Listening Matters Thoughts for the Fire Circle by Michael Wall and Mz. Imani Percussive music is just one expression that we can offer at the Fire Circle. All our music is intended to be in service to the sacred play and work that rises up through our chant, dance, music and ritual theatre. Please help maintain a balance which supports the full potential of our musical magic. Remember to co-create opportunities for different types of drums to take a leading role and allow for the ebb and flow of multifaceted texture to emerge in our sonic space. Congas, dumbeks, and frame drums don’t have the same degree of volume or projection as djembes. Be willing for music to evolve which showcases the richness and diversity of the other softer voices within our community. Poetry and spoken word moments require a window of opportunity. Let us remember to seek comfort within silence, recognizing it as a safe and nurturing place to find ourselves. From the fertile soil of silence new inspiration and unexpected offerings will blossom. Our respect for the expertise of our sisters and brothers empowers them to weave their musical spells without percussive accompaniment. The energy signatures generated by didgeridoos, singing bowls, temple bells, chimes, bird whistles, rain sticks, gongs, and bullroarers, all contribute to the richness of our musical garden. We wish to deeply engage and play with the unique sonic circuitry crafted by these gentle voices. Sometime they stand alone and sometimes they lead us into chants or invocations, thereby evoking fluid and sensual motion and connection through eye contact and dance. Our willingness will give back. It will provide access to other realms of consciousness and co-creativity. Together we open sweet and tender portals that touch our most sacred selves, uniting our passions and purpose as we dance our dreams into reality! By loving and living balance and the appreciation of diversity within our circle we broadcast this experience and reflect this gift to the entire planet. May All Beings Know Peace! Imani and Michael