Autumn '23 Newsletter

Gratitude Shout-Outs

Drum Garden Workshops Have Officially Begun!

-Special Needs Teens & Adults-

Photos from PCTR

Having been given the opportunity to facilitate my first organized drum and percussion workshop, I want to now take a moment to express some gratitude.

First, thanks to my stepmother, Linda, for funding most of my percussion-stuff start-up! Thanks to family and roadies, especially because I have not aquired a van for this just yet.

Thanks to The Presbyterian Church of Toms River/Fun Night for allowing me to join in your special needs ministry on November 10th. You’ve done so much for our daughter over the years. It was great to bring some fun.

We did a short drum session each, for 3 separate groups, and each group was able to learn about the basics of djembe (and Tubano) and to play at least 3 rhythm games! Since the special needs fun night was centered on preparing celebration packages to donate to The House of Hope in Toms River, I customized two rhythm games to celebrate both individuality as well as community. I absolutely loved hearing the rhythms that were shared.

I also want to thank Jim Donovan (Jim Donovan Trainings) for his Drumming & Disabilities Training and for his insightful feedback. His program seriously prepared me and equipped me to facilitate the 3 completely different groups that sat in my circle on the 10th. I'm extra excitied about doing workshops in the coming year because of this training.

(Note that with the exception of one possibility, Drum Garden Workshops are hibernating now - until Spring '24.)

Shout out to local drum circle communities, and to all the cool drum folk connections who have helped with equipment and know-how. I’ve relaxed a whole lot since I first met you guys!

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--Here's What's New Online--

New Course, and Discussion Posts Added...

The ME Program (Meditation & Empowerment) is an online, partial fundraiser for Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean.

While you learn self empowerment, 10% of your subscription helps to empower the community.

(Read Program Launch Post Here.)

This month, ME102: Meditation for Deeper Purpose and Equanimity has been added to the available list of courses and classes. I threw in some original meditation music too. (It is highly recommended to take ME101 before ME102.)

In addition, public discussion posts (relevant to The ME Program) are now being added and will be available this Autumn. The reason for the public discussion is so that subscribers may unsubscribe (discontinue monthy auto-renewal) and resubscribe as needed - without being cut from discussions and continuing progress. Links to each discussion appear within the course modules for easy-finding.

As a reminder, one month is currently $12 2023 price, you get access to all available courses and classes, and you may cancel your auto-renewal at any time. Using the material is as easy as scrolling! Our start-up year is a good time to try it out.

Currently Available: Meditation 101 Course, Meditation 102 Course, and Letting Go Class

(Check out The ME Program and View all Syllabi here.)

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New Page Added...

The Drum Garden Resource Page

is created for our Drum Garden Workshop participants. I thought to myself, "What if somebody discovers that they love drums?"

There are some local listings on there for those who want to continue (beyond Drum Garden) their pursuit of percussion. I’ve also begun a percussion photo-library with tidbits about drums and more, and I began an educational, yet slightly comedic YouTube playlist for our teens and adults to enjoy. So yes, it is supposed to be just a little funny!

There’s even info on how to go about planning for your first public drum circle, and there’s info on the benefits of drumming.

I will continue to build on this page.

Thanks to Touch Mother Earth Nonprofit, to Mosaic Music Therapy, and to Greg Hochman of artdrum.com for allowing me to list you as resources of interest on the Drum Garden Resource Page.

(Visit the Page and All Resources here.)

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--Coming Soon--

New Book

I’m excited to be working with an illustrator for the cover of my latest book, The Lightning Project; Writings on Personal Shamanism. While the book uses my own shamanic experiences and perspective as an example, the purpose of the book is “to inspire your personal truthful expression.” And so, I hope it will be enjoyable and insightful for everyone/anyone.

Side Note: If you’re interested in reading The Lightning Project when it comes out, you may also be interested in my published book, Dream Fables for Transformation; 12 Extraordinary Dreams Mindfully Translated, which is available on Amazon. It includes my real dreams and altered states, it is short and inexpensive, and it gives you much to journal about or to discuss in a spiritual or philosophical group should you choose. While these books are not part of a series, Dream Fables may be a good starter for anyone new to exploring dreams, states of consciousness, shamanism, and (cognitive) mindfulness. Also, Autumn and Winter are great introspective seasons for working with dreams!

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I will likely be doing seasonal newsletters as opposed to monthly ones from now on.

I hope you have an enjoyable and healthy Autumn season!

-Sue George

Healing Arts Instructor/ Facilitator

I'm a spiritual healing arts practitioner with certifications in life coaching, cognitive mindfulness, meditation, and interspiritual counseling & lightwork. Drums are involved! My lifestyle and concentration is deeply and wonderfully shamanic. All my arts revolve around wholeness and personal expression. You can read more about me here.

Listening and Healing Inspiration

In lieu of an October newsletter, an inspirational thought...

My body suddenly decided to attack me recently with bilateral sciatica, arthritis, and more. This morning after getting my daughter off to school, I sat and moped. Is this how it ends? Is it all down hill from here? I was in so much pain. Normal human reaction, yes. But, it doesn’t have to be.

As I sat there in give-up mode, I realized that a song had been playing in my head for a while. It was faint - as if coming through a window from outside. It was so faint and unobtrusive that I dismissed it for probably 20 minutes.

I stopped ruminating on pain, and I listened more closely. “Don’t.. stop.. thinkin’ about tomorrow…”

It was the Fleetwood Mac song, Don't Stop. Goofy as this might sound, the song has more significance to me than just being a “keep going” song. You see, I was scared to death of water as a kid. I was particularly scared of ocean waves.

My cousins were all good swimmers, and I think two were lifeguards. One cousin took me by both hands into the ocean waves one day. She said, “Sing this song with me, Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow…” We sang louder whenever a wave approached. I was scared, but it was also funny. And she explained that just because I’m afraid of the waves right now, that doesn’t mean I’ll be afraid of them tomorrow. The only way to know this though, is to be in the waves - and survive them. (I turned into a total fish that Summer.)

©2023 Susan George Island Beach State Park NJ

Anyway, I heard the song in my head this morning, and I knew what it meant to me. I’m in a big wave. So what? I laughed at myself. I got up with no pain and took a shower. I ate. Then I took my prescriptions because I know it’s going to take more than one wholeness moment to fix this body. But I’m better. I'm better than earlier this morning.

Whether you call it shamanism, Self, God, or something else, take a quiet minute to really hear it. Chances are, you’re being helped. But that help is unobtrusive. It won’t overpower you or make choices for you. It honors your personal choices. Choice is your job.

You’ve got this.

Sept '23 Newsletter

We're About Spiritual Growth and Development - Sometimes with Drums

There’s "Just-Drums"

But There’s Mostly "Spiritual -and- Drums"

Aug23Newsletter

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Download PDF • 5.72MB

Find Upcoming Workshops with Tickets on Eventbrite Here

Follow FB for other events and announcements HERE

Earth Intern may facilitate some community drum circles, but the majority of what we do is related to spiritual growth and development workshops (and also percentage-based fundraisers and private charity).

Drums may be involved, but most events are not typical community drum circles.

So, Earth Intern does a few different drum-related things. While there are private, charitable drum and percussion workshops behind the scenes, there are a few drum-related reasons to get together with Earth Intern right now!

Building: Sanctuary Yoga, Toms River, NJ

Our very first Day-Circle Workshop with Grandpa Rooster Theme was announced earlier this month. (Special thanks to Sanctuary Yoga in Toms River!)

Day Circles are shamanic inspired. The Grandpa Rooster theme is fun and expressive with a drum circle segment, a reading, a group discussion, and a simple yet powerful movement and imagery ritual meditation. Anyone interested in Day-Circle Workshops might find this one to be a great starter! Be sure to check Eventbrite for details on repeats and additional themes.

Earth Intern’s workshops may include drums and drum circle segments, but they are not community drum circles, and they are ticketed “spiritual workshops.”

Some community drum circles (together with Earth Intern) may be announced soon though! My suggestion is to follow on FB as some of those might not be on Earth Intern’s Eventbrite account if someone else hosts them.

For those who are interested in finding regular, public drum circles to attend, I suggest checking Facebook events and typing in “drum circle” and your town, county, or state. Drum circles are everywhere! I love the drum community, and almost everyone is willing to give a newbie tips.

To wrap it up, Earth Intern may facilitate some community drum circles, but the majority of what we do is related to spiritual growth and development workshops, charity, and percentage-based fundraisers.

Drums may be involved, but most events are not typical community drum circles.

To know which events you want, just follow along, and read event details. You’ll know which events you want. But if you’re not sure, come give it a try anyway!

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Other News

***September ‘23 Earth Intern Music Releases***

Go (The Go-Dance) Single/Drum to it, or dance wildly!

Shamanic Journey Drumming EP (15 min & 30 min)

View All Music Here

***Enrollment in The ME Program resumes in October. ****

We’re changing platforms and reducing monthly enrollment costs! There will be no need for a “bundled plan,” and all members will automatically have full access - for less!

The ME Program is an online school of courses, and short classes, for learning meditation and personal empowerment. It is also an approved, percentage-based fundraiser for Fulfill of Monmouth and Ocean. (www.fulfillnj.org) For every monthly enrollment to The ME Program, 10% is donated to Fulfill. So, while a student learns to empower themselves, they will also join with Earth Intern and Fulfill in empowering the community. The program is for anyone online and is not limited to Ocean and Monmouth. You may read a recent article about this, and the personal meaning behind it, on LinkedIn.

Healing Arts Instructor/ Facilitator

I'm a spiritual healing arts practitioner with certifications in life coaching, cognitive mindfulness, meditation, and interspiritual counseling & lightwork. I’m also an author, and I’m working on my next book. My lifestyle and concentration is deeply and wonderfully shamanic. All my arts revolve around wholeness and personal expression. You can read more about me here. For books, my Amazon author page is here.

Thanks for being a part! Sue www.earth-intern.com