Respecting the circle!HAPPYDRUM@aol.comFri, 12 Jan 1996 14:24:24 -0500
their opinion regarding "respecting the drum circle." At our weekly Wednesday night drum jam (Dallas' mega gathering of drummers & dancers), we have imposed certain 'drum etiquette rules' within the circle. We ban alcohol, tobacco smoking and inappropriate behavior within the circle. Before the ban, the dancers were upset that the smoke had an adverse effect on their dancing and their breathing. Several drummers (me included) didn't like the negative and erratic energy that was present from the alcohol. It seems that alcohol interrupts the good spirit of the drum and intensifies the evil spirits. In "The Healing Drum", Yaya Diallo, makes this reference. So we banned the alcohol and tobacco and what we received was an incredible, and fantastic circle that was in harmony. The dancers commented that this was the best circle ever! Our Wednesday night jam is over 2 yrs young. Yaya also references the complex Minianka social life regarding disturbed individuals. Since the Minianka regard their musicians as having the necessary skills of intelligence, memory, observation, and social interaction should not we have the same regard? So, since alcohol has an adverse effect on the healing circle, what about cannabis? Should cannabis be allowed in the circle? When an individual, under the influence of cannabis, drums in an obnoxious manner, creating negative energy and having an adverse effect on the whole, what is to be done? Is it appropriate to ask that individual to step out of the circle? And how does our Western culture meld with the African culture?
Happy drumming, ya'll,
Peace,
Happy
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