October 2002

Dear Drummers,

I want to describe in advance my plans for Friday’s drum.

“Hour 1” will be the same—pure unadulterated drum fun. I may have a couple of new instruments for us to play with.

“Hour 2” will honor this time of year, as the sun wanes and the dark and cold approaches. I will tell a story about the Cailleach—the mythical Scottish figure—the hag—who comes at this time of year. Cailleach is Gaelic for “Old One” or “The Veiled One.” In central Europe, a similar figure is sometimes called “the Old Bone Mother”—the one who comes to collect the dead and transport them to the next world to begin their regeneration into a next life. In Scandinavia, she may be connected with one of the three goddesses of fate (The Norns). A more general way to conceive of this figure is as one of the “mothers” or an aspect of the great mother. Or as the pruning aspect of the Holy Spirit.

(If none of this mythical mumbo-jumbo means anything to you, please don’t worry. I’m just trying to provide context here at all levels!)

Many cultures have this underworld, dark, hag goddess, whose primary function is to facilitate transformation from one state of being to the next. The Cailleach comes to take things away. Or another way to put it: she comes to take that which no longer belongs. Or: she comes to take that which cannot be sustained. Or: she comes to take that which prohibits the life force. This is typically her time of year.

The focus of “Hour 2” then will be for each participant to come into the presence of the Cailleach. We will set an atmosphere whereby that presence may be invited in. Like everything I do, this may appeal to you in some ways and not others. Some of you may enjoy the theatricality. Some may enjoy the psychological or poetic aspects. Some may enjoy the spiritual aspects. I hope you will feel free to choose your comfort level from the options below. I never want to force an experience on anyone, but I want to offer those who seek it a chance to go deeply into an experience that combines the drum with prayer and visioning.

Options:

1) Participate as a drummer only—supporting the experience of others (a very important job).

2) Ask yourself “what do I need/want to have taken from me?” Your participation will be an act of transformation that you want to activate—a little like making a new year’s resolution, but in a more imaginal and ritual environment.

3) Don’t decide for yourself what you want or need to be taken, but leave it up to the Cailleach.

I’ll explain on Friday how you would go about doing each of these. I encourage you to pick the option that feels right, and to spend a little time thinking about between now and then.

See you on Friday!

Jaime

© 2002 Jaime Meyer

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