Russell Buddy Helm

When reaching a groove, there is a hint that we in a divine process. It is beyond words so it is difficult for our intellectual mind to articulate it but our hearts do and that is where this kind of drumming works.

“Deezer” is streaming music. I’m big on Deezer and it isn’t even available in the US. funny stuff.

What is Drumming Therapy?

It is a new technology for healing as well as an ancient process of integration. We see now that rhythmic nutrition is essential to a balanced human being. Without it there is displeasure, discomfort, disassociation and psychic dissonance. With the rhythm playing an active role in the person’s well being, they feel empowered, non-passive, creative and hopeful. The endorphins secreted during a grooving interlude fight everything from cancer to depression. The lasting effect is a residual sense of good vibrations. This activity puts the person in the power seat making them able to communicate to the immense  universe in their own language. The mythic story that emerges from the individual drumming is a song of creation and redemption.

This is not about us. This is not about you. This is not about me. So don’t take it personally.

When the shock of that realization slowly sunk in, I needed a crutch to prop up my faith in reality. That’s when I came back to the drum.

Intellectually based therapies are good and are evolving to articulate the newest insights into how personality “works”.

Drumming rediscovers the original language; Rhythm. Every time you hit it. It keeps us in the moment outside of intellectual definitions. That confuses the mind when it discovers that it’s control has been usurped by something as ephemeral as a groove.

But that is what happens every time a commercial plays a musical dittie behind their product. The intellectual mind can get hijacked by rhythms and not even know it.

Groove based theologies and therapies present reality in a different language. Which puts our point of attention outside intellect. This is akin to finally getting out of your car to fix it instead of driving it while you are trying to fix it.

We witness ourselves as outside the critical mind. Something larger than intellect.

There are more things in the universe than there are names.

When the first ape picked up a stick and started beating on something he soon realized that he might have someone warm to sleep with when the females started dancing.

So feedback wise…my first Monday there, I was very skeptical of meditation drumming. I didn’t know what it was exactly, but I felt like I have no rhythm or coordination and just didn’t know what to expect. I had already had a meditation session group earlier in the day and felt hopeless about meditation and clearing out my brain. But with the drumming, as well as your calm, cool, wise demeanor, it was amazing. I was able to get into the rthym and just let my body do the work, and that meant my brain could focus more on meditation, if that makes sense. Kind of like how kids with ADHD do BETTER with more stimulation. It was soothing and I loved the idea of reality within the drums. I liked how you would sing affirmations to us if we didn’t have our own, and that you didn’t push us too much. You read our energy well. It was nice speaking out loud things we wanted in a way we otherwise wouldn’t, and to phrase it in present tense. I found it very healing and a wonderful addition to the  repertoire. We were blessed to have you.

This was an unsolicited recommendation on Linkedin. It was very nice so I thought I’d post it.

Details of the Recommendation: “I’ve known Buddy for several years. We first met at a hand drumming workshop he hosted. I have attended his workshops on numerous occasions and have always found him to be a kind and generous person with a wealth of drumming/musical knowledge. I have learned a lot from him about both drumming and life. He’s also a superb drum therapist. Through the drum, he coaxes out those emotional knots we all have in a supportive and patient way. I’m honored to consider him a friend. If you get the chance to attend one of his workshops, run, don’t walk. Meantime, read his books!”
Service Category: Writer/Editor
Year first hired: 1997 (hired more than once)
Top Qualities: Personable, Expert, Creative

Grandma Todd was into faith healers, in the summertime we would go to beautiful Winona Lake and see famous faith healers in front of  thousands of people in a huge corrugated steel domed architectural testament to the “can-do” spirit of post WWII America. Oral Roberts, Billy Sunday, and others filled these types of arenas all over the country. A huge merchandizing area greeted the faithful as they entered; velvet pillows with the Savior painted on them, glow in the dark Jesus magnets to stand up on the steel dashboard in your Packard. These were the rock stars of the Fifties. When the audience started to get antsy the evangelist would turn it over to the band and they would play some great uptempo gospel music. The drummer was good, he got everybody going and clapping their hands together. His big shiny blue pearl Ludwig drumset was on a six foot tall riser in the middle of the stage. The evangelist stood in front so his head was framed right in the middle of the bass drum, like a halo and he would just beam. I figured, being the young erstwhile drum student,  that if you wanted people to believe or heal, a good beat helps. The drum does something different than words. As a result, people feel better. Mysterious clues for a young drummer. But now I realize that everything feeds into who we are. The grooves are inspirational flowing energy patterns that have used us to dance and heal since the beginning of time.