In Memoriam: Morwen Two Feathers

“To know who I REALLY am, you have to look into my eyes and dance when I drum.”

I learned today that my friend Morwen Two Feathers has died, following five years of living with brain cancer.

Morwen and her husband were among the early pioneers of what would come to be known as the Fire Circle tradition, a ritual tradition that is now practiced in many events throughout the country and the world, by a community of which I have been a happy member since the early 2000s. She was a woman of kindness, wisdom, humor and integrity, and a terrific ritual drummer.

For more than 25 years, Morwen was the Co-Founder and Director of Earth Drum Council, creating opportunities for people from all walks of life to come together to drum, dance, and build community. She was a teacher, facilitator, and principal influence of the community drumming movement, and helped countless people across the globe to start drum circles in their own communities.

She lived in New England and I hadn’t seen her for about a decade, but I still considered her my friend and was truly saddened to hear this news. She is survived by husband Jimi Two Feathers, children Wren and Kane, and hundreds of people who knew her as a bright presence in ritual and a powerful rhythmic driver during the long nights of all-night fire circles.

She will be missed.

Thanks for everything, Morwen. We will speak your name into the fire at the Fire Circle festival IGNITE at the end of this month. Hail the goer.

Photocollage by Morganne Baum