Polyrhythmic Theology
The universe consists of drum circles
within drum circles within drum circles.
All beings are becomings, vibratory
and pulsating, with rhythms of their own,
and shaped by the rhythms of others,
in a universe of inter-rhythmic becoming.
The Spirit is a drum circle facilitator,
both everywhere and now/here.
She offers cues for harmony and intensity,
and when humans respond her cues,
a special kind of drum circle begins to emerge,
socially just and ecologically sustainable,
with no one left behind.
Martin Luther King called it
beloved community.
see also:
The universe is a network of drum circles: circles within circles within circles. The atom is a drum circle; a molecule is a drum circle; the star is a drum circle; a living cell is a drum circle; the human brain is a drum circle; and societies are drum circles. All beings are pulsing with rhythms and beats, influenced by the rhythms around them and within them. Their vibrations are how they respond, rhythmically and in time. In the beginning was not the word. The first sounds of creation were polyrhythms.
The Holy Spirit, sometimes named God, is a facilitator of the polyrhythmic, improvisational drum circles. She facilitates by offering cues for how the drumming can unfold, which are felt by the various beings. In process theology these cues are called initial aims: fresh promptings from the Spirit. In life on earth, these promptings are to live with satisfaction, relative to the situation at hand, and in ways that are syncopated with others and enjoyable to all, with no one left behind. They are for what Martin Luther King called beloved communities. That's the kind of drumming the Spirit needs and loves. Beloved drumming.
The Spirit is not all-powerful. Drum circles can fall apart. And people can be pushed out of desired circles by the will and "privilege" of a very few. This has happened to so many. They create drum circles of their own, and the Holy Spirit helps them. Often they form their drum circles through music, shared work, and mutual delight.
Still, the Spirit enjoys inclusive drumming and seeks to promote it on earth as it is in heaven. The Spirit also enjoys the drumbeats of the more than human world: the vibrations of the minerals and plants and animals on earth, to be sure, and those of beings that exist in other planes. Angels and spirit beings have drum circles, too.
The purpose of angels and prophets - drummers themselves -- is to help us hear the divine rhythms. Nevertheless, we can hear the rhythms ourselves, even apart from their guidance, when we listen, for example, to the sounds of insects and the lapping of waves on the surf. Or when we listen tenderly to the voices of others, letting the tell their stories.
The image of God within us is our capacity to hear the rhythms of one another and the divine facilitator, and drum in ways that nurture life, including our own. When we do these, we become channels of grace to others and ourselves. We become prophets in our own right, priests for the drumming. (Jay McDaniel)
The Holy Spirit, sometimes named God, is a facilitator of the polyrhythmic, improvisational drum circles. She facilitates by offering cues for how the drumming can unfold, which are felt by the various beings. In process theology these cues are called initial aims: fresh promptings from the Spirit. In life on earth, these promptings are to live with satisfaction, relative to the situation at hand, and in ways that are syncopated with others and enjoyable to all, with no one left behind. They are for what Martin Luther King called beloved communities. That's the kind of drumming the Spirit needs and loves. Beloved drumming.
The Spirit is not all-powerful. Drum circles can fall apart. And people can be pushed out of desired circles by the will and "privilege" of a very few. This has happened to so many. They create drum circles of their own, and the Holy Spirit helps them. Often they form their drum circles through music, shared work, and mutual delight.
Still, the Spirit enjoys inclusive drumming and seeks to promote it on earth as it is in heaven. The Spirit also enjoys the drumbeats of the more than human world: the vibrations of the minerals and plants and animals on earth, to be sure, and those of beings that exist in other planes. Angels and spirit beings have drum circles, too.
The purpose of angels and prophets - drummers themselves -- is to help us hear the divine rhythms. Nevertheless, we can hear the rhythms ourselves, even apart from their guidance, when we listen, for example, to the sounds of insects and the lapping of waves on the surf. Or when we listen tenderly to the voices of others, letting the tell their stories.
The image of God within us is our capacity to hear the rhythms of one another and the divine facilitator, and drum in ways that nurture life, including our own. When we do these, we become channels of grace to others and ourselves. We become prophets in our own right, priests for the drumming. (Jay McDaniel)
The Facilitated Drum Circle: from Wikipedia |
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"Polyrhythm is the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms, that are not readily perceived as deriving from one another, or as simple manifestations of the same meter. The rhythmic conflict may be the basis of an entire piece of music (cross-rhythm), or a momentary disruption." (Wikipedia)
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Hearing and Playing Polyrhythms
a spiritual practice in polyrhythmic theology
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