How to make your own drum
- axelwildar
- 7. okt. 2023
- 4 min lesing
What is a medicine drum, also known as a shaman's drum?
A medicine drum is a drum used as a tool to reach a deep wisdom, achieve inner pease, conscious breathing and more. The medicine drum itself is the same as a shaman's drum. It is more the user's intention and practice that determines which definition one wants to use for the drum. It is also worth mentioning that the word shaman actually originates from the Tungusic language in Siberia and means "one who knows". It is therefore not the case that all traditional medicine men and women call themselves shaman, but we can use this word here, for the sake of simplicity.
You can find medicine drums in many different sizes, shapes and with different materials. Which size and materials you choose often depends on which tone, drum voice if you will, you like best. Do you want a drum with a bright voice, or do you want it to be in the deeper range? The bigger the frame - the deeper the tone. It also goes without saying that a drum with a deeper voice is more heavy than a smaller drum.
The difference in use can perhaps be seen to lie in the fact that a shaman, who is also often called medicine man or medicine woman, sees it as his main duty to be at the service of others, i.e. his community. He/she uses the drum to achieve trance, and thus get in touch with the spirit world. Here, the shaman will try to gain insight into a specific topic. This can be about a person's illness, emotional suffering, or more practical topics such as life choices, future prospects, etc.
A medicine drum is your own personal drum that you use in the way you think is most right for you. Much like a shaman, you can also use your medicine drum to achieve trance to gain deeper insight and guidance for your own life. Of course, you can also drum to help others, but this does not necessarily mean that you want the role of a shaman.The medicine drum is also a very powerful tool for achieving more balance in everyday life. It can be used to breathe more consciously, help you to disconnect from a hectic everyday life, accompany singing and much more.
How to make a medicine drum
The first thing I would recommend is to let yourself be guided by what you feel and feel in your body, and less by what you think about which drum you should have. As with everything else, the mind can easily be influenced by what others think is right, drums you have seen before etc. What is more important is knowing which type of drum voice resonates most with you. Is it a light and bright drum voice, or is it a deep and dark drum voice? Then it may be appropriate to consider which animals you want to make the drum with. It may be that you want to make your drum out of Reindeer, simply because you think they are beautiful animals.
Read Which drum is right for you for more guidance on this.
When you know which materials you want, you can order them here. When you have received your drum making package, I recommend that you find a day where you have a few hours available to make the drum at your leisure. I think this is important because I want you to feel present while you are making the drum and that you remember the experience afterwards - that it stays with you as a pleasant memory.
Drum making starts by putting the leather and leather laces in water. They should stay there for anything from 4-6 hours, sometimes longer. They are ready when they are soft and flexible.
When the skins are ready for making the drum, I will first calm down, relax and find the present moment. I usually light some white sage and use a feather fan to smudge myself. White sage has a fragrant aroma, which for me is unique and also differs from my everyday stimuli. I sit in this for a few minutes and feel gratitude for this opportunity I have been given, and for the animal and tree that has given itself so that I can make this drum. I also feel gratitude towards those involved in providing me with the material.
Furthermore, the skin must be stretched since it shrinks a bit when while soaking in water. I then lay it out on the table in a circle and the frame is centered in the middle of the skin. Furthermore, we will thread the lace through the pairs of holes in the leather until we get a symmetrical cross pattern of 16 directions.
You can find this process in my instructional videos that are included when you buy the drum kit. There is therefore no need to write about it here.
When the medicine drum is finished
When the drum is finished, it is a good opportunity to sit for a while with the medicine drum on your lap and once again feel gratitude and what role you want your medicine drum to have, both for you and those you care about. As the medicine drum as a tool can help you get better, the ripple effects of this will also be able to reach those around you. For all you know, they might also notice your great medicine drum and want to make their own.
It is worth mentioning that even if you make your medicine drum yourself, it is not possible that the drum will become a potent tool just because of that. It is absolutely essential that you use your drum actively in order for you to find the power in the drum and drumming.
If you don't want to make a drum yourself, but would rather have me make it for you, you can visit the online shop here to choose from the ones I make.
You can also make a medicine drum together with others. At our drum-making workshops, we gather who want our own drum to make it together. I provide all the materials and guide the group through the drum making from start to finished drum. This is a deep and often moving experience for many, which becomes a springboard for the journey ahead.
Good luck making your own drum. I hope you will share some of your experience and preferably pictures of the drum as soon as it is finished.
Axel