Last week was a very stressful week. For whatever reason, because honestly I am not sure why, I felt like I couldn’t get anything accomplished, I felt rushed and like the things I enjoyed were being pushed to the side in trying to get everything else done. It was crazy!

I was so wound up by the end of the week I was melting down on Friday, trying to finish up some writing and clean the house, so I could go out and have some much needed ‘me’ time by going out. And the place I wanted to go I knew would help me.

I was heading to a Community Drum Circle, a beautiful place, where you let go of your stress and commitments for 2 hours, letting the world melt away as you bang on the drum. You may go in feeling lost and angry, but you come out feeling relieved, revived and energized!

This was my second time attending the circle, as I had attended with my Mum, son and friend back in early September. We all loved it! I had been to other drumming experiences before but this one was absolutely phenonmenal! The power, the energy and the sense of community that exists within this circle was absolutely amazing. Everyone is accepted, everyone is there for you, everyone is banging on that drum and having the time of their life!

Judy Atkinson, facilitates the evening, and brings such joy, energy and enthusiasm to the circle. No one feels self conscious or left out, no one feels like they have to or are being judged, we are all just there to drum and let go.

Not only is this experience so much fun, it also has so many health benefits, as drumming resonates through every cell in your body, therefore assisting you in releasing negativity, emotions or stress, anger. It helps you to remove any blocks, healing and deeply relaxing us.

It also puts us in the now, the present moment, something which many of us are not; often thinking about what’s next, or reviewing something we did in the past. It connects us with ourselves, permeating the whole brain increasing our Alpha brainwaves, creating feelings of euphoria and happiness.

It is a fantastic night and a great stress release! It is also a wonderful activity for the whole family. Kids love it and get right into it as well, sharing in the experience.

Worried about not having a drum? The drums are provided and there are a few different kinds to choose from, and you can mix it up throughout the evening.

A word of caution though, with this kind of experience you can experience a type of ‘release’ afterwards (which is actually good). This can manifest in a number of ways, physically or emotionally – so you may feel very emotional the next day, experiencing strong emotions such as anger or sadness, or you may actually feel physically ill, feeling sick to your stomach, nauseas or an ache in the body. The good news is is this is your body’s way of releasing what you have moved in the drumming circle and it is moving it out! Releasing those toxins you no longer need, things that no longer serve you. And the more regularly you attend the less extreme these releases will be.

I felt like crap going into the circle on Friday night, I was angry, frustrated and lost. I was crying before I even got in there. We got our drums and sat down and I half heartedly started drumming, but I couldn’t resist the energy, the rhythm and banging of the other drums and before I knew it, I was in there giving it my all, smiling and laughing just like the everyone else. By the time we went home I was tired, but I felt much better, optimistic, relieved and ready to take on a new day. And I plan on going next week. It may seem odd to give up your Friday night to go and drum but the benefits are worth it. And I don’t look at it as giving up my Friday because regardless of how my week goes, I know that there is this little light at the end of the tunnel, a warm loving community waiting for me, and a beautiful experience of growth and connectedness that I need to have and to share with you.

Come out to Judy’s Community Circle on Fridays at the Inglewood Community Hall in Calgary. It’s so worth it! See you there!

Decluttering is a big part of our lives. I always seem to be doing it and looking for better and easier ways to do it. There is no doubt about it, we as a society have a lot of ‘stuff’, and in essence a lot of ‘things’ that get us bogged down, and prevent us from doing or creating the things in our lives that we really want.

There are all kinds of articles and guides available on how to declutter your home from top 10 tips to 30 days to a clutter free home, but not many discuss how beneficial decluttering is for our well being.

Have you ever thought of getting rid of something you really didn’t like and then said “No I can’t because my Mom gave it to me”. But you still don’t like it, so you hide it on the bookshelf or put it back in the box. But it’s still there and it takes up space, it’s draining your energy.

Renowned author, storyteller, vibrational healer and six sensory spiritual teacher, Sonia Choquette says that if there is something in your possession that you don’t like to get rid of it. If it doesn’t make you feel joyful and happy then it is a draining force in your life, it is preventing you from getting what you really want. Everything in our lives is made up of energy, we are energy, as are all the other things in our lives. We feel better when we are surrounded by good positive energy, whether it be people or objects, when we have space to move and flow.

Clearing your space is like clearing your mind, opening up and creating space for new things to come in. This weekend I had the opportunity to do a major declutter in my home. I went through toys, clothes, sorted, organized and purged. Anything that was not in use or too small went into a donation bag, anything that was broken into the trash. I organized the toys and put them together in like piles and then into containers. I cleaned and dusted shelves, wiped out baskets. At one point on Saturday night my entire house was piles of things to organize or deal with. I find that when you are doing a big clean up like that that you often have a big mess before you get to the clean, neat and organized part. It’s like the storm before the calm. You have to create the mess and lay everything out so you can see what’s what, then you are better able to deal with it.

By Sunday afternoon my piles were dealt with, donations to the car, garbage was out and things were organized and back on shelves. The house felt calm, clear, clean and spacious. And I felt good, not only that I had accomplished something but that I could live here, sit and relax and not feel like I was in the middle of chaos.

Clearing your space also creates many health benefits such as better sleep, more energy, better physical, emotional and spiritual health as well as improved health overall. It creates the ability to generate fresh energy, a positive mental and physical space as well as allowing us to release negative emotions.

Now I know that with kids and a family you cannot create piles all over the house and then clean up. It just won’t work, kids get into piles. move things around and then you have a larger mess. So start small, work on one area at a time, even if it is only a corner. Set yourself up for success, once you complete an area you’ll notice how good it feels, then move on to another.

5 Tips to Declutter with Ease

Decluttering does take time but it can be done is small amounts with great results not only for your home but for your well being. Here are a few quick decluttering tips to get you started.

Start small – do an area that is manageable and that you can be successful in completing, this will encourage you to do more and not make it feel so overwhelming
Adopt the in with the new out with old mentality – if you buy something new, move at least one old item out. My rule is often 2-3 old items, especially with clothing, as my goal is to create space so I want the new item but I also want a little more space.
Purge before you organize – it is good to organize, but go through and take out the items that are broken, you don’t like or no longer use. Then organize what you have left.
Be ruthless! If you have not worn that sweater in 3 years out it goes. Don’t save it cause you might wear it, you won’t. If it’s still good give it away, there is someone out there who can use it.
Visualize the result – visualize what you want that space, that area, the house to look like. Hold that picture in your mind as you go through everything.

Want a little extra help? Put this diffuser blend on while you clean. It will motivate and inspire you to get that clutter out!

Add the following essential oils to your diffuser:

2 drops Lemongrass

1 drop Lime

1 drop Douglas Fir

Blend by Desiree Mangandog author of I Am Fabulous

Going through things can also be a reflective time for you, a clearing of the mind. It is a way to process thoughts, reminisce and let go. There may be things mentally or emotionally that you have been holding onto that are holding you back from getting what you really want. If you clear it out of your mind, then you create space for what you want to come in.

This morning when I got up I felt great after all the work I’d done. Lighter, freer, happier. Not only was the space in my house clear, I had cleared the space and energy in my mind and body. Is there more decluttering to be done? Yes, but I feel I have made a good start and that I have opened up space for more of what I really want in my life.

So the next time you look at the ugly vase from Auntie Sue and say “Ugh I really don’t like that” maybe it’s time to move it out, as it could be the one thing that is preventing you from having what you really want in your life.

Momma On The Move

Tag Archives: mental health

The Healing Rhythm of the Drum

Declutter your House, Declutter your Mind

5 Tips to Declutter with Ease