denver community. We started off with an evening of drumming sponsored by Dr. Peter at his newly refurbished and amazingly beautiful Institute For Spiritual Advancement /www.ifsadenver.com.

We had a great crowd, filling the building to capacity. After a night of drumming I spent as few days doing HealingDrummer private sessions and then a multifaceted shamanic workshop investigating the Dagara cosmology and how our elemental construct effects our daily lives, the shamanic journey and of course lots of drumming.

Here is a photo of yours truly as we discuss  the benefits of being a FIRE person in the Dagara construct! Not everyone agreed with me that it is beneficial to travel 300 days a year, drink gallons of coffee a day and eat junk food. But we had a fun discussion.

We later moved into the Shamanic Journey portion of the day as I dawned the hoop drum. The shamanic Journey is one of if not the most powerful tool on ecan have to connect to great wisdom, direction and personal power. I have begun teaching it almost everywhere I go with profound results.

Last but not least a group photo of the gang who were brave enough to wander into the “other world” and claim their power. We did power animal retrievals this day so you may see some creatures lurking in the background. In addition to the non-ordinary beings we also had Smokey the cat and Sophie the shaman dog holding space in ordinary reality.

I am planning to visit Denver again soon so stay tuned!!

This is a piece from my World Unity CD. It’s a great one to listen to when you feel stuck or low energy.

There is a song called Waltzing Matilda, referred to as “the unofficial national anthem of Australia”. In it is the line, “Once a jolly swagman sat beside the billabong, Under the shade of a coolibah tree…

In the same way the coolibah tree was a place of rest and rejuvenation for the swagman, this song has the energy of rejuvenation for you!

Here is your music clip for the month of January.

As many of you have read on the blog, I reunited with some old friends this past year who I used to play music with.

This clip is a remix of track 1 of my Four Doors Open CD. Terry Kingen has laid some beautiful guitar over the drums to balance the intensity of the drum with the melodic flow of the guitar.

On his recent US tour HealingDrummer Toby Christensen taught courses on Shamanism and Sound Healing. He continues his practice as a practitioner as well. Because of his dynamic private sessions Toby’s gift as a teacher is not always acknowledged. Here is what Dr. Johnson had to say

Endorsement: Toby Christensen is so much more then a practitioner, and he is more than a brilliant “teacher”, in sharing his gifts – he introduces you to your own! I took my first workshop with Toby not knowing what to expect. After all, while I have known and appreciated him as a very talented drummer, I had no idea of his depth and clarity within Spiritual realms. What a joy to experience his insights, patience and practical application to the world of Spirit! I learned so much during this first class – techniques I use to this day -,  that I look forward to and take his workshops every time he comes to town.

I had a great time in Virginia this trip and thanks to my great friend and host Kathy Sampeck I was able to visit one of my favorite metaphysical bookstores in the country, Sacred Circle Book Store. the owners have been so supportive and they always bring in a great crowd.

This trip I facilitated an Elemental Healing Circle! Change your rhythm, change your life! This is a powerful community drumming experience that brings to the surface, the drummer that resides deep within each of us. Part of the process involves each person in the circle the opportunity to drum healing energy for each of the participants and to be drummed by the entire circle. It is a powerful life transforming experience. Here is a clip from that night. Enjoy!

It was a great pleasure to meet a new group of people from Calgary Canada. On my trip to Calgary I hosted an event for the Calgary Food Bank. Everywhere I travel, I like to give back to the community. So I donated this evening to the food bank. Here is a brief video of the opening guided meditation.

The sun continues to shine here in the islands and the adventures are wonderful. After the dolphins we headed for Queens Bath and Turtle Cove and swam with the sea turtles. This pool is amazing and as we snorkeled in the clear water of the pool Danny was making sure all was being documented with his brilliant photography. You can see him in the foreground with his camera. I hope you enjoy the wonder of this beautiful place. After swimming and hanging out on the lava rocks we headed for the cove. The water is sooo beautiful here.

Here is a photo of an unexpected treat. We were able to see this beautiful turtle nesting in a cave at the cove.

This is such a magical place!

I have been working on the new CD Peaceful Heart. Things are coming along well and inspiration is at every turn. One of the great inspirations on the island is Sleeping Giant. It is a sacred mountain that lies to the north about a 10-minute walk from the house. I have hiked up the great mountain almost every day. It takes an hour of persistent climbing to reach the summit and the view from on top is breathtaking!!!

Believe it or not I am standing on the top of the mountain as this picture was shot.

More soon! ALOHA!!!!

Check out Toby’s work here is a great video

Enjoy