What is Shamanic Music?

Shamanic music is a powerful and ancient form of sound that connects individuals to the spiritual realm, facilitating healing, transformation, and altered states of consciousness. It has been a cornerstone of shamanic practices across cultures for thousands of years, used by shamans and shamanic practitioners to communicate with spirits, guide healing ceremonies, and transport themselves and others into deep meditative or trance states. But what makes this type of music so unique, and why has it endured throughout history?
 

In this blog post, we'll explore the origins, characteristics, instruments, and purpose of shamanic music. Whether you're new to this spiritual tradition or seeking a deeper understanding of its musical elements, this post will provide insight into how shamanic music is used to heal, guide, and transform.
 

Origins and Cultural Roots of Shamanic Music
 

Shamanic music is an integral part of shamanism, a spiritual practice found in Indigenous cultures around the world, from Siberia to the Americas, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Each culture has its own form of shamanic music, but the core purpose remains the same: to connect the physical world with the spiritual. The shaman, acting as a bridge between these realms, uses music as a tool to access higher levels of consciousness and facilitate healing.
 

Traditional Use in Ceremonies
 

Shamanic ceremonies are typically intended for healing, divination, or guidance. During these ceremonies, the music acts as a vehicle to open the doors to spiritual dimensions. The repetitive rhythms, chants, and drones used in shamanic music help induce trance states, enabling the shamanic practitioner to journey to spiritual realms where they can gain insights or communicate with spirit guides and ancestors.
 

For example, in Siberian and Mongolian shamanism, the music, often played on a drum, serves to help the practitioner travel into the underworld or upper spiritual worlds. Similarly, in Native American and Amazonian shamanic traditions, music, especially chanting and drumming, is central to healing rituals and vision quests.
 

Characteristics of Shamanic Music
 

What distinguishes shamanic music from other forms of music is its intentional use for spiritual purposes and its repetitive, rhythmic qualities. Unlike music created for entertainment or artistic expression, shamanic music is functional, designed to guide individuals into specific states of consciousness.
 

Repetition and Rhythm
 

One of the most defining characteristics of shamanic music is its repetitive nature. Rhythmic drumming or chanting is common across all shamanic traditions, with rhythms often mimicking the beat of a heart or the natural cycles of the Earth. These repetitive sounds help to alter brainwave patterns, shifting them into theta waves--the brainwave state associated with deep meditation, creativity, and intuition. The continuous repetition creates a hypnotic effect, which is key to inducing a trance or altered state. In this state, participants may experience visions, heightened awareness, or deep introspection.
 

Natural Sounds and Vocals
 

Many shamanic songs incorporate the sounds of nature--wind, water, animals--to bring the listener closer to the natural world. These sounds are often seen as channels through which spiritual energies can flow. For example, the hoots of an owl or the howling of wolves might be mimicked in vocal chants to invoke the presence of these animal spirits.
 

Vocalization plays an essential role in shamanic music. Practitioners may use chanting, overtone singing, or throat singing as a way to resonate with the energy of the spirits they are calling upon. In some traditions, these vocal techniques are passed down from generation to generation and are considered sacred.
 

Instruments Used in Shamanic Music
 

Shamanic music makes use of a variety of traditional instruments, each with its own symbolic meaning and energetic influence. While these instruments may differ from culture to culture, a few common ones can be found across many shamanic practices.
 

Drums
 

The drum is perhaps the most iconic instrument of shamanic music. Often referred to as the "shaman's horse," the drum is believed to carry the shaman's soul into the spiritual realms. The deep, steady rhythm of the drum is known to synchronize with the listener's heartbeat, grounding them while simultaneously guiding them into altered states of consciousness.
 

Different cultures have distinct types of drums. For example, the Siberian single-sided frame drum, Nepalese two-sided drums, and African djembe drums are all used in ceremonial contexts. The act of drumming is often accompanied by dancing, chanting, or other forms of physical movement, reinforcing the trance-inducing experience.
 

Rattles
 

Rattles are another common instrument in shamanic traditions, symbolizing the creation and movement of energy. The sound of a rattle can help to "clear" or "shake" energy, guiding spirits or energies to shift or transform. The rattling sound is often considered a way of calling to spirits or ancestors, and it is used to cleanse spaces or people during ceremonies. Rattles can be made from a variety of natural materials, including gourds, shells, stones, and bones. Each rattle has its own unique sound and purpose, depending on the culture and the ceremony.
 

Flutes and Wind Instruments
 

Flutes and other wind instruments are also common in shamanic music, particularly in traditions from the Americas. These instruments are often used to represent the breath of life or the voice of the wind. The haunting, ethereal tones of flutes can create a sense of connection to higher spiritual energies.
 

The Role of Shamanic Music in Healing
 

One of the primary purposes of shamanic music is to heal, not only on a physical level but also on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. In shamanic traditions, illness is often seen as a form of spiritual imbalance or disharmony between the individual and their environment. The music used in healing rituals helps to restore this balance by harmonizing energy within the body and spirit.
 

Sound as a Healing Modality
 

The healing power of sound is a cornerstone of shamanic music. It is believed that certain sounds, rhythms, or frequencies can directly affect the body's energy field, promoting healing. Modern science supports this idea, with studies showing that sound therapy can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and promote relaxation. In shamanic healing, the shaman may sing specific healing songs, chant, or play instruments to direct healing energy toward the patient. These sounds are not random; they are often considered sacred songs passed down through generations or learned from the spirits themselves.
 

Modern Influence and Adaptation
 

In recent years, shamanic music has found a place in contemporary healing and spiritual practices, influencing everything from meditation music to sound therapy. Many people seek out shamanic music for personal transformation, stress relief, and spiritual awakening. While traditional shamanic music remains deeply rooted in Indigenous practices, modern interpretations have blended these ancient sounds with contemporary musical genres, creating a fusion that appeals to a broader audience. I invite you to stream my shamanic music on the following platforms:  

 

Bandcamp
Spotify
Apple Music
Amazon Music
YouTube Music
SoundCloud

The Shamanic Practice of Ancestral Healing

Ancestral healing is a profound aspect of shamanic practice that has been revered in various cultures worldwide for centuries. This ancient method involves connecting with the spirits of our ancestors to address and heal emotional, psychological, and spiritual wounds that are often passed down through generations. By exploring the roots of these issues, individuals can experience significant transformation and liberation from the past. In this post, we will delve into the essence of ancestral healing, its techniques, benefits, and its relevance in contemporary life.
 

Understanding Ancestral Healing
 

Ancestral healing is based on the belief that the experiences and traumas of our ancestors can influence our present lives. These influences can manifest as recurring patterns, unexplained fears, emotional blockages, or even physical ailments. Shamans or shamanic practitioners work to identify and resolve these ancestral issues to bring about holistic healing.
 

In many traditions, it is believed that ancestors continue to exist in a spiritual realm and can communicate with the living. This communication is facilitated by the shamanic practitioner, who acts as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual worlds. By engaging with the ancestors, the practitioner can uncover the source of generational traumas and help release them.
 

Techniques of Ancestral Healing
 

1. Journeying
One of the primary techniques in shamanic practice is journeying. This involves entering a trance-like state, often induced by rhythmic drumming or other repetitive sounds, to travel to the spirit world. During a journey, the practitioner may encounter ancestral spirits and gain insights into the problems affecting the individual or the family. These journeys are deeply personal and can provide powerful revelations and healing.
 

2. Rituals and Ceremonies
Rituals and ceremonies play a crucial role in ancestral healing. These practices can vary widely depending on the cultural background of the practitioner and the person seeking healing. Common elements include offerings, prayers, chants, and symbolic acts designed to honor the ancestors and seek their guidance and support. These rituals create a sacred space where healing can occur.
 

3. Healing through Storytelling
Storytelling is another potent tool in ancestral healing. By sharing the stories of their ancestors, individuals can gain a better understanding of their family history and the patterns that may be influencing their lives. This process helps to humanize the ancestors, making it easier to connect with them and heal any unresolved issues. Practitioners often guide individuals in this storytelling process, helping them to uncover hidden truths and insights.
 

4. Energy Work
Energy work is also integral to shamanic ancestral healing. Practitioners may use techniques such as soul retrieval, where lost fragments of a person's soul are recovered and reintegrated, or extraction, where negative energies or entities are removed. These practices help to restore balance and harmony to the individual's energy field, facilitating deeper healing.
 

Benefits of Ancestral Healing
 

Ancestral healing offers numerous benefits, both on a personal and a collective level. Some of the key advantages include:
 

1. Breaking Cycles of Trauma
By addressing the root causes of generational trauma, individuals can break free from destructive patterns that have been passed down through their family line. This can lead to profound personal growth and transformation, as well as healthier relationships and a more positive outlook on life.
 

2. Emotional and Psychological Healing
Ancestral healing can bring about significant emotional and psychological healing. By releasing the burdens of the past, individuals often experience a sense of lightness and freedom. This can result in improved mental health, increased self-esteem, and a greater capacity for joy and fulfillment.
 

3. Spiritual Growth and Connection
Connecting with one's ancestors can deepen one's spiritual practice and sense of belonging. It can provide a greater understanding of one's place in the world and a stronger connection to the spiritual realm. This connection can be a source of guidance, strength, and inspiration.
 

4. Physical Healing
In some cases, ancestral healing can also lead to physical healing. Many physical ailments have emotional or psychological roots, and by addressing these underlying issues, individuals may experience relief from chronic pain or illness. This holistic approach recognizes the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.
 

Relevance in Contemporary Life
 

In today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, the practice of ancestral healing is more relevant than ever. Many people are seeking ways to reconnect with their roots and find meaning in their lives. Ancestral healing offers a pathway to do so, providing a sense of continuity and connection with the past. Moreover, as the awareness of generational trauma and its impact on mental health grows, ancestral healing provides valuable tools for addressing these deep-seated issues. It offers a holistic approach that complements modern therapeutic practices, providing a more comprehensive understanding of healing.
 

Integrating Ancestral Healing into Modern Practice
 

For those interested in exploring ancestral healing, there are several ways to integrate this practice into modern life:
 

1. Seeking a Shamanic Practitioner
Working with a trained shamanic practitioner can provide valuable guidance and support in the ancestral healing process. These practitioners have the expertise to navigate the spiritual realms and facilitate healing in a safe and effective manner.
 

2. Participating in Workshops and Retreats
Many organizations offer workshops and retreats focused on shamanic practices, including ancestral healing. These immersive experiences can provide a deeper understanding of the techniques and allow individuals to experience the benefits firsthand.
 

3. Personal Practice
Individuals can also explore ancestral healing on their own through personal practice. This might include creating a sacred space at home, performing rituals, or engaging in meditation and journeying. Reading books and resources on shamanic practices can also provide valuable insights and guidance.
 

Conclusion
 

The shamanic practice of ancestral healing is a powerful and transformative approach to addressing the wounds of the past and fostering holistic well-being. By connecting with our ancestors, we can gain profound insights, release old traumas, and experience deep healing on multiple levels. Whether through the guidance of a shamanic practitioner or personal exploration, ancestral healing offers a path to greater understanding, connection, and liberation. In a world where many are seeking meaning and healing, this ancient practice provides timeless wisdom and a profound sense of belonging.

The Key Aspects of Shamanic Drumming

Shamanic drumming is a traditional practice used in various Indigenous and shamanic cultures around the world. It involves rhythmic drumming to achieve a range of ecstatic trance states in order to promote healing, gain insight, and communicate with the spiritual dimension of reality. Ecstasy is defined as a mystic, prophetic, or poetic trance. It is a trance-like state of exaltation in which the mind is fixed on what it contemplates or conceives. The drum serves as a concentration device, enhancing one's capacity to focus attention inward. It stills the incessant chatter of the mind, enabling one to enter a subtle or light-trance state. One of the core beliefs of shamanism is that innate wisdom and guidance can be accessed through the inner senses in ecstatic trance. Practitioners enter altered states of consciousness to experience direct revelation from within. Here are some key aspects of shamanic drumming:
 

1. Purpose: The primary purpose of shamanic drumming is to facilitate communication with the inner self and the spiritual realm. It is often used in rituals, ceremonies, and healing practices. A key objective of shamanic ritual is to engage the spirit world to effect specific changes in the physical world. The material and spiritual worlds interact continuously, and a shamanic practitioner can gain knowledge about how to alter physical reality by taking direct action in the spiritual aspect of the world. From a shamanic perspective, all human experience is self-generated because the entire universe exists within human consciousness. Each human being is a hologram of the universe. Essentially, we are the universe experiencing itself in human form.
 

2. Technique: Practiced in diverse cultures around the planet, this drum method is strikingly similar the world over. Shamanic drumming uses a repetitive rhythm that begins slowly and then gradually builds in intensity to a tempo of three to seven beats per second. The ascending tempo will induce light to deep trance states, and facilitate the shamanic techniques of journeying, shapeshifting, and soul retrieval. Practitioners may progress through a series of trance states until they reach the level that is necessary for healing to occur. When ready to exit the trance state, the practitioner simply slows the tempo of drumming, drawing consciousness back to normal.
 

3. Instruments: One of the most useful drums for shamanic work is the hand or frame drum. Its resonance and versatility make it my drum of preference. Such drums are portable, affordable, and easy to play. They can easily be held in one hand, leaving the other hand free to stroke the drum. Though I highly recommend frame drums, any type of drum may be used in shamanic drumming. There is a myriad of styles and drum types to choose from. Congas, doumbeks, djembes, ashikos, tablas, and timbales are but a few of the drum types readily available. In selecting a suitable drum, play several and listen for the drum that calls to you. You will know it by its voice. It will strike a deep chord within you.
 

4. Experience: During shamanic drumming, practitioners often report experiencing visions, connecting with spirit guides or power animals, and gaining insight or guidance. Ecstatic trance is not always what many people anticipate it to be, and sometimes there may be doubt that anything at all takes place. There are, however, some key indicators that confirm a transcendent state of consciousness. Once you enter a trance state, the rhythm or sound of the drum tends to change. The drumbeat may appear to speed up or slow down while the sound may grow louder, softer or disappear. You may experience a change in body temperature, feel energy flowing through your body, or find yourself twitching, swaying or rocking. It is not uncommon to hear sounds or voices. You may even smell specific aromas. You may see colorful patterns, symbolic images or dreamlike visions. Some people may find that they have a highly developed inner vision, whereas others may rely more on an inner voice of insight or an inner feeling of certainty. Be prepared to experience ecstatic trance with any of your senses. The key is to observe whatever happens without trying to analyze the experience.
 

5. Cultural Significance: Shamanic drums have a rich historical and cultural significance, evidenced by their use in archaeological sites worldwide. The rituals of the earliest known religions evolved around the beat of the frame drum, which originated in Siberia, together with shamanism itself thousands of years ago. Shamanic drumming is an integral part of many Indigenous cultures around the world, including those of Siberian, Mongolian and European peoples. The history of shamanic drumming in Europe is rich and varied, spanning back thousands of years. Various European cultures, such as the Celtic, Viking, Germanic, and Sami people practiced shamanism, which involved connecting with the spiritual realms through drumming, chanting, and other rituals. Shamans in diverse cultures around the world used drums as a tool for trance induction and journeying to commune with spirits, seek guidance, and perform healing ceremonies to accompany life and death.
 

6. Modern Use: Today, shamanic drumming is also used in various contemporary spiritual and therapeutic practices to promote relaxation, self-discovery, and personal growth. Practitioners have found innovative ways to incorporate shamanic drumming into various healing modalities, while still honoring the traditional techniques. One notable adaptation is the use of shamanic drumming in sound therapy. This application harnesses the sound vibrations of the drum to induce deep relaxation and promote healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Another modern interpretation involves integrating shamanic drumming into mindfulness practices. Here, the drum serves as a tool for grounding, focusing attention, and achieving a meditative state of nonjudgmental awareness of what's happening in the present moment. Mindfulness has gained widespread popularity as a means to reduce stress, increase self-awareness, and enhance mental well-being. Shamanic drumming continues to offer today what it has offered for thousands of years: namely, a simple and effective technique for affecting states of mind.

The Role of Sound in Shamanic Practices

Sound plays a crucial role in shamanic practices across various cultures. It is used to facilitate altered states of consciousness, perform healing rituals, and communicate with the spirit world. Sound is regarded as one of the most effective ways of establishing connections with the spirit realm, since it travels through space, permeates visual and physical barriers, and conveys information from the unseen world. Sound, therefore, is a means of "relationship" as well as a "transformation" of energy. Here are the key ways sound is utilized in shamanism:

1. Inducing Altered States of Consciousness

Rhythmic Drumming and Percussion:

• Repetition and Rhythm: Drumming at specific rhythms (typically 4-7 beats per second) can induce trance states. The repetitive, monotonous sound helps to alter brainwave patterns, promoting a shift from normal waking consciousness to a trance state.
• Instruments: Common percussion instruments include drums, rattles, and clappers. Each produces a distinct sound that can affect the practitioner's state of mind.

Vocalizations:

• Chanting and Singing: Shamans use their voices to produce chants, songs, and mantras. These vocalizations can have a calming, focusing effect, aiding in the trance induction.   
• Overtone Singing: Some traditions use overtone or throat singing, which produces multiple pitches simultaneously, creating a complex sound environment conducive to trance.

Ambient Sounds:

• Natural Sounds: Environmental sounds like flowing water, wind, and animal calls are often incorporated into rituals, enhancing the sensory experience and facilitating altered consciousness.

2. Facilitating Communication with the Spirit World

Spiritual Dialogues:

• Invocation and Prayer: Shamans use sound to call upon spirits, deities, or ancestors. These sounds can include specific prayers, chants, or songs that are believed to attract or summon spiritual entities.   
• Response Mechanism: Sound can also be a medium through which spirits are believed to respond, with shamans interpreting these auditory phenomena as messages from the spiritual realm.

Ritualistic Soundscapes:

• Ceremonial Spaces: The acoustics of ceremonial spaces (like caves or specially designed ritual chambers) are used to amplify and enrich sound, creating an immersive environment that enhances spiritual communication.   
• Echoes and Resonance: Natural acoustics, such as echoes and resonances in caves or built structures, may be interpreted as the voices of spirits or deities responding to the shaman.

3. Healing and Therapeutic Uses

Sound Healing:

• Restorative Frequencies: Certain sounds and rhythms are believed to have healing properties, restoring balance and harmony to the body and mind.   
• Instrumental Healing: Instruments like drums, flutes, and singing bowls are used to produce sounds that are thought to facilitate physical and emotional healing.

Diagnostic Sounds:

• Listening to the Body: Some shamanic practices involve listening to the body’s sounds (like heartbeats or breaths) to diagnose illness or imbalance.   
• Healing Chants and Songs: Specific chants or songs are used to target different ailments, with the shaman's voice considered a powerful healing tool.

4. Enhancing Rituals and Ceremonies

Ritual Structure:

• Sound Cues: Sound signals different phases of a ritual, marking transitions from one state or activity to another.   
• Community Involvement: Collective chanting, singing, or drumming involves the community, reinforcing social bonds and shared spiritual experiences.

Symbolic Sounds:

• Animal Sounds: Mimicking animal sounds or using instruments that produce similar effects can symbolize the presence or assistance of animal spirits.   
• Elemental Sounds: Sounds representing natural elements (like thunder drums for storms or rain sticks for water) invoke the power and presence of these elements in rituals.

5. Cultural and Contextual Variations

Regional Practices:

• Cultural Diversity: Different cultures have unique shamanic traditions with specific instruments, vocal techniques, and sound rituals. For example, Siberian shamans might use drum patterns distinct from those used by Amazonian shamans.   
• Contextual Adaptations: The use of sound in shamanism can vary depending on the context, such as healing, divination, or community ceremonies.

Technological Integration:

• Modern Adaptations: Contemporary shamans may integrate modern musical instruments and technology, such as electronic soundscapes, to enhance traditional practices.

Conclusion

Sound is an integral element of shamanic practices, serving as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. Through rhythmic drumming, chanting, and the use of resonant spaces, shamans induce altered states of consciousness, facilitate communication with spirits, and perform healing rituals. The study of these acoustic practices through archaeoacoustics can deepen our understanding of ancient shamanic traditions and their enduring impact on cultural rituals and spiritual practices today.

The Key Benefits of Drumming

Drumming offers a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional benefits. Here are some of the key advantages:

Physical Benefits

1. Cardiovascular Exercise: Drumming is a form of aerobic exercise that can help improve cardiovascular health. The physical activity involved in drumming can increase heart rate and promote better circulation.

2. Improved Coordination: Drumming requires the use of both hands, often in complex patterns, which enhances hand-eye coordination and overall motor skills.

3. Muscle Development: Regular drumming helps in building and toning muscles, particularly in the arms, shoulders, and core.

4. Burning Calories: Drumming can be an effective way to burn calories, similar to other forms of physical exercise.

Mental Benefits

1. Cognitive Enhancement: Learning and playing complex rhythms can improve cognitive functions, including memory, concentration, and problem-solving skills.

2. Stress Reduction: Drumming is known to reduce stress and anxiety. The rhythmic and repetitive nature of drumming can have a meditative effect, promoting relaxation.

3. Mood Enhancement: Playing drums releases endorphins and other feel-good hormones, which can elevate mood and combat depression.

4. Improved Focus: The concentration required to keep a steady rhythm and coordinate different limbs can help improve focus and attention span.

Emotional and Social Benefits

1. Emotional Expression: Drumming provides an outlet for expressing emotions, which can be therapeutic and help in processing feelings.

2. Sense of Achievement: Learning new drumming techniques or mastering a complex rhythm can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment.

3. Community and Social Connection: Participating in group drumming sessions or drumming circles fosters a sense of community and belonging. It can also improve social skills and teamwork.

4. Cultural Awareness: Drumming often involves learning about different musical traditions and cultures, which can enhance cultural awareness and appreciation.

Therapeutic Benefits

1. Drum Therapy: Drumming is used in various therapeutic settings to help individuals with mental health issues, PTSD, addiction recovery, and other conditions. It can improve emotional regulation and promote healing.

2. Motor Skills Rehabilitation: Drumming can be part of rehabilitation programs for individuals recovering from strokes or other injuries affecting motor skills.

Educational Benefits

1. Enhanced Learning Abilities: Drumming can aid in the development of language skills, mathematical ability, and spatial-temporal skills, especially in children.

2. Discipline and Patience: Learning to play the drums requires practice, discipline, and patience, which are valuable skills that transfer to other areas of life.

Overall, drumming is not only a fun and engaging activity but also a powerful tool for enhancing physical health, mental well-being, emotional expression, and social connectivity.

How to Do a Therapeutic Drum Massage

A therapeutic drum massage is a profound way to restore the vibrational integrity of body, mind and spirit. Through the natural law of resonance, the sound waves produced by the drum impart their energy to the resonating systems of the body, mind and spirit, making them vibrate in sympathy. When we drum, our living flesh, brainwaves and spiritual energy centers begin to vibrate in response. This sympathetic resonance forms new harmonic alignments, opens the body's energy meridians, releases blocked emotional patterns, promotes healing, and helps connect us to our core, enhancing our sense of empowerment and stimulating our creative expression. A single-headed frame or hoop drum works best for a drum massage. The larger the drum, the greater the resonance. You will need a partner to act as your client. The basic steps are as follows:
 

1. First, have your partner lie down on his or her back on a blanket spread on the floor of a quiet room. During the drumming, the client's only task is to remain still and relaxed with eyes closed and to stay aware of what they are experiencing.
 

2. Kneel down next to the client and hold the drum so that the lacing or open end opposite the drumhead faces the client. Most of the sound energy from a single-headed drum flows out through the opening opposite the head of the drum. By holding the drum over the client in this manner, a resonating energy current will flow readily into the client when you strike the head of the drum.
 

3. Starting at the feet of the client, begin drumming a rapid cadence of about three to four beats per second. Find the drum's sweet spot and make it sing and hum. Work the drum to build up the hum of the overtones. These are the best frequencies for healing.
 

4. Crawling along beside the client, gradually move the drum from the feet to the top of the head. Keep the drumhead parallel to the client and 18 to 24 inches above the body.
 

5. Listen very carefully to the sound and resonance of the drum as you move it back and forth over the body. It is not unusual for the drum to go flat or lose its resonance over a portion of the body that is in need of healing. When this happens, continue to drum that area until the drum begins to sing again. Let the drum do the healing.
 

6. Upon reaching the top of the head, make your way gradually back down to the feet.
 

7. Upon returning to the feet, make certain that you drum this area for at least a minute to firmly ground the client back into his or her body.
 

Standing Drum Massage
 

A standing drum massage should also be explored. Have the client stand with his or her feet parallel and about six inches apart. Their knees should be slightly bent, removing any strain on the lower back that would occur if the knees were locked. The arms should rest easily at the sides of the body. You should stand about two feet away, facing the client, and perform the basic steps of the exercise as outlined above. You will have to kneel or squat down to effectively drum the client's feet, and then gradually stand as you bring the drum up the body. It is not unusual for the client to rock or sway while being drummed.
 

A variant of the standing version can be undertaken with up to four drummers. Have the drummers stand at the four cardinal points with the client standing in the center, facing whichever direction he or she feels most appropriate. The four drummers should drum in sync as they move up and down the body. It is not necessary to move in sync, since each drummer may find that a different portion of the client's body requires more attention. Be careful that you don't overwhelm the client with an energy overload. Four drums will generate a powerful vortex of energy and move it up the body from the feet to the top of the head. This ascending surge of energy tends to give the client the sensation of leaving the body through the top of the head. It is very powerful and ecstatic--a peak experience. When the drummers reverse direction, they bring the energy back down into the physical body and help ground the client.
 

Finally, there is a very powerful group variant of the standing version. The group version works well with eight or more participants. I have facilitated this exercise with groups of up to 40 people. First, divide everyone into two equal groups--one group of drummers and one group to be drummed. All participants in the group to be drummed should stand shoulder to shoulder in a circle, facing outward. The drummers should then form a circle around this inner circle and perform the exercise as outlined above. Upon completion of the exercise, the participants in the inner circle should exchange places with those in the outer circle, then repeat the exercise. 

Allow your intuition to guide you when performing a drum massage. Experiment with different postures, tempos, and rhythms. There is no single right way to do it. Each person must ultimately go within to find his or her own way.

Healing with Acoustic Resonance

Drumming is a profound way to promote healing. Through acoustic resonance, drumming helps restore the vibrational integrity of body, mind, and spirit. Acoustic resonance is the ability of a sound wave to impart its energy to a substance such as air, wood, metal, or the human body, making it vibrate in sympathy. For example, when you tap a tuning fork in proximity to another one of the same tone, both will vibrate. Acoustic resonance is an important consideration for instrument builders, as most acoustic instruments use resonators, such as the strings and body of a violin, the length of tube in a flute, and the shape of a drum membrane. A single-headed frame or hoop drum works best for acoustic resonance healing--the larger the drum, the greater the resonance.
 

The drum is a powerful tool for healing. As we play the drum, the drum then plays our bodies. The various frequencies of the drum interact with our own resonant frequencies, forming new harmonic alignments. Through the natural law of resonance, the sound waves produced by the drum impart their energy to the resonating systems of the body, mind and spirit, making them vibrate in sympathy. When we drum, our living flesh, brainwaves and spiritual energy centers entrain or synchronize to the sound waves and rhythms. This sympathetic resonance has the following key effects:
 

1. It produces deeper self-awareness by inducing synchronous brain activity. Research has demonstrated that the physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain synchronizes the two cerebral hemispheres. When the logical left hemisphere and the intuitive right hemisphere begin to pulsate in harmony, the inner guidance of intuitive knowing can then flow unimpeded into conscious awareness. The ability to access unconscious information through symbols and imagery facilitates psychological integration and a reintegration of self. Drumming also synchronizes the frontal and lower areas of the brain, integrating nonverbal information from lower brain structures into the frontal cortex, producing feelings of insight, understanding, integration, certainty, conviction, and truth, which surpass ordinary understandings and tend to persist long after the experience, often providing foundational insights for religious and cultural traditions.
 

2. It releases negative feelings, blockages, and emotional trauma. Drumming can help people express and address emotional issues. Unexpressed feelings and emotions can form energy blockages. The physical stimulation of drumming removes blockages and produces emotional release. Sound vibrations resonate through every cell in the body, stimulating the release of negative cellular memories.
 

3. It accesses the entire brain. The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain. Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but acoustic resonance penetrates the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, "Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson’s patients...." The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.
 

4. It induces natural altered states of consciousness. Rhythmic drumming induces altered states, which have a wide range of therapeutic applications. A landmark study by Barry Quinn, Ph.D. demonstrates that even a brief drumming session can double alpha brain wave activity, dramatically reducing stress. The brain changes from Beta waves (focused concentration and activity) to Alpha waves (calm and relaxed), producing feelings of euphoria and well-being. Alpha activity is associated with meditation, shamanic trance, and integrative modes of consciousness.
 

5. It helps us to experience being in resonance with the natural rhythms of life. Rhythm and resonance order the natural world. Dissonance and disharmony arise only when we limit our capacity to resonate totally and completely with the rhythms of life. The origin of the word rhythm is Greek meaning "to flow." We can learn to flow with the rhythms of life by simply learning to feel the beat, pulse, or groove while drumming. When drummers feel this rhythmic flow, especially at a slower, steady beat, they can shift into a state of deep relaxation and expanded awareness. It is a way of bringing the essential self into accord with the flow of a dynamic, interrelated universe, helping us feel connected rather than isolated and estranged.

How Rhythm Shapes Our Lives

Simply put, rhythm is a strong repeated pattern of movement or sound, generally considered to be an ordered alternation of contrasting elements. As regular and natural patterns of change, rhythms are everywhere--in the cycle of seasons, the tides, the phases of the moon, waking and sleeping, day and night, ebb and flow, yin and yang. In fact, rhythm is the very pulse of the universe. According to quantum physics, everything in the universe, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest star, has an inherent vibrational pattern. Everything has a unique vibrational frequency--a pulsating rhythm that belongs only to it. Within the heart of each of us, there exists a silent pulse of perfect rhythm that connects us to the totality of a dynamic, interrelated universe.
 

Rhythm interconnects everything in the natural world. All living things share in the common experience of being plugged into the electromagnetic grid of the planet. All life pulsates in time to the planet’s extremely low frequencies, which are concentrated at about 7.83 Hz (cycles per second). This so-called Schumann resonance is produced and maintained by more than eight million global lightning strikes a day. Every lightning bolt discharges a large amount of energy and so contributes to the Earth’s background base frequency or "heartbeat." This alpha rhythm is the primary frequency in the web of life. All life forms are innately connected to this primary frequency.
 

Beyond natural manifestations, rhythm characterizes human expression and is inseparable from speech, music, dance, and all forms of art. Rhythm plays an important role in how we perceive and connect with the world. Rhythm plays a role in listening, in walking, and in language. More importantly, rhythm is the underlying foundation of human sociability and interaction. Consider the broad range of biological rhythms in the human body, fast and slow, transmuted and integrated by the complex interdependence of the somatic, autonomic and endocrine nervous systems. The results of this synthesis of movement and sound act directly on us, spatially and temporally differentiating our interactional patterns.
 

Indeed, the very universality of rhythm is a compelling argument for the existence of biological processes governing the perception and production of rhythm. Rhythms in the brain have been identified as a basis for consciousness itself. According to neuroscience research, rhythm is rooted in innate functions of the brain, mind, and consciousness. As human beings, we are innately rhythmic. Our relationship with rhythm begins in the womb. At twenty two days, a single (human embryo) cell jolts to life. This first beat awakens nearby cells and incredibly they all begin to beat in perfect unison. These beating cells divide and become our heart. This desire to beat in unison seemingly fuels our entire lives. Studies show that, regardless of musical training, we are innately able to perceive and recall elements of beat and rhythm.
 

It makes sense, then, that beat and rhythm are an important aspect in music therapy. Our brains are hard-wired to be able to entrain to a beat. Entrainment occurs when two or more rhythms come into sync and begin to beat as one. If you are walking down a street and you hear a song, you instinctively begin to step in sync to the beat of the song. This is actually an important area of current music therapy research. Our brain enables our motor system to naturally entrain to a rhythmic beat, allowing music therapists to target rehabilitating movements. The better we understand the biological basis of rhythm, the better we will be able to employ rhythm--in all its guises--to improve communication and to better understand ourselves.

How Brainwaves Affect Our Well-Being

All of our thoughts, emotions and behaviors are rooted in the communication between neurons. Each of the millions of neurological synapses in our brain operate on electrical impulses which create an overall frequency. The frequency (wavelength) can be fast or slow, harmonious or discordant, but whatever it happens to be will affect our consciousness dramatically. Our brainwave state affects our ability to focus and many other important functions in our lives. Knowing how to identify your brainwave state is the first step in empowering you to consciously shift these patterns as needed throughout the day.
 

There are four brainwave states:
 

Delta brainwave activity (1-4 HZ or beats per second) is associated with deep sleep. This state is crucial for restoration of the body and healing. Delta has to do with the subconscious, the place where intuition arises. 

 

Theta wave activity (4-8 HZ) reflects the dreamlike state between wakefulness and sleep. Theta rhythms are associated with meditation and shamanic states of consciousness. Theta increases creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress, and awakens intuition.
 

Alpha brain waves (8-12 HZ) are associated with relaxation, imagination, visualization and integrative modes of consciousness. This state of mind is considered a gateway to deeper realms of consciousness and is essential to well-being.
 

Beta brainwave activity (13-30 HZ) is associated with concentration, cognition, alertness, and focus. This state of consciousness allows you to make connections quickly and come up with solutions and ideas.
 

Consciously altering brainwave activity
 

People have meditated, used music, dance, and art for millennia to alter consciousness. Neuroscience research has demonstrated that certain external rhythms can cause entrainment of brainwaves. This idea has been applied with biofeedback, binaural beats, and other advanced forms of technology but it is basically rooted in the ancient rhythm of the shaman's drum. Indigenous shamanic cultures have been using rhythm to alter consciousness for thousands of years.
 

Rhythmic drumming induces altered states of consciousness, which have a wide range of therapeutic applications. A groundbreaking study by Barry Quinn, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist specializing in neuro-biofeedback therapy for stress management, demonstrated that even a brief drumming session can double alpha brain wave activity, dramatically reducing stress. The brain changes from Beta waves (focused concentration and activity) to Alpha waves (calm and relaxed), producing feelings of euphoria and well-being. This ease of induction contrasts significantly with the long periods of isolation and practice required by most meditative disciplines before inducing significant effects. Rhythmic stimulation is a simple yet effective technique for affecting states of mind.
 

The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain. Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but drumming accesses the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, "Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson’s patients..." The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.

Group Drumming Better than Antidepressants

A study published by the Public Library of Science (PLoS) scientifically validates what so many drum circle participants have already experienced first hand: group drumming produces significant changes in well-being, including improvements in depression, anxiety and social resilience.
 

With the World Health Organization identifying depression as the #1 leading cause of disability, globally, and psychiatric medications causing severe side effects, including permanently disabling the body's self-healing mechanism, drug-free alternatives are needed now more than ever.
 

Could group drumming provide just such a solution?
 

Titled, "Effects of Group Drumming Interventions on Anxiety, Depression, Social Resilience and Inflammatory Immune Response among Mental Health Service Users," UK researchers enrolled thirty adults who were already recipients of mental health services but were not receiving antidepressant medications in a 10 week program of drumming versus a control group of 15. The two groups were matched for age, sex, ethnicity and employment status. The control participants were informed that they were participating in a study about music and mental health but were not given access to the group drumming sessions. The treatment group received weekly 90-minute group drumming sessions over a period of 10 weeks. The drum group sizes were between 15-20. Each participant was provided with a traditional African djembe drum and sat in a circle. Twenty percent of the session time involved instruction and talking, whereas 80% was direct participation in music-making. The control subjects were enrolled in community group social activities (e.g. quiz nights, women's institute meetings and book clubs). Both groups were monitored for biomarkers related to immune status and inflammation, e.g. cortisol and various cytokines, to track the biological as well as psychological changes associated with the intervention.
 

The results of the study were remarkable. Significant improvements were found in the drumming group but not the control group. In summary, by 6 weeks the drumming intervention group experienced decreases in depression, increased social resilience; by 10 weeks they saw further improvements in depression, alongside significant improvements in anxiety and mental wellbeing. These changes continued to be maintained 3 months follow-up. The drumming intervention group also saw their immune profile shift from a pro-inflammatory towards an anti-inflammatory response.
 

This remarkable research opens up the possibility that group drumming may produce positive psychospiritual changes that, in comparison to conventional treatment with psychiatric medications like Prozac, support side-effect free improvement in parameters beyond symptom suppression.
 

Additionally, when one considers that the benefits associated with conventional pharmaceutical treatment of depression may actually result from the placebo effect and not the chemicals themselves, as well as the fact that antidepressants can cause severe adverse effects including suicidal ideation, the findings of this exploratory study becomes all the more promising.
 

Another important discovery here is that group drumming down-regulated inflammation within the immune profiles of study participants. Could the dysregulation of inflammation be a root cause of a wide range of psychiatric disorders and anti-inflammatory interventions a solution? The inflammation-depression link, in particular, explains how interventions such as turmeric have been clinically proven to be superior to common antidepressant medications like Prozac, presumably because of turmeric's broad spectrum and systemic anti-inflammatory properties.

Expanded States of Consciousness World Summit

The Expanded States of Consciousness World Summit is a free 9-day online event featuring 65+ world-class experts, including Deepak Chopra, Luisah Teish, Wim Hof, Rosalind Watts, Andrew Weil, Grandmother Flordemayo, Paul Stamets, Gita Vaid, Ken Wilber, Sandra Ingerman, Dan Siegel, Krishna Das, and many more. This summit is designed to create a profound journey and transformative learning experience for anyone interested in expanded states of consciousness and their potential for our individual and collective healing, spiritual evolution and awakening. This includes practitioners, clinicians, researchers, guides, coaches and other helping professionals, researchers, and the general public.
 

Over nine days, you will have the opportunity to learn learn about the potential of expanded states of consciousness for healing trauma, healing attachment wounds, and deepening resilience. Discover how these practices can help us unlock our full potential, leading to a more fulfilling life with greater meaning and purpose. The summit will cover a wide range of methods, including:

•     Meditation
•     Breathwork
•     Psychedelics
•     Plant medicines
•     Shamanism
•     Music, chanting, and sound healing
•     Tools and practices for integration

 

During the Summit, you'll hear about the cutting-edge research on consciousness and expanded states and be able to explore different practices and techniques for accessing and integrating these states…While connecting with a global community of like-minded individuals exploring the further reaches of consciousness and human potential. Whether you're an experienced practitioner or just curious about the nature of consciousness, this Summit is sure to be an illuminating and transformative experience. Free streaming of the summit starts Tuesday, April 18th at 7:00 am EDT USA, click here to claim your free ticket.

Your Guide to Shamanic Drumming

I am pleased to announce the publication of my first online course, Your Guide to Shamanic Drumming, on Insight Timer. Insight Timer is a free smartphone app and online community with over seven million meditators, making it the most active meditation community on the planet. The meditation app made Women's Health and Time magazine's list of best apps. Three thousand meditation teachers publish free guided meditations, music and talks on the app. With 130,000 free guided meditations, including six of my shamanic drumming tracks to support your shamanic journeys, you can meditate on Insight Timer for as long as you want without ever paying a cent. Please note that courses are a premium offering and require either an individual purchase or an active subscription. You can purchase my course for $19.99 or start your 7 day free trial then subscribe to unlock all 1,871 Insight courses, playlists and premium features. Download the Insight Timer app here.
 

Course Description 

In this four-part audio course, best-selling author Michael Drake teaches about the power of shamanic drumming to improve well-being, promote spiritual growth and deepen our understanding of the inner self. Shamanic drumming is a form of repetitive rhythmic drumming. Its purpose is to induce ecstatic trance states in order to access innate wisdom and guidance. The essence of shamanism is the experience of direct revelation from within. Shamanism is about remembering, exploring and developing the true self. Shamanic practice heightens the ability of perception and enables you to see into the deeper realms of the self. Once connected with your inner self, you can find help, healing and a continual source of guidance. To practice shamanism is to reconnect with your deepest core values and your highest vision of who you are and why you are here.

Drawing from 30 years of shamanic practice and teaching, Michael presents the first practical guide to applying this ancient healing art to our modern lives. Through a series of simple lessons and exercises, he teaches the basic shamanic methods of drumming, journeying, power practice and healing the earth. You will learn how to alter your state of consciousness to access higher wisdom, renewed power and untapped insight. There are no prerequisites to learning shamanic drumming. Whether you are an accomplished percussionist or a total beginner, this course will help you harness the power of drumming. 

 

Drumming is a spiritual practice that can help us heal and restore ourselves and our communities. It is one of the quickest and most powerful ways to open the heart and connect with a power greater than ourselves. The drum is a time-tested vehicle for healing and self-expression. It can be used to address any number of health issues including trauma, addiction, depression and chronic pain. Recent research reviews indicate that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and produces feelings of well-being, a release of emotional trauma and reintegration of self. You can listen to the introduction and read the course outline here.

Rhythm Healing

The key to understanding the shaman's world is to realize that the universe is made of vibrational energy. According to quantum physics, everything in the universe, from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest star, has an inherent vibrational pattern. The entire universe is created through vibration and can be influenced through the healing vibrations of shamanic drumming. The shamanic drum is a tool for altering the vibrational state of the shaman and/or the healee or a particular situation in the community. To put it simply, shamanic drumming is an ancient form of rhythm healing.

Rhythm healing is an approach that uses therapeutic rhythm techniques to promote health and well-being. Rhythm healing employs specialized rhythmic drumming patterns designed to influence the internal rhythmic patterns of the individual and harmonize those which are thought to be causing the illness or imbalance. When administered correctly, specific rhythms may be used to accelerate physical healing, stimulate the release of emotional trauma and produce deeper self-awareness. This technique has been used for thousands of years by indigenous cultures around the planet to treat a variety of conditions.

Rhythm healing relies on the natural laws of resonance and entrainment to restore the vibrational integrity of body, mind and spirit. In resonance, the sound waves produced by the drum impart their energy to the resonating systems of the body, mind and spirit, making them vibrate in sympathy. When we drum, our living flesh, brainwaves and auric energy field entrain to the sound waves and rhythms. This sympathetic resonance forms new harmonic alignments, opens the body's energy meridians, releases blocked emotional patterns, promotes healing, and helps connect us to our core, enhancing our sense of empowerment and stimulating our creative expression. A single-headed frame or hoop drum works best for rhythm healing -- the larger the drum, the greater the resonance.

Finding the right rhythm

A rhythm healer may have a repertory of established rhythms or improvise a new rhythm, uniquely indicated for the situation. Determining the right rhythm in each case is a highly individual matter. No predetermined formulas are given. The rhythmist needs to create a dialogue between the sounds he/she produces and the responses of the person being treated. The drumming is not restricted to a regular tempo, but may pause, speed up or slow down with irregular accents. The practitioner may stop playing altogether, or suddenly hoist the drum skyward and bang it violently, throwing the disease into the heavens, returning it to the spirit world.

Tuvan shamans, for example, often improvise sounds, rhythms and chants in order to converse with both the spirit world and the healee. The sounds produced by the shaman and the drum go out and certain frequencies and overtones are then reflected back. Information is generally received as subtle vibrations, which the shaman then interprets as sounds, images or as rhythms.

To find the right rhythm, invoke the spirit of your drum, and ask it to come to you and become your ally. State your intention -- what you desire or expect to accomplish -- in a clear and concise manner, and then sit and meditate with your drum for a few minutes. By stilling the mind, you will be able to connect with the spirit of the drum. When you feel ready, pick up your drumstick and begin to play whatever feels appropriate. When you focus on the spiritual intention or the energy of what is being played, it allows the music to become very loose, spontaneous and innovative.

I learned that when I trust my intuition to play the appropriate rhythm, which I do not know in advance, I cannot go wrong. I know that when I open up and play what I feel, the drumming is fresh, different and spontaneous each time. Rhythmic improvisation is a musical expression of the soul. It is a way to let spirit work through you for the purpose of healing and helping others.

Rhythm healing is about finding the right rhythm. Rhythm and resonance order the natural world. Dissonance and disharmony arise only when we limit our capacity to resonate completely with the rhythms of life. The origin of the word rhythm is Greek meaning "to flow." We can learn to flow with the rhythms of life by simply learning to feel the beat or pulse while drumming. It is a way of bringing the essential self into accord with the flow of a boundless, interrelated universe, helping us feel connected rather than isolated and estranged. To learn more, look inside The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming.

Experiencing Rhythms in the Body

Rhythm is a universal vibrational language. We respond to rhythm whenever we sense it and seek it out when it is not present, for we are innately rhythmic. Every rhythm has its own quality and touches you in a unique way. To experience this for yourself, try playing some different rhythms. Whether you drum or merely tap your fingers, learn to "feel the beat" by allowing it to sink into your body and consciousness. Notice how your body responds to each pattern. Keep in mind that the manner in which you play or shape a rhythm will affect your response. One of the paradoxes of rhythm is that it has both the capacity to move your awareness out of your body into realms beyond time and space and to ground you firmly in the present moment.
 

Begin by playing a steady, metronome-like rhythm with uniform time intervals. A clockwork drum beat generates a dynamic energy that is yang, creative, and expansive in nature. Dynamic energies are ascending forces that carry consciousness into higher realms. At a rapid tempo of three to four beats per second, a steady, rhythmic pattern, or "eagle-beat," will arouse and vitalize you. It creates the sensation of inner movement, which, if you allow it, will carry you along. As you continue to drum, you will become more ecstatic. You and your drum will seem to merge. You may speed up or slow down. That is perfectly normal. Shamanic trance is characterized by its range and flexibility, so don't get hung up on trying to maintain a certain speed. It can be distracting and your hands may get tired. Follow your inner sense of timing as to both tempo and duration.
 

After drumming the eagle-beat, simply relax and bathe in the sonic afterglow of physical and spiritual well-being. When the final drumbeat fades into silence, an inaudible, yet perceptible pulsation persists for a brief period. This silent pulse is ever-present within each of us, but our awareness is rarely in sync with it. Sense this silent pulse resonating within your body. You may experience the sensation of every particle in your body pulsing in sync with the rhythm you just played. This inner pulse entrains to the rhythmic pattern as soon as you begin to drum.
 

Next, try playing the steady pulse of a heartbeat rhythm. A two-beat rhythm produces a different sonic experience. The soft, steady lub-dub, lub-dub of a heartbeat rhythm has a calming and centering affect. It reconnects us to the warmth and safety of the first sound we ever heard -- the nurturing pulse of our mother's heartbeat melding with our own. According to Ted Andrews, author of Animal Speak, "a rhythm of two is a rhythm that helps connect you to the feminine energies of creative imagination, birth, and intuition." At a more rapid tempo, the heartbeat rhythm stimulates a downward flow of energy within the body. It generates a magnetic energy that is yin, intuitive, and receptive in nature. Magnetic energies are descending forces conducive to great healing, mind, and regenerative powers.
 

These two simple drum patterns are the healing rhythms I use most often in my shamanic work. Moreover, they are rhythm archetypes representing yin -- the form giving principle of energy, and yang -- the principle of life and consciousness immanent in all phenomena. Yin and yang are the binary elements that generate between them the totality of existence. A binary progression underlies the structure of reality. At a fundamental level, the laws of the universe are written in a binary code. The binary mathematical system forms the basis of computer languages and applies to nearly everything from crystalline structures to the genetic code. The binary basis of the genetic code is formed by the plus and minus strands of DNA.
 

The human experience is a microcosm and reflection of binary progression. The archetypes of rhythm are the fundamental patterns that underlie our resonant field of reality. Entraining to these archetypal rhythms, we experience them directly and discover our rhythmic interconnections. Each pattern pulsates specific qualities of energy that give inherent structure and meaning to the possibilities of being. They exist in every human being from the moment of conception to the final breath. Each human being is an integral composite of the archetypes of rhythm. Each of us is a series of rhythmic patterns summed up as a single inner pulse, the essential aspect of our being.

"The Shamanic Drum" July eBook Sale

Mark your calendar! I am taking part in the 14th annual Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale, taking place Friday, July 1 through Sunday, July 31 2022. For the entire month of July, all of my ebooks are 50% off list price: The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming, I Ching: The Tao of Drumming, Shamanic Drumming: Calling the Spirits, Shamanic Drumming Circles Guide, The Great Shift, Riding Spirit Horse: A Journey into Shamanism and Shamanic Journeys: An Anthology. Choose from multiple file formats including .epub, .mobi for Kindles, and PDF. Click on the following link to my Smashwords author page and you will receive the 50% discount automatically by adding my books to your cart: Smashwords July Summer/Winter Sale.
 

Why does Smashwords call it "Summer/Winter"? Here in the Northern hemisphere, it's mid-summer. Readers are loading their e-reading devices for summer beach reading and long-awaited vacations. South of the equator, readers are now in the middle of winter. They're ready to curl up in front of the fireplace and enjoy a great read too! Smashwords is the world's largest distributor of indie ebooks. They make it fast, free and easy for any author or publisher, anywhere in the world, to publish and distribute ebooks to the major retailers and thousands of libraries. The Smashwords Store provides an opportunity to discover new voices in all categories and genres of the written word.

Joseph Rael's Sound Peace Chambers

Joseph Rael, whose Tiwa name, Tsluu teh koy ay, given to him as a child at Picuris Pueblo, means "Beautiful Painted Arrow," is widely regarded as one of the great Native American holy men of our time. He was born in 1935 on the Southern Ute reservation to a chief's granddaughter and a Tiwa-speaking Picuris native. At about age 7, shortly before his mother's death, he went to live in Picuris near Taos, NM, where his visionary powers were developed until, at about age 12, he began to assist the village holy man in curing practices.
 

He was educated both at Santa Fe Indian school and public high school before getting a BA in political science from the University of New Mexico and an MA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. For a number of years he worked in various capacities in Indian health and social services in both New Mexico and Colorado.
 

At age 45 he quit his social services job to devote full time to teaching and following his visions wherever they might lead. In 1983 Joseph had the vision to build a Sound Peace chamber, a kiva-like structure where people of all races might gather to chant and sing for world peace and to purify the earth and oceans. He built the first such chamber at his then-home, a trailer park in Bernalillo, NM, and shortly like-minded people began to build Sound Peace chambers in other locations.
 

At present, Sound Peace chambers have been built around the globe. Writes Joseph, "My vision is that through sound we will bring about peace and other important vibrations. Sound can teach us a way to create without destruction." Meanwhile, Joseph began leading ceremonial dances, based on his visions, with participants from all races and nationalities. "When you dance you are expanding the vibrations of insight and manifestation," he writes. "I created three dances -- the long dance, the sun-moon dances and the drum dance -- for these spiritual gifts."
 

Joseph teaches that "Every dance, every ceremony, is both for you and for the cosmos." In 1999, Joseph retired from active leadership of the dances he had begun, turning them over to a new generation of his students. Joseph Rael is the author of a number of books, including Being and Vibration, Sound: Native Teachings and Visionary Art and his autobiography, House of Shattering Light. He is also an artist. His paintings, like his ceremonies and teachings, are based on his visions. They have been called "portal" art, because they open a doorway into alternate dimensions of reality. As a Native American elder, Joseph Rael has spoken before the United Nations and addressed a conference of military officers at the Pentagon on the role of the warrior in the modern world.

The Rainbow Bridge

As a rhythm seeker, I spent much of my life exploring the rhythms of many of the world's shamanic and spiritual traditions. As I learned the drum ways of various world cultures, I found the same rhythmic qualities underlying all of them. Like the colors of the rainbow, each culture has its own hue or identity, yet each is a part of the whole society. Although the focus or intent differs from culture to culture, rhythmic drumming invariably has the same power and effects in all traditions. The resonant qualities and attributes of these rhythmic phenomena are universal and come into play whenever we drum.
 

The universal power of rhythm is the effects it has on consciousness. Recent studies have demonstrated that rhythmic drumming produces deeper self-awareness by inducing synchronous brain activity. The physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain synchronizes the two cerebral hemispheres. This shared resonance integrates conscious and unconscious awareness. The ability to access unconscious information through symbols and imagery facilitates psychological integration and a reintegration of self.
 

The ethereal rainbow arching high into the heavens symbolizes this harmonious union of intuition and intellect. In her book Voices of Our Ancestors: Cherokee Teachings from the Wisdom Fire, Dhyani Ywahoo states, "We are the rainbow, each of us. When we speak of rebuilding the 'Rainbow Bridge,' it is to bring into harmony the left and right hemispheres of the brain, to renew the flow of our intuitive mind." Regarding rhythmic stimulation, she says, "Chanting and drumming were also a significant part of the learning, balancing activity of the right and left hemispheres of the brain."
 

In his book Shamanism: The Neural Ecology of Consciousness and Healing, anthropologist Michael Winkelman reports that drumming also synchronizes the frontal and lower areas of the brain, integrating nonverbal information from lower brain structures into the frontal cortex, producing "feelings of insight, understanding, integration, certainty, conviction, and truth, which surpass ordinary understandings and tend to persist long after the experience, often providing foundational insights for religious and cultural traditions."
 

Brain hemisphere synchronization connects us to the guidance of our own intuitive knowing. Intuition reveals appropriate action in the moment for a given set of circumstances. Synchronous activity appears within consciousness as the most natural thing to do. One can readily perceive what aims are in accord with the cosmos and not waste energy on discordant pursuits. By allowing the intuition to lead the body, one attains clarity in movement. So long as one follows one's intuitive sense, one's actions will be in sync with the true self and ultimately the cosmos.

Your Brain on Drumming

Created by Pamela Lynn-Seraphine, MS. CCTP-II: www.21stcenturydrummer.com

Drumming is the equivalent of a full brain workout. It engages practically every area of the brain at once. The reason rhythm is such a powerful tool is that it permeates the entire brain. Vision for example is in one part of the brain, speech another, but drumming accesses the whole brain. The sound of drumming generates dynamic neuronal connections in all parts of the brain even where there is significant damage or impairment such as in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). According to Michael Thaut, director of Colorado State University's Center for Biomedical Research in Music, "Rhythmic cues can help retrain the brain after a stroke or other neurological impairment, as with Parkinson’s patients..." The more connections that can be made within the brain, the more integrated our experiences become.
 

The above infographic was created by Pamela Lynn-Seraphine, MS. CCTP-II. She is a trauma therapist, specialized in neuropsychology, drummer, consultant and brain-based educator. Pamela's research merges the brain-mind-body relationship of neural integration with the neurobiological underpinnings of drumming to understand its dynamics and improve holistic and integrative interventions in treating trauma and stress-related issues. She has researched areas such as the neurobiology of drumming for interpersonal trauma recovery, the biology of trauma, neurobiology of empowerment, peak performance, longevity, and healthy aging. Pamela is the founder of the 21st Century Drummer Academy--an online certification training program for mental health professionals and non-licensed professionals who want to provide neurobiologically informed rhythm-based interventions to clients as part of their professional scope of practice to help individuals heal the effects of complex/interpersonal trauma and adverse life experiences.
 

Current research like Pamela's is now verifying the therapeutic effects of drumming. Recent research reviews indicate that drumming accelerates physical healing, boosts the immune system and produces feelings of well-being, a release of emotional trauma, and reintegration of self. Other studies have demonstrated the calming, focusing, and healing effects of drumming on Alzheimer's patients, autistic children, emotionally disturbed teens, recovering addicts, trauma patients, and prison and homeless populations. Study results demonstrate that drumming is a valuable treatment for stress, fatigue, anxiety, hypertension, asthma, chronic pain, arthritis, mental illness, migraines, cancer, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, paralysis, emotional disorders, and a wide range of physical disabilities. To learn more read my article on Drum Therapy.

Steven Halpern's "Cannabis Dreams"

Steven Halpern, the Grammy nominated founder of the sound healing movement, released a new album, Cannabis Dreams. Cannabis Dreams is the latest of Halpern's 100-plus music albums that for over 45 years have helped his listeners manage stress, reduce pain and facilitate sleep. I still enjoy listening to his 2001 CD release, Chakra Suite: Music for Meditation, Healing and Inner Peace. Cannabis Dreams is among the first to link healing music and healing cannabis, whose ancient roots trace back more than 5,000 years. The 11-track album features Halpern's signature sound, an electric piano combined with hypnotic brainwave entrainment technology. The music supports relaxation, healing, meditation and spiritual well-being.
 

The seed concept for this album was planted in 1982 when an anthropologist handed Halpern an extraordinary cannabis strain used by an indigenous Alaskan shamanic healer. "One toke, and I heard music in a very different way," says Halpern. "It inspired an improvised grand piano jam that was different from anything I had recorded previously. I wondered if certain other strains might inspire a new composition if used exclusively. The answer turned out to be Yes."
 

In 2015, Halpern was invited to be a Celebrity Brand Ambassador for a leading Cannabis dispensary. Although the collaboration was short-lived, their top shelf strain, called Mystic Haze, evoked a meditative, healing and spiritual high, and inspired the several variations of the title track on Cannabis Dreams.
 

The album was completed when Halpern read about the new spiritually-uplifting strain released by entrepreneurial musician Carlos Santana and Left Coast Ventures. "After hearing music in meditation after sampling this strain, it was obvious I needed to include a new track inspired by Mirayo by Santana," he said. "I was able to book time in a recording studio on 11/11/20, and two extraordinary compositions now complete the album."
 

The spirit of each strain speaks through the music. Deep alpha brainwave entrainment tones are subtly mixed into the music, which entrain your brain to higher coherence to further support your immune system functioning. The artist suggests that one "grabs a set of headphones for the full psycho-acoustic effect." Cannabis Dreams is Halpern's heartfelt "thank you" to the master growers who keep improving on the spiritually uplifting and creativity-enhancing strains.