VOICE OF THE DRUM

VOICE OF THE DRUM Wednesday Wisdom August 17, 7 PM Drum Circle with Gene & Joyce

Bring your drums and let them speak.  Center for Spiritual Living Capistrano Valley 1201 Puerta Del Sol Suite 100 San Clemente, California 92673. Children are welcome.

The Abenaki People and the Legend of the Drum

It is said that when Creator was preparing a place for the Spirits to dwell on Mother Earth, a loud BOOM was heard in the distance. As Creator listened, the sound came ever closer until it was present right in front of Creator. Creator asked – “who are you?” “I am the Spirit of the Drum”, came the reply. Creator asked of the Spirit of the Drum, “What is it you want?” The Spirit of the Drum spoke to Creator, saying “I would like to be a part of this wonderful thing you are creating.”

After a moment of thought, Creator asked , “And what part will you play, Spirit of the Drum?” “I would like to accompany the voices of the People” replied Spirit of the Drum. “When they sing from their hearts, I will sing too, as if I am the heartbeat of Mother Earth. Then all will sing in harmony.”

Creator granted the request of Spirit of the Drum and from that point on, the drum has accompanied the voices of the People. The Abenaki People

“Since the drum is often the only instrument used in our sacred rites, It is because the round form of the drum represents the whole universe, and its steady strong beat is the pulse, the heart, throbbing at the center of the universe. It is the voice of Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit), and this sound stirs us and helps us to understand the mystery and power of all things.” Black Elk

                                                        

Drums by Native Arts

 

Nature in Balance

“Fill the earth with your songs of gratitude.” Charles Spurgeon

This past autumn, a group of volunteers came together to plant a teaching garden for the girls and boys at the Oso Lake Camp. This garden is filled with drought resistant plants which are native to California.  The plants provide good habitat for California quail, butterflies and other native birds and wildlife. All of these plants were used by the indigenous native California tribes for medicinal purposes. One of the plants, for example, is Eriogonum fasciculatum var. foliolosum, California Buckwheat.  It has flowers, leaves and seeds that are all used by butterflies and small birds. The buckwheats are very important butterfly plants and are one of the pillars of their communities. Another plant, Baccharis pilularis consanguinea, Coyote Brush, provides a place for Jays to plant acorns under the bushes.  Baccharis species are the nectary sources for most of the predatory wasps, native skippers (small butterflies) and native flies.  The Mexican elderberry or Tapiro,(Sambucus mexicana) is a deciduous shrub to tree with butter yellow flowers in April-August followed by purple berries in September-October.  If you look carefully as you pass an Elderberry you may see a hummingbird, butterfly, chipmunk, Jay, Thrasher, or other bird as it is an excellent wildlife plant.

Indigenous people everywhere hold the view that we are all part of the earth in which we are related to all things and each thing has its place and purpose in this living world. There is a natural order that creates life and balance to this ecosystem. When we support this natural system we live in harmony with all of our relations. Our purpose in planting this garden was to teach the younger generation the importance of habitat restoration to maintain the natural order of their local environment. Rather than just taking from the earth, we can make a choice to replenish, to revere, and to support growth of all living things. To choose otherwise contributes to imbalance and a future of greater uncertainty. 

While we planted we remembered that the soil cares for us as we care for the soil. As we felt the joy of cooperation and achievement through working together we realized that we are a natural part of the ecosystem that sustains life.

We would like to thank all those who participated in the project.

Gene and Joyce Stone

Divine Purpose

The purpose of life is to be free from suffering and to attain infinite bliss consciousness that is God. Mankind is engaged in an eternal quest for that “something else” he hopes will bring him happiness, complete and unending. Many people may doubt that finding God is the purpose of life; but everyone can accept the idea that the purpose of life is to find happiness. I say that God is Happiness. God is Bliss. God is Love. God is Joy that will never go away from your soul. No one else can give it to you. You must continuously cultivate it yourself.

If we are attuned to God, our perception is limitless, pervading everywhere in the oceanic flow of the Divine Presence. When the Spirit is known, and when we know ourselves as Spirit, there is no land or sea, no earth or sky--all is Spirit.  From the writings of Yogananda

THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE FIND AND MANIFEST IN OUR LIFE AND ACTIONS THIS DIVINE PURPOSE?

For me, being a human being, it has become quite simple. Divine Purpose is clarified and given with each breath I take. It is so simple, yet elusive, I breathe in Oneness, I breathe out Oneness! Knowing that all I am and all that I do comes from that Oneness, and for the good of all that Creator has created. Are my actions divine? Are yours? The answer is "Yes" always, our nature is to be Divine even when we may think we miss the mark. Take the Oneness of the Creator and the Creation with you as you Walk in Good in this the Circle of Life.

We all will find our path, each in our own way!

The understanding of this and the path it takes us down in this life is the perfection of Spirit in all of us. Those different paths of life and understanding is what completes the Circle for all of us. I trust your choices along the way.

We weave our personal vision together to form a common vision of good for ourselves and for our planet. Joining with all our relations, we can learn to walk peacefully upon Mother Earth, knowing that she provides for all living things. We are all part of the Earth and part of the Divine Purpose in this the CIRCLE OF LIFE.