Last night I had the opportunity to host an incredible event that brought together friends old and new. With the divine energy of Miss Sylvia Nibley facilitating these Full Moon Celebrations here in SLC for the last 8 years, there is a lot of beauty and love that comes into this space and people from all walks of life join together to celebrate the cycle of the moon.
For me, drumming calls to my soul and wakes me up anew every time I’m in the presence of the pounding rhythms that call me to move. When Sylvia put out a call to hostesses a few months ago, I proposed the idea of our own drum circle because, for me, that is one of the highest practices of ritual for me. She was all for it and thus the plan began building.
Over a decade ago, before The Towers fell, I first stepped into the space that would eventually become MY door to God – Liberty Park and the Drum Circle. The drums called me into myself and into movement and, in time, into spiritual connection with the Divine in a way unlike anything I had experienced before – even in church. I opened up and transformed there in the Circle and I wanted to share that experience on a grander scale. I remember the Drum Circle after 9/11/2001… it was a somber experience, but yet, at the same time, we dancers and drummers came together to celebrate and build a love energy that was beautiful and fluid and floated out through the air to those hurting across our nation. It seemed apropos to me that on the eve of 9/11 this year, the 10th year of remembrance of the event, that I chose to create an event that mirrored my sacred experience 10 years ago.
And, even more divine… when Sylvia told me the date, I didn’t really put together a couple of very significant things:
- The date: 9-10-11 was significant in and of itself
- It was the eve of 9/11
- It was the eve of 9/11 on the 10th anniversary of the event
- The significance of the event would call into the space the energy of love so profoundly because, at this time specifically, THAT is what our country needed.
Feeling so grateful that my best friend, Kaz Speirs, is a Master Drummaker who not only carves and builds the most exquisite drums, but is also a Master Drummer who can carry the rhythm of any space and lead drummers of all abilities, I invited him to join me in creating the event. When he agreed to lead the drummers out for this celebration, I knew that I was manifesting a Circle of magnificent energetic proportions.
I am so grateful for the experience of last night. I found myself with tears in my eyes or rolling down my face at various times as Love filled the space and vibrated out into the Universe. Everywhere I looked, people were moving and smiling. The drummers were tireless and drummed for 2 1/2 hours straight, keeping the dancers elevated and moving. There were sparkles, coins, sequins and bangles glittering everywhere I looked; wraps, scarfs and fabric floating on the air; feet pounding, arms weaving, hips shaking and heads swaying; there was any form of dancing you could imagine from belly to ecstatic to remedy wave to shakers to Capoeira to modern to just-be-with-the-rhythms-and-allow-them-to-move-you.
I feel so rich today and am excited to share with you just a few images and a short video from the experience last night. Thank you to those that joined us and added your energy. Thank you to those who were there in spirit. And thank you, God, for the inspiration to create this event. I feel so grateful…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8z7FP59g_c]
