Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen joined Lauren Monroe to bring healing and meditation through drums at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) in Chowchilla.
Allen and Monroe are the founders of the Raven Drum Foundation (learn more about the organization on their website).
“(They) bring a day of healing and give us some (tools) like meditation (to) let go (of the) past, which we can’t control, and stay focused on (being present),” said Betty, an incarcerated person. “(They’re teaching us to do this) through the sounds of drum and breathing techniques and meditation. For us veterans, it was a day of healing.”
Watch the video (story continues below):
Healing through drums
Lori, another incarcerated participant, said it was a cleansing and healing experience.
“We talked about the things we were letting go, putting it out there and then breathing in the powerful energy,” she explained. “I felt free and liberated.”
Allen said he is able to connect with the incarcerated people because he’s also made mistakes.
“I’ve made decisions in my life that I wasn’t necessarily proud of,” he explained. “I could quite easily be in in a similar situation. To bring our experience (and joy) of the drum circle, especially in this setting, is a gift to us.”
Monroe said learning how to deal with emotions and stress improves overall mental health.
“The mind-body connection is so important for mental health,” she explained. “You can physically change your life by learning techniques to be able to regulate your emotions and connect to the body.”
Another incarcerated participant said events such as these have a ripple effect throughout the institution.
“I think when people come in with love like this, it changes the whole atmosphere of the prison,” said Krysten. “All of us in this room today are going to leave here (with) this energy we’re radiating
that is going to touch everybody else. I can see the difference from what it was when I came to prison 20 years ago.”
Video by Chris Medina, Director Television Communications (Specialist)
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
Office of Public and Employee Communications
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