The first time I met Judy Atkinson was fifteen years ago at a house party where the hostess had invited a woman she knew to come and give the 20 or so guests a drumming lesson. I was intimidated and awed. She was beautiful. Graceful. Vibrant. She sparkled.

Fifteen years later, I met up with Judy again at my first Summer of Peace Calgary 2012 meeting. Once again, I felt intimidated and awed. She was still, beautiful, graceful, vibrant. She still sparkles.

Except, I don’t feel intimidated anymore. That was just my ego anyway and in Judy’s presence there is no room for ego. She is all in. All there. All present. In Judy’s presence, there is only room for Love, peace and joy.

Today, Judy shares her story of how she became a “Messenger of JOY”. How she lives the power and force of drumming to create lasting change, in our hearts and beings and in the world.

Thank you Judy for shining your light here, and throughout the world. Thank you for always drumming up joy! You make a difference.

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When the DRUM calls, Listen!

by Judy Atkinson

Today, I am affectionately known as a “Messenger of JOY”.  Wow, what a great title! My Mom says that I was born happy, and certainly I had a delightful rural upbringing in Northern Alberta.  However, 20 years ago I was not so joyful.

I was a 40-year-old single mom, head and heart spinning with disappointment, sadness and fear, trying to protect and care for my children and also get my feet on the ground after divorce.

BC, (before children), I completed an undergrad degree in Sociology and then took a job to support my husband as he completed his law degree. I was in the highly competitive dog-eat-dog corporate world of sales and marketing and knew I didn’t want to go back there!  After the divorce I knew that I wanted to “Take my Soul to Work”,  to authentically love what I was doing and at the same time make a difference in people’s lives, as I had been doing  in my children’s lives, and for  those who attended my parenting education workshops.  So I enrolled in a Master’s degree in Adult Education.

Half way through this grad degree I found myself at an international business conference in Mexico called Take your Soul to Work!  “Right out of the blue” so they say.   Thank you Universe!  I attended everything that was offered, and mid-week, not even knowing what it was, I attended a drum circle workshop that blew  my mind!  It was simply transformational.  I literally melted into the experience, time stood still, and I experienced heaven on Earth.  It was a real live epiphany which changed my life forever!

It was like a huge magnet attached itself to my heart and dropped me right into the middle of the circle.    It tugged me in and then gently nudged me out at the end, tears of joy streaming down my face.  I knew clearly, without a shred of doubt that this was what I was to do with my career and life from that day forth.   I knew that this was a powerful tool for human transformation, my calling and my new world service.

It made no sense from a head place.  Here I was, a middle class, white woman trying to make a living as a single mom drumming in the corporate world 15 years ago in red neck Calgary!  My friends and family rolled their eyes, but supported me because of the sheer passion pouring out of me and the sparkle they saw in my eyes.

15 years later I am facilitating over 200 drum circles a year all over the province and country.  From corporate to community, team building to cancer work, weddings to funerals, I run a thriving small business giving people a taste of the experience that I had that warm moist night in Mexico.  My drums and I bring joy, hope, love and laughter, release, community, possibility, spirit, healing and connection to thousands of people every year.  I know that what I do makes a difference as people release pent-up stress, feel supported and connected to themselves, to each other and to something bigger…   You’re right Mom, I am a Messenger  of Joy!

My message to you is:  follow that heart tug when you feel it.  It might make no sense at the time.  It might be a huge shove, or a gentle nudge, but listen to it.  Today I realize that the drumbeat is simply the vibration of love.  When the drum, ( Love), calls listen, it is your heart trying to be heard.

I truly hope to join rhythms with you in a drum circle sometime soon!  Bless your heart.
Judy Atkinson, Circles of Rhythm, 403-253-2023, judy@circlesofrhythm   www.circlesofrhythm.com