February 2004

Dear Drummers,

In the Celtic wheel of the year we are at one of the eight spokes of the wheel: Imbolc (Pronounced "IM-olk"). In Celtic tradition, Imbolc (or Candlemas) celebrates midwinter and the return of the sun. Actually this is one of the areas of "tradition" that I part with. In the British Isles, where the tradition was born, early February really is the time when the first signs of spring show themselves-particularly sheep beginning to produce milk. I don't think this connects strongly to our landscape, where spring is still a good distance off. We remain in the depths of winter; we are not yet at the point of "early spring."

Imbolc welcomes the return of the sun, and is particularly associated with the goddess Brigit (or Bridget, or St. Bridget in the Christian tradition, or Bride in the Scottish tradition). Imbolc is the one Celtic festival that is rather reserved and calm. In tradition, it is a festival that is celebrated mostly by women, a bit in secret. They make small dolls of Brigit and they feed the goddess with candlelight and foods, asking for her blessing. Brigit is often called the goddess of healing, smith craft and poetry. I like to think of her as the "one who warms." I think of her as the warming that is at the very foundation of healing, working with iron, or creative inspiration. She is honored at this time of year because we are getting that first faint hint of the sun warming the earth, inspiring it to awaken and begin another growing season. So maybe Brigit could be called "the one who comes to awaken us" or " the one who comes with a candle to tell the seeds to wake up" or "the one who breathes the kiss of dawn into the half-open, yearning mouths of the sleepers who are calling out in their dreams to be kissed by dawn."

Regardless of how close we are to actual springtime, this is a good time of year to honor this goddess who brings so much to us, and who is one of the very few deities that can be traced across Celtic cultures. In many ways Brigit can be thought of as a mother goddess, an overarching spiritual energy present at the root of all things that move from lifelessness to life to sprouting to dancing to singing to kissing to drumming....

In the Christian world, Bridget is celebrated as the midwife to Christ-so here again you have the image of the force that helps to bring the warmth into the world.

This Friday's drum will involve our usual "Hour 1" where we co-create wild grooves that spin and satisfy us, and meditative rhythms that open and calm us. After a short break with tea, cookies and conversation, those who wish can reassemble for "Hour 2." That hour will consist of a simple, but I think very powerful, ceremony of gratitude to the spiritual force that brings warming to us in so many ways.

In all of our sessions together you are free to participate on any level that you wish. As I see it, there are three essential ways to approach this kind of work:

1) The theatrical way: This is interesting and fun, but I don't "believe" any of it. The imagery and poetry are beautiful as artistic expression. I like being with others, and I like doing something spiritual, but faith is not an important aspect in this experience for me.
2) The psychological way: All religious images are psychological. We create god in our mind-there is no God outside the human psyche. Religious imagery and ceremony are valuable in that they speak to the imagination, and in that way, prayer can be effective because it releases tension, and creates a meditative place whereby I may gain insight into my life.

3) The spiritual way: There is a force-or forces, or beings-in nature and beyond nature that responds to our calls for help and our yearning for wisdom and prayers. Ritual-with focused intention and open sincerity-is the way we communicate with the Holy Spirit and seek its active response in our life.

I emphasize that none of these ways is better, higher, deeper, harder, or more complex or worthwhile than any other way. I offer the description of ways to approach this work only to help you make sense of what I am doing.

See you on Friday!
Jaime