More Drumming!

[mattlistener]

So, I've started another drum class! Wednesdays at 7pm with Drum Connection.

There's two classes meeting at that time, Advanced Beginner and Intermediate. For the last 10 minutes we joined the Intermediates and had a great ol' jam. Alan (the alpha drummer) started us off with the first part of a rhythm we all knew, and then folks would branch off, either into the other canonical parts for that rhythm, or jamming along with Alan. I'm not good enough to jam yet, but I'm listening and playing very well, switching parts to reinforce whichever needs it at the time.

I found myself feeling very impatient with the Advanced Beginner class. Many other students still have no clear difference between their tones and slaps, and the teacher was spending a lot of time on that and explaining basic rhythms that I've learned at least well enough to get right in and play them. I kept watching the clock to know how long it'd be until we merged with the other class at the end, where I'd decided I'd tell Alan that I'd like to join the Intermediates. His response when the time came, "Sure, I'll take care of it." Yay! Now I'm **really** looking forward to drum classes.

In a few weeks Brandi and I are headed back to the Berkshires for Twilight Covening. I picked Salamander clan as my first choice. (Remember my entries about fire circles from earlier this year?)

Salamanders are fire; they dwell within the fire, a fire that is constantly changing and moving. If you love the fire, join us to deepen your relationship with fire beings and take your experience of fire circles to the next level. We will work, all drummers and all dancers, to dance the fire's dance, becoming a salamander through gazing, dancing, mirroring, camaying and inhaling the fire deep into our souls, becoming one with fire. No drumming or dancing experience required.

Twyla Reardon Arthen and Arana, leaders

Drummin' Matt...

Comments

[laurens10.livejournal.com]

What does it mean that you picked Salamander Clan? Does that mean that you live/hang out with them? Does that mean you become part of their group?

Is one required to pick a clan? :-)

Twilight Covening Clans

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

Everyone going to Twilight Covening picks a clan to work with. At Twilight Covening most of one's time is spent with one's clan learning and practicing some facet of spirituality. A couple clans also bunk together as part of the work (eg dreams). Meals and large evening rituals are done with the whole community.

Clans exist just for the duration of the event. Me picking Salamander clan means that I and a bunch of other people (all probably doing it for the first time) will create it when we get there. The only folks not part of a clan are the Staff not leading clans themselves.

Also worth noting is that there's no overarching Way or Religion being taught here. In the Pagan community peoples' individual spiritual paths are of primary importance. If some day I wanted to lead a clan they would check out that I was competent to teach what I was teaching and that it would meet an interest in the community -- I wouldn't also have to show that I had the right beliefs or followed the right doctrine.

Glad for your questions! :-) Check out the clan list if you want an idea of what goes on.

Re: Twilight Covening Clans

[istemi.livejournal.com]

One thing that impresses me about Earthspirit is how nondenominational their events are. I don't ever recall hearing any reference to deity beyond "Spirit". I'm basically agnostic, and I have rarely felt like I had to put on my polite I'm Visting Someone Else's Church face.

Not only that, but they're nondenominational and still substantive.