Hello, I'm 'Shining Bear' or simply 'Bear' to my friends. I am a producer of film and events, a writer, actor, musician and performer. And amongst all of this creativity sits one of my great inspirations, to help the world understand more about the magical effects, and uses of a much misunderstood instrument, The Didgeridoo. I have been playing the didgeridoo for the past 15 years, however, I really began to excel at playing around 8 years ago, after being introduced to, and working with, my Australian Aboriginal shamanic teacher, David Blanasi. Blanasi is a didgeridoo master, a Nungari, an Aboriginal elder and lawgiver. He has passed on to me some of the knowledge required to help 'Dream the world alive'.


I would like to give you a little insight into my background so that you may understand this quest a little more.

I was born in West London in 1966. My given name at birth was Christopher David Cant. I was to experience a truly disturbing childhood, and as a result of which, by the age of 10, I had stopped talking to adults, and when approached by one, I would begin to growl and snarl like a wild animal. Because of my 'strange' behaviour I was sent to an approved school in Gloucestershire, Berrow Wood boarding school for boys. This 'military hell-hole' failed by a long shot to 'help' me. I was to spend a long and torturous six years there before finally escaping, when I was sent home, back to London. Unfortunately, my family situation was still one of control and abuse, and so I ran away to the streets of London's West End. The experiences that I endured there certainly didn't offer much nourishment for a young, homeless 16 year-old, and I found myself wrapped up in a horrific environment of prostitution and drugs. But, years of abuse were to be dramatically turned around when I experienced something that was to change my life. I was faced with the situation of having to literally change my life pattern or die, and so I experienced what I now know as a 'spiritual awakening', an initiation, a near-death experience. After this I began to search for answers that would lead my life along a new path - a path of self- empowerment and healing. I would seek out, and find the true self. I would 'Dream my world alive'.

The didgeridoo is the traditional instrument of the Australian Aboriginal people who call it - the Yadaki. To begin to understand the instrument you must first have an understanding of the Aboriginal ways. For instance, their music and culture unites their consciousness with the laws and invisible energy patterns of nature. Gaining the knowledge of nature is an Aboriginal art-form and part of that art is the playing and mastering of the didgeridoo. The essence of nature, the elements, animal sounds and the spirit-world are all primal life in the Australian outback, and in the Northern Territories these elements are replicated through the playing of the didgeridoo. This instrument is practiced in order to give honour to all that is real, living and breathing around us. The strict observation of nature, and the desire to be an integral part of it, demands a deep state of empathy, and many years of learning and patience. Indigenous people from around the world believe that a greater depth and understanding and respect for life is born through painful initiation ceremonies into the adult way.

And so with this understanding fully initiated and installed within me I began to walk the path of the Shaman. It was a path that was to encapsulate the practice of different tribal traditions from around the world, drawing from cultures, such as the Australian Aboriginals, the Native American Indians, and my own Celtic shamanic roots.

What is Shamanism?

Over tens of thousands of years, our ancestors the world over, learned how to enhance the magical abilities of the human mind and spirit, for healing, problem-solving and general day-to-day living. The remarkable system of methods they developed is collectively known today as Shamanism. The Shaman understands how to recognise, utilise, balance and draw together the forces of nature within a practice that comes in a form of being with great respect and awareness, and always for the higher good of their community. A great deal of the Shamans time is taken up in ceremony, living with and dreaming into the spirit world. The Shaman journeys into these hidden realms through myth, story, dream, near death experiences and through the use of sound and music, which is considered a powerful tool. Music causes resonance, vibration, and harmonics and it is through this means that the Shaman can move into a trance-like state in order to literally dream into altered realities and parallel universes. They do this, as I have said, for the higher good of everyone around them. The Tribe comes first.

I have recorded and released two albums. The first 'Didgeridoo Dreaming' it’s an eclectic mix of world music, sound and storytelling and focuses mainly on the tonalities and intricate rhythm patterns of the wild. 'Didgeridoo Dreaming' is a 9 track musical experience, a journey into a part of my world, and the intimate relationship that I share between my indigenous soul, modern mind/body and the haunting outback of primordial Australia.

The second album 'Monolith' is very different. I specifically composed this hour long opus, as an aid for people who wished to either, heal themselves of a self-created imbalance, or dis-ease. Or, to simply relax and ease up, thus allowing the fluster of modern day living to gently drift away. We all need to experience, 'down-time'. The sounds that I have created on this album are of a low vibrational harmonic. The melody of which is drawn from many spiritual and shamanic traditions. The album was recorded live inside the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey and has been designed to access both the conscious and subconscious mind, to alter and reduce brain wave frequency from beta through alpha to theta, thus achieving a state of relaxed tranquility. In so doing, we allow the body to take in much-needed rest, we open up the possibility, and space, to heal ourselves.

It is my personal opinion that we as human beings have the potential to heal ourselves alone, from within, should we wish it, or with the love, compassion, and support of professional practitioners. Be they, doctor, surgeon, or Sharman. I will also add that the warmth, love, care and support of those closest to us, is of great importance. In my opinion these people, our 'tribe', offer a bridge between us and the Great-Spirit/creation force. To give our body's the opportunity, and ability to heal from within.

Throughout my journey with the didgeridoo, I believe that Spirit has placed me with, and around, some truly astonishing and gifted people. But, without doubt the biggest musical impact on my life came when I met the man whom I consider to be my greatest mentor, Rolf Harris. I first met Rolf at a charity function for Holly Lodge, a retreat in Richmond Park, London, for young people living with severe physical and mental challenges. I was at that time working with these youngsters as a music therapist and was asked by the board of trustees at Holly Lodge to come along and play didgeridoo for the guests at a fund-raising evening.

I was told that Rolf, and his wife Alwen, would be in attendance, the organisers felt that it would create a good atmosphere and help Rolf feel at home, him being a son of Australia.

Most recently I have appeared on Johnnie Walker's Radio 2 Drive-Time show here in the UK where I received what I can only describe as the most overwhelming response. We spent the best part of 45 minutes talking about my life, music, indigenous culture and healing. I took my favourite didgeridoo with me and played live on air to over 6 million people. The feedback was incredible, it appears that thousands of people that evening understood, were encouraged and deeply moved by what I had to say. When I played the didgeridoo live, some people were so moved that they had to stop driving, listen, and open their hearts. Others simply wept because they were so moved by my story and by the sound of the didge.

This reaction has given me the encouragement to strive even further with my music, and my mission in life to take the sound of the didgeridoo even further out into the world. I will do this through the medium of radio, television, cinema, theatre and the internet. I am currently in the process of writing my story and there are plans in the footing to be part of a spiritual radio show. I hope within the next three months to record my third album in the stunning setting of Rosslyn Chapel.

If you wish to purchase my albums or simply talk with me you may also do so through this website.

I would like to give thanks to all my relations, no matter how they have occurred in my life. I thank you.
I would like to thank all of the friends who have supported my growth and spiritual path. Without all of you, I would not be the man, that I am today.

HO MITAKUYE OYASIN.. For all my relations.