My drum can connect me to the earth or carry
me like a flying horse. Sometimes I send my spirits out, but other times I must
go myself, alone or with the spirits.
―Tania Kobezhikova,
Khakass shaman
As a spirit guide, Horse is a messenger to and from the spirit
world and a psychopomp who leads departed souls into the afterlife. Horse represents
personal power, stamina, endurance, freedom, independence, travel, adventure,
and soul flight. Horse is a medicine or you could say a relationship with the
spirit of Horse such that the Horse will let you (your spirit) ride him and
will take you where you want to go. Do you need to get somewhere physical or spiritual?
Horse will assist you and serve as your guardian spirit, giving safety in your
physical and metaphysical journeys.
The shaman's horse, namely the single-headed frame drum,
originated in Siberia , together with shamanism itself
thousands of years ago. The repetitive, rhythmic cadence of shamanic drumming
is evocative of a horse on a journey. Siberian shamans describe it as the
buoyant, transcendent state that one mounts and rides from plane to plane. The
wild, untamed spirit of Horse will teach you how to ride the drum into vast
worlds of extraordinary richness and complexity. We can ride Spirit Horse on
journeys through the inner realms of consciousness or call upon this power animal
to be the courier of our prayers in remote or distant healing.
