The beat returns – Friday Sept. 17, 2010, 7:00 PM

Maybe it is ridiculous to think we can change the world. We know it is ridiculous not to try. Are we simply victims of fate, or are we creating a fate that will victimize us?

This September (2010) a Global Experiment that uses drumming to focus a collective positive intention and send it around the world in a continuous wave (to improve our relationship with each other, and with a living planet upon which we live, breath, and have our being) will again occur. 10 Billion Beats started in Sept. 2009. It grew and grew until nearly 200,000 people participated around the globe. In 2010 the grassroots movement will be even bigger and we invite you to be a part of it.

10 billion beats project will use intention to spread peace around the planet this September (2010).

Sound – vibration – frequency – beat has for millennia been an avenue for outward creation and inner exploration. When we listen to the lilt of a mountain brook, or the rhythm of a human heart, sound provides us a pathway to the subtle energies in the deep reaches of our psyche. When we attune with the rhythm of those around us we join in the harmonious dance of life. Sound interconnects us with others and transports us to consciousness states where we encounter insight, healing, growth, and our highest creativity. So what might happen if we use the sound of drumming—like a physical prayer or meditaion—to help balance our relationship as a human family and with the Earth itself?

“It is quite true that in the history of human thinking the most fruitful developments frequently take place at those points where two different lines of thought meet…”

Werner Heisenberg

The human heart beats billions of times in a life. The human brain has about 10 billion cells that connect our nervous system and exchange innumerable signals every moment to create our thoughts and direct life functions. While 10 billion seems like a huge number, to be human is to engage grand scale operations each time we simply take a breath. We have overlooked the magnitude of what it takes to be human and as we approach 10 billion humans on this earth, we have underestimated the effects of our existence on the planet. With, or without, our cooperation, nature will bring balance to the relationship.

The power of intention has the ability to transform your life for the better. Without it, you may feel like you lack direction and get bored easily, all the while living an unfulfilled existence.

When you set an intention, it gives you a purpose.
Think about how driven and fulfilled you’ve felt in the past when you’ve had a purpose. Alternatively, think about a day in your life where you needed to accomplish something but you lacked purpose. There is likely a remarkable difference between what you achieved and how you felt about your achievement!

You can set an intention for anything in life.
You can get out of bed and be abstract and say that you “intend” to have a great day. You can also be specific and list out the things that you intend to accomplish. For example, if you practice yoga in the afternoon, set an intention for your practice. Say that with every breath you exhale, you are releasing negative energy, while you inhale positivity. In the end, you’re not only relaxed, but also rejuvenated.

What Are The Secrets?
There are ways that you can bring out your intentions to make your planning easier and your quest for your goals more fruitful. Try the following activities:

1. Take your dreams seriously. Don’t allow yourself to push your dreams away. They’re not meant to remain fantasies forever; you need to bring them into reality! When you take your dreams seriously, they turn into plans and intentions. When you intend to do something, it becomes real.

2. Gain clarity. Do whatever is within your power to clarify your dreams and intentions. You can do this by simply brainstorming and sorting out your thoughts. Keep a journal and get into the habit of writing everything down. Writing down your intentions is psychologically powerful.

Post your ultimate dream or intention somewhere where you’ll see it every day.

3. Declare your intentions. Make your intentions known to the world so you’ll be held accountable for them. You might think that keeping them inside is better because then no one will know if you fail, but in that scenario, you’ve given up and failed yourself. Tell your friends and family of your goals and keep them up to date on your progress. Alternatively, keep an online blog for sharing your intentions – I’ve seen this work many times on the web.

4. Take action every day. Whether your intentions are large or small, do something every day that’s a step forward toward your intentions. Even if your step for the day is a very small one, it’s a positive progress that’ll add up to something big over time.

5. Keep building new intentions. Once you achieve a goal, set new ones and set them often. The more you build intentions around the things you do, the more productive you’ll become and the more things will seem to go your way.

Remember that every intention doesn’t have to be about hard work. You can keep your brain active while you engage in rest activities as well. For instance, when you intend to have a good time relaxing, you likely will.

Learning how to use the power of intention is exhilarating! It frees you to be the best you can be and brings you a life worth living well. Enjoy it with all the gusto you’ve got!