World drum comes to Glastonbury
 Late August, 2008 saw the arrival of the World Drum in Glastonbury.
After a much deserved rest in Wells, Somerset, the Drum was transported to Gaunts House in Dorset for four days of blessing at the UK Society for Shamanic Pracititioners
3rd Annual Conference.

On Thursday 4th September, The World drum was unpacked with reverence in the beautiful sacred space of the library at Gaunts by Howard and Elsa Malpas,
UK organisers and Directors of the Society, and Alan Davis,  President of the Society  in the USA and Vanessa Allen one of the  UK planning committee.

That evening, at the opening of the conference, Annie Spencer, a long standing and respected member of the UK Shamanic community introduced the Drum to the conference delegates and all were invited to be with the drum over the next three days.

Stories were shared by those who had known the drum in meeting it at other gatherings all around the world.

On Sunday 6th September in the closing ceremony of the conference, Leo Rutherford beat the World Drum whilst Annie invited us all to put our wishes onto a tree that would represent our blessings, wishes and desires for the Earth. To the beating of the drum, we walked round the newly planted tree and imbued it and ourselves with the pulse of all those who have been with the drum since 2006.

 Friday 12th September and the World Drum returned to Glastonbury. The Town Hall welcomed a gathering of pilgrims from Somerset and beyond, all eager to make the drum’s acquaintance and experience it’s healing.

After short introductions to the drum by Howard and Elsa Malpas and Alan Davis, Elsa guided us through a visualisation/Journey to visit the spirit of the drum as Howard played it. We had the opportunity to share our visions with each other.

The beat of the drum gave connection to Mother Earth, healing of emotions - healing of water.
A menagerie of power animals came forward,
Stag, Green and Red Woodpecker,
White Wolf, Butterfly, Felines, Snake.
Presence of ancestors.
“It’s all about the water - 3000 year cycle, climate change.
Clearing our blood.
“It’s about my dance of life”.
Deep mournful sound, the dance transmuting sadness into joy.
Connection to the web of life
Drum spinning around a black, fragmented earth, transforming it.

The drum seen as various images - stars, winged, conjuring up images such as blue, healing sphere of balance, rainbow, centre of the earth as a pink heart,
ancient Yew tree, an upturned tree at the edge of the world,
with quartz crystals at its root.
And individual blessings to be shared…
“Tell the people the knowledge that they hold in their hearts is the key that belongs to universal peace. When every one of us turns their key in the lock - all doors will fly open and each and every one will know the magnificence of their own nature, the nature of this precious and beautiful earth and the urgency of our coming together in the Spirit of Community to create harmony. The sacred heart-beat of one”.

“Saw a Native American - spoke of peace. And more Peace.
Is there anything else? There is nothing else.”
“a cuddly, ferocious physical experience.” Physical, emotional, powerful.
”Thank you for this honour and blessing. May the world and the universe be healed and whole. All connected with spirit in unconditional love.”

After our sharing (and the above is just the essence of what was brought to circle), each of us had the opportunity to be with the drum - play it, hold it, sit with it, dance or sing with it…
whilst other drums and rattles were gently played in the background to
sustain the drum and the drummer.

All reported a wonderful experience of connection with the drum and it’s essence.
And so, the circle was closed, the drum carefully repacked and taken away by Howard and Elsa to prepare for it’s next journey.

Vanessa Allen
13th September 2008.
Wells, Somerset, UK