SAMI SHAMANIC DRUM IN THE ARKTIKUM MUSEUM, IN ROVANIEMI, FINLAND. Image via Wikipedia
Certain kinds of drums have been proven for millenia to be best for shamanic journeying. We’ll explain and show several types of shamanic drums and lots of types of rattles, plus some other instruments that are used for shamanic journeying.
We”ll also cover how to select a drum and some of the best places to buy drums and other instruments to use for shamanic journeying.
Drums for Shamanic Work
Drums are the quintessential shamanic tool. Choosing the right kind of drum is important, and finding and affording a good one may be easier than you think.
A few years ago you could get a great elk hide hoop drum at an excellent price from an eBay shop, The Crow’s Nest, which has since closed. However, if you shop carefully, you can still find a good drum at a good price.
There are even workshops where you are provided with all the materials and guidance you need to make your own shamanic drum in a weekend! For more info, see www.buildadrum.com for their national workshop schedule.
You can also find a selection of drums and rattles in the Shamanista Amazon Book Shop.
Rattles and Shakers
Rattles and shakers are very ancient. They come in many forms and can be purchased in all kinds of places. They are also very easy to make..
Making a Simple Rattle
The simplest way to make a rattle to make is a plastic egg and put small hard objects inside: tiny stones, BBs, lentils, tiny candies. It is better not to fill them with foodstuffs that might deteriorate. Warning: if you have small children around, you should glue the eggs shut so that a toddler doesn’t open one and choke on the contents.
Where to Buy Rattles
Rattles are easy find or make. While you can spend a lot for a handmade rattle, a pkastic one works just fine. Mexican maracas are great. So are the plastic maracas from a children’s rythm set.
You can easily make a rattle by filling a plastic easter egg or small wooden box with tiny stones, rice, beans, birdshot, or even tiny hard candies. Try different things till you get a sound you like.
List with sources for rattles and shakers coming soon!
Bells, Bowls, and Chimes
Tibetan bowls and bells are not traditionaly used for journeying, nor are crystal bowls, which are a late-20th-century invention. But people who have used the sounds for that purpose can tell you that they work very well. They also work well for other kinds of shamanic work, such as energy cleansing and healing.
You can find Tibetan bowls and bells in the Tibetan Bon Shamanism section of the Shamanista Amazon Book Shop.
Didgeridus, Flutes and Other Instruments
This section will list and review sources for instruments used for journeying in a variety of indigenous cultures. Some of these instruments are not normally used for journeying, but people in modern cultures have adopted them for that purpose because the work!
