Mongolian American shaman Jade Wah'oo Grigori. Jade's ancient knowledge of drumming and healing rhythms was most influential in putting together my first book, The Shamanic Drum. I had a deep respect for the powerful rhythms and drum ways of Jade's tradition, but I had to follow my own path of rhythm. Though Jade was my mentor, the drum became the guiding force in my life. It led me to explore the rhythms of many of the world's shamanic traditions. Inspired by my studies, research, and experiences, I founded Talking Drum Publications in 1991 in order to publish shamanic books and music. Estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000 years old, shamanic drumming is considered one of the oldest methods for healing. The Shamanic Drumming Blog is an online journal for posting news, events, and commentary related to shamanic drumming. My mission is to build a global community devoted to shamanic drumming as a vehicle for healing, consciousness expansion, and community building. I hope you will join me.