By Rev. Robin Tekwelus Youngblood – www.DreamingShaman.com
It is said that when Creator was creating a place for all the spirits to dwell who would inhabit Mother Earth, there came a sound, a loud BOOM-WOMB, from off in the distance.
As Creator listened, the sound kept coming closer and closer until it finally it was right in front Him. “Who are you?” asked Creator. “I am the Spirit of the drum,” came the reply. “I have come here to ask you to allow me to take part in this wonderful thing.” “How will you take part?” Creator questioned. “I would like to accompany the singing of the people. When they sing from their hearts, I will make a sound as though I am the heartbeat of Mother Earth. In that way, all creation will sing in harmony.” Creator granted the request, and from then on, the drum accompanied the people’s voices.
Throughout all of the indigenous peoples of the world, the drum is the center of all songs. It is the catalyst for the spirit of the songs to rise up to the Creator so that the prayers in those songs reach where they were meant to go. At all times, the sound of the drum brings completeness, awe, excitement, solemnity, strength, courage, and the fulfillment to the songs. It is Mother’s heartbeat giving her approval to those living upon her. It draws the eagle to it, and the eagle carries the message to Creator. It changes people’s lives! - Abenaki Legend
POWER – In the Drum
There is Power in the drum. It is a living being. For the original peoples, each drum was created from Mystery. Mother Drums are dreamed into existence – the shape, the size, where to cut the tree that will provide the hollowed (and hallowed) circular ring upon which the drum’s head is stretched. Paintings and decorations each symbolize some facet of the drum’s meaning and purpose. Each drum is born with it’s own songs already instilled, and those who gather around the drum ‘catch’ it’s songs.
Each culture – be it African, Hawaiian, Native American, Tibetan – has its own teachings about the drum, the rhythms, the chants and dances that belong to the ceremonies that surround their drums. When ceremony is called for, the drum holds the center, contains the energy, sends our prayers soaring to the ethers. A Mother Drum is the heart of ritual.
The Heartbeat of the Drum
The drums’ heartbeats take us to the center of our beings, carrying us and connecting us to Mother Earth through the “womb, womb” song of their rich, deep tones. The easiest way to enter trance states is through the drum. In the Siberian “Kamlanya”, an eight-day ceremony of Soul Retrieval which restores balance to the individual and community, the shaman drums to journey to the underworld. In our NW Indian “Winter Dances”, we dance from three to twelve nights to the beat of the drum, while the Medicine Men/Women perform chants, dances and healings.
A Friend In Ceremony – Personal and Shared
A personal drum, a hand drum, becomes a life-long companion. I carry mine all over the planet. It is as much friend as supporter. When I need to release, I take my drum to the ocean and send my salt-laden tears to the heart of the sea, along the sound-waves of the drum and chants. When I want to celebrate, I call the circle, and we take our drums to the woods and the meadows. In the center of the circle, we light the fire, dance our wildness, chant our joy – and Mother Drum hears and reverberates the echoing passion of our delight. When I need to pray, I light the candles in my sacred space, hold the heartbeat with my drum, and raise my voice to the Great Mysterious Union of Mother Earth and Father Sky, calling for peace and healing for All Our Relations.
“And the Word (Sound) was made flesh” through the heartbeat rhythms of the drum. Travel with me on the sound/light wave currents that energize the web of creation. “Weya- hey, Ya-wey-ya-hey . . . .”
Robin lives on Maui and hosts a weekly women’s drum circle in addition to mentoring apprentices and assisting in creating and facilitating a variety of events.