Archive for the ‘drumming’ tag
Drumming Day - The Voice of Spirit Resonates
Drumming is amazing - you feel the energy resonating from the drum, and feel the synergy as the drumming of many sing together.
For our first drumming day we had a small group. The energy though was powerful, and the drums filled the room and livened things up! Since we had just a few for the event we could really let loose with creativity! Smiles and laughter are always welcomed, and are common at our events.
We began with a meditation to call in the Elders, and we heard the birth of the song “Tah Heish Nah Way Ba’ Ho” or Blessings, as Kaye describes. “This song came in a vision”, shares Kaye, our Drumming Leader.
We will be announcing the next Healing Drum Retreat Drumming Day soon, so do check back! The next Healing Drum Retreat, the full weekend event, is March 20-22, 2009.
Each Drum Sets It’s Own Tone
Making a drum is far more than technique. There is a spiritual quality about it, choosing the right frame, hide, and finally the drum beater to be used with the drum.
There are several frame styles for drums, with round being the least expensive and most popular. The style of frame chosen will affect the pattern of the lacing and the resulting tone.
Skill comes in play when you are stretching the hide and tightening the sinew or leather pieces. As the leather dries it tightens, giving the drum its resonance and depth in tone. Do not “play” the drum until it is dry. Drying can take a few days, but when the weather is warm a drum can dry overnight. It is better for the drum to dry naturally.
Once your drum is dry you can choose a beater. While a beater does have certain requirements, such as a padded striking head, the technical qualities are not the only consideration. Choosing a beater is also a matter of listening to the drum with both the physical sound and the spiritual overtone. The second of those steps requires stepping out of the mental mind, for the mind cannot comprehend the spiritual aspects.
There are many drums, there are many drummers. Each drummer must find their own heartbeat which leads to their own drum. Kaye Tahwakeena, drum making teacher, has taught many classes and has made over 300 drums. She brings wisdom and compassion into her teachings.
Native Drumming 101: Listen to your Drum
Listen to your drum? Isn’t that the point, to listen to the drumming? Yes of course, but it’s more than just the sound that emanates as you strike beater to drum.
Your drum creates an energy connection. Call it the cosmic consciousness, Great Spirit, or the “all that is”, drumming promotes that trance-like state in which you can better experience on all levels: body, mind, emotion, and spirit. This is the same focused consciousness that is achieved in meditation.
Listen to your drum. Notice the pitch and tone that resounds as you strike it with the beater. Feel the vibration as it resonates, touching you to your core. Allow the sound that pulses with each beat to make your statement to all within it’s reach. With each beat allow the sharp, crisp sound to clear away anything you hold within your spirit, psyche, mind, or emotions that blocks your flow within your universe, so that you might bring yourself even one step closer to your higher power, your source and guidance. The beating of the drum resonates with the beating of the heart and the pulse of the planet.
Healing Drum Retreat June 20-22, 2008
The Healing Drum Retreat for summer solstice 2008 was a smashing success!
Friday evening we had our drum making and medicine bag classes. Many drums were produced that night, and with the warm weather we were able to play a few of them on Saturday night during our campfire. They sounded great!
Our gracious hosts at the Brighton Creek Conference Center made us all feel welcomed, and the food was great! We welcomed the new chef on her first day, and look forward to seeing her again for future events.
Our workshops focused on spiritual awareness and energy healing, and gave everyone a change to practice new techniques. Since we were so busy making drums on Friday evening the medicine bag class, led by Billy, continued on Saturday with a few new participants, and some even returned to the lunchroom/classroom to continue after the campfire singing and drumming. Another late night for many of us!
Sunday we continued with a powerful meditation lead by Estee, more drumming, and a workshop on using EFT for creating change. We concluded the weekend with a final meditation and blessing for all.
