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Beautiful Ocean

The drumming and dancing continued during that wonderful evening! The sun began to set, but while there was still light we were going to continue to drum and dance and honor the ocean and sacredness of the beautiful island of Kuaui.

The colors begin to take their place in the clouds, and the rhythms shifted and changed. The dancing became more vigorous, and I think Tanis got a little tired because she switched from dancing to playing the drum. When I first met Tanis she could not play the drum to save her life. Over the years she has become a very proficient drummer. I think she can drum as well as she can dance! She does both very well.

We continued to send the rhythm to the ocean. We drummed for the healing of the planet, the unity of the people, and the joining together of all tribes! People were switching from drumming to dancing, and from dancing to drumming, and back again. As the color filled the sky and the ocean waves rhythmically connected with the lava rock on the shores, there became a sense of peace and well-being in the midst of this vital life force energy.

Unity in the Rhythm of the Drum

It’s amazing how the drum activates the energy around it. Our group went to the pavilion to drum and enjoy the rhythms and sounds that were being created. What ended up happening was an energetic expansion in each and every person that sent us into an ecstatic and joyful state of well-being. Most of these people had never met each other, yet we were able to unify in the rhythm, in a way that made it seem like we were all family, we were all of one tribe!

This kind of unity I find to be very unique to the drum. It is one of the reasons why I treasure this instrument so much. Each person carries their own rhythm, each person carries their own unique heartbeat. We are all the same, but in our own unique way.

Potent Energy Beneath the Stars

Penny and I Drumming Together

Another one of our crew who was a beautiful addition to this special evening is Penny. A veterinarian by trade and angel by energy, she was a beautiful soul to have in our group.

I’m not sure how much drumming experience Penny had had, but she did great! It was magical to drum with her and the others as the sun set. It was interesting to feel the difference in the energy between the sun time and the moon time.

The night energy that particular evening was very potent, carrying the power of the island and the cosmos simultaneously. The grounded energy of the water and the island combined mysteriously with the high vibration and expansion of the stars.

There’s something about the energy of the island, the dark night sky, the sound of the ocean, and the feeling of the land. I can’t put my finger on it, but I know that is something indigenous, something very old that resonates deeply with my soul. It is so awesome to see the power of people who come to the island, wake up and embrace that which has been lying dormant deep within them and owning their power!

Gratitude for Island Experiences

It is these experiences that keep me coming back. It is not only my own personal experiences which have been life-changing on the island, but watching those who come and join me blossom and expand in ways never expected and not always understood.

The embrace of this magnetic pull is beyond explanation to me. But I’m glad it’s here and I’m glad that I have experienced its wonder.

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

The man on the left had never played before!

One afternoon, we went to a beautiful pavilion located right beside the ocean. There were lava rock cliffs just beyond the pavilion that made the drop down to the water take your breath away. We took our drums to the pavilion, called upon the power of the ocean to lead us in the rhythm, and began to play.

What I love about the djembe is that it brings the best out in people. There is something about the magic of the drum that reaches deep inside one’s soul, and brings to the surface the rhythm that is often stored deep within. Some of the people in the class were proficient drummers, while others were just starting. In fact, for some the workshop was their very first experience drumming.

We had two visitors from the United Kingdom: a Scottish couple that were delightful. The husband had never played a drum before, yet when the magic of the djembe touched his soul, he began to drum and kept perfect time with the rhythms that we were doing and engaged deeply in the magic of this powerful instrument. He began to drum, at first tentatively, but soon he began to engage with the drum more vigorously. His rhythm was beautiful: it was strong and powerful. It was beautiful to see the smile on his face . . . and the shock on his wife’s face as the rhythm began to take over!

Dancing with a Movie Star

As we drummed some of the people in the group decided that drumming wasn’t enough. The dancing then started! Tanis put down her drum and started dancing. This movement then began to inspire others, and as the sun set the energy of the drumming increased. Soon Danny joined in on the dance!

Danny dancing to the drums!

Danny had facilitated our hike to Makaleha falls earlier that day. He is a wonderful tour guide for any of you who are heading to the island. He has been a son of Hawaii for many years, born here, raised here, and he happens to be a bit of a movie star! When Danny was 10 years old, he was in the movie Blue Hawaii with the famous Elvis Presley. I actually rented the movie to verify his story.

It goes something like this: when Danny was 10 years old, he and his friend were at the Cocoa Palms Hotel. In it’s day, it was the place the rich and famous stayed during vacation. When Elvis Presley was filming Blue Hawaii, this was one of the primary places where filming took place.

Danny and his friend were playing at the Cocoa Palms and saw the film crews. They got the brilliant idea that they would like to be in the movies, so they ran home and put on their aloha shirts, then snuck into the filming area where they took position right beside the bridge where Elvis Presley was married to his wife in the movie. If you watch the wedding scene, as Elvis walks up to the small arched  bridge, on the left side of the bridge you will see a couple of boys: one with a blue shirt on—which is Danny—and one with a red shirt—which is his friend.

So we got to spend time with the movie star!

Drumming Inspiration

Dolphin woman Charlotte drumming.

Inspiring the fun dance done by Tanis and Danny, Elsa drummed her heart out that night. Not having much drumming experience, I was so pleased to listen to her gentle rhythms as she began to allow the power of the drum to resonate through her body. She was such an inspiration on this trip, and really held the space for magic to occur.

We also had the dolphin woman, Charlotte, with us. It was so interesting, because my friend Naoka  is really connected to the dolphins. When I met Charlotte a few years ago, she had dolphins tattooed all over her body! Needless to say, she and Naoka hit it off well. Charlotte had a blast that evening drumming to the ocean and holding the inspiring energy connecting the drum to the dance!

Stay tuned to read more about my fantastic Healing Drummer adventures this summer in Kauai!

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!

Tori on the djembe

Some of the time here on the island spontaneous occurrences present themselves. One night, my friend Terry Kingen was visiting me with his daughter, Tori, and she spotted my drums lined up along the wall. Being very curious about this, she asked to hear what they sounded like. What came from that was about 3 hours of a wild drumming jam session!

Tori had never drummed before in her life, and it was so amazing as she began to play and the rhythm touched her heart. Her hands began to move and she picked up every single rhythm we played that night perfectly!

Terry was laying down the basic beat, holding the steady foundation, as I ripped it up a bit and helped Tori focus on the rhythms. Another friend of ours from the island was playing along as well. It was so fun to feel the vibration in the walls of the house, and see the joy on the faces of not only those of us who are playing, but Terry who was watching his daughter coming to such joy.

Magic Desserts Complement The Rhythm of the Drum

Drumming jam session at Toby's Hawaii house

Another joyful experience of this evening was the  unexpected visit by my friend Danny Hashimoto. Danny had been on an outing to the beach and stopped by the house on his way home . . . once again loaded with his magic desserts and sweet delights!

I will say it was also a bit distracting watching Danny pull these amazing treats from his cooler setting them beautifully on the counter awaiting our consumption. But we drummed on, laughing, smiling, getting into the rhythm of the drum, the rhythm of community, and the rhythm of the island. The drumming continued until everyone’s hands were so sore they couldn’t feel their fingers. There was so much laughter and fun.

Kauai: The Island that Creates Community

One of the things that the island does is creates community. People come together, and even if they have never met each other, they become instant friends. In the same way that the island welcomes everybody to its magic, that magic seems to draw everyone to each other. And the spontaneous merging of energy occurs. Family occurs, community occurs.

Danny Hashimoto and Toby Christensen

One of my dear friends, Malidoma Somé, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, talks often about how people in the village will spontaneously unite, just to enjoy each other and bring the rhythm of the drum or the song of the voice or the sound of the Balaphone to the people in the village. It is wonderful to experience these kinds of spontaneous events in a world where most things are planned and organized. I want to especially thank Danny for bringing his magic to our party and making a fun, spectacular time even more dynamic and spectacular!

I hope that next summer many of you are here on the island for the workshops that I will be offering so that you, too, can experience the magic of the island, the spontaneity of community, and the true feeling of aloha!

Stay tuned for more adventures throughout my visit to Kauai!

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!

Over the last few weeks I’ve been sharing with you inside looks at each track from my new CD Tribal Medicine. Tribal Medicine is one of my favorite albums to date. It offers listeners restorative healing rhythms to infuse their hearts and souls. Each track on the album features intoxicating drumming, various sounds, and specific intent that embodies different healing energies. By creating a varying, yet powerful, healing album like this, I’m proud to offer listeners a rejuvenating sound energy session.

I’ve talked about the energetic and spiritual rhythms of “Call of the Ancestors,” the indigenous conversation of “Tribal Spirits,” and the transforming healing energy of “Sacred Chant.” The next track I’d like to discuss is the he fourth from Tribal Medicine called “The One.” 

I’ve received a lot of positive feedback about this song. This is a soundtrack for being in the presence of the one who heals us all and who can guide us to overcome any obstacle. “The One” is about being in the presence of the Creator and accepting our life circumstances for what they are, no matter what they are.

“The One” is also a form of spiritual guidance that encourages us to ask for the eradication of things from our lives that are not helpful. It’s a great song by which to meditate and ask for peace in the place where we are carrying turmoil, for health and wellbeing in the place where we carry illness, and for abundance in the place where we carry emptiness.

Tribal Medicine offers listeners powerful inspiration through its tribal connections—as so many responses from people have indicated. This album as a whole resembles closely an ancient indigenous healing ceremony. All listeners have to do to experience the wisdom and powerful healing of African and Native American ancestors and shamans is bring positive intent, an open heart and mind, and close their eyes for the great escape of Tribal Medicine!

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!

Nechema Robinson, director of KinderWorld Tracks, recently spoke with Toby about his life and healing gifts. The following is the final excerpt from this three-part interview.

Toby’s Influences & Heros

Nechama: I’d be interested to hear who your childhood heroes were, [and] who do you look up to now?

Toby Christensen

Toby: My first and most profound influence, musically, were The Beatles. I remember seeing them on The Ed Sullivan show. I saw Ringo up on that stage and knew that’s what I wanted to be. I then later fell in love with the likes of Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa, and many of the jazz greats.

Although I had a very tumultuous childhood, my father has always been a very big hero to me: [he’s] very calm and wise.

The other person that has influenced my life tremendously all through my childhood and into my adult years is my uncle Mike Flo. He was a very successful businessman, and at 90 years old continues to be a very positive influence in my life.

I would say Wayne Dyer is another huge influence. He was the first presenter of what we might call “alternative” perspective in my life. I had a tape set of his back in the early ‘90s, and I’m pretty sure that I wore those tapes out listening to them over and over and over again!

Nechama: I can understand how so many people would want you as an influence in their lives. Your life is a testament to the possibility of a kind of broad-spectrum success that seems to require no compromise. Would you agree?

Toby: I would certainly like to think so! My work centers around people coming into and claiming their power! No guru in my world: I help people become their own guru

Nechama: Yes! I have noticed that in your message over and over again. Clearly, I am not the only one who finds that appealing and empowering.

How Drumming Can Help Parents & Children

Nechama: Many of my readers believe that playing with rhythm has benefits for their children. Does your work relate to anything you enjoyed doing as a child? Are there children in your life? If so, how is your relationship to them affected by your work?

Toby: I would agree with your readers very much! I started drumming when I was about five years old. It is a gift that I was born with. My entire childhood was filled with music, and drumming is the one area of my life where I was supported very strongly by my family. I do not currently have children in my life, however I work with children from time to time, both young children and adolescents.

When I was raising my stepson, it was interesting as my work shifted from the more “ordinary world” things—such as the coffee business and a restaurant—to the more “otherworldly” business that involved the drumming. He was a little uncomfortable with what to tell his friends [about what] his stepdad did.

One time, I was hired by fashion designer Donna Karan to do an event at her flagship store in Manhattan. My stepson, Adam, came with me to that event, and as he saw some of his favorite movie stars dancing and enjoying my drumming, it gave him a whole new perspective. It was a way to bridge ordinary and non-ordinary reality.

Finding Rhythm

Nechama: I love that story! What do you think are the most significant benefits of giving children the opportunity to play with rhythm? And, if you could give one tip to parents looking to maximize that opportunity for their children, what would it be?

Toby: I think the biggest benefit [for children] is the benefit of self-expression. In our culture, we are constantly programming the restraint of freedom and a conduct that is predicated on how other people will perceive us. So, self-expression is something that the drum facilitates beautifully.

When I had my restaurant, I had African décor, and there were drums sitting around on the floor. Every once in a while, someone would bring a child in and they would head immediately for the drum and start banging on. The parent usually would run frantically to make sure that the child did not hurt the drum or disturb anyone. Usually, that was the time when I would start an impromptu jam session with the child! The patrons loved it!

Let your child be free! That is the most profound tip I could give. So much of our restrictive behavioral conduct has hugely damaging effects when a child comes into adolescence. Most of the time, substance abuse and “inappropriate behavior” are just a way for our children to fight against a repressive cultural system that denies them their genius. In the village where I’ve studied, my teacher Malidoma Somé says each and every person is born a genius. It is the job of the village or community to acknowledge and support the genius that resides in each and every person. Let your child be a genius and let that genius shine!

Nechama: And that just might be my favorite story of all!

Thank you, Toby, for an absolutely riveting interview! I hope we can do this again some time. I will certainly be following your work. Please don’t hesitate to contact me for any reason. Would you like to say anything else before we say good-bye?

Toby: It was an honor to be interviewed by such a skillful and conscious being. Thank you! I look forward to further contact. Be well.

Thank you to Nechama Robinson, MA, director of KinderWorld Tracks.

Those who have already listened to my new album Tribal Medicine can attest to its powerful inspiration through its tribal connections. So many reviews have been coming back to me, and one common remark is that listeners often feel as though they are taking part in an ancient indigenous healing ceremony! Tribal Medicine is a great escape for those who wish to close their eyes and experience the wisdom of African and Native American ancestors, as well as experience Eastern shamanic traditions through the powerful healing rhythms of the album’s songs!

For instance, “Sacred Chant,” the third track on the album, is about the vision of a medicine person residing in solitude on the top of a mountain, calling to the healing spirits. It’s a truly beautiful song that was written with those in mind who are suffering and are in need of some sort of healing—be it from a serious or debilitating illness, the crushing and despondent force of depression, or any other mental or spiritual malady.

“Sacred Chant” is a healing song in which the medicine person calls to the spirits through sacred chant. These calls are requests for healing and comfort for those in pain, and to restore health and vitality to those in need of a transformation.

Tribal Medicine as a complete album offers healing rhythms that restore the hearts and souls of those who listen. I am quite proud of how this album turned out—the drumming is incredible and infuses the body with its intoxicating rhythms. While “Sacred Chant” is just one of five powerful tracks on the album, each song embodies a different healing energy. Through various rhythms, sounds, and intent, individual tracks offer listeners different sound energy sessions. As a whole,Tribal Medicine is a restorative treat!

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!

Tribal Medicine is an album I am particularly proud of. This CD features healing rhythms that are intended to restore listeners’ hearts and souls as the sensations of the healing drum infuses the body.

One of the best features of the album is that each track on Tribal Medicine supports a particular energy and offers different rhythms and sounds that, collectively, make the album a powerful healing experience. The second track on the CD, entitled “Tribal Spirits,” focuses on the spirits responding to the call of the ancestors. It is the drum that activates the indigenous self that lives in each one of us and calls to us the spirit allies from the other world.

Toby Christensen

“Tribal Spirits” offers listeners a beautiful array of sounds that work together to engage their hearts and souls. The song starts with the Native American powwow drum. This is followed by a South American rattle, and then joined by the African djembe. This is the tribal way of the natives: spirits. The flute is a sacred instrument of the Native Americans and honors that tradition.

Further on in “Tribal Spirits,” these instruments are joined by the didgeridoo, which honors the aborigines of Australia. The chanting that is heard in the background is a combination of the East African and Native American chanting. It is through this sacred chanting that the spirits are called and, in some cases, literally talk through the person singing or talk through the drum or the didgeridoo. In this sense, what starts as a call actually ends up being a strong connection and a two-way conversation with the spirit world.

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!

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!

Nechema Robinson, MA, the director of KinderWorld Tracks recently spoke with Toby about his life and healing gifts. The following is the second excerpt from this three-part interview.

First Impressions of The Healing Drummer

Nechama: I would like to get a sense of the impression most people have of you when they first meet you . . . from people you encounter on the street to clients to event organizers.

Toby: Because of my very real-world presence, I drive a bright red sports car, I like to wear nice clothes, and my watch is a Rolex. There is a funny association with such ordinary-reality things which often contradicts people’s perceptions of what a “healer” is.

In Park City, Utah, where my home is, there is an organization that brings students of shamanism in for workshops. When I am not teaching there, I am often doing private healing sessions. When I pull up to the conference center to pick up [my clients] for their session, I often hear, “This is not a shaman car!” I often respond, “I know, but it’s the best I can do for now until I can afford the real shaman car, which everyone knows is a Ferrari!”

I believe that the gift that we bring to the world, all of us, is the most natural thing that we do. It is not being something other than who we are at our core. I love having a great human experience, and I enjoy the pleasures of this human experience. Because I come from this place of authentic connection to the spirit world, energy world, and the physical world, it gives me a way to relate to people that are often shocked by my ordinary reality appearance.

Or—in the case of Procter & Gamble and Merrill Lynch [examples of my wide range of clients]—they were thrilled that I walked in wearing a pair of Prada issues and an Armani shirt. The CEO later told me he wasn’t sure what he would do if a dreadlocked hippie dude would’ve come walking in the door!

Bridging People from All Walks of Life

Nechama: That is a great story! So, are any of your friends “dreadlocked hippie dudes?”

Toby: Sure! I hang out in Hawaii four months out of the year, and there’s a ton of them over there.

[In fact], I’m doing these really cool workshops in July, August, and September on the island of Kauai.

Nechama: And how do they see you? Do you change your presentation when you are around them?

Toby: No, I’m pretty much always who I am. The thing that [my clients and friends] like is that I am this very connected-to-the-ordinary person, but I have done a radical ritual and ceremony in sub-Saharan Africa and throughout the United States with the Lakota medicine man. I am a full mesa carrier in the Andean tradition of shamanism, and have become an initiated diviner in an ancient African modality.

The “realness” of how I live my life is in alignment with my hippie friends, and the fact that I fly first class and brought back a nice Louis Vuitton sweater from Paris keeps me connected to my ordinary world friends. It’s a pretty funny paradox, but I have always been [that way] and my work seems to always be a bridge bringing people together!

There was a situation in Cincinnati, Ohio, where I was invited to facilitate a drum circle at an Episcopal church. I told the pastor, “If you want me to come, I want you to be prepared. You say you want community, and with me you will get that. You will get the whole community! You will have dreadlocked hippies, gays and lesbians, you will have the woo-hoo fairy people.” And we had them all! We had 75 people show up for the drum circle and they were from all walks of life.

At some point I’d love to tell you the story about how I got the Rolex . . . it’s a very good example of this bridge building.

Nechama: Please feel free to share that story, now, if you’d like.

Toby: I was at a retreat center in Oregon where I was facilitating a grief ritual with an African woman. I was in the food line when a [woman] looked at my hand and asked me if that was a Rolex that I was wearing. I said, “Yes.” [She] asked, “Is it real?” I said, “Of course!” She then went on a rampage about how could I, as a conscious human being and healer, spend $5,000 on a watch. I started laughing.

I then went on to tell [her] that when I was in San Diego, California, assisting Chief Phil Crazy Bull of the Lakota nation on a vision quest I met a woman who desperately needed a computer. When I asked her how much she wanted to spend on a computer, she said that she had purchased a Rolex submariner for her husband, [but] they divorced and she had never given him the watch. She was going to go to the pawnshop, and whatever they gave her for the watch she would use to buy the computer. I talked to a friend of mine who builds computers. He said after receiving her specs, that for $500 he could build a much better computer than what she expected to buy.

I had the Rolex, she had the computer, and my friend got to sell a computer. It was Win! Win! Win! [for everyone]!

Nechama: Your story is so powerful! What kind of feedback do you typically get from clients?

Toby: The response is typically a big, “WOW!” Because of the energetic shift that occurs, most people have very little to say after the session has concluded. The usual response after the “Wow!” is, “I have no words to describe how I feel right now.”

This is usually followed by profound life change and a re-alignment with one’s life purpose as it relates to the issue we worked on in the session. I can’t tell you the immense joy that I feel watching people change so dramatically and so quickly.

Stayed tuned for part three of this interview: The Healing Drummer Discusses Influence, Children & Healing Rhythms.

Thank you to Nechama Robinson, MA, director of KinderWorld Tracks.

Inquiries about Toby’s services can be made to info@healingdrummer.com. Keep in touch with Toby’s events at www.healingdrummer.com/schedule or sign up to receive Toby’s newsletter!

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 Arlington VA

So now you know how things got started I would like to answer a few commonly asked questions. If you can think of anything you would like to know that I don’t cover here feel free to make a comment and ask. I’ll be happy to get back to you.

“Are Healing Drummer Private Sessions only for healing physical problems?”

The simple answer is no. The session work can help to shift the energy in every way, and in every aspect of your life. The results of what can occur for you are profound. I look at any difficulty—any “configurations of energy” that are not in alignment with your intentions—as something that is not helpful. What I do is use the sound energy from the drum to disrupt the aspects of your energy system that are not in alignment with your intentions.

In the beginning of your session, we align around your intentions. I then access these intentions to help guide the rhythms to realign your energies—body, mind, and spirit—so that effortlessly and delightfully the things that no longer serve you fall away. What you desire to create can come to you easily.

“I’ve been studying the Law of Attraction and wonder if working with you can help me manifest my intentions.”

Yes, absolutely. You have intentions. You have dreams and ideas. You have goals that you want to accomplish. If you’re not yet manifesting the life you want, your current energy field is not in alignment with what you are wanting to create.

I can help to empower you to set intentions to redirect your energy. One of the beautiful things about this drumming work is that by using the sound vibrations we can direct the energy toward your specific intentions. The rhythms will support you in clearly holding those intentions. The sound energy from the drum will reconfigure the energy in your field so that it comes into alignment with what you intend. Working in this way causes the energy of your intention to draw to you the power to create what you envision. It’s an effective process that I love to co-create with my clients.

“How long are the Healing Drummer Private Sessions and what happens during a

Drumming Up Intention!

session?”

Sessions are one hour long and cost $150. We’ll spend the first ten minutes or so talking, looking at what you would like to see happen in your session. I often will ask, “After our session, when you walk out the door, what is it that you brought in today that you would like to release? And second, what is that you would like leave with that wasn’t here when you arrived?” I encourage my clients to focus on the healed or transformed condition that they would like to be in when their session is complete. I find that since energy attracts like energy, if you focus on what you don’t want you just get more of the same.

I often ask people, “What is it that you would like?” and they answer, “I don’t want to be sick anymore.” That’s a good thing to know, but it’s a counter-productive intention, since energy flows where intention goes. So, what I encourage people to focus on is what they do want. Once my clients begin to understand the power of focusing on their positive intentions, they start to express intentions like these:

• Iwantperfecthealth. • Iwantvitalenergy. • Iwantabundantfinances. • IwantajobwhereI’llbehappier.

And many, many more.

We always work to create a proactive statement so that the energy we are attracting is the energy of the solution—the positive creation—you would like to see come into form.

From there, I invite you to lie down on your back on beautiful mat that is very comfortable. Your eyes can either be open or closed, and many choose to close their eyes and allow their attention to focus inward.

Healing Drummer Private Sessions

I start with either a hoop drum or a rattle, initially walking around in a counterclockwise direction. This begins to activate the energy field of your body with the sound energy of the device I use. Most of the time, I feel led to use a Native American hoop drum, which is a round, wooden drum with skin on one side. As I walk counterclockwise, we start to unwind the energy that has kept you bound, deconstructing any problematic patterns and activating your energy field, which is now holding the positive intention for transformation.

Next, using support straps, I put on my djembe, which is an African drum often called “the healing drum.” My feet are on the outside of either side of your hips and I face the direction of your feet. This position allows the bell or exit place of the drum’s sound energy to flow directly toward your heart area. My teachers in the West African Dagara tribe say that we begin the healing and transformation process by first activating intentions that we set at the beginning of heartfelt desires, so we honor your heart.

Before I begin drumming, I show you how to tap my leg.It is our safety signal. That way, you can always easily get my attention if needed for any reason. It’s rare that anyone needs to do this, since people usually experience the power of the drum as very pleasant, but it’s helpful for people to know they’re safe and can communicate with me whenever they need. Knowing you’re safe will help you to completely open to the drum’s healing energies.

I stand over you and begin to drum. This is where the drum energy begins to build and starts transforming your energy field. I drum anywhere from thirty to forty minutes, straight and continuous. It’s a very intense healing and transformation energy.

After the drumming is complete, I set the djembe aside and pick up the hoop drum or rattle. Again, I most often use the hoop drum. This time, I circle you clockwise, which brings the healing energy into present time. This important part of the sacred ritual seals your body in the energy of sound so that the transformed energy stays with you.

You’ll find that through your dreams, thoughts, meditations, and contemplative times that the effects of the session will continue to unfold—stimulating energetic transformation for at least three to five days after the actual drumming session. We begin a process and you will continue to carry. That’s one of the beautiful things about the healing drum’s sound energy activations.

We then talk about what occurred. You have the choice to share any thoughts and feelings that arose. If you like, you can keep some or all of what you experienced to yourself—it’s totally up to you. I will then share what happened for me. Oftentimes when I’m drumming I will receive what I jokingly call “home work,” things you can do outside the session that will enhance the processes we’ve begun. Sometimes I encourage specific actions you can take that will help give you a clear path, a solution, toward the intentions you’ve set.

You’ll also be more than welcome to ask me any questions that may have arisen during your

Drumming In Hawaii

session. I’ve found that sometimes the drumming stimulates deep questions that you may have never considered or haven’t thought of in a long time, so you’re welcome to ask whatever your heart desires.

Finally, I make sure that you’re feeling good and ready finish the session. Then we complete our time together.

All of the feedback I’ve received over the years has been very positive. While powerful, the entire process is gentle and completely safe. One of the things I love about this work is that your being interacts with the sound of the drum, so there’s no laying on of hands or physical contact. The rhythms work with your energy system—body, mind, and emotions—in alignment with your intentions.

“When you conduct a Healing Drummer Private Session, where do you place your attention?”

While we won’t usually communicate verbally during a session, our beings work together. I have an intention for you, which is to have the intention you expressed be manifested. So, in addition to drumming, I place some of my attention on your intention. Using my shamanic training in the African and Native American traditions, I tap into the resources of ancient wisdom and ask to receive whatever is necessary to facilitate your healing and transformation. I ask for the wisdom to come through, and it always does. For me, the experience is a shamanic journey, one that honors and enlivens your intentions to heal and transform.

As you listen to the drum and sense the energies in whatever ways are most comfortable for you, you can also allow some of your awareness to focus on your desired results. Truly, since you’ve set your intentions, whatever you do will work. Some people stay very focused, while others allow their mind to drift and flow.

5 Element Drumming Rhythms

“What rhythms do you play on the drum?”

I start with the 5 element rhythms that I’ve studied and played for many years. They provide the foundation for balancing the physical, emotional, and energetic systems. Then I begin to work from those rhythms. There are patterns I call “sub-rhythms” that are specifically dedicated to your own energy field. This is where the drum—combined with your and my awareness—becomes a collective unit seeking to bring in the energies that will help bring in the solutions to your specific situations. The rhythms that come are unique to your session, unique to your own energy field, ones that help shift your energy so that smoothly and joyfully what no longer serves you falls away, and what you desire comes to you.

“I know drums can be loud. Does the noise ever stress people out?”

Drums can be loud and occasionally some people feel a little bit of apprehension. I do have earplugs available; however, what I’ve found in nearly every session I’ve conducted over the years is that people that are pleasantly surprised that, even with the volume and intensity of the drumming, they become calm and peaceful. The physical sound waves impact your body, which is like a massage with sound that creates a very relaxed state. Then you have the rhythm, which has a profound effect on relaxing your mind and emotions.

“Do I need to have a problem and/or questions formed in my mind before I show up for a session.”

Not necessarily. A favorite story is when a medical doctor from the east coast came to see me. At the start of our session, he said, “You know, I don’t really have any problems in my life. As a matter of fact, I think I have an absolutely perfect life. What I want to do is lock that in, have more of the same, and continue to enjoy the path that I’m on.” I considered that a beautiful intention and we got right to work, creating a powerful session.

Yes, I conduct healing sessions…and…the essence of healing is transformation. Often, the focus of a session isn’t on overcoming an illness. Drumming that reinforces positive intentions to continue improving, expanding, and learning to flow with life’s mysterious unfolding is a wonderful reason to schedule a time to work together.

I’m also reminded of a woman who came to me for a series of treatments for a physical malady she was experiencing. As the rhythms of the drum and our shared intentions shifted her energy field, the problem was no longer part of her life. At that point I said, “This is great. It doesn’t look like you need to come back anymore.” Then she replied, “You know what? I want to know how good I can feel. I want to know how much better I can get. I’d like to keep coming in for regular sessions.”

So, scheduling Healing Drummer Private Sessions is a useful way to support yourself—to support your life and wellbeing—and help a good life become even better. It’s really helpful to strengthen your energy field, making you stronger and more powerful.

“Is there anything I need to do before a session to help prepare?”

The Rhythms Flow!

Sure. Getting clear about your intentions—what you’d like to receive in your session—can be helpful. The more aware you are of what you want, the more we can focus on achieving those outcomes. Still, I have people who arrive for their session without a specific intention, and that’s fine, too. They might present a general goal, like discovering their life purpose and overall direction in life, and we can definitely work with that aspiration.

If you’d like to invest some time before your session, simply look at the situations in your life—the general energy of your life. Ask yourself, “If I could improve things, what would I want to have happen?” Then notice what arises in your awareness, from specific outcomes to a general sense of what you’re wanting. Those are beautiful kinds of intentions to bring to your session.

“Is it a good idea to schedule more than one session?”

Oftentimes, we see a profound shift in the first session. If a person wants to do only one session, they will receive value. When asked, I recommend at least three to four sessions. I dedicate about 80% of my time to traveling, and it’s common for me to come to an area once every few months.

What I find is that the first session will begin to transform your energy field and wake up aspects of your being that you may not been aware existed. Shifts begin to occur. You enter your second session more aware of the process and what can happen. It’s common that the results created in the second session are much more powerful than the first, simply because you can let go and relax into the process more deeply. This way, we build on the transformations catalyzed in the first session.

Bringing in The Transformation

One thing that is really useful to remember is that we are always in a state of transformation. We’re always encountering energies that support us and those that attempt to thwart aspects of our lives. There are people and energies that are very loving and there are those who would like to see us falter and fail. Part of the power in Healing Drummer Private Sessions is that you get to take in a phenomenal amount of energy that radiates into your field and supports all aspects of your being, helping you to create the life you desire.

To learn more about me and the Healing Drum, and to see a video of a private session, go to www.healingdrummer.com

To experience one of these transforming sessions contact me at toby@healingdrummer.com and we will schedule a time for you.

Kava and Friends

As I reflect on my days of drinking kava with my friends Gary and Lynn it occurs to me that I am finally back home! I gotta tell you it’s cold here in Park City. I got up the other day to go for a walk.  Put on my usual walking gear, stepped outside, took one breath… Oh my God! It’s freezing here! 33°. After two months in Hawaii, a week in Miami, a week in Calgary, and the week in DC, I was ready for home. Not realizing how my body has adapted to the warm temperatures I immediately became aware and put on a winter coat and long pants and had a delightful walk. I  Had been longing for those intense walks up Main Street and visiting my favorite pastry shop but going from 80° every day to freezing is a culture shock!

Refreshing But COLD!!

I must say the changing leaves here in the mountains and the fresh air, cold as it is, is a very refreshing change. I have been able to reconnect with my drums, my guitars, and have caught up on my work. I’m really enjoying my time here and I’m enjoying the seasonal changes, the energy of the mountains, and reconnecting with friends.

Football Therapy

One thing that is interesting, is the restlessness that I feel being stationary. It is definitely an energetic shift to ground in and be home. I’m so grateful for my experiences over the past few months and I am looking forward to visiting the Bay Area, Seattle, and Denver in the coming months. So as I return to normal life, watching the NFL games on Sunday, driving with my friend David, and going out to hear my friend Rich Wyman play I find a sense of fullness that comes from home.  Who knows I might even start doing yoga again.

Well that’s the update for now I wish you all the best in the coming weeks and look forward to seeing my friends in the areas that I will soon visit!

Another Long Flight

I am sitting at 35 thousand feet heading home from the most amazing two months. The island of Kauai is one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. As I look back on my intentions to blog daily and get some new music created and be busy for this long two months, I realize number one, that it went by like it was two hours. Secondly that I accomplished none of what I set out to accomplish and thirdly it was the most amazing experience to be in this place. I was very present each day. I did play music. I was the drummer for the Kauai Vibe Tribe, And I learned how to play “Blackbird”, one of my favorite Beatles songs on the guitar.

Going With the Flow

One of the things about this trip is that I learned a lot about the difference between setting intention, scheduling, and being in the flow of life. It seems with my busy schedule I have a tendency to put my head down and barrel forward not stopping to smell the roses or in this case swim with the dolphins.  Halfway through the trip I thought to myself “boy you have not done a thing!”. And then as I’m flying home I’m thinking to myself, “wow you did so much!”. I’m realizing the value of perspective.  I am also reevaluating the difference between doing and being. Because although on my list of tasks I may not have done much, I was more present than I’ve ever been in my life!

Being vs Doing

So this leads me to something to speak about. How much of our lives do we spend  “doing” and how much of our life is spent being in the flow of joy, happiness, and fulfillment. This past two months has awakened in me an aspect of peace, tranquility, inspiration, and joy that I do not ever remember having. I have met a new group of amazing people, I have played with some delightful musicians, and I have swum with the magic dolphins! It seems like every time we went to the ocean the Dolphins were there. One funny story is that I told a group that came for retreat that we would see dolphins Tuesday at 10::30 AM.  One of the workshop members said to me “you can’t make an appointment with Dolphins!” I didn’t say a word. But as we walked down secret beach…

Making an Appointment with the Dolphins

When we hit beach three they started jumping! And we had a wonderful time swimming with the dolphins.

As we engage our lives in the pleasure of living, we can ensure a greater degree of joy then living with the challenge of productivity. Not that there are not times that we dig in our heels stay up late at night and work hard, but the lion’s share of our life, if spent in the pleasure of living, will reduce stress and expand the joy beyond imagination. So I challenge you all in a pleasurable way, to look at the activities of your life and see if perhaps a swim with the dolphins might just be the ticket! Or perhaps drumming under the full moon! Let me know what you think.

Tuesday is Dolphin Day! No kidding, every Tuesday for the last three weeks we have had amazing experiences swimming with pods of wild spinner dolphins here on Kauai. It is such an amazing feeling to be in the water with these beautiful, sensitive creatures. There are usually about 20-40 of them and they will surround you and swim below you as long as you keep an open heart and stay still in water. You can hear them talking to each other, watch them spin and jump and feel their ancient wisdom and energy as they surround you. Each time it brings tears to my eyes and each time I am humbled by their incredible beauty.

For the past couple of weeks I have been rising to the sound of fresh coffee brewing at the hour of 5:30 am. Now many of you who know me will be wondering. What the heck happened to Toby? Other than getting to the airport for an early flight I NEVER see that hour of the morning. But it is FIFA World Cup Soccer time. This is the reason I rise while it is still dark outside. This is the reason I drink 4 pots of coffee instead of three. I love soccer. My stepson Adam was an amazing soccer player and many of my favorite memories over the last 15 years are of the fun our family had around Adams soccer matches. Victor and Ruben were the coaches from Paraguay. Victor would be screaming in Spanish while Ruben yelled in the little english he knew “Shoot the ball! Shoot the ball” although it sounded more like “soot de boul!!” I appreciated his enthusiasm and the passion each of them had for the game and the kids they coached. So as I watched the games I spent time texting and emailing Ruben.

As I watch the people in the stands and talk to people as I travel there is a strong unifying factor that soccer has. People are allowed to be crazy, blow horns, beat drums and enter into a culture they may not otherwise experience. Families are brought together and children learn great athleticism and sportsmanship.

One thing that stood out on the Argentinian team is watching the coach kiss each player on the cheek as they come out of the game for a substitution or at halftime. Also the affection showed to teammates on the field. Soccer is a game that brings the passionate warrior out in each player and fan. Sure there have been situations where this passion has gotten carried away but for the most part I love the respect the players have for each other and the game. As I walked through the airport today there was a game on. Perfect strangers were being bound together as they watched the men play. Passers by would ask for the score. A real bonding around the games.

I wonder if there is a way to take this connection beyond a soccer tournament. How can we find common ground on a daily basis? How can we make that connection in all aspects of our lives and build authentic community? What is it that draws us together so powerfully around this event? These are the questions I am pondering, I’d love to hear what you think!

Please feel free to post a comment here, facebook or send me a tweet on twitter!

Peace,
Toby

I am so grateful for all the people who responded to me about great places to live. I just returned from Green Bay and I must say, the Friday Fish Fry, the Butter Burgers and the Cheese Curds almost made me a resident. Not to mention the amazing hospitality I experienced there.

Here is a photo of an historic moment in the life of Toby… my first Cheese Curd!

The update is that I will be staying in Park City for a while longer. Seems that the banks have changed the way they qualify folks so to get what I want I’ll have to wait a little while longer!! So if you ski Deer Valley, you’ll see me there for another season. I’m looking forward to the Holiday Season and the New Year!!

Blessings to all,

Toby