What are the odds that; 20 years ago you would find a group of locals undertaking “spiritual drumming” on top of Mount Canobolas during a phase of the full-moon?

Yet that’s what local professional massage therapist and hypnotist Jenny Stephens and adherents participated in recently.

But for Jenny, this is not some new age spiritualism, but one of the most ancient forms of therapy practiced for millennia by humans.

“Drums are one of the most common of musical instruments in tribal societies, almost all cultures had them,” Jenny said.

“This is old, old medicine, it goes back to the very start,” she added.

Drums are the most widespread and common of musical instruments in tribal societies, for good reason, she believes. Because drumming does not only soothe the hearer, but the drummer as well, the basis of modern spiritual drumming.

“It allows a person to clear their thoughts of everything around them willingly,” she explained.

“When you’re drumming, you get into a type of trance that clears your mind; it’s not quite a form of hypnosis because you’re still quite aware and in control.”

The impact is not only percussive but also repetitive allowing for participants to “lose themselves” in the process.

“The rhythmic effects of the drumming, the sound vibration, holds their attention, it’s a focusing exercise,” she said. “It’s about utilising our sense of sight, sound and touch and, as well, we also burn white sage.

“With the sage, the idea is to get you into a mood, everything is away from there, same as the prayers used by the Carmelite Nuns,” Jenny explained.

“It provides a feeling of oneness.”

Apart from her own little group, Jenny believes that there are another three spiritual drumming groups in the district, highlighting the interest in this new-old pastime.

“With the lockdowns and everything, this is a wonderful way to get out of the worries of your life and focus on one simple thing, the feel and sound of the drums,” she added.

The drumming exercise on Mt Canobolas was designed to oppose plans for Council-proposed mountain bike trails on Mt Canobolas.,

“This is such a special place which — due to its volcanic origins — has roots deep in the earth,” Jenny said.

“It’s a sacred place and this was our way of trying to keep a little bit of it alive, because there’s so many delicate things up there, tiny orchids, that could become extinct,” she added.

The practice of spiritual drumming has now been adopted at many business conferences — sort of the break-out event to offer strait-laced corporate types a chance to express themselves.

Many business operators though see the benefit for its leaders in not just a team-building exercise but one which is also fun and breaks new ground for learning.

Jenny though believes the ancient traditions that drumming represent are also a way of connecting to God; “Buddha, Yahweh, Mohammed, they are all the same energetic presence and you want your little bit of life recognised by that presence,” she added.

There is an energetic exuberance in it, we use that exuberance as a way to facilitate where a person come’s to.

“It’s about being in touch with the world, the wind and the rain and the sun and everything,” Jenny concluded.