Fragrant Heart Blog

Late last year I began to learn how to drum. It’s taken me years to do it. I took some African dance lessons a long time ago, which inspired me to take up drumming as well. I haven’t been to many lessons yet, but already with a few basic rhythms as well as practising in a group I have started to experience a state, which I can only describe as meditative. Not only that I feel a seamless part of the group as though I am no longer an individual but merged in the percussive sounds of each drum and drummer.

Physiological Effects of Drumming

On doing some research I found out that there are distinct physiological effects when people drum. It would seem that if I drum in a group my heartbeat entrains with others to the pulse of the drum. Entrainment means in this case that there is synchronization between peoples’ heartbeats and the drum pulse.

When I drum I feel connected to an ancient past where my ancestors would have drummed, danced, and passed on their history through story telling. Even though my rhythm is still a little tentative I know that I have always drummed for I can sense the dust beneath my feet, the smell of the fire, and myself drumming with my tribal sisters in ecstatic trance.

The use of the drum to attain spiritual states, meditative states, and access knowledge is both ancient and widespread. Drums are found in just about every culture in every part of the world.

Drumming Relieves Stress

I also discovered in reading about drumming that when Alzheimer’s patients are given drums to play they could maintain a steady rhythm and stay focused. For some hours afterwards they remain much calmer and less fretful. In patients with heart arrhythmia it has been discovered that if they drum they can establish a steady heart beat. Apparently the drum works as a sort of external pacemaker.

There is no doubt that drumming is definitely a one pointed focus activity, which is the same with most meditation techniques. I find when I am drumming that it requires such intense focusing that my mind lets go of any worries, or concerns I may have. I am fully present in each moment.

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My meditation teacher used to say that if you meditate in the same place every day you will create an ambience in the room that will be calm and peaceful. Others stepping into your home will themselves feel (often quite unconsciously) those subtle vibrations, and automatically relax. A meditation place can be as simple as a cushion, or chair in a corner of a room. Meditation paraphernalia such as candles, flowers, or altars can be soothing but they are not necessary. You may begin to notice an almost tangible presence of peace and calm as you sit to meditate in your specially chosen place. If that happens just be there and meet the stillness. With your eyes gently closed absorb yourself in the peace and serenity of that atmosphere. At these times let the meditation technique go and just bathe in the subtle vibrations around you and within you.

As my daughter spins I observe that she demands nothing of herself. Her one pointed focus is the thread that is being twisted together from the woollen fibres. She is not putting any pressure on herself as her body and spindle move in the rhythm of spinning.

Whatever meditation technique you use, be it the breath, sound, or something else, the intention you have for showing up each day is enough. Let go of all pressure to do anything. Just be there in your one pointed focus. With meditation there is no requirement to perform, or exams to pass. There is no final destination to arrive at.

Again I observe Anna, where like any one of us meditating, she too will have thoughts coming and going. This is natural; this is the job of the mind. When you become aware of your thoughts in your meditation practice gently bring your attention back to your focus. Rest there in that spaciousness and opening. Be aware of your body and mind quietening in stillness and simplicity. As you do this you create an atmosphere that allows you to enter a new state of being.

It’s evening and my daughter Anna and I are sitting together in relaxed quietness. I’m watching Anna as she spins with a drop spindle. A drop spindle is an ancient tool for making woollen yarn. Anna is seated comfortably with one leg crossed on the chair, and her foot of her other leg resting on the floor. With the spindle spinning Anna gently teases out the fibres and a thread appears. I observe my daughter. She is serene and calm, focused and alert. There is a natural ease and rhythm to her body as her hands flow around the fibres, the thread, and the spindle.

Meditation takes many forms

Meditation takes many forms, and the art of spinning is a meditation in itself. Whatever meditation technique you use it need not be about being austere, harsh, strict, or necessarily solitary. These are words associated with the disciplines and rituals that form the history of meditation. Leaving behind these rigid structures, we can approach meditation in a new light. As we meditate we flow with the rhythms of the earth, and the seasons of nature. In meditation we can experience love and joy. We can take these back into our daily life. We can be our true nature. We honour the body and celebrate life itself. Meditation brings us back home.

Recently I had an email from a teacher asking if I could give her some tips on introducing guided meditations into the classroom for her students. She told me that a survey done in her school revealed that students reported stress management to be one of their highest needs.

Children are natural meditators

Children are natural meditators. Have you noticed how focused your children are when they are involved in an activity that they love? Do you remember when you were a child how immersed you became in something, and how the rest of the world around you seem to fade away? Do you recall how time seemed to change, like you had been doing something for hours but it only seemed a few moments?

Guiding students through meditation

Because children are bombarded with so much stimulation, with TV and computers, play stations and cell phones, it may take them a while to readjust to coming back within themselves. If students are stressed, and they’re actually reporting this back to their teachers then helping them with some basic relaxation would be a good place to start.

The Guided Meditation on Fragrant Heart, called Creating Your Own Peaceful Sanctuary, would also be helpful in encouraging students to go within, and create a place where they can always feel nurtured or comforted, or to find solutions to their problems. Children may need to practise some simple visualizations for them to be able to use their senses more acutely. Starting with about five minutes of visualization will benefit students and get them understanding how the process works. If you are a teacher, and you have a meditation practice yourself then your own presence of calmness and peacefulness will also influence your students and help them feel less stressed.