Eastern Massachusetts Rhythm Festival 2012-Part 1.

Where do I begin, where do I start…with “The Eastern Massachusetts Rhythm Festival”

Well, let me just begin with this…

“The Eastern Massachusetts Rhythm Festival”, is an annual event and its on its 8th year.  It is organized by four super devoted individuals.  The Rhythm Festival is to give local drummers, percussionist, dancers, etc.,  a chance to gather together and share with each other, their passion and love for music.  It is held in an outdoor setting so everyone has an opportunity to join and become a part of this energetic day. Rain or shine.

I was not able to attend last year but this year I made plans to attend this exciting event.  A week before, I went into the event page on Facebook and posted a message for all Native American/Style Flute players to bring their flutes so we can be heard.  In the back of my mind, I thought it would be nice to have a Native American Flute Circle.  But did not address it, nor asked, I left it as is.  Some individuals read my post and made some comments.  Then Dave C., one of the organizer wrote, why don’t you host a mini-workshop and flute circle. I read this and had to read it again.  Me?  I have only been playing for 8 months now and still learning.  But after a little thought,  I, then said “Okay” “I could do this!”

It’s unbelievable that this was in my heart and someone felt it, someone heard it.  How can one explain this connection, be within the same spirit, like a bridge.  I am always amazed on how one is led, when one releases one self.

Throughout the week, I prepared for the event.  Designed the handouts and wrote a reflection to share, finished some gift tokens to give and made copies at Staples.  I gathered all the items into a plastic carrying tub for protection.  The location of the workshop was designated.  It was going to be outdoors, a nice grassy area surrounded by birch trees, (which by the way, is one of my favorite trees) with plenty of natural shade.  They were going to supply an EZ-up sun shelter, some blankets to cover the ground and some stools for people who don’t want to sit on the ground.  I was really excited and happy to share one of my passions, perfect location and with wonderful, loving individuals.  My first time attending this Festival and now presenting a workshop! Plus, in a beautiful location.  I was speechless! My heart and spirit felt so grateful, warm and enriched for many reasons!

The day arrived and it was a very wet one.  I loaded some of the remaining items into my SUV.  At 7:15 a.m., started my drive to a new location, meet up with friends, make new friends, share my passion in the common ground of music, rhythm and togetherness.  I arrived to River Bend Farm which now is Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park.  I parked my SUV and was told that my workshop will be indoors.  On the top floor of what use to be a barn and now a restored museum.

I climbed the flight of stairs and could not believe the beauty of this room.  The high wood ceiling, the warmth and coziness.  Jessica, the Park Ranger opened the huge doors to let some air and light in…and what a sight.  Facing the canal and all the flowers and greenery.  This was perfect!  You see, I love barns.  Love the feeling of  barns.  As I was explaining to Rick C., one of the organizer.   My heart’s dream, is to have a small house with some land but with a huge barn in which one can invite friends, family and individuals to gather, jam and share some good food.  It is a dream of mine and one can never lose hope.  So here I am, in a barn and now presenting a workshop in a barn…how perfect is this!

The out-door site would have been perfect as well because there is nothing so enchanting as the sound of a flute together with nature.  So both areas would have been perfect!  I went ahead to settle the area with chairs, a small table, handouts, etc.  Dave C. was kind to lend me his gathering drum. I positioned it in the middle of the circle.  Jessica, the Park Ranger told me to park in the visitors parking lot, I had her permission to do so.  I thanked her and moved my SUV over.  I returned to the barn, took a few moments to look out through the barn doors that faced the canal, picked up my flute and closed my eyes.  I started to play so I can feel the sound and it was perfect!  I went downstairs and Jessica said to me from her office “Thank You!”  I smiled.  All was perfect!

(To be continued…)

~~I write how I think and feel~~

“I am Here!”

As I go through my life and my life’s inventory, there is so much I have not accomplished nor experienced.  I have accomplished huge projects, activities, events but not the simple things. Which is why I have a bucket list.  Will I get to accomplish them all?  I don’t know. Will I live long? I don’t know.  What does my future hold? I don’t know.  All I can do, is live now and embrace every moment.

At my age, one would think I have accomplished at least half.  But really, there is so much I want to do, see, feel and embrace.  Now that I have pushed back everything and started this year with a clean slate, I am seeking the moments.

Some of the items I have in my bucket list are: kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, horse back riding- even though I’m afraid of horses.  Go zip lining, even though I may have a heart attack.  Go on a balloon ride, you may have to peel me off.  Some greater items in my list is to visit Africa, Scotland and Spain.  I Know, those are not that simple. HAHAH! But they are in my bucket list.

I want to  share with you a simple moment that I experienced.  Not in my bucket list, but it was an experience. For many, it is child like and will not believe that I never have felt this before, but here it goes.

A while back I was sitting in my backyard.  reflecting, listening to the birds sing and fly.  I was playing one of my flutes.  The sun was just beginning to set.  I love the sunset.  I love the warmth it give me.

As I was sitting there, I looked upon the grass.  I said to myself  “I have never felt grass underneath my feet”.  “I have never walked on grass”.   All these years, never.  Where have I been? In a box?  Maybe I have been in  a box.  I have been put in a box.  I have been so extremely busy with so much, but to never walk on grass barefooted even as a child.  Never! Huh!

So I glanced at the grass again and asked myself “How does it feel?”  I was kind of afraid.  I looked again and started to remove my clogs and moved slowly unto the green grass.  As I walked slowly, I felt a coolness, a softness, I smiled and said “this feels so good” and started to dance like a little child.  Then I stopped and in the stillness of the air.  I felt for the first time, the heartbeat of the Creator.  Tears started to fall down my cheeks.  In amazement, all these years I have never walked barefooted on grass…and here I am.  Standing like a child.  I am a child, discovering the simple things in life.  Standing here, I am here…

WindSpirit

   In one of the gatherings that I attended, I shared this reading.  So I am now, sharing it with you. It comes from my heart, my soul and my spirit.   My life is within the wind. I will spread  my wings and allow it to take me where I need to go and need to be.  I am not alone, my Creator is with me.  He is my WindSpirit…

WindSpirit

The wind is everywhere-surrounding all that is…

The wind is like a Spirit-

it’s invisible to the physical eye…but it’s there-

The wind brings life to the world.

It cleanses, shakes…to bring new life.

It pushes back and then moves forward…

It brings a seed to a new land and there it grows.

It brings the rain to nourish it to new life…

It makes the leaves on the trees clap their hands creating a sacred sound.

The very breath we take is of the wind.

Brings fresh air and a new beginning…

All things are alive with the breath of the wind.

All things are alive with the breath of the spirit.

Air-pockets may come….we may feel the wind has been taken from beneath us—

But spread your wings and allow the wind to take you where you need to go,

…where you need to be.

If you seek to find your medicine, your gift, your path…

Take a deep breath and allow yourself to be carried—

Trust in the spirit of the unseen.

And you will surely discover the purpose of your sacred life journey…

~MMG

Where do I start? How do I start?

Hummm!

Where do I start? How do I start? It has been two weeks since I have returned from my trip.  My thoughts, my spirit are overwhelmed with experiences that sometimes makes me cry because of the magnitude of it all.  I did not expect these experiences, I did not look for them.  They came to me. I am just a simple person with simple thoughts about life and embrace what surrounds me.  My mom sometimes tells me that I am kind of innocent in many ways.  As some of you know, I love to laugh,  which is why I am kind of free-spirited.  I enjoy having nice conversations with individuals I can connect with.  People with open hearts, open souls.  Because this is who I am…

I started this year with an open slate.  No more performances, no children events, programs, etc.   It’s hard to believe that I no longer am involved. But its a good thing because now I am able to  move forward and finalize some issues in my life.  I need to move forward and reorganize my life, my path, my passion and my inner love.  To start over, with a new look at what is ahead of me and share that as well.

A couple of days ago I attended a Cultural Bazaar and purchased a pair of earrings from Uganda.   The earrings came with a short story which I wish to share:

It is said you should design your life like water.

Water flows downhill never against resistance.

Water adapts to its surrounding, meandering along the way.

Therefore if you allow life to flow freely.

                                                    It will do a dance with you and that dance will be beautiful!

It touched my heart to know that the pair of earrings I purchased meant this.  It is true.   My life is flowing like the waters.  But one thing for sure, I am looking forward to that dance, for that dance will be beautiful.  Beautiful indeed.  As a believer, I know He is with me as I flow.  He shows me.  He directs me and teaches me.

As my life flows, my mom and I went on vacation together to New Mexico.  There I have met extraordinary individuals that have touched my heart and soul in many humbling ways.  My mom also learned many things about me.  My inner thoughts and passion.  I will write about them in upcoming blogs.  But for now I leave you here as I flow along…with these thoughts…

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside.

~~Cantus Fraggle

Essence of SPIRITDRUM

April 19th 2012 Another SPIRITDRUM gathering…

These are some moments that I experience and sure many did too!

Moment 1: 

For this gathering I decided to bring “Little Hibou” for  his first debut! “Hibou” is the name that I selected to name my little owl whistle.  Hibou means owl in french.  Thanks to a friend that suggested this name.  Dave C. had me introduce our new little friend and I then blew into it, to create the Barred Owl sound.  Of course everyone welcomed him and smiled!  Now I started to play “little Hibou” and one of my friends, Mike M. had a little bone flute and started to make bird sounds, Dave C. had a bird calling whistle, others started to make bird sounds…now we were in the enchanted forest and all the birds were singing to the sounds of the drums, bells, shakers, etc.  I kept playing little Hibou and creating its own rhythm…Oh! What fun! Just to think what a little owl whistle can do and bring a different harmony to SPIRITDRUM!

Moment 2:

Many individuals were into their deep drumming, some had shakers, chimes, bells, etc.  I was sitting mostly where everyone was playing their frame drums.  After some flutes playing, I picked up my buffalo frame drum and started to join in.  As I played, I listened to the other frame drums and my right hand started beating.  One-two, one-two, beats and so on and on and on…to a point that everyone that was playing the frame drums were following the same pattern. I closed my eyes and just went into auto pilot…my heart and drum became one.   I smiled, as I was feeling this deep connection and forgetting totally what I was doing.  My drum became alive and took over. I am sure as I was feeling this, so did many!  The connection of the heartbeat!

Moment 3.

While Dave C. was drumming on the mother drum, some individuals around the drum started to chant words about the drum, don’t remember the words exactly, but it sounded real nice.  I started to play my flute in between some of the lyrics and rhythms.  It was my first time I tried this out, but totally loved it.  Experimenting tones and sounds while they were chanting.  As they were chanting, I was remembering what I had written for my reading and this is it:

All creation moves and dances in the same circle of life…

The rocks, the waters, the clouds, the trees, the birds, the four-legged creatures, the water dwellers,

you and I…

The heartbeat of Mother Earth is the heartbeat that thumps…

within your chest and in the rhythm of everything in our natural world.

This is one of the symbolism of the sacred drum at the center of our gathering circle.

It is  the heartbeat that we are all connected.

 We are related to everything.

 Let yourself dance in the circle of connection to all living things!

We are indeed, all related!!!

~~MMGrey

~~I never know what to expect at these gatherings, nor who will attend, what the essence of the event will be.  But I do know one thing, there is a very strong connection.  Much more than what we can even imagine. For me to prepare this reading and many others, bring them to the gathering and its the perfect one to share without knowing the essence of that evening.  I am always totally speechless at the end of each gathering.  This is the Essence of SPIRITDRUM!

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside.

~~Cantus Fraggle

High Vibration!

“High Vibration!”

Another event from “Drums for One and All” facilitated by Dave Drumhead Curry.  This was my first time I was going to attend.  Did not know what to expect but was flowing and following my heart.

The day came and I gathered some of my voices (instruments) plus all four flutes.  I was asked by Dave, if I would be interested in playing the flute.  Of course I agreed and they were all packed.  I arrived and the event started with a welcome and a beautiful reading.  We did the smudging to cast away any negative energy.  Then the Native American four direction address.  Now the order of this event, I am not sure but it did happened!  HAHAH!

We drummed softly, we chanted some great Buddhist, Native American and Hebrew songs, we drummed at a higher volume then we moved to a wonderful soft beat played by a wonderful conga drummer, Pat C.  Then many grabbed some frame drums and played Native American rhythms while moving within a circle.

While they were drumming and moving, I picked up one of my flutes and started to play, which kind of set the tone for the next phase.

Dave asked everyone to stand and paired them.  One out of the two would be like a rooted seaweed and the other would be like the water/ocean.  This is called the “Wakame Taiso”,  the seaweed exercise.  The pair would stand facing each other.  The seaweed would stand, with eyes closed and have their body and mind completely relaxed and letting go of all tension from every day life.  The ocean would gently flow their hands around the side of their face, their shoulders without ever directly touching.

Dave gestured for me to start playing.  I closed my eyes, I did not know what to play nor what to expect.  I started to blow the breath of life into my flute and feel the energy of the individuals around me.  I played and played and heard nothing but myself, for the room was in total silence.  In solitude and pureness.  After I finished, I opened my eyes and felt so elevated and refreshed.  I had lost myself within my flute, becoming as one.

Dave explained to switch the roles.  I then switched my flute to another.  I once again, closed my eyes and started to play, not knowing but knew it was coming from my heart.  At one point I opened my eyes and started to look around while playing.  I felt a great release of all proud ness, a total humbling of one self.  The  movements of the seaweeds were enchanting.  It was a trusting and releasing of all that bounds.  The movements of the ocean was sincere, pure and caring.  There was a deep connection between the seaweed and the ocean.   It was so beautiful to feel and see humanity in its pureness.  Trusting, openness, releasing, welcoming, giving, sharing, equal to one another. I then closed my eyes again and continued my playing, as my heart was being fed…

~~In this event, we all connected.   A connection of each other as one. A trust of each other as one.  The seaweed and the ocean are as one.  Moving with the current of life, feeding each other.  Sensing what cannot be seen but can be felt.  A lesson is to be learned. Its simply simple!!!

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside.

~~Cantus Fraggle

It has Arrived! My first Native American Flute!

It has arrived!!!

It’s October 2011 and now I am a proud owner of a Native American Flute and its in my hands. What on earth am I doing?  I don’t know how to play this instrument! Can I do this? Now what? I know nothing, only that I love the sound!  HAHAH!

Okay! Let me see, I  hold the flute like this.  I place my fingers like this…Hummm!  My fingers are not liking this and not feeling so comfortable! But I will keep them there!  They need to stay there! Now, put the mouth piece next to my lower lip and blow air into the flute.  Here we go! Hummm!  This is not sounding so great!  Why, when Joe plays his flute, it sounds so beautiful and easy. Okay! It’s from the heart! Let me try this again! My fingers here, the mouth piece here. Lets try again and again and again and…  Now its sounding even worst!  Oh Great!  Now as I am playing, Joey (pet bird) starts to scream! Even he’s not feeling it. HAHAH!  Okay! Lets go! Again! Feel free! Relax!   I don’t think its suppose to sound this way! This is not right….

It’s time to contact Joe, my flute friend and mentor!.  I emailed him and he explained that the flute will collect moisture and will make the flute sound funny. He explained what to do.  So I let the flute dry a bit before playing it again! After a while I realized why a Native American Flute performer, bring tons of flutes with them, because one is lucky if you get 15 minutes out of one flute…due to the moisture. Hummm! Now I get it. Oh! But I only have one!

Saturday came around and I attended the FREEDRUM drum circle.  Now while Dave, the facilitator was making the announcements, he also mentioned SPIRITDRUM, which meets every third Thursday of the month.  It is a more quieter circle.  It’s geared to relax the mind and be creative with softer tones. Since he was aware that I had purchased a flute, he shared with everyone that I will be bringing my flute!

What? Huh? Did he just say flute? I did a double take toward him and said “Oh! Oh! Yeah! of course! I will BRING my flute”  Then I started to laugh as normal.  Then started to think, no pressure now, its only been two days since I purchased my flute. This was like being pushed down the stairs and saying “Good Luck! Safe landing! Adios!  See ya!” 🙂

Throughout the next couple of weeks, I continued playing my flute every morning and evening.  I position my fingers and mouth piece and still was getting those strange sounds but I continued no matter what.  I would remember these words “Play from the heart”.  “Let the heart flow!”.  “Don’t think!”  “Just play!”  I started to listen to other music, like piano soloist and accompanied them.  So I can feel, where I belong with the flute.  That helped quite a bit because I was not thinking, I flowed into the song.  That was when my heart started to feel different.  Like a  disappearance of one self and becoming one with the flute. This is the most unbelievable feeling, one actually feel invisible. I love this feeling!

SPIRITDRUM came around and “Yes!” I brought my flute with me.  This was it!  I will just leap myself off the cliff with faith and hope someone will catch me at the landing.  Did I feel sure of what I was doing? No! Was I a bit nervous of any strange sounds coming out? Yes! Did I know when to come in while everyone was playing? No!  But here I am with flute in hand.  Everyone started to play their soft sounding instruments and drums of choice and creating a beautiful rhythmic tones and harmony.  As I was feeling the music and feeling every pulse, I picked up my flute and out came a soft sound then a strange one, which I wanted to die but kept on playing.  When one plays an instrument with others, you have no ideal what direction it will take, but I kept on.  Kind of winging it as the rhythmic sound moved along.  After the gathering, I was so relieved.  I did it. However it came out, however the sound, I did it.  From this day on there was no stopping!

My first flute, will always be special.  Because of this, I wanted to give it a name that represent me, my journey, my life.  Three years ago I had purchase a little figurine from the “Willow Tree” collection.  The one that represented me 100%  is called  “Freespirit”, “Dancing through life with laugher”.  I treasure this little piece because its my essence. It’s who I am.   So I decided to name this flute “FreeSpirit”.

This flute is an instrument, but not just an instrument that I play, it also teaches me.  When I play, I become one with the flute.  It is a healing instrument, which I will explain at my next blog.  Playing from the heart, not knowing where it will take me.  When I play my FreeSpirit flute, it spreads its wings and flies, soars through the sky like an eagle.  (To be continued…)

~~Did I get pushed off the cliff? Was there pressure to speed the learning? To move forward? I would answer with “Yes” but it was up to me.  I did bring my flute, I did play, however and whatever the sound would be.  I am very grateful that Dave pushed me forward and because of his support and confidence, it helped me move and leap forward. Also the support of all my friends.  They were the ones listening as I played, they are the ones playing other instruments and mending into one solid rhythm and harmony.  There are no words to explain my gratitude.

I love where I am at now.  I am still learning.  It has only been four months and so far I have three Native American Flutes.  For me, this is like a miracle and many individuals have become part of this miracle which I will always cherish and treasure.  And my first flute, “FreeSpirit” has taught me to play from the heart, feel from the heart, connect with element of the wood, voice my song, voice my feelings.  I believe this is a gift from my creator as I follow my heart and dreams…

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside. ~~Cantus Fraggle

“It is a sign” Part II

Is it a sign?

The week passed by and it was Friday morning.  As promised, I visited Joe, at The Silver Buffalo Gallery. I took the CD he gave me so he can sign the cover…why not? HAHAH! My mom accompanied me so we can decide on my birthday gift.  At last we found a beautiful, simple sterling silver pendant bear and the price was right.  It is handmade by an Native American named David Rosales, which is very important to me and also to keep the integrity.  Plus to support the arts and craftmanship. I then gave her a hug and kiss, for such a wonderful gift.  A gift that represents me, who I am. This gift will always be treasured and be close to my heart. “Gracias Mami”

After we were done, Joe showed me around the gallery and I started to play a couple of Native American Frame drums that he had on display.  I talked to him about drumming circles and its meanings.  Then I noticed some flutes hanging on the wall.  He gave me a little concert and I fell in love with this instrument.  I spend a total of two hours or more.  I was so proud of my mom,  she was so patient but then she had a lot of jewelry to entertain her eyes! HAHAH!

We then left.. During the week I continued listening to the CD he had given me as a gift. The more I listened, the more it was touching my heart, a calling to me and then I remembered seeing and hearing Dan. S. with his flute.  I started recalling my childhood thoughts, so I contacted Joe and dropped over again the following Friday.  I mentioned that I do not read music, but do sing plus I learn from listening and feeling. He looked at me and said “you are perfect for the flute”, “the flute is for you because it comes from the heart”.  We walked over to some of the flutes and he again played different key notes.  He mentioned that he had placed an order, for more flutes. So now I was excited.  But as I was listening to him play, I was thinking, can I do this? Is this for me? Then I said ”Yes!” I will do this.  Too many signs were directed toward me and I will listen and respond to this calling even though I don’t know what I am doing. HAHAH! Joe then said, to drop over the following week so I can look and hear all the flutes and decide on which one speaks to my heart.  The week went by and boy! was I excited.

On Wednesday evening my mom and I was talking about flying.  My mom always has lots of dreams of flying, being elevated, flying across the skies, moving without touching the ground, flying across houses and forests.  These sensations are very real to her.  She loves these kinds of dreams.  I expressed how I would love to dream like that.  I know we all dream but I don’t ever remember any of my dreams.  I guess that’s a good thing! HAHAH! Or maybe I dream awake! HAHAH! Or like someone said, I am in the dream…

So it was Thursday evening and I headed over to the gallery.  Met up with Joe, again.  We went to the flute section and there he had an assortment of flutes in different key notes and wood types. I turned around, faced the wall and he played each one…as I listened.  After I heard them all, I made a choice and said “that’s the one!”  I turned around and he said “this is a very sweet flute and this was the one I had in mind for you” He handed me the flute, my first flute.  Now, I felt like I was elavating…HAHAH!  I held it so gently and started to feel it. I looked at it and the bird was an eagle and at the end of the flute is a flying bird in a downward direction.  I said to myself  “a bird”, a bird flying!”  I immediately remembered my conversation with my mom about flying. This is the one!  The key-note is F# which a week later in speaking to a friend Melanie, mentioned the key-note being an F is also for flying!  I could not believe the connections of this flute. It’s perfect, it’s meant to be…. I arrived home like a child with a bag of M&M’s or in my case, a paint set when I was little.

I arrived home and as I was parking my SUV, the sky had a beautiful tone to it.  I looked up and saw a rainbow, actually a double rainbow.  I ran inside and grabbed my camera and captured that moment. A rainbow, a promise…hummm!

I went inside and immediately started to play, could not wait.  I wanted to experience what it meant, to “play from the heart” (to be continued…)

Is this a sign? I asked myself in the beginning. Now I know, there were signs.  A direction of my life. My inner voice, my inner passion. Others were being used to guide me toward a direction that is still unknown to me but it feels good so I will move on.  If you see signs and it feels good then its meant to be.  Flow with the river and see where it takes you…you are being guided. A rainbow, a promise!

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside. ~~Cantus Fraggle

“Is This a Sign?”…Part I.

After attending many events, gatherings and meeting wonderful individuals, I was moving forward.  Flowing in a river not knowing where it was taking me and I am still in the river! HAHAH!

Throughout my life I have always enjoyed everything about the Native American ways.  Even as a child, I was always kind of connected and drawn to it.  Sitting on floor pillows, the color palettes, the rugs, the bead work, the throws, feathers…just about everything.  It was like a mix of Native American and bohemian for me.  Now, I just love everything and anything cultural.  HAHAH!  Many would find this a bit odd, because here is this hispanic child, then a teen and so on, from Brooklyn, NY. raised in a gang, drug infested surrounding. To then like, the Native American ways …Hummm.

In the neighborhood I grew up, just walking to school was an adventure. To always be on alert and on guard, not to get mugged, nor beaten up or pushed upon, having your hair burned, or your face smashed against the wall.  Flying stones and bricks.  Having a large dog chase you down the street and rip the leg pants off, running up the stairs in two’s because of fear, someone would be following you and most of times you were. The list goes on and on. Let say all of this, in one day!   To survive all of these elements, was critical.  I knew that once I was inside the apartment (home), I was safe.  I dreaded leaving everyday and face these issues but had no choice.  Being drawn to the native ways and deepness was not taking me anywhere…so I kept it within myself.  My only concern was to survive and make sure I kept alive everyday.  Due to this, I hated school. Because even in school it was just as bad.

While in elementary school, there was a wonderful Dean by the named of Ms. Cannon, which I will never forget.  Most of all the teachers, assistants even the principle did not want to be there.  I did not blame them.  They would just show up, teach and leave. No relationship, no mentoring, no after school programs, no tutoring, etc.  But Ms. Cannon was different.  She cared and had a passion within her heart. I was able to feel that when I was with her.  The last couple of years, she took me under her wings.  Ms. Cannon would say to me, “the road is tough but always move forward”.    Till this day I remember those words and will never forget them and her caring ways. She was my angel while I attended this school for six long years and it did not get any better- moving forward to Junior High School.  This is only a pinch of my memoirs, I will write more as we move along…

As I was getting older and moving forward until now, I kept the native ways in my heart and in my spirituality plus I love the simplicity of it.  So when I was introduced to this drumming world, it was not difficult.  I connected and embraced it totally.  As if what I so much desired when I was a child is now in the present.  It’s something how life is…I always say “There is always hope!”

The Native American flute music was not common when I was younger.  According to history, it was widely introduced to the outside world in around 1978.  So after those years, I started to hear and enjoy this wonderful sound, its voice.

This past year, I started to goggle the Native American flute, to see the cost and options. I was uncertain about the wood types, the key notes…everything was just kind of felt complicated so I put it aside.  Plus I did not know how to read music.  I never was able to learn, it was just to rigid for me.  I am more audio and visual. I learn from listening, hearing, feeling and seeing the music, instrument.

So at one of the SPIRITDRUM gathering my friend Dan S., brought his flute with him and played.  As he was playing I thought to myself “how can he play without reading music, did he memorized it?” Hummm!  I further researched the Native American Flute a bit more and found out that it is originally played from the heart. “From the heart?”  But still could not understand it! So I let it be.

Now it was August, 2011 and the Bolton Fair was in full gear.  So on Saturday afternoon I attended and started to visit some of the vendors.  As per walking, I noticed a display with these beautiful Native American Silver jewelry. Yes! they saw me coming! HAHAH! So I stopped over, because I was also looking for a native bear pendant.  My mom wanted to buy me a birthday gift but I told her to wait until we find the perfect pendant and the right price.  So in looking around, the vendor, Joe and I started to talk and he expressed where his shop, The Silver Buffalo Gallery was located. So I told him that I would visit the gallery that coming week to see more options and hopefully find the bear pendant. Now while we were talking, I could hear beautiful Native American flute music playing in the back ground.  We talked about, drumming circles and then I asked, who was the artist playing the flute and he said “himself” Which was very impressive.  Then he looked at me for a moment and handed me one of his CDs he was selling, as a gift.  I was in total awe.  Did not know what to say nor express.  For by nature, I am a giver. So when I receive, I am very sensitive to the gesture and the essence of it. Later on I asked myself “Is this a sign?”

Then a couple of days later the gathering of SPIRITDRUM was meeting again and I attended.  Before we started, everyone was talking, exchanging thoughts and laughing.  Then Dan S. looked at me and asked me “Did you just purchase a Native American Flute?”  I just looked at him in amazement.  He had no idea what I was up too, actually no one did.  I said to him “not yet, but I am looking into it” After this brief conversation I again asked myself “is this a sign?” (to be continued…)

~~My childhood life and teen years were not easy.  Do I regret it? I do not, I had no choice, but it has made me who I am.  I truly believe that I was able to survive all of these dangerous situations because of my mom, Mama Pacha’s prayers and the protection of our Creator.  By the way, my mom’s real name is Carmen.   It is a miracle that I am alive. Everyday, I learn, I see, I hear. There is never a question “why?” One moves forward and see what changes can be embraced. Flow through life and be sensitive  to the surrounding and how people and places are used for ones own direction.  Just to think that as a child this was within my inner essence and now, now after all these years…it is back, it has returned…

We see with our eyes. We know with our hearts. Outside…Inside. ~~Cantus Fraggle

Who is Cantus Fraggle?

If you have been following my blog, you have noticed that I always end with the following quote:

“We see with our eyes,

We know with our hearts…

Outside…Inside.

~~Cantus Fraggle

This is one of my most favorite quotes, its simple but so true and deep.

You may be wondering who is Cantus Fraggle?

I will share it with you.  Cantus is a Muppet creation that travels with his pose, the minstrel to help the Fraggles find their song…  This program was on HBO between 1983-1987.  Below you can view a clip from the Fraggle Rock. This is one of my favorite clips and it is entitled “Let Me Be Your Song”  But what is really ironic is that Cantus appears playing what they call “The Pipe” and I just started playing the Native American Flute….Hummm

(Please click on the link, you will not regret it! )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX55gDZaWyk

So who is Cantus Fraggle? No other, then Jim Henson

Copyright @ The Jim Henson Company. All Right Reserved. Photo Credit: Norman Seiff

But, you’ve heard enough. Now, its time for you to listen. Go and find your song. ~~Cantus Fraggle 

Hope you enjoy it as much as I LOVE it…

So, Go and find your song…

(For the lyrics to “Let Me Be Your Song” go to Reflections/Quotes/Lyrics tab)