The Practice of Taketina - Into the Rhythmic Community

led by Marcus Sims, with Elaine Fong on surdo

Saturday, March 24th, 10am to 5:30pm

at the Emerson Umbrella Center for the Arts, Concord , Mass.

sliding scale $54 to $108

To register, contact Morwen Two Feathers at morwen at earthdrum dot com or call 978-371-2502.

Dear Friends,

            You are invited to join us in the rhythmic community of Taketina. I say 'rhythmic community' because I see Taketina as a practice of learning about rhythm, or more accurately, learning FROM rhythm. And 'community' because we practice as a group, guided by the leaders and by each other.

            Rhythmic knowledge is a special kind of knowledge. It is spread throughout the Universe holographically, with ALL of the knowledge contained EVERYWHERE. That is, each part of the Universe contains all rhythmic knowledge. Therefore, each of us also contains knowledge of rhythm.

            The tricky part is that humans need culture to become fully human. Culture is the mechanism through which important aspects of being human - language, music, architecture, social rituals, art of all kinds, science, ways of viewing and understanding the world - are passed down and grow through the generations.

            Traditionally, rhythmic knowledge is passed from generation to generation through music and dance. But our modern industrial culture tends to separate us from the bodily ways of learning rhythm. We are more likely to listen to music on our CD player than to make music ourselves; more likely to cruise in our car rather than amble on our own two legs. Our natural rhythms, of walking, waking, sleeping, eating, talking, and even paying attention, are often pushed out-of-whack in the demands of our daily lives.

            Taketina is a very powerful practice to counteract the influences of our industrial culture and bring us into connection with the natural rhythmic knowledge already inside of us. And in the Taketina circle, another's awakened rhythm helps your rhythm to awake. We share the knowledge, intimately and in the moment, and the power of group learning makes it easier for each one of us to awaken. In Taketina, we can gradually find our own way into rhythm and our own place of contribution and nourishment in the community.  How rhythm works becomes obvious, and how life works becomes more clear. As rhythm for evolution, Taketina can help us find our way.

            This is the clarity and connection we will need as we look into the 21st century, with all of the challenges and opportunities before us. You are invited into the Taketina rhythmic community. Please join us if you will.

in rhythm,

Marcus

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Marcus Sims is certified as an Advanced Taketina teacher, and continues intensive study with Reinhard Flatischler, the Austrian master drummer who developed Taketina. Marcus lives and works near Washington , DC , and spends his time designing and building furniture, gardening, playing music, and working as an active citizen to preserve our world. He brings an open heart and an affection for the ‘beginner’s mind’ to his mission of re-membering the power of rhythm into our communities and culture.

Elaine Fong is the founder and artistic director of the Odaiko New England taiko drumming company, as well as a certified basic Taketina leader. She is currently enrolled in the Advanced Taketina teacher training.

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"Humans on all continents and in all times have found awareness of rhythm to be a pathway into sacred presence. Through movement, clapping, vocals and percussion, Taketina opens us beyond our cocoon of habitual thinking and perception, and into the mystery of being intensely alive and profoundly awake. As teacher and group leader, Marcus Sims brings a quality of sensitivity, care and wisdom that makes this meditative journey both safe and deeply transformative. I highly recommend the process, and Marcus, as trusted guide!"

Tara Brach, founder and senior teacher of the Insight Meditation Community of Washington, psychotherapist and author of Radical Acceptance- Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha

"I spent most of the next day with friends, finally relaxed. Skipped the afternoon workshop, but then Ron and I saw some people gathering and went to find out what it was about. We ended up learning TaKeTina, which is wonderful. There's a very simple step, a varying chant, and clapping to a somewhat difficult rhythm. Seems easy, but it's hard to keep all of them going at once, your body doing three very different things. The repetitive rhythm was very soothing to me and by the time it ended I felt more present in my body than I have in months. Ron looked at me and said "welcome back!" I've been out of it for months and still don't fully understand why, but as of that moment, it was over. I felt connected to my senses and everything was just so vivid and intense and beautiful."

Anais, workshop participant