There is so much pain in the First Nations Community. Addictions, trauma, and soul level hurting are so prevalent in their lives. The pain from the past still haunts them today. Where can healing even begin? On Wednesday November 16th, I was asked to facilitate a group of First Nations who came together to drum for Wellness. It was incredible …
Letting Go of Shame
Once a month a local women’s shelter has a therapeutic drum circle. This program has been gaining momentum and appreciation from the women who live there, and on Monday October 17th we had the largest turnout yet! The women who have been attending monthly are so excited and cannot wait for the next circle. Some women have just moved in …
Alberta Aphasia Camp, Drumming For Wellness
On Sunday September 18th, 2016,The Department of Sciences and Disorders from the University of Alberta held a summer camp for people living with a brain injury and surviving and thriving with a condition known as Aphasia. They asked Circles of Rhythm to attend and facilitate a drumming session. In years past one of our affiliates from the Edmonton area had done …
Women’s Shelter, Drumming Making a Difference
For the last year Circles of Rhythm has been offering a therapeutic drumming program at a local women’s shelter. The women are not obligated to attend, so at times there are only two participants. Even when two women show up we carry on and have a lovely evening. The circle in July was special because we had five women attend, …
Drumming with the First Nations
On June 15th and 16th I was asked to facilitate two drumming sessions for First Nations. The first circle was for all women and the second circle was for all men. The first day arrived and the women gathered to drum. There was apprehension at first but as the circle progressed the women became empowered and joyful. After each round …
Teacher’s Drumming For Wellness
Teachers and staff came together at their Professional Development day with a drum circle. Many of them had no idea what to expect when they came into it. How could drumming be a way to Wellness? Also how could drumming be an effective way to demonstrate a sense of team? As the time progressed the answers started to become …
What makes a successful Drum Circle?
I run a regular drumming program for adults with disabilities and have had some of the participants coming regularly for over a year. Yesterday (April 11th) we had our first of a nine week session and I asked the group to tell me some of the reasons why they like the drum circle. Many great answers came up, one lady …
Why do you drum? Reflections on a Rhythm Lodge
Why do you drum?? Most people do not have and answer to that question as it is their first time drumming let alone in a circle of people! At the end of a drum circle my hope is that they have an answer to the question, and they decide to return to a drum circle again. The answers can …
Culture and Drumming
I had the honor of drumming with some Japanese students on their visit to Canada. Twelve drum circles over the course of three days. Intense! Each group was a class of 25 students all learning the English language. They were visiting Canada and came out to Canmore area to spend time in the Canadian Rockies. They spent one of their …
Eight Drum Circles, Five days
Written by, Jamie Gore What an amazing life this is, to be able to bring people together with a drum circle! Each group I get to work with is SO different, there are so many reasons to drum together! Here is a snapshot of the last week for me: Drum circle one: A daughter and her father and mother have …