drumbeat of the rainbow fire

8/11/2019 Drumbeat of the Rainbow Fire

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Drumbeat of the Rainbow Fire

by Michael Drake

The drum has been the guiding force in my life for many years. My journey intorhythm began under the tutelage of Mongolian shaman Jade Wah'oo. Jade's ancient

knowledge of drumming and healing rhythms was most influential in putting togethermy first book, The hamanic Drum! " #uide to acred Drumming. $ had a deep

respect for the power of the ceremonial rhythms and drum ways of Jade's tradition,but $ had to follow my own path of rhythm.

Though Jade was my mentor, the drum became my teacher and creati%e addiction. $de%eloped an insatiable thirst for its rhythms. $ became a rhythm seeker, learning

new rhythms from other drummers, from nature, and from dreams and %isions. $e&plored the rhythms of many of the world's shamanic and spiritual traditions. $t was

only natural, at least from my perspecti%e, that rhythm, as a path, would lead me tothe rhythmic roots of all cultures.

"s $ learned the drum ways of %arious world cultures, $ found the same rhythmicualities underlying all of them. (ike the colors of the rainbow, each culture has its

own hue or identity, yet each is a part of the whole. "lthough the focus or intentdiffers from culture to culture, rhythmic drumming in%ariably has the same power

and effects in all traditions. The resonant ualities and attributes of these rhythmicphenomena are uni%ersal and come into play whene%er we drum.

The sound wa%es produced by the drum impart their energy to the resonatingsystems of the body, mind, and spirit, making them %ibrate in sympathy. When we

drum, our li%ing flesh, brainwa%es, and spiritual energy centers begin to %ibrate in

response. This sympathetic resonance lea%es re%erberating effects up to )* hoursafter a drum session. These powerful effects can best be described in terms of their

influence on the subtle energy centers known as chakras.

The Seven Chakras

The spiritual traditions of the +opi, herokee, Tibetan, +indu, and other cultures

teach us that there are %ibratory centers within the human body. "ll describespinning wheels of energy called chakras, lying along the spine. There are se%en

major chakras situated along the %ertical spinal a&is from the genital region to thecrown of the head. They %ary in si-e, depending on their le%el of acti%ity. When

highly acti%e and energi-ed, they can e&pand to the si-e of a small plate. They canshrink to the si-e of a penny when closed or shut down. When in balance, they are

about the si-e of a sil%er dollar. ach %orte& of energy is associated with a specificcolor of the rainbow, distinct parts of the body, and with particular functions of

consciousness. hakras function much like electrical junction bo&es, mediatingspiritual energy throughout the entire mind/body system. They are the interface

among the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of one's being. $mbalances in

chakras lead to imbalances in body, mind, and spirit. Drumming creates a %ibratoryresonance that acti%ates, balances, and aligns the chakra system.

The Base Chakra
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The first or base chakra is red in color. $t is located at the base of the spine and isassociated with issues of basic health and sur%i%al. $t is related to the anus and the

adrenal glands. 0esonating the base chakra grounds the spiritual forces in the bodyto the arth and the physical realm of reality. When poorly grounded, your spatial

understanding is impaired. 1ou may stumble around physically, mentally, spiritually,and emotionally. #rounding enhances your ability to function effecti%ely on a day/to/

day basis. Drumming also maintains a grounding arth connection for those seekingaltered states of consciousness or alternate realities. 2ne of the parado&es ofrhythmic stimulation is that it has not only the power to mo%e your awareness out of

the confines of the conceptual mind into realms beyond time and space but also the

capacity to ground you firmly in the present moment. $t allows you to maintain aportion of ordinary awareness while e&periencing non/ordinary awareness. This

permits full recall later of the %isionary e&perience. The base chakra is also known asa storehouse for a fiery energy that, if awakened, rises up the spine, illuminating all

the chakras. $n the +indu tradition, this dormant energy is known as the 3kundalini3or 3serpent fire.3 This spiritual flame within can be rekindled by drumming, thereby

igniting the 0ainbow 4ire of a fully acti%ated chakra system. With the rising of thekundalini and the acti%ation of succeeding chakras, an indi%idual becomes more

highly conscious and spiritually transformed.

The Sacral Chakra

The second or sacral chakra is orange and is located just below the na%el in theabdominal area. This chakra affects the se&ual organs. The functions associated with

this center are emotion, %itality, fertility, reproduction, and se&ual energy in general.(ikewise, any problems in these functions can be identified and resol%ed through this

chakra. The physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the sacral chakra remo%es

any blockages that may hamper these functions. Drumming is an e&cellent way ofkeeping your se&ual and creati%e energy %itali-ed, a great help in channeling energy

into your work and e%eryday life.

The Navel Chakra

The third chakra is located just abo%e the na%el in the solar ple&us and is related to

the digesti%e organs. 1ellow in color, it is the seat of the will/your power center. $tsenergy e&presses personal power, which is called hiimori 5windhorse6 in the

Mongolian tradition. $t is associated with action, assertion, empowerment, and egomastery. $t is the area where chi or life force is stored. Malfunctions in the na%el

chakra may lea%e you feeling tired, powerless, and withdrawn. hamans tend tobelie%e that this is a %ery important chakra since the accumulation and maintenance

of power are fundamental to shamanic practice. Many shamanic cultures place greatemphasis on drumming, for the drum unites masculine and feminine energies,

generating the force that wea%es the web of life. Drumming culti%ates life force

energy in the lower energy centers of the body, which is then stored in the area ofthe solar ple&us. This energy can then be directed back to the higher chakras ortoward healing and creati%e endea%ors.

The Heart Chakra

The fourth %ibratory center is the heart chakra and is located in the center of the

chest between the two nipples. #reen in color, it influences the heart and isassociated with lo%e, compassion, and affection. This chakra forms a bridge, linking


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the upper three chakras to the lower three. Drumming acti%ates the heart chakra,thereby balancing the descending higher chakra energies against the ascending

lower chakra freuencies. 4rom the heart, these harmonious energies resonateoutward into the web of life. 0esearchers ha%e found that drum rhythms affect the

heartbeat. The heart's pulse may speed up, slow down, or gradually entrain with thepulsation of a drum rhythm until they are locked in perfect synchroni-ation. $n fact,

many shamanic cultures use a healing heartbeat rhythm pulsed at around si&ty beatsper minute, which is the a%erage heart rate of a person at rest. The heartbeat is oneof the reasons that people so strongly and naturally connect to the drum. ach of us,

after all, enters the world, ha%ing spent nine months listening to a heart/drum in the

womb. We are imprinted with rhythm from the %ery start, and rhythm is theheartbeat of life. hamans around the world belie%e that the drum is coming into

power again to awaken our hearts, for we must now learn to li%e from the heart. Weha%e been li%ing from the na%el center, using our ego and will power for mastery,

control, and conuest. $f we focus on the heart center, we can hear di%ine will. 2uractions then spring from di%ine will rather than the ego. To li%e from the heart means

to walk the 3rainbow path,3 to walk in balance like the colors of the rainbow, torespect all pathways to wholeness. The rainbow symboli-es unity, wholeness, and

balance. Mongolian shamans belie%e that this balance, called tegsh, is the only thing

that is truly worth pursuing in this world. When humans lose it, they createimbalance within the web of life. $t then reuires the unity of all colors, all cultures,working together to bring the web back into balance.

The Throat Chakra

The fifth energy center is blue and is located at the base of the neck in the nook

where the cla%icle bones meet. 7nown as the throat chakra, it is associated with the

%ocal cords and the thyroid gland. $t is the chakra of communication, telepathy, andcreati%e e&pression. 8ne&pressed emotions tend to constrict this energy center.

Drumming acti%ates the throat chakra, greatly enhancing self/e&pression, creati%ity,

and telepathic communication with others. More importantly, drumming opens your

ability to hear and recogni-e the truth of your inner %oice. 1our inner truth is yoursense of what is correct/your innate tendencies and inclinations. $n e%ery situation,we should be humble, open, and recepti%e, suspending all pre%ious judgments in

order to grasp the inner truth of the matter. $f we rely on the truth of our inner %oiceto guide us, our actions will be in accord with the times.

The Brow Chakra

The si&th chakra is that of the brow, third eye, or place of 3shamanic seeing.3

(ocated between and slightly abo%e the eyebrows, it is indigo in color. This energycenter is closely associated with imagination, inner %ision, and psychic abilities. $t is

related to the pituitary gland. $t functions as a link between the inner world and the

outer world. Malfunctions of the brow chakra commonly manifest as headaches andeye tension. 0esonating this chakra remedies any problems in function and opens thedoor to a reality separate from the ordinary world. 0hythmic drumming enables us to

percei%e and journey into the inner realms that shape and direct our reality. 9ast

worlds of e&traordinary richness and comple&ity emerge when the brow chakra isacti%ated. "rchetypal figures symboli-ing transpersonal and spiritual ualities arise,

such as images of deities, spirit guides, or power animals.

The Crown Chakra


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The se%enth or crown chakra is located at the top of the head. The +opi call thisenergy center kopa%i, meaning 3the open door3 through which higher spiritual

knowledge is recei%ed. The crown chakra is associated with the pineal gland, thecolor %iolet, full enlightenment, and union with the cosmos. Drumming acti%ates this

chakra, thereby facilitating a state of unity consciousness. 2ne's sense of being aseparate indi%idual gi%es way to an e&perience of union, not only with other

indi%iduals, but also with the entire uni%erse. The benefits of attaining this state ofunity consciousness include rela&ation, healing, more energy, better memory, greatermental clarity, enhanced creati%ity, and communion with the resonating web of life.

4eelings of peacefulness, timelessness, and spiritual well/being are common, along

with a oneness of feeling and purpose with the totality of a dynamic, interrelateduni%erse. This e&perience of mystical union with the cosmos is said, by many of the

world's spiritual traditions, to be the final reali-ation. onsciousness redisco%ers itstrue nature and recogni-es itself in all things. Drumming is a simple and effecti%e

way to induce this profound state of consciousness.

Resonating the Chakras

$f we focus our attention on the indi%idual chakras while drumming, we cane&perience each energy center becoming acti%e, balanced, and aligned with the other

chakras. The basic steps are as follows!

1. 4irst, select a location where you will not be interrupted. $t must be a uietspace, at least for the duration of the e&ercise. "llow yourself fifteen to thirty

minutes for this e&ercise. $t is best to dim the lights and sit comfortably in achair or on the floor, keeping your spine straight.

2. :e&t, you should smudge the space and yourself with the smoke of an herb.

mudging cleanses the mind and en%ironment in preparation for spiritual orinner work. The sacred smoke dispels any stagnant or unwanted energy,

opens the energy channels of your body, and raises your personal power or

windhorse. "ccording to Mongolian shamanism, windhorse can be increased

through smudging, drumming, and other forms of shamanic practice in orderto accomplish significant aims. age, cedar, and sweetgrass are traditionally

used for smudging, but any dried herb is acceptable. (ight the herbs in a fire/resistant receptacle and then blow out the flames. Then use a feather or your

hands to draw the smoke o%er your heart, throat, and face to purify the body,mind, and spirit. :e&t, smudge your drum by passing it through the smoke.

onclude the smudging by thanking the plant whose body made the cleansingpossible.

3. The ne&t step is to calm and focus your mind by performing a simple

concentration e&ercise. lose your eyes and focus on the breath as it entersthe nose and fills your lungs, then gently e&hale any tension you might feel.

ontinue breathing with a series of e%en inhalations and e&halations until you

are calm and rela&ed.4. 2nce you are fully rela&ed, begin drumming the steady lub/dub, lub/dub of a

heartbeat rhythm pulsed at around ;< beats a minute 5or =< heartbeats perminute since one heartbeat euals two beats6. This slow pulse tempo has a

calming and centering effect. ustain this healing rhythm until the end of thee&ercise.

5. lose your eyes and focus your attention on the physical location of each

chakra, one at a time, beginning with the first one at the base of the spine.9isuali-e a red disc of light, about the si-e of a sil%er dollar, at the base of


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your spine. $magine this energy center pulsating in sync with the heartbeat ofyour drum. 4eel the sound of the drum %ibrating at the base of your spine. "s

the sound resonates this area, e&perience the base chakra awakening,balancing, and aligning with the other chakras. +old your attention on this

chakra for a minute or two, and then allow the image to fade.6. Mo%e up to the second chakra and repeat the same focus and imagery. $t is

located about two inches below the na%el and is orange in color.7. Mo%e up to the area abo%e the na%el in your solar ple&us and focus on the

third chakra, which is yellow in color.8. Mo%e up to the center of the chest between the two nipples and focus on your

heart chakra, which is green in color.

9. Mo%e up to the cleft in your throat and focus on the throat chakra, which is

blue in color.10. Mo%e up to the area between and slightly abo%e the eyebrows and focus on

your brow chakra, which is indigo in color.11. Mo%e up to the top of your head and focus on the crown chakra, which is

%iolet in color.12. nd the e&ercise with four strong beats.

"t the completion of this e&ercise, sit uietly for se%eral minutes. ense the rush of

sensory input pre%iously blocked out by the sound of the drum. >athe in the soothingafterglow of physical and spiritual well/being. Take adeuate time to process the

e&perience. 1ou may feel %ery spacey and lightheaded. Mo%ing energy up the bodyfrom the base chakra to the crown chakra is %ery powerful. $f you would like to

ground the energy back down into your body, close your eyes and focus for a fewmoments on the base chakra. 9isuali-e roots e&tending downward from the base

chakra deep into the arth. When you feel grounded, open your eyes and jot down

your e&periences in a journal.

The Rainbow Fire

The 0ainbow 4ire symboli-es illuminated mind, clarity of all aspects of consciousness.Metaphorically, it describes the aura of iridescent light that radiates from a fullyacti%ated chakra system. This prismatic illumination within allows us to fully integrate

the wisdom of all se%en centers of consciousness. $t clears the mind of illusions andobstructions, transforming thought patterns of confusion to re%eal inherent clear

mind. The fire of clear mind is e%er present within each of us, and to remo%e anyobstruction of its clarity is the duty of all people, so that each may find the way to

unity and harmony. Drumming is one way that we can culti%ate the fire of clearmind. The drum's beat ignites the 0ainbow 4ire within, illuminating the path and

showing us the way. With clarity of mind, we can readily percei%e what aims are inaccord with the cosmos, not wasting energy on discordant pursuits. Through the

insight and understanding of illuminated mind, we can bring enlightenment to the

world?

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drumbeat of the rainbow fire

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