This is the second post in Toby’s Understanding Sound article series. The first part can be read here. Sound’s Rhythm Much of the power of sound lies in its cyclical beat, better known as rhythm. This is evident in both the physical and emotional bodies. As you examine the function of the human body, from [...]
Tag Archives | rhythm
Grounded Expansion
In this fast-paced world, I hear a lot of people talking about needing to get grounded. At the same time, there is such a need to expand out in the world it almost seems like a paradoxical position, like we’re being pulled in two different directions. The powerful thing about music is that there can [...]
Culture and Nature Weaving Our Worlds
Nature is a powerful force around us. It has the power to bring great pleasure and relaxation, such as laying on a beautiful sunny beach by the ocean or sailing on a cool clear lake. Walking through the forest often provides a sense of calmness and a feeling of being grounded. Nature can also provide [...]
Shift Into Happiness!
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was in Honolulu a few months ago. After a private meeting with some people here on the island, he held a press conference. In the press conference, one of the reporters asked him, “You smile all the time. Are you really happy all time?” The Dalai Lama, in his playful, [...]
Call of the Ancestors: Drums, Music & Voices Dancing in the Shift!
In his book, Of Water and the Spirit: Ritual, Magic and Initiation in the Life of an African Shaman (Penguin Books), Dr. Malidoma Somé talks about the drum: In the Dagara culture the drum is the transportation device that carries the listener into other worlds. Only the sound of the drum has the power to help one [...]
Shift Your Energy With “Shift It!”
Ever have one of those days when you just cannot seem to get things rolling? Ever get stuck? Do you feel at times that there is just simply not enough energy within your being to accomplish the things that you have to do in a day? If you answered yes to any of these questions, [...]
Drumming and Dancing: Part I
This summer’s Advanced Shamanic Training Workshop was about combining the shamanic technique of drumming and journeying with the beautiful nature that was present on the island of Kauai. First Time Drummer One afternoon, we went to a beautiful pavilion located right beside the ocean. There were lava rock cliffs just beyond the pavilion that made [...]
Adventures in Hawaii
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 [...]
Music Night at Toby’s Hawaii House
As my adventures on the island of Kauai unfolded, I had the pleasure of having a couple of friends visit from the mainland. Terry Kingen has been a great friend of mine since elementary school. Terry is one of the premier guitar players in the Seattle area, and has been teaching me blues guitar for [...]
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