Why I’m Starting Drum Circles

I think whether we realize it or not, generally speaking we’re all looking for the same thing: presence. We keep chasing situations that get us out of our heads.

Most of the time though, our minds feel like a browser with 47 open tabs, thought loops, over-analysis, nonstop noise. And we’re stuck there.

It's wild how few people really acknowledge how much they’re run by their monkey minds. Days, weeks and months pass, and looking back, it’s like you weren’t really there. Like you didn’t really choose most of what you did, things just happened on autopilot. And I think deep down, we all feel it, so we keep reaching for something, anything, that might bring us back. Even for a moment.

There's so much anxiety, depression, and boredom in the world today. The mind is chewing on itself with no off switch. This is why people get hooked on things like weed or porn, not just for pleasure, but because those things quiet the noise. Most of us try a bunch of random things until something makes us feel present, embodied, alive. Even if just for a few seconds.

Look at the "life goals" boards on Pinterest. It’s always someone lying on a beach, sitting by a lake, or surrounded by silent mountain cabins. But it’s not the beach they want. It’s stillness. Peace. A moment to feel their body. To feel life again.

I think meditation and mindfulness are the most effective ways to access this state. But in my experience, the people who need it most are often the first to pull away from anything that even slightly hints at self-help or inner work.

I meet people who are clearly struggling, and for many of them, I know exactly what would help. I bring up meditation or mindfulness, and even if they’re curious enough to listen, they still shut down inside.

This pains me. How do you help someone without them tuning out the second you bring it up?

Even though meditation, to me is the most intentional and direct path, there are plenty of other ways people get glimpses of presence. Sports, cold showers, dancing, building things. These quiet the mind just enough, bring you into the body just enough, to let you taste the lightness of being present.

There’s one activity I keep coming back to. Something I genuinely love. Where presence isn’t just a side effect, it’s built into the experience. You can’t really do it without being present.

It’s drum circles.

Basically musical jams where you don’t need to be a musician. It’s not even about the music, it’s about syncing with yourself and the people around you, and when you do, it feels like a trance.

It’s beginner-friendly. It’s social. It’s fun. It creates connection. It’s not about being good. Not competitive. It’s immersive, emotional, physical, and simple. And it has a built-in feedback loop.

When you’re present, it works. When you drift off or get lost in thought, you lose the rhythm and it’s instantly obvious. So you come back. Again and again. That direct cause and effect trains you to be present.

Most people don’t realize how accessible and fun it is. You don’t need any experience. Ten minutes of basic guidance and you’re in.

And this is why I’m starting drum circles in Armenia. I love people, I love drums, and I love natural daytime environments where you don’t need alcohol just to feel okay. Where you connect with others not through your head, but through rhythm. I’ve felt it many times in jam sessions, and I want my friends and community to feel it too.

If this sounds interesting, or even if you’re just curious, check out the Instagram page I made for it. I'll announce the meetups there. No experience needed. Just show up, and the rest will take care of itself.