“We are the miracles we are searching for,” says Afia Walking Tree. Women rediscover their ancient birthright that traces women as the earliest known shamans whose religions revolved around the beating of the drum.
Afia Walking Tree and Drum Amazonz take a stand, utilizing mastery and miracles of the drumz saving our planet with poignant percussive dexterity…riveting drumbeats… vocal invocations…ancient stories… heart opening messages of love! Walking Tree’s fervent passion is felt in her musical dexterity. Her drum songs, invocations of joy, love, and liberation, are held with riveting drum vibrations. Drum Amazonz Dance is the unfolding of miracles of liberation through women’s drumming.
SkinSongs: Women on the Drum
Sat., Oct. 27 8pm and Sun., Oct 28 at 2 and 6 pm
Dance Mission Theater 3316 24th Street, San Francisco CA 94110
Dance Brigade presents 3 shows with women drummers representing different musical cultures of the world. The number of women redefining percussion traditions and drumming for art, spirituality and healing grows every year, especially in the Bay Area, as more women are rediscover their ancient birthright that traces women as the earliest known shamans whose religions revolved around the beating of the drum. This showcase of local talent will inspire, delight and invigorate. There will be a Healing Circle with Vicki Noble after Sunday evening show. For complete program information please see www.dancemission.com
Afia Walking Tree and Drum Amazonz take a stand, utilizing mastery and miracles of the drumz saving our planet with poignant percussive dexterity…riveting drumbeats… vocal invocations…ancient stories… heart opening messages of love! Rooted in a core belief that we are the miracles we are searching for, Afia Walking Tree is joined by talented Drum Amazonz: Querido Galdo, Larissa Montfort, Shawn Nealy, Mar Stevens, and Jeni Swerdlow. Walking Tree’s fervent passion is felt in her musical dexterity and ability as a performer and facilitator to inspire all she encounters. Her drum songs, invocations of joy, love, and liberation, are held with riveting drum vibrations. Strands of Afro-Caribbean, Cuba, West African, Jazz, Hip Hop, R&B genres are only the beginning of what constitutes Walking Tree’s contemporary sound; giving this world-class percussionist-songwriter-performer-visionary an evolutionary edge that is magical and fiercely innovative. Jamaican born and raised, Afia Walking founded Spirit Drumz in 1996, a non-profit organization and institute for leadership and drumming. Drum Amazonz Dance is the unfolding of miracles of liberation through women’s drumming.
“During the 1988 drought, white farmers in Ohio asked (Leonard) Crow Dog
to perform a rain ceremony for them. He did, and the rain came down."
Lakota Woman, Mary Crow Dog, Epilogue
“It’s so hot and dry; everything is dying,” complained my neighbor before downing the last drop of water from her bottle. Arizona’s high desert country lay parched and cracked. Plants bowed limp under scorching days and bone-dry nights. Residents worked outdoors in early hours only, while evergreen trees released needles in a last ditch effort to conserve moisture. Everyone agonized over the prolonged drought.
Traditionally, Southwestern tribes invoke nature’s blessing through ceremony. What if the cure for drought, I wonder, is simply honoring weather spirits? So, rather than focusing on complaints, I found myself organizing a Pray-for-Rain Ritual.
I placed an ad in the local newspaper: Pray-for-Rain Ceremony, Thursday 7 pm. Airport Mesa. Did I cover all the bases for an event: date, time, place, intention and publicity? That following Thursday, nine people gathered.
To set a sacred space on Airport Mesa, we sprinkled cornmeal in a ceremonial circle, a practice gleaned from Native Americans. We positioned aquatic objects—a puppet whale, a ceramic alligator, a bronze otter and a stuffed toy dolphin—one at each of the four, main directions—North, South, East, West. In the circle’s center we placed shells, pearls, coral, and pictures of marine mammals—anything that conjured a connection with water. Finally, we burned sage in an abalone shell as each participant invited the smoke to purify all thoughts, feelings and actions.
I initiated the plea by addressing each of seven directions— North, South, East, West, The Great Above, The Great Below and The Great Within. “We call to the Great Guardian Spirits of the North, the Grandmothers and Grandfathers of midnight, mystery, winter and the great bear. We give thanks and appreciation for your work in the world and your presence in our lives . . .”
After that, each person invoked names of “moisture spirits.” Neptune, Roman sea god, come forth. Sedna, Inuit mother goddess of all ocean creatures, be with us. Maui, Polynesian god of the oceans, join us, please. Over and over the group chanted: “Moisture Spirits Return.” We shuffled and twirled around the circle, padding, so that our feet sounded like rain hitting the ground. We sprinkled water from a large sea shell and chanted the mystical words: “O-shoo-wa, O-shoo-wa! Moisture Spirits Return.”
Although the sky remained blue and the air hot, dusty and laden with pollen, we felt uplifted. In acknowledging the weather-spirits, something had changed, a shift in the atmosphere, if only in our attitude.
“Try taking zigzag steps,” someone suggested. “That’s the Native American symbol for
“Moisture Spirits, we bless you. Moisture Spirits, come forth. Pour Forth! Be fruitful and multiply.” We zigzagged around the circle. An atheist drummed. A Catholic prayed. Two pagans sang. Three evangelical Christians praised while a curious agnostic looked on. “Water Spirits, come forth. Pour forth! We love you, Moisture. We appreciate you, Rain.”
At sunset, a cool breeze softened the evening sky as a few wisps of clouds gathered. We continued to dance, drum, chant and praise. We continued to invoke Thunder Beings, Rain Makers, Moisture Spirits, Lightning Launchers and Cloud Makers
“Did you feel that?”
“A rain drop?”
“I felt one!” It started to sprinkle. Together in awe, we turned our faces skyward toward gathering gray clouds. Water droplets fell on our hands, faces and on the ground.
“Blessed be the Rain Makers!” Someone shouted.
“Blessed be the Moisture Spirits!” Others chimed in.
Suddenly, everyone was dancing, shouting and cheering with shared exhilaration while cool drops of moisture kissed our faces. The sky darkened. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed and the rains poured down. Hallelujah!
“Thank you, Moisture Spirits!”
“Thank you, Rain Makers!”
That night I learned where two or more are gathered, in a shared sacred intent, Spirit joins in and answers our prayers.
For further information on influencing the weather,
look for Rainmaker's Prayers Anthology, Shinan Barclay, editor
forthcoming on amazon.com
