Since our ancestors first discovered that beating a hollow piece of wood made a sound, and moved to stretching skins over them, drums have been used right across the globe by, if not all, then most cultures, for healing, divination, communication, ceremony and celebration.
Our ancestors believed that their connection to Spirit, to God, and the health and survival of their tribe, depended on maintaining a relationship between earth and all of nature. Earth based forms of spirituality such as shamanism or animism hold a fundamental belief that everything that exists has spirit; is alive. Not just humans, but plants: animals, stones, elements, directions, moons, stars, planets, literally all that is, can be communicated with, is alive and as such should be respected. We as humans should live in harmony with life and its cycles and rhythms. The use of a drum was and still remains central to maintaining this relationship.
Listening to repetitive, regular beats of a drum have a range of physiological effects on the body. The rhythm of the beat of the drum moves the brain waves into a theta state. The left and right sides of the brain become synchronised, entrained. This moves people into a trance like state, like a gateway to the subconscious mind. A way into connecting with collective consciousness, with Spirit. In this natural altered state it is possible to journey, to navigate your way through what Native Americans would call the Shamanic Realm to gain information and guidance.
Shamanism and drumming circles are seeing a huge rise in popularity as people look for more harmonised, natural ways of living. Taking responsibility for their own physical and mental well-being is becoming a priority for people who have lost faith with many of our modern ways of managing health. Disillusioned, we are looking away from mainstream ways that may not have served us well. We are looking to re-connect with ourselves and the world around us.
Playing and listening to a drum has been documented to have several health benefits, this balancing of the left and right brain, moving into a deep state of relaxation, is having positive physical benefits to our bodies. Benefits such as combating stress, aiding the healing of pain, reducing blood pressure, supporting healthy immune function and more.
Groups coming together to play drums, builds community, helping to combat loneliness. With little barrier to joining a group, these places of sharing and acceptance promotes social cohesion and a sense of unity; togetherness. People feel happy, relaxed and the journeying state of mind offers an opportunity for a deeper self awareness and to connect with and feel supported by all our helpers in Spirit.
Teaching people to birth and play drums is such a great joy to me. To see people's sense of awe, amazement and wonder when meeting a power animal or a spirit guide for the first time fills my heart with so much love. To see how easy it is to offer people a way to access such phenomenal support, guidance and self healing tool is inspiring. I'm filled with such deep gratitude to have been taught these life skills and to be able to pass them on.
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