Gathering of 8,000 Drums

This Saturday, March 21, is the first day of spring. You are invited to celebrate the season by participating in The Gathering of 8,000 Drums, a continent-wide day-long event to "reactivate cosmic energy, heal historical wounds, and heal our Mother Earth...."

The local event will take place in the Cohutta Wilderness near Ellijay, Georgia. Other events will take place simultaneously at several locations across the United States and Mexico.

My friend Monika Ponton-Arrington, wife of a brother Mason, is coordinating the event here in the north Georgia mountains.

Children are welcome, as are all members of the brotherhood of humanity. I will be there with my 10-year old son to enjoy the spring equinox.

From the flyer:

You Are Invited

The Indigenous First Nations, Peoples, Communities and Organizations of the World and all Humankind According to a Prophecy of all Indigenous Peoples.

It is time to re-unify ourselves and rediscover for ourselves all the Seeds of the Four Directions in order to reactivate cosmic energy, heal historical wounds and heal our Mother Earth by respecting life and the liberty and dignity of our Peoples.

Coming together of all Peoples.

Indigenous Keepers of the Ancestral, Ceremonial and Medicinal
Sound of the Sacred Drums; Councils of Elders, Sages and Leaders of all Indigenous Nations, Peoples and Organizations; Indigenous Guides, Guardians and Spiritual Leaders, and All Traditions of Humankind and Elders of Georgia.

There will be a central fire.

On March 21, 2009, 11:00 a.m. to ? We will begin Drumming in Prayer and Song

Please bring your Drum.

This will be held on Old Cherokee Ball Field in the Cohutta Wilderness outside of Ellijay, Ga.

• There will be "Primitive Camping"!! No Electricity. There are local hotels. Please call for more info.
• You will be able to have your own personal area among the trees.
• Please bring your own firewood, food and water.
• This is a Gathering, not a Pow Wow. No vendors.
• This event is not limited to just Native Americans. All people are welcome.

Directions: Hwy 52 West toward Fort Mountain. From town circle of Ellijay, Ga. Go 5.0 miles to Gates Chapel Rd. on right. Stay on Gates Chapel till you hit gravel, then bear right on Wilderness Trail F 90 to Forest Road 68. Make a sharp right towards lake. Go to top of a large Y. Turn left going toward to Consuaga Lake. You will see signs stating the area. It is exactly 13.5 miles from Gates Chapel. Bring your tent or camper, or reserve a room at one of several hotels in the area. There is camping near a lake about a mile down from the Gathering area, with bathrooms. Please note this is the Wilderness area, with the nearest town 14 miles away. [Map]

Please email questions to drums8000@yahoo.com or contact Monika at 706-636-4919 and leave a message.

Note: This will coincide with other Nations and with Mexico's ceremony of Mayan, Aztec and Toltec traditions on the Otomi Grounds.

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