Indie Shaman: The Shamanism Magazine

Indie Shaman is a leading shamanism magazine published in the United Kingdom and distributed internationally for those interested in shamanism, animism and all things shamanic. With pages packed full of informative illustrated articles by established authors in the field of shamanism, this magazine is aimed at people interested in living ethically according to shamanic principles. The 'Indie' in Indie Shaman stands for independent, meaning all inclusive regardless of tradition or area of shamanic interest. Indie also means independent people who thinks for themselves as in their slogan 'For Independent Spirits', a very shamanic trait found in both indigenous and contemporary shamans. Indie Shaman seeks to provide a supportive network for those interested in shamanism or a shamanic way of life, as well as for shamanic practitioners from all cultures. In doing this they endeavor to help people answer questions about life, promote self-discovery and self-development, and encourage respect for the self, the community and the land. To learn more visit Indie Shaman.

Traveling Shamans Camp 2019

Traveling Shamans Camp 2019 July 26-28 is a free admission 3-day festival/camp in Hotchkiss, Colorado for shamans, shamanic artists, practitioners, students, friends, and the shaman curious. This gathering of shamans features ceremonies, sweat lodges, a medicine wheel workshop,  journeying lodge, drum circles, shamanic trance dance, dance of universal peace and more. Enjoy the magic of earth-based ceremony and dancing and drumming with all our relatives. The shamans are gathering beside the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Bring your tipi, tent, or RV and join the camp. Plenty of camping sites at the Fairgrounds, Tipi Haven, and Mountain View Meadows in Hotchkiss, Colorado. The event is sponsored by the Shamanic Arts Center in Hotchkiss and Epic Grand Valley Magazine from the Grand Valley of Colorado. For more details see the official website at https://ShamansCamp.com.

Sacred Hoop Prayer Song

The circle or sacred hoop is a universal symbol that can be found in many indigenous cultures around the world. Within the cosmology of primal peoples, the circle represents life. All aspects of life, energy, and the ever-moving universe spiral in circles. The plants, the animals, the minerals, and the elemental forces of nature all exist within the circle. The sacred hoop, sometimes known as the medicine wheel, represents the natural cycles of life and the basic way in which the natural world moves and evolves. All creatures walk the circumference of the sacred hoop, experiencing birth, life, and death. This archetypal journey has four stages or rounds, each associated with a cardinal direction. Four rounds signify completion, wholeness or fullness. After completing a cycle of learning on the sacred wheel, each of us returns to the source, the Great Mystery at the center or heart of the circle. Listen to "Sacred Hoop," my prayer song to the circle of life. Available on iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby.

Mother Drums

Mother drums are large drums that can be played by many people at the same time. Also called community or council drums, these powerful drums symbolize the heartbeat of a community drum circle. Some drum circles like to open each gathering with a round of drumming on a mother drum. One way to do this is to ask a community drum keeper to set up the beat, and then the rest of the circle will stand up and join in one at a time. When no more room is left to drum, the first drummer leaves to make room for another, and so on until everyone has drummed.

In drum circle culture, mother drums are usually open to any participant who wishes to join in, however it is a "sign of respect" to ask permission before you sit on a drum. Each drum is different, but there is some basic protocol when you play on a mother drum: Have respect for the drum and the drum keeper. Anything being passed at a community drum should be passed clockwise around the drum, never over, across or counterclockwise. Do not rest anything on top of the drum except for a drumstick or blanket when instructed by the drum keeper. Mother drums are usually covered with a blanket when not in use.

Mother drums foster and sustain a culture of engagement and collaboration. Playing together on a community drum bonds the individual members of the circle. Mother drums are often used to support group shamanic journeys. A group shamanic journey basically involves one person drumming a repetitive rhythm while the others relax and journey within. Transported by the resonant beat of the drum; the shamanic travelers journey to the inner planes of consciousness. If you have never had the opportunity to take such a deep shamanic journey, I invite you to try a "Mother Drum Journey." Available at iTunes, Amazon, and CD Baby.