Good, good news everyone!

Before covid hit last year, i was embarking on finally getting to creating + recording my first (formal) CD… We just got started and then were forced to stop cuz of Covid-19…  stink!

However, as of a couple of weeks ago, we were able to get back into the studio and complete this track we were working on… a cover song by the wonderful Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam)… one of my favourite songs i love to play of his, “Don’t Be Shy”… and, i feel it’s message is still very much relevant today…

​What Cat says about his song... 

“One thing about the journey of life is... when you look back and see the pages of the past in a new light... and, i think this song says to me... that, unless good people stand up to be heard... then fear and cruelty will always dominate the world.. so, it’s time for those people to stand up and lift their heads... this is a song that i think talks about that...” 
—Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens

So, i hope you enjoy… click here to have a listen on my bandcamp page and/or download if you wish… we had a blast recording it… 
with brightest blessings + much love,
weaver x (((?)))

ps… note that the recording credits are on my bandcamp page, by scrolling down the page… 

​poem…

​still now…
though so so much
soothing…moving from

in to out…
out + back in…

a quiet…secret dance
of sorts?…

​x (((💜))) weaver © 2021

​a poem........

yesterday...
i was nudged to journey...
while drawing + painting...
​
something ‘drew’ me in...

go deeper... 
to a rooted place...
buried... threads fragiled...
thin multi-coloured mark-making...
revealing... what?

i tracked...
ever so lightly... tenderly...
my slanted hand steered...
“just go”..........

i offered a wee hello while...
i migrated... wandered... hunted... chased...
that perhaps...

i was on to something......

travelling alongside washed...
black-ink-penned...
shaky-handed....
painted threads of...

my own weave...

she is...

very fine, dazzling tapestry path of filament light...
capturing a glimpse......
my tender glittered strength...
​torn-worn tangles... grief... joy... pain... celebrations...
ancient... new........
​
now...

grief drops...
splashing upon my soaked page...
blending abstract... accident... of be-ing...
inside...
​my owned inked hues...
becoming......

perhaps...
​... a re-weaving?

i will definitely call again soon..... x (((💜)))

So... last tuesday, after having a deep healing session, i was standing in a long line-up at our post office, freezing my butt off when... i was nudged to look up....

and there, right above me.... a lovely white cloud shape-shifted into one beautiful smiling being...stunning spirit.........

i asked, “now, who are you?”
she replied, “i see you...............thank you for seeing me...”

​then she was gone.........x

more to come... with much love,
​weaver x (((o)))

Humankind did not invent music... music was already in Nature. Motion gives arising to all sound.

The motion of the wind. The motion of the waters. The motion of the stones. The motion in the fire. The wind alone is an entire orchestra. The motion of the body, all of its internal noises.

​Music is a mirror we hold up to ourselves. In it we see reflected everything we have ever experienced. We see the world around us. We see ourselves. We can see how we listen. We can see how we pay attention. We experience presence. We can see how we make love. We see how we evolve. We can see how we dance...

Dance in a circle, the shape of the drum, the shape of the world. The first drum, the human body, with its senses and its rhythms, then the world, with its endless variety of sounds and rhythms. Lightning-flash, winds blowing and the rain drops falling into a small pool. The senses sense nature, and have their arising from that very nature that they are sensing. Nature's way of realizing itself. And yet what is it that is actually experiencing the sensing?

The listener; did this consciousness come from nature too? A way to sense the sensing? The Earth has taught us all we know about music. It has given us its music. It gives us the tools to make its music. In every sound there is music. Visitors from space bring the earth new songs. They come as beautiful stones of every kind. The universe and the earth make love in this way and they sing together. They have taught us their song in this way. The scratching cicada is the sound of the medicine rattle and our hearts drum out the rhythm as we are giving thanks through appreciation for life itself...

In this way we have learned to play the drum. In this way we have learned to sing, dance and make love. It is all a response, a response to life and being alive in the world. It is the song our parents want us to sing. It is the dance our parents dance. They have taught us this out of love. We are in love when we play music and when we dance. This makes everyone happy. Being in love this way reminds us of our source and there is great joy. The music flows like a flag in the wind and the dance is like that of birds or deer. We play this music and the world listens, impartially, for to nature, it is just another passage in an endless stream of music...

For nature, the entire universe is its symphony, its orchestra and its audience.........

*Excerpted from Breath Was the First Drummer: A Treatise on Drums, Drumming and Drummers by Dru Kristel

This is a big ceremonial drum on a 20-inch maple hoop with a strong moose spirit that was plant-dyed in a rich, wine-red… the hoop is stained + finished, with the inner hoop stained red ochre + wood-burned with prayers, honouring the moose who gave its life to become this sacred drum… to be re-birthed with new life, spirit + sacred sound…

The mallet is from a found arbutus branch, finished + burned with a suede pocket…. the back of the drum is finished in a rainbow yarn wrap + black felt handle… Painted on the front in acrylics is an open red rose… tied to the back of the drum is a small wild turkey feather - of which i found on the ground next to the soaking bin, the morning of July 22nd (during her second birthing)… wild turkey holds the energy of ‘shared blessings’ and ‘harvest’ - marking the fire festival of Lughnasadh, the time of the first harvest on the Celtic wheel of life (which happens August 1st every year)...

I fastened to the top/sides of the drum, a hand-made 'blessing' scarf created by my friend, Gayla Meredith.  The scarf is attached with velcro + is removable, if needed.  Drums from the Siberian regions of Russia often have cloths or scarves (khadags) attached to their drums that are used for blessing…. when the drum is played with the intention of 'drawing down/in the spirits' or 'drawing down/in blessing power', the blessings or healing power pours… cloths tied to drums can also be used  to transfer this spirit power... ie., during a healing ceremony, face each of the four directions in turn, including the upper sky + lower earth powers, drum and ask for blessings to come into your drum in aid of the person you are offering the healing work for…

I have also infused the drum with the 2nd degree Reiki symbol, ‘Choku Rei’... which means, “place the power of the universe here now”... making this is a ‘healing sacred drum’ that holds good healing intention...

About the spirit of moose… One of the most obvious things that a moose animal totem symbolizes is immense strength + power... the sheer size of this animal gives it a certain prestige. This isn’t an animal that you want to upset. The strength of the male moose can also symbolize bravery and courage. They aren’t afraid to fight for what they want, even if it could result in a broken antler or death... other traits are... gentle, strong, brave, dominating, power-full, courageous, fast, enduring, agile, communal, graceful, adaptive…

I was guided to birth this sacred drum over six weeks ago and it’s been quite the journey for both of us… and, i know that She had her own journey - i was merely her hands in Her becoming… 

I also like to note that this sacred drum was birthed during the Lion’s Gate Activation Portal that happens every year in the astrological sign of Leo between July 26 through to August 12th... 

I began during the Pisces full moon in early July (2020), the process of soaking a very strong Moose hide… which had been cut from the upper middle shoulder part of the animal - probably the thickest part… i was thrilled to be working with a hide that held the backbone line through what would be the center of the drum - this doesn’t happen often as i attempt to use all parts of a hide, so as to not waste...

i was also experimenting with a new dye vat mixed of tumeric + other natural elements - mostly as an experiment to see what effect i may see, wondering how this moose hide would turn out… I was also dying some rattle heads in my red dye vat... and, to stop the dye process with the rattle heads, i transferred them from the red bin to the new tumeric bin.  I noticed the next morning that the rattle heads had stained the moose hide with large spots of red… “Oh, stink!” i said, “i guess this drum wants to be red”.. so i simply moved the hide over to the red vat.  

She was birthed not long after, however, i failed to pull her tight enough where the drum just wouldn’t come in to her voice… so, i sat with her for about two weeks hoping that she would eventually come into voice… disappointed i questioned many times if this drum was even meant to be… was i no longer strong enough to birth such a strong + big drum?  After many days sitting with this, i chose to take the drum apart and re-birth her all over again… something was definitely nudging me to not give up...

The morning i returned her moose hide to the soaking bin, i noticed a small turkey feather had fallen right next to the bin… i picked it up knowing that this spirit held special significance to this cycle of Lughnasadh...

What i didn’t know at that time until later, that this morning was July 22nd… the Feast of Mary Magdalene… hmmmnnn… interesting as it seemed that this drum was being divinely guided to perhaps, become an honouring sacred drum to the Magdalene + the divine feminine… ah ha!  She was calling me or prompting this process… it seemed right that she was to re-birthed...

I knew some about this beautiful goddess that represents divine love and was compelled to research some more the Magdalene… the one symbol that represents Her, that kept coming up, was the Rose… i thought wow, knowing that the rose is one of, if not the highest vibrational flowers/plant...

Rose is sacred...she is the closest thing to love in tangible form. Literally.  Her vibration is measured at 320 MHz.  She is as high as it gets in terms of ‘things we can actually see…’ and more...

During a Virgo new moon she was ready to birthed again, this time, after her drying gestation, she did come into finding her voice and my heart was thrilled… i have to admit she is a heavy drum because of her size + weight of the hide… her sound is different than any other drums i have birthed… she holds a good deep sound + resonates much healing energy out… even without playing Her!

In ceremony i painted her face with a large red rose during a Leo new moon on August 17/18th when i received a message, i feel from the Magdalene herself that this, Her sacred ceremonial drum is to sound the return of Her becoming… the return of the Divine Feminine… to sound + hold the intention of humanity to once again return to honouring our blessed earth Mother as our Source… to remember Her… to Respect Her… to love Her - for we wouldn’t be here without Her!

An added note… I was taught by a couple of teachers (one being, the wonderful Djembe drummer + feminist, Ubaka Hill) to never, ever ‘beat’ my drum… as we know, the sacred drum represents ‘Mother’ + the voice of the Mother and She has been raped, beaten + abused for far too long enough… perhaps we can watch our language we use about the sacred drum... knowing that our ‘words’ hold power + intention = our words create… also, i never call my mallet a ‘beater’... ‘cause when we deconstruct that word, ‘beater’ to...“beat - her”... knowing this i am mindful to longer call my mallet or stick that name… i also choose to ‘play’ my drum versus ‘beat’ or ‘beating’’ my drum...

Also, looking close up to this drum, you may notice that her hide may look somewhat ‘beaten up’… it has not.  Though, i believe that ‘Mary’ is perhaps showing us that the Mother is done with being abused + beaten up... and the marks + imperfections in the hide, remind us of that…

This sacred Ceremonial drum has found Her caretaker... if you have interest in my sacred work please, don’t hesitate to contact me  or visit my spirit art drums shop >>

blessed be + brightest blessings…
i am honoured to be offering this, my sacred work, thank you...
weaver x (((o)))

• all photos + video by weaver © 2020 copyright...

​Today was an interesting one, as i found many emotions popping up, out of nowhere… i’ve also been not wanting to do a dang thing - what is that?  Not usually me.  

I won’t go into details except to say, i chose to go down to our local beach, get outside, chill out and ask Spirit for some help... I asked for a sign of some sort, as i was feeling pretty disconnected... 

There’s definitely an ‘uncertainty’ that this covid-time has brought.  The ‘not knowing’ of many, many things that can rattle one’s beingness.    

I sat on the warm sandstone in quiet for a bit and then was prompted to walk out to the water’s edge.  I really appreciated the fresh winds and smells of the beach, the tide was way out... even heard sky drummers (thunder), playing off in the distance.  Opening my arms, i let salted winds blow through me, dropping a heaviness i seem to be holding.

Walking back from the water, at my left, a blue heron gently glided down onto the beach, not 15 feet from me.  Oh, s/he was sooo beautiful.  I was frozen in awe while s/he fished in the little tide pool, calmly sauntering their way to the ocean’s edge.  I offered gratitude for the beautiful gift of heron, so close. I felt lifted, turning to make my way back, picking up a few shells here and there, along the way.

A dear friend driving by, pulled over to say hello and we shared mutual challenges and grief from having aging parents in locked down care homes and hospitals...how hard it feels being so far away from them.  Knowing that this crazy pandemic isn’t ending anytime soon, I wondered if i’ll ever get to see my mother (93) again, as she was in hospital, from falling and breaking her hip.

While we chatted, up in the towering firs were probably five or six ravens shouting vociferously as they played the wind together.  We both shared much needed tears, gave each other a big, distant hug and we each headed back to our homes.

Turning the corner to my road, a flicker woodpecker (the drummer) cried out in the woods beside me. I smiled thanking my ol’ dear ally for the hello. Walking towards our lane, in a neighbour’s yard, a beautiful doe poked her head up out of the long grass.  We both said hi through our eyes, she soon slowly followed me down the gravel road... my heart smiling... 

Holy wow, i sure did receive a message… gifts of deep connection of the heart, the pulsing of our blessed earth Mother... shapeshifting magic within the void of sweet Spirit... self-reliance, and wisdom evolving to a higher place of consciousness and choice.

I am very blessed to be here now in this sacred, green place... Thank you sweet Mother, great goddess, Gaia.  Thank you for holding my back... i bow in deep reverence… Thank you…i trust…

much love...weaver xo ((( ❤ )))

photos by carol weaver © copyright 2020

It’s been quite interesting during this time of isolation of the pandemic, the corona virus, covid-19... this morning a dear friend called it the, ‘isolation inflammation’...

When the covid/isolation lock-down began over a month ago, i have to admit i felt a huge wave of relief... where, we and the world could finally, simply, STOP.  

I actually haven’t minded the break at all... have enjoyed resting... ‘being’ and doing some long-overdue tasks that never seemed to get done when i was busy working + teaching.  

However, it’s also been a bit of a stressful time too - not knowing what’s next or when this pandemic will even be over... and, how it’s affecting so many people all over the planet... Many folk are sick and/or dying and numerous lives devastated.  It’s the not-knowing that is the strange feeling, that seems to sit somewhere un-known until...

...out of the blue, i suddenly feel guilty or a sadness comes over me - even some anxiety or fear... like i’m grieving something... or perhaps i’m feeling our Mother earth’s grieving... or what...?

This virus is affecting us all on a global level... and, a few of the positive things that have come out of this is that, just after a few weeks, of the world literally shutting down... it seems our Mother is getting a long-overdue, great big rest - just like us... a time to simply breathe and relax... a big collective ‘sigh’ and just ‘be-ing’...

And, what’s exciting is that all kinds of animals are showing themselves in places that they couldn’t before... waterways are clearing... pollution is lifting and so much more...

Is this a message from our dear Mother?  That perhaps we as a species can slow or halt climate change, if we only slow down and realize what’s truly important?  I myself thought this whole pandemic-thing was initially a ‘distraction’ away from the growing concern of our climate...

Whatever ‘this’ is... we may never know the why... though, what i do know is... when this pandemic is over, our way of being and our world will have shifted and changed... and now is a time where we as a global family can choose to dream our world into being... that our ‘old world’ is dying because it has to... because what we have been creating is not sustainable - it’s NOT working... 

Some wisdom-keepers are saying that we are the new midwives for our beautiful Mother... as she dreams her own dream into being... as we and She are being re-birthed into a whole new way of ‘be-ing’... We certainly live in interesting times eh?... x (((o)))

Below, is a simple ceremony... to help us honour and gently release grief/sadness... knowing that as we release ‘dark + heavy energy’* through ceremony... it falls to our Mother earth where She composts it back into Light... ie., ‘As we feed Her - She feeds us'... a beautiful reciprocal exchange, a sacred relationship...

I have held a “grief bundle” or mesa for a while now and work with it when i feel i need to... This is a simple process... an ancient practice that will honour our grief/sadness + release it through co-creation with the earth’s gifts of cleansing fire + salt through simple ceremony...

What you will need...

• a cloth - doesn’t matter what colour, though often black is often used...
• a white candle or two... (matches to light)...
• a small bowl of water...
• some salt - about 1/4 cup... (a natural salt like pink Himalayan is good)..
• some small stones or one stone (from the earth that represent your grief/sadness/fears)...
• anything else that you wish to include that represents your grief/sadness, etc...

Assemble all your items + to prepare/create ceremony... 
(can be offered inside or out)...

• be in a quiet space and mindfully open + create a container of sacred space around you... whichever way works for you, as it’s important to ‘be’ in a safe space (ie., turn off phones, etc)... 
• light the candle(s) - which opens the ceremony...
• place the salt in the bowl of water + mix...
• spend some time with each item you have chosen to represent your grief/sadness/fears and when you feel ready, using your breath with intention, blow your feelings into the stone... letting them go to our Mother earth - who will hold those feelings safe within Her belly... 
• sit within the peace of quiet for as long as you need... knowing that the salt water will draw the grief/sadness/fear out of your body... 
• when you feel complete, blow the candle(s) out - which completes the ceremony... and close your sacred space around you...
• your can either wrap your bundle or place as an altar in a special sacred place in your home... 

You can choose to offer this ‘grief ceremony’ as many times as you feel you need to... and when you feel ready, you can disperse the stones back to the earth by burying them, or placing them in the ocean - which will also continue to clear for you...  

It’s an honour to share this simple, yet powerful process with you...
it is my hope it can help during this time or anytime you are in need...
with much love + light, weaver x (((o)))

*NOTE:  ‘dark and heavy energy’ (like grief/sadness, etc) is not negative, positive or bad energy... it’s just simply ‘heavy and dark‘... and it can weigh us down... This type of energy doesn’t serve and often, it’s not even ours to hold... See energy as light or dark, and know the ‘dark’ can be released easily... we don’t have to feel we have to hold onto it... One of the many gifts our blessed earth Mother offers is, She can release that ‘dark’ energy for us - She transforms it, like compost, back into Light - which is who we truly are! 

NOTE:  re washing or what to do with the stone/stones after...
it’s up to you what you choose to do with your stone/stones... check in with them + ask.. sometimes stones have done their work + tell you they need dispersing... they are the wise ones + the story-tellers of our blessed Mother... the land.  and they will tell you.. use all your senses to hook in, ask + listen... as we all connect in different ways.. some see, some feel, some hear, taste, etc.. etc... hope that helps... 
with brightest blessings of much love, wx (((o)))

This post is to explain, why the ‘big hair’ from a past post titled, ‘my first drum-set is the one i’ll love forever’ >>

Back in 2008, i was accepted into the Vancouver Pride In Art juried art show called “Gender Twist”...  i was thrilled my painting ‘then i smoked a peterson pipe...’ was a part of this wonderful show at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre.

It’s a self portrait i painted in acrylics on a 4 x 4 foot gallery canvas...  around the outside of the painting are the words:

​“true story... everybody thot i wuz a boy... so, i got my hair permed thinkin’ that would fix it... but that just made it worse,  so, then i smoked a peterson pipe...”

It’s funny, i wasn’t really sure i’d  be accepted into the show... when i entered my submission, i hadn’t painted the final size painting yet... i initially submitted a small 1x1-inch thumbnail study... 

Well, i was accepted into the show... and then, had to paint the full size painting... i had never painted that large before... though i was up to the challenge... It now hangs in a private collection of two dear friends.  It has certainly become one ‘conversation starter’...

When i was growing up, i was definitely a ‘tomboy’.... and, during most of my youth, i was constantly mistaken for a boy... Being already quite androgynous-looking... super skinny with short-cropped hair, always in jeans or shorts, t-shirt and a hat... and, it seemed the older i got into my teens, more-often i was being called ‘son’ or folk being totally confused to ‘what’ i was... 

When i hit high school... being frustrated that folk were continually confused and now, being teased by my peers, i pleaded with mom to get my hair permed... thinking that, if my hair was curly, people would perhaps stop seeing me as a ‘boy’... 

After much pleading, mom finally succumbed to my wish and i finally got my hair permed.

However, the perm went bad turning into a big complete mass ball of frizz... 

Getting a perm didn’t work at all... it made it worse... my crazy hair made me look even more androgynous!  By this time, i was living and working at a summer job in the interior of Naramata BC...

and, “then i smoked a peterson pipe!”

I really did for a time... a bunch of us did...and no one knew who or what we were... and, that didn’t matter... anymore.

Here’s a tip i learned a long time ago...

Often i receive the question from folk asking me why their drum is sounding flat or even sounding dead.  It’s not the easiest question to answer - especially if i can’t see the actual drum in question... as it could be a number of reasons why.

For those who have birthed drums with me, i have written quite an extensive blog post about drum care + feeding that pretty much addresses how to take care of your drum and what can happen if care isn’t taken - including ways one can raise or lower the tone of their drum.

I feel one of the most important things to remember with any kind of natural hide drum, be it a frame/hoop drum or any other kind of rawhide drum, is to be aware of extreme temperature changes.  

Rawhide drums are energetically ‘living, breathing beings’... and will shift + change with humidity and changes in the weather.  They like to ‘drink water’ just like we do... and, what i mean by that is, because they’re made out of natural materials... ie., skin + wood... they shift and change with the weather + humidity.

I, also refer to the west coast style hoop drum where the hide face  is tied to the frame with either rawhide or synthetic lace.
​
So, examples could be...

• If it’s raining and you + your drum live on the wet west coast of Canada (rain forest)... your drum will literally ‘drink’ lots of water or... if the skin/wood absorb lots of moisture, it will sound flat + low... so much so that it sounds almost dead, because it’s taken on so much water.
• Or... if you + your drum live in a very dry + hot environment like Kamloops, BC or any hot area like in a desert, your drum’s skin/wood frame is going to dry out... the skin will dry out and sound higher... sometime so dry, that it could break - if that environment is extreme... 
• Also, if the environment is dry + cold, your drum will sound high too...

What’s happening is that when the drum takes on water, the skin gets heavy with water and loosens = flat sounding.  Or, if the drum dries out, the skin tightens = high sounding.

So, refer to my blog post of drum care to learn simple ways you can raiser or lower the tone... 

Extreme temperatures can be very hard on rawhide drums... hence why i wrote that article on drum care to let you know what you can do to either raise or lower the tone.  So, another rule of thumb is to remember... you wouldn’t leave your child or a pet in a very hot or cold car - nor should you leave your drum in either of those environments.

If you’ve tried to raise the tone by the simple ways i mention in that post - here’s a cool trick i learned many years ago...

Back when i was a kid, when i acquired my first set of bongo drums... i remember, when my mom and i were walking out of the music store... the fellow who sold us the bongos, said, 

“Now, when you get home with your drums, turn them upside down and fill each drum with some cold water and them sit for a bit... what that will do, once the heads (hide) are dry is they’ll tighten up and they should sound nice + crisp!”

I remembered what he said... and tried the same procedure on a frame (hoop) rawhide drum that i had, that had gone completely flat... I’ve managed to fix a few drums this same way... though it hasn’t always worked - as sometimes a drum just needs to be taken apart, re-skinned or re-birthed.

Instructions:  How to re-tighten your rawhide drum...

• these instructions are for laced natural hide drums only...
• in a bin large enough to fit the diameter of your drum or in a bathtub, fill with about 3 inches of cold water...
• place your drum upside down (face down) and float it on top of the water...
• splash some of the water on the inside (back) of your drum as well - though don’t fill this side up with water - only enough to get the hide wet...
• try not to soak the wood frame/hoop too much - place your drum ‘on top’ of the water - let it sit/float on top - the trick her is to try and not soak the wooden frame...
• keep an eye - don’t let the drum sit in the water too long...
• let the drum sit this way and soak the hide for about 20-30 minutes or sooner - as the water soaks the hide, you’ll see the hide change colour (darker) - if you keep an eye, this process could be shorter...
• once you feel that hide has had a chance to soak, pull it completely out of the water, dry off with a towel, and allow the drum to completely dry - with hopes the hide will tighten up again - thus sound higher... 

NOTE:  It’s important to not soak the wood frame too much - as that could cause the frame to either buckle or depending how the frame/hoop was made, to come apart - as most hoops are laminated with glue... you don’t want the glue to loosen...

The goal is to soak the hide - with the hopes that this process may tighten + renew the sound of your drum.

Good luck and wishing you + your dear drum well...
with much love + light, weaver x (((o)))

• Drum Care and Feeding for Your New Shamanic Drum >>

• All of the above written and sourced by carol weaver
​© copyright 2020 - all rights reserved...

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