From February 25th until the 28th we were camped in one of the most magical places I have been to, known as Summerland Ranch. Summerland Ranch is a small private owned property in the Southern Florida town of Bonita Springs. It is also one of the locations where Hawkfest is held multiple times of the year.
You first walk onto the Summerland property and you can feel the magic. Right near the entrance, just beyond your initial view is a tree that is hundreds of years old. It's branches reach down to the earth to hold itself up. Continuing through the property you'll find more and more places that move you. Small mossy stone circles with and old mirror inside, beautiful gazebos, stone alters, the entire place is stunning.
Now, if you've never been to a drum festival, this is something you must experience at least once in your life. At minimum everyone should attend a drum circle, but a drum festival gets you much more immersed in it than any other way.
Almost 24/7 there are drums being played. The pulse and rhythm of the drums affects everything from how you move to how you feel. You start to rearrange your life by the beating of the drums. It is at night though that it all really comes alive. The bonfire is built up to a roar, and 50 or so drummers will be encircling it, making music that changes, moves, and pulses with almost a mind of it's own.
Dancers step to the middle between the fire and the drummers and become almost entranced by the magic of it all.
It doesn't matter if you've been to a million drum festivals, or if Hawkfest is your first drum circle you've ever attended, if you show kindness and openness while you are there, you will leave with a new family, and a new place for your soul to call home. A part of my soul will always dance among the trees in Summerland.
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