How Does Shamanic Drumming Affect the Brain?

Shamanic drumming has been used by indigenous cultures for thousands of years as a tool for healing, altered states of consciousness, and spiritual exploration. At the heart of this ancient practice lies a rhythmic, repetitive beat--often played at around 4 to 7 beats per second--which has a profound impact not only on the emotional and spiritual body, but also on the brain itself. As modern neuroscience continues to evolve, we are beginning to understand more clearly how shamanic drumming influences brainwaves, consciousness, and psychological well-being.

The Science of Rhythm and the Brain

The brain is a rhythmic organ. It generates electrical impulses known as brainwaves, which are categorized based on their frequency: beta, alpha, theta, delta, and gamma. Each type corresponds to a different state of consciousness. For example:

• Beta waves (13–30 Hz): active, alert, problem-solving state.
• Alpha waves (8–13 Hz): relaxed, calm, meditative state.
• Theta waves (4–8 Hz): deep meditation, creativity, dream-like states.
• Delta waves (0.5–4 Hz): deep sleep, unconsciousness.

Shamanic drumming, especially when played at 4–7 beats per second, naturally encourages the brain to synchronize with the rhythm through a process called entrainment. Entrainment is the phenomenon by which biological systems align with an external rhythm. In this case, the external rhythm of the drumbeat nudges the brain into a theta state, which is associated with vivid imagery, intuition, and non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Entering the Shamanic State of Consciousness

In traditional shamanic practices, the drum acts as a bridge between the physical and spiritual worlds. When a shaman begins to drum at a steady tempo, it induces what many refer to as the "shamanic state of consciousness"--a deeply focused, trance-like state that allows for journeying, visioning, and spiritual healing.

This theta-dominant state is neurologically similar to what we experience during deep meditation, hypnosis, or REM sleep. It is a highly creative and receptive brain state in which the subconscious mind is more accessible. In this altered state, individuals often report:

• Vivid visual imagery
• A sense of timelessness
• Heightened intuition
• Connection to spirit guides or power animals
• Emotional insights or healing experiences

The Drumbeat as Auditory Driving

The steady, monotonous rhythm of the shamanic drum is not designed for entertainment. Rather, it functions as a form of auditory driving, a technique that uses rhythmic sound to shift states of consciousness. Studies in psychoacoustics (the study of the perception of sound) have shown that continuous drumming can alter activity in various brain regions, including the thalamus and limbic system--areas associated with sensory processing and emotion.

Auditory driving through drumming can bypass the analytical, rational mind (associated with beta waves) and activate the intuitive, sensory parts of the brain. This is why people often feel as if they have entered a dream or vision-like state during a drumming session.

Neurological Benefits of Shamanic Drumming

In addition to altering consciousness, shamanic drumming has been shown to offer a range of psychological and neurological benefits:

1. Stress Reduction: Rhythmic drumming has been found to lower cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. A study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that group drumming sessions significantly reduced anxiety and improved mood among participants.

2. Emotional Regulation: Drumming stimulates the release of endorphins and endogenous opiates, which can help regulate mood and create a sense of well-being. The rhythmic pattern can also serve as an emotional anchor, helping individuals process and release trauma.

3. Enhanced Focus and Attention: Paradoxically, while shamanic drumming induces a trance-like state, it can also increase focus and attention. This is particularly true for people who struggle with overactive thoughts. The repetitive beat creates a focal point, helping quiet the mind and reduce internal chatter.

4. Neuroplasticity and Healing: Emerging research in neuroplasticity--the brain's ability to rewire itself--suggests that rhythmic activities like drumming can help re-pattern dysfunctional neural pathways. For trauma survivors, engaging in rhythmic drumming may offer a non-verbal pathway for healing that bypasses cognitive resistance.

Cross-Cultural Consistency

Interestingly, the use of repetitive rhythm to enter trance states is consistent across many indigenous cultures. From the frame drums of Siberian shamans to the ceremonial drums of Native American and African traditions, the power of rhythm transcends geography. The fact that such diverse cultures discovered similar methods independently points to a universal human capacity for rhythm-based transformation.

This cross-cultural consistency supports the idea that shamanic drumming taps into a fundamental neurological mechanism common to all humans. It is not tied to belief systems, rituals, or specific traditions alone--it works because of how our brains are wired.

The Drum as a Neurological Tool

While the spiritual significance of the drum should not be diminished, it is fascinating to consider the drum as a neurological tool. Modern practitioners often use recordings of shamanic drumming to facilitate meditative states, personal journeys, or even creative inspiration. Whether used in sacred ceremony or personal practice, the drumbeat becomes a functional mechanism for shifting consciousness and activating inner wisdom.

Integrating Science and Spirit

Science has only just begun to scratch the surface of what indigenous shamans have long known--that the drum is not merely a musical instrument but a tool for transformation. By understanding the brain-based mechanisms behind shamanic drumming, we gain new respect for ancient practices and how they align with modern therapeutic principles.

This fusion of ancient wisdom and neuroscience opens up exciting possibilities. Could shamanic drumming become part of trauma recovery protocols? Could it be used in therapeutic settings for mental health or addiction? As clinical research expands, the therapeutic and transformative potential of rhythm continues to be affirmed.

Final Thoughts

Shamanic drumming is far more than a rhythmic activity. It is a profound tool that interacts with our brain's natural rhythms to induce healing, insight, and altered states of awareness. Whether approached as a spiritual ritual or a neurological technique, its effects are undeniable. As we rediscover the science behind these ancient rhythms, we are reminded that the journey inward often begins with a simple, steady beat--a reminder that healing doesn't always require words, only rhythm, intention, and a willingness to listen.

The Darkening of the Light

In this blog post, I am expanding on a post from January of 2017, when Donald Trump began his first tenure as the president of the United States. The original post is still relevant to the times we live in, so I felt the need to revisit it in this post. 

In January of 2017, I consulted the I Ching in order to gain some insight into the dire situation of our planet. The I Ching is an ancient Chinese text and divination system which counsels appropriate action in the moment for a given set of circumstances. Each moment has a pattern to it and everything that happens in that moment is interconnected. Based on the synchronicity of the universe and the laws of probability, the I Ching responds to an inquiry in the form of a hexagram. By evaluating the hexagram that describes your current pattern of relationship, you can divine the outcome and act accordingly. The oracle serves as a gauge--a precise means for placing oneself in relation to the pattern or way of cyclical change, and that way is known as Tao (the core principle underlying the Universe).

The I Ching is a microcosm of all possible human situations. It serves as a dynamic map, whose function is to reveal one's relative position in the cosmos of events. The hexagram texts address the 64 archetypal human situations. The commentary of each hexagram reveals the optimal strategy for integrating or harmonizing with the inevitable for a given condition. It provides the appropriate response to your inquiry. It affords a holistic perspective of your current condition and discusses the proper or correct way to address the situation.

The Dark Night of the Soul

When I consulted the I Ching regarding our current situation on the planet, I received Hexagram 36: Darkening of the Light. This hexagram symbolizes the sun sinking into the earth and is often associated with the "dark night of the soul." The dark night of the soul is a kind of initiation, taking you from one phase of life into another. Since modern man has lost the ritual of initiation into the dark underworld of the unconscious, the soul precipitates this experience. Descent into the realm of the shadow (humanity's repressed dark side) is most often precipitated by physical, psychological, emotional or spiritual events that force the surrender of our ego. For those who have entered this phase of the inner work, it is good to remember that no one is given a test that they can't pass if they sincerely want to. 

The dark night of the soul denotes a time of darkness when oppressive forces obscure the beauty and clarity of light. As stated in the I Ching, "Here a man of dark nature is in a position of authority and brings harm to the wise and able man." It is a time of maximum darkness and ignorance; a time when the dark forces of the unconscious are at their peak. It isn't hard to see that even though we live on a planet that surrounds us with beauty, that there is a lot of darkness manifesting within humanity.

Humanity as a whole is currently undergoing a dark night of the collective soul. It's characterized by global challenges like ecological collapse, social fragmentation, and a sense of spiritual emptiness. Some ancient philosophies suggest that this period involves a "clearing of the karma of the collective consciousness." The collective dark night also involves a shift in consciousness, a questioning of societal structures, and a search for deeper meaning. In essence, the dark night of the collective soul is a call to awaken to a new way of being, both individually and collectively, in the face of unprecedented global challenges.

Hiding One's Light

According to the I Ching, when the darkness of stupidity reigns in human affairs, it is best that you keep your brilliance "hidden under a bushel basket." The oracle counsels us to show our intelligence by concealing it. In other words, let your thoughts and efforts be quiet, self-contained, and protected, as much as possible, from harmful influences. The time to assert yourself will come. 

Lao Tzu, the reputed author of the Tao Te Ching and the founder of philosophical Taoism, gives us the best paraphrase of the idea in his famous proverb: "He who knows does not speak; He who speaks does not know." The proverb suggests that true knowledge is often quiet and unpretentious, while those who speak the loudest may lack genuine understanding. It implies that deep wisdom is earned through experience and contemplation, not through constant chatter. 

Conversely, those who talk a lot may be trying to compensate for a lack of real knowledge or may be insecure about their understanding. The "superior man" manages the situation by subduing his need to speculate, meddle, or call attention to himself. In dealing with the masses, true leaders act unobtrusively while in fact being illuminated. What sages learn is to become daily more illuminated unbeknownst to others.

Navigating the Collective Dark Night

The journey through the collective dark night is not passive; it requires conscious effort and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. It is considered a phase of internal purification where the collective ego, is "stripped away" and attachments are dissolved, allowing for a deeper understanding of reality to emerge. It involves questioning our beliefs, identity, and the meaning of existence itself. It demands that we let go of old, outdated ways of thinking and being, and embrace a new perspective. This process may involve grief, anxiety, and a sense of disorientation, but ultimately leads to greater self-awareness and a more authentic connection to ourself and the world. 

According to Hinduism, time speeds up or, more precisely, karma speeds up in the dark age of humanity. In Sanskrit, karma is the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect). Due to the rapid pace of life and the prevalence of moral and ethical challenges, the consequences of actions are often experienced more quickly. 

But the truth is, according to Vajrayana Buddhist teachings, this intensification makes this an exceptional time for spiritual practice, because the fruits of such practice are now more magnified and immediate. Even in the worst of times, the possibility to be well above it is always there for an individual human being. This is a time filled with unparalleled opportunities for spiritual growth and inner transformation.

Cultivating Our Inner Light

For the time being, it is in our best interests to accept our collective situation. Like the winter time, circumstances require that we turn within to stoke our inner fire with spiritual practice. A spiritual practice is a deliberate and regular activity undertaken to foster spiritual growth, deepen connection with the divine or something greater than oneself, and cultivate a more meaningful life. A spiritual activity might be dancing, drumming, chanting, meditating, praying, doing yoga or tai chi. Regular spiritual practice fosters deeper self-awareness, inner peace, insight, compassion, empathy, non-attachment, integration and a sense of unity. 

So we must tend to our inner light and maintain a low profile. So long as we conceal our inner glow, it cannot be extinguished. Until conditions are more favorable, remain yielding and compliant externally, while maintaining your inner vision, convictions, and principles. Such an attitude will sustain your inner light in even the darkest of times. Try not to become too depressed or anxious; this period will pass. The darkness that is now showing itself everywhere will eventually consume itself and perish, for it has no inner light to sustain it. The dark times will pass, and the light will return. The sun will rise again. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the world will be reborn.

Music as a Political Act

Cree singer Sandy Scofield sees her music as a pathway for raising awareness and celebrating culture.
 

It's a long way from playing Cajun party music to acapella vocal arrangements of First Nations songs to composing music and sound design for theatre, including Vancouver Opera's "Missing" about the ongoing tragedy of Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous women. Sandy Scofield is a multi-award winning composer, musician, musical director, singer, songwriter and performer. She has studied classical, jazz, African, Indonesian gamelan and electro-acoustic music. She hails from four generations of fiddlers, singers and musicians. Among her five recordings to date, she has won five Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, a Canadian Folk Music Award, an Indian Summer Music Award (U.S.A.), a Western Canadian Music Award and received three consecutive Juno nominations.

Leader of the all female Cree band of singers, Iskwew, Sandy started making music before she can even remember and has played and sung in many bands over the years. From Cajun to rock, classical and folk, the foundation she had before coming into Cree Aboriginal music incorporated a wide variety of sounds and instruments. She plays piano and guitar in addition to being a singer.

Scofield came to Aboriginal music later in life, embracing her heritage through song. She says, "I went to the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1995 and did a ten-week intensive with Sadie Buck from Six Nations in Canada -- she had this residency for urban women who grew up without oral tradition and she brought in women elders from all around Turtle Island (North America) to teach them their traditions, songs, and song traditions."
 

When asked whether she feels that what Iskwew does is political, Sandy said, "We have many educated people holding their PhDs and working as doctors and this and that who are changing how society views First Nations people, but largely people still think of them as the drunks down on Skid Road, and that's all part of… So, in answer to your question -- Yeah."
 

What we're doing is politically showing people the pride in our culture. The fact that we come out and wear regalia, just to show very basic cultural teachings, we're trying to present through the songs. I have a floating group of women based on who's available that comes with me, but some of the other women who've gigged with me are just as vocal as I am onstage. It isn't like I'm leading every song and I'm talking all the time. Some of the other women get in there and talk and talk about teachings and talk about what we're wearing and talk about our role as women in our culture and how we're esteemed.
 

So that's what we do, and when we get to go play international festivals it's really important because, you know, one of the girls that sings with me, she went to Italy and some guy said to her, 'Where are you from?' and she said, 'Well, I'm Cree Indian from Canada,' and he was just aghast, he was saying, 'No. They were all extinct. They don't exist,' and she's going 'You're crazy!' You know?
 

But there's crazy ideas out there, so especially if we're on the international stage, we're trying to show the very best of who we are. And in Canada, half of our work is in what we call Indian Country, which is all of the country except dominant society doesn't see us. So we perform for other native people or we perform for dominant society, and so when we perform for dominant society, it's the same thing again. We're trying to show the really fantastic things about our cultures, our collective culture which really concerns community, egalitarianism to a certain extent, just pride, culture, the interconnectedness of all life and that we're interconnected with one another -- things like that."

Reiki Shamanic Healing

In today's world of growing spiritual awareness, many people are seeking integrative approaches that go beyond conventional healing. Among these is the powerful blend known as Reiki Shamanic Healing, a hybrid practice that merges the Japanese energy-healing technique of Reiki with the ancient earth-based wisdom of shamanism. This fusion creates a profound method for emotional, physical, and spiritual transformation. While each modality is powerful on its own, together they open new dimensions of healing that address the body, soul, and energetic field as an interconnected whole.

The Essence of Reiki

Reiki, a Japanese word meaning "universal life energy," was developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. It is a hands-on energy healing practice in which the practitioner channels life force energy into the client to activate the body's natural healing processes. Reiki is gentle yet powerful. It works through the chakra system and aura to dissolve blockages, reduce stress, and restore energetic balance.

Reiki does not require belief or affiliation with any religion. It is intuitive and heart-centered, guided by the principle of allowing energy to flow wherever it is needed. Practitioners often describe the energy as intelligent and unconditionally loving, addressing not only the physical symptoms but also the root emotional and spiritual causes of dis-ease.

The Roots of Shamanism

Shamanism is one of humanity's oldest spiritual traditions, with roots reaching back tens of thousands of years. It is not a religion, but a practice--a way of connecting with nature, the elements, and the spirit world to gain insight, power, and healing. Shamans act as intermediaries between the visible and invisible worlds, using tools like drumming, journeying, soul retrieval, and plant medicine to address issues affecting individuals and communities.

Shamanic healing is holistic by nature. It views illness not just as a physical problem but as a sign of imbalance in the energetic or spiritual realms. The causes of suffering may include soul loss, ancestral trauma, intrusive energies, or disconnection from one's true path. The shamanic practitioner works with spirit guides, power animals, and elemental forces to restore harmony and wholeness.

The Union of Reiki and Shamanism

Reiki Shamanic Healing combines the gentle energy transmission of Reiki with the deep soul-level diagnostics of shamanic work. Together, these systems offer a multidimensional approach to healing that can reach areas traditional methods often cannot touch.

In a Reiki Shamanic session, the practitioner may begin by channeling Reiki energy to establish a calm and safe energetic container. This opens the client's field and prepares them for deeper work. With this foundation in place, the practitioner can then access shamanic techniques such as: 

• Journeying: The practitioner enters an altered state of consciousness to connect with spirit allies and receive messages or instructions for the client's healing.
• Extraction: Removing energetic intrusions or blockages that do not belong in the client's energy field.
• Soul Retrieval: Recovering parts of the soul that may have fragmented due to trauma, grief, or shock.
• Ancestral Healing: Clearing inherited patterns and unhealed trauma passed down through generations.
• Power Animal Retrieval: Reconnecting the client with an animal spirit guide that brings strength, guidance, and protection.

Throughout these processes, Reiki energy continues to flow, soothing the client's nervous system, integrating the shifts, and supporting a sense of peace and safety.

What to Expect in a Session

Every session is unique, guided by the energy and needs of the individual. Some clients experience visions, memories, or emotional releases, while others simply feel relaxed and deeply at peace. Sessions often include intuitive insights, messages from spirit, or ritual elements like feathers, crystals, rattles, or herbs to support the process.

Because Reiki Shamanic Healing works on the subtle levels of being, it can create ripple effects long after the session ends. Clients may notice changes in relationships, new opportunities, heightened intuition, or a clearer sense of purpose. It is not uncommon for chronic conditions to ease or for deep emotional wounds to begin healing.

Benefits of Reiki Shamanic Healing

The benefits of this integrative healing approach are wide-ranging:

•  Emotional Release: Helps release long-held grief, anger, fear, or shame.
•  Spiritual Connection: Reawakens a deep sense of connection with Spirit and purpose.
•  Physical Relief: Supports the body in healing pain, fatigue, tension, or illness.
•  Energetic Balance: Clears stagnant energy, realigns the chakras, and restores harmony.
•  Clarity and Guidance: Offers insight into current life challenges and next steps.
•  Trauma Healing: Gently uncovers and heals the roots of trauma, often without the need for verbal recounting.

Who Can Benefit?

Reiki Shamanic Healing is suitable for anyone on a path of healing, self-discovery, or spiritual growth. It can be especially helpful for those who:

•  Feel stuck or disconnected from themselves
•  Are dealing with chronic illness or unexplained symptoms
•  Have experienced trauma, loss, or significant life transitions
•  Are exploring their intuition, spiritual gifts, or soul purpose
•  Seek a deeper connection with nature and the unseen world

It is also a powerful tool for healers, empaths, and sensitive individuals who need to clear and recharge their own energy fields.

An Invitation to Wholeness

Reiki Shamanic Healing is ultimately an invitation to return to your original wholeness. It reminds us that we are not broken, but simply out of alignment with our true nature. By weaving together universal life force energy and earth-based spiritual wisdom, this practice offers a sacred bridge back to ourselves.

In a world that often fragments and disconnects us, Reiki Shamanic Healing acts as a luminous thread, stitching together body and soul, earth and spirit, seen and unseen. It honors the ancient truth that healing is not something done to us, but something awakened within us.

If you feel the call to experience this kind of healing, trust it. Your soul may already be walking toward a deeper remembering--a homecoming to your sacred self.