During Beltane this year, I felt moved to take one of my shamanic drums on a re-birthing process. I had never done this before, but trusting the persistent urge I had, I connected to the Spider Drum, and asked whether this was something that we could do. I received the go ahead. I could feel that this drum had felt not seen, and was ready for some new life.
Throughout the process, the energy present was very soft, quiet and loving. I held the spider shamanic drum in so much love as together we went through an unwinding ceremony. This took place on a day when it was sunny but quite windy, so I took to one of my favorite place's, the open door of my studio, and sat on the door step sheltered from the wind. I could feel the sun on my face, hear the birds singing, and smell the sweet hawthorn blossom in the air.
When this was finished I returned the skin to water, with a sprig of hawthorn from a bush in the garden, along with a moonstone which I selected. When I choose a stone or crystal to go with a drum, I always ask which one wants to be included. Sometimes, my trained mind will want to match aesthetics and choose a colour that goes with some aspect of the drum, but I have learned to drop into my heart when I ask these questions, and I then get a very clear physical response of 'yes' or 'no'. So, it was a blue mottled moonstone that was the one.
I prepared the hoop, sanding, polishing and then painted the inside of the hoop olive green. Again, I ask, and I get the colour to use. I sealed this with a quick varnish.
Then it was time to do the re-lacing. I always work ceremonially, respecting all parts, talking and singing to them; listening to them. Its the relationship, love and respect that deepens the connection; brings in the sacredness. So I bring in the hawthorn flowers too, along with the stone and skin, sitting them on the table next to me while I work on the drum and beater. I can smell the blossom, and the feeling, energy, vibration of that, all goes into the shamanic drum, along with all the other energies coming in. I'm aware that I cannot process everything that is happening, whilst on some level I can feel it, or have an awareness of it. I do pick up on lots of course, and I always try to note as much as I can. I think its the multidimensional energies running, the 'interconnectedness' of it all, I can feel if, even if I cannot put words to it. Its something that can't be pinned down into words as that would, in itself, limit it, freeze it somehow. This is all about flow and unlimited consciousness.
With the holes already cut from the original drum, and using all the original lacing, I weave together a new drum. Bursting with rebirth energies. A friend of mine described how this drum made her feel, when she saw my posts.
"The drum you birthed represents rebirth itself. Like the part of the medicine wheel when you dip right into your wound and come out the other side into the wondrous beauty of your own being". Beautiful.
I then set about making the beater for the drum. I selected a willow branch saved from a recent pollard of a neighbor's tree. Looking at the bark, I like the colour, but still felt moved to strip the bark. As I did, I loved the colour's and patterns of the bark against the exposed pale juiciness of the wood beneath so I only part stripped the bark before sanding, oiling and carving. The smell was exquisite too....again all of these energies are included in the process, in the total energy held by the shamanic drum.
So then, after the new shamanic drum soul has been birthed, I sit back and look at all the parts. I look for the messages contained within.
Hawthorn, often associated with Beltane which represents sex, beauty, fertility, but also death. A wonderful heart medicine plant.
The moonstone included in the rear handle, is a stone of inner growth and strength and thought to enhance intuition.
The Swan feather included in the beater, often seen as a symbol of wisdom, awakening the power of self, Grace, in a beauty, spiritual understanding, transformation and rebirth.
Willow from which the beater handle is made, often seen as symbolic of humans capacity to withstand difficult emotions, the willow tree is also seen as a survivor and a symbol of rebirth.
The Triskele Celtic symbol, which I carved onto the handle of the beater, along with a loop symbol, represents the interconnection of life death and rebirth. Continuous cycle of growth and transformation, inspiring personal evolution and spiritual awakening.
Spider, a memory of which is held in this drum from the original drum, stands as a symbol of creativity, interconnectedness and resilience. It’s delicate yet intricate web a testament to the profound spiritual energy it in bodies, offering us unique insights and lessons on our own path in life. This folds beautifully into the fact that I was moved to include a section of weaving underneath the moonstone which actually proves to be quite a nice palm rest when you play the drum.
Also, I notice now, how the whiteness of the inside surface of the deer skin is much paler than the drum face, and how the paleness of the exposed wood on the willow beater looks against its bark and I hear 'The soft white under belly; the exposed vulnerability' .....and my own belly opens and softens to receive this information and feel it travel around my body, dropping me into a place of oneness as my heart also expands in this space.
Birthing shamanic drums is one of the most profound experiences that I am blessed to enjoy on a regular basis. I adore sharing this joy, and supporting others to birth their own shamanic drums.
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