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

This is my favorite song my World Unity CD. It is dedicated to the peace makers. So enjoy the sounds and think of ways you can bring more peace and harmony to the world! As a famous musician once said, Give Peace a chance!

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!

Well it’s been a while since I did an update. I feel sometimes like I am a super ball bouncing faster and faster between the walls of the world! Sorry of those who do not know what a super ball is. I am dating myself.

Just finished a great trip to the east coast and then on to Cincinnati. The Shamanic training courses are rocking and I am having a BLAST!

I have been hearing so much about the incident with James Arthur Ray I think it is an important issue to address. My heart goes out to those affected by it and the traditions that have become affected by it as well. Regardless of my destain for those who feel as though they know what is right for everybody and feel they have the answer for the world , I do not believe there was intent of harm in that sad incident. Only profound ignorance and irresponsibility. Having had the privilege of studying with many very powerful indigenous teachers I have learned one very important thing. NEVER GIVE YOUR POWER TO ANOTHER PERSON!! Some teachers, especially in the west feel as though they have the entitlement to be a guru. That they in some way know better than you what is your path. I have seen them come and go, I have seen them amass wealth and file for bankruptcy. Have great volumes of followers and then die alone a short time later. Please Please Please own your own power and keep yourself safe in any and all situations. The situation in Sedona was an unnecessary tragedy of overbearing power and egotistical manipulation. Please always trust your own heart and hold your own power!!

When in Park City Michael Franti did a great song where he brought the kids in the crowd up on stage. Here is his video of the song. I encourage you all to support Michael’s music!! He is an Extraordinary Peacemaker!

I had two days at home between Hawaii and Jamaica! I had some amazing things happen in those two days. One was, I got to see my friend Jillian ski in the World Cup competition at Deer Valley my home ski area (see her picture below). The other is I got to see my peace advocate hero Michael Franti live in concert!!!! 

What a thrill. From 80 degrees in Hawaii to 4 degrees in Park City!!! I was freezing my butt off. Then the music started and Michael had about 10,000 of us dancing like crazy on Main Street! He was freezing up on stage and kept playing!! What an amazing man.

The thing that really impressed me about Michael Franti is the fact that after he attended a yoga class at my friend Lisa’s studio, he stayed and had tea with her and gave her and her husband and friends free passes to his show in Salt Lake City. 

I have admired Michael for some time and now finally got to see him. My goal is to meet him and play the HealingDrum with him and his band to further support the cause of peace in the world!!

Here is a couple of my Park City buddies I ran into at the concert! Keili and Jillian. 

Here I am with my friends left to right, Jamie, Rich, Marilyn and yours truly 

While on Kauai I realized the vibration of peace was so strong that I had to do something to express it publicly and acknowledge the energy that was transforming me. So… after talking to my good friend, Danny Hashimoto, we began to collaborate with some wonderful people on the island to celebrate PEACE. I want to thank Danny, Isa Maria, +Elijah and all who participated in making this event so wonderful. Here is a video of one small part of the event. I’ll continue to post more as I wade through the film!! Many Blessings and Peace to you, Toby

Well I am back from the islands; my tan is fading, and its time to get back on the road. I have had such a blast here in Park City the month of August. I have been mountain biking everyday and enjoying the mountains. I have had the pleasure of working people from all over the world attending training with The Four Winds Society. Tanks to Linda Fitch, Karen, Jillian, and of course the new addition to the hHealingDrummer crew Corrina Rasmussen. I am so honored to share the power of healing and unity to such wonderful groups of people training to bring healing to the world. Here are a few shots from one of our events!

Here we have a group learning to enhance their drumming skills learning the 5 element rhythms. Many had never played a drum and left the event with great skill!! 

In this shot I am having a jam session with one of the seasoned drummers. We traded licks while the group healed the steady rhythm. Lots of fun.

In this photo the healing energy was strong and a man from Taiwan grabbed my hoop drum and we drummed for world peace!!! It is all about world unity, and we had people from all over the world at this event. 

Another very exciting event has been the privilege of working with recording artist Rich Wyman and his wife Lisa Needham. Rich has worked with some of the greatest musicians throughout Europe and here in the states has worked extensively with Eddie Van Halen.  Rich and Lisa are collaborating on Lisa’s first major CD and I have the honor of playing the role of engineer, drummer, percussionist and guitar player for the preliminary recording!!! What a blast!!!

this is Lisa and Rich working together on some background vocals. Above, Rich hammers out some key board tracks. Below Lisa, Rich and I lay it down live at a local club

As you can imagine, with all of this going on, sleep is a rare occurrence but I have been blessed to have some incredible support from some great healers and Portland Roasting Coffee Company. I’m going through a bit of java these days!!  My coffee cup reads, “You can sleep when you are dead!” I’m hoping it is true cause I’ll need it. I’ll be posting snippets of the new music on this blog so check back regularly. 

For those of you who have not purchased your copy of World Unity, the feedback from those who have been listening is GREAT!!! I am happy to say. I am working on a new word music CD for holiday so you will have something exciting and uplifting for holiday gifts. So start with World Unity and get ready for another creation end of November!

Live loud and with energetic intention! Enjoy the rhythm of life and spend a moment to be grateful for something you may take for granted.

Peace,

t