Drum Circle – Analog Artist Digital World

On August 5th, I went to Dandelion Communitea Cafe (618 N Thornton Ave, Orlando FL) to sketch the New Moon Circle. Each and every New and Full moon, people gather to celebrate the cycle of time. The Moon Circles are non-religious, and open for people of any walk,
faith, race or creed to come and enjoy. This a sacred space where you
can express your true self with music, rhythm, dance and trance. These rhythm circles are geared for musicians that play softer drums
like frame, tabla, jugs, bells or any other type of light percussion
instruments. Guitar, sitar, didgeridoo, signing bowls, flute, harmonica,
signing and laughter also have a home under the Bodhi Tree which is in the garden beside Dandelion Communitea Cafe. The circles are a way to celebrate harmony in the community.

Borrowing from Native American, East Indian, Middle East and Celtic
traditions the music experienced here excites, sooths and nourishes
and your mind, body and soul. The Drum circle is organized by the Florida School of Holistic Living. The school, seeks to connect our community with the planetary cycles that affect all of us, even in urban environments, such as seasonal cycles, planting cycles, and lunar cycles. They believe that by living in greater harmony with the natural cycles that guide us, we develop a greater relationship to the planet and thus it becomes easier to walk our path lightly upon her.

On this evening several dozen people gathered in a circle which was lit with an LED light strip. In the center of the circle was a metal bucket full of candles. A young woman lit the candles as it grew dark. Storm clouds gathered darkening the sky early. I used my weather radar app on my iPhone and it looked like a small storm cell was heading our way. I sketched as fast as I could. It began to rain with sporadic large drops at first and then a waterfall. I put up my umbrella and kept working. A tent was erected and the remaining musicians huddled under it. Despite the thunder and lightning several women danced in the rain lifting their arms to the sky as they spun. The candles had long since been snuffed out by the rain, but when the rain stopped, they were dried off and re-lit. The drumming and dancing continued as I left with my soggy sketchbook.

Mark Your Calendar! On Saturday September 21st,
the Largest Drum Circle in the World will happen as people around the world drum on Peace One Day 2013. Drumming in Orlando will begin at 10:30am. The exact location has yet to be determined.

I went to Tanqueray’s downtown thinking I might sketch Bad Santa and the Dirty Elves. When I got to the bar there was no Santa and no Elves. I decided to order a beer and sketch the bar so the night wasn’t a total waste. The woman across from me had on a Santa hat and she was boxing her partner with Rockum Sockum Pez dispensers. Besides myself there were only four patrons in the bar. I thought I recognized one of the women to my left but I couldn’t place her. As she got up to leave she stopped by to say hello. Turns out she is a Facebook friend named Jessica Pawli. She informed me that there was to be a full Lunar eclipse that night. Dandelion Communitea Cafe was having a Rhythm Circle to celebrate the eclipse. How is it I didn’t know about this? I downed the last sip of my beer and immediately headed over to Dandelion.

It was a cold crisp night and the full moon was bright. The hum from several Buddhist bowls resonated right down to my bones as I approached Dandelion. Christmas lights were strung up in the trees. A hot fire pit warmed the people who sat close. Some people kept their eyes closed as they rocked and swayed to the beat. I sat near a flood light which allowed me to see my sketchbook. Everyone had an instrument of some kind. There were flutes, guitars, tablas , didgeridoos, maracas, and a wide assortment of drums. I hummed along to the entrancing sound and rhythms. A drummer sat next to me and said, “Hey Thor.” I didn’t recognize him at first but then he told me I had sketched his band called “The Manteis Project.” He informed me that I had sketched him in two locations in the same sketch. We laughed. His son crawled into his lap and he enfolded him inside his coat. The boy, tough snug, lost patience and he ran off to play with friends. “Thanks for the quick visit.” he said as his son disappeared. It was obvious that he wished he could have held his son longer.

A beautiful woman stood by the fire playing a large flat moon of a drum. With her flowing robe and cloth headdress she very much looked like a romantic shaman as she celebrated the Yule festivities. I was told the last time there was a Lunar Eclipse on the Winter Solstice was 300 years ago. This was a once in a lifetime happening and I was celebrating the best way I knew how, with a sketch. The eclipse started well after midnight and the moon slowly turned a mysterious blood red. Slips of paper were available to write down thoughts and feelings that you might want to purge from your life. I filled out a slip and placed it in the fire. I watched as it withered and turned to glowing orange embers. I warmed my hands in the open flames and then started another sketch. I was shocked when my cell phone vibrated in my pocket calling me away from the festival of light. My sketchbook thankfully still smells of burnt wood and incense.