Birthing a drum in a sacred way, filled with your medicine and intention, is a treasured lifetime gift. It is your heart. Your song.
In this drum making ceremony you will create a single sided hand drum with the hide of your choice, a circular wooden frame and rawhide lacing.
A few days before the workshop you have the option to pick up the frame from me to decorate the inside. *Or you can come early before the class to decorate the frame, just let me know.
*Keep in mind it takes about 4-7 days for the drum to fully dry before playing.
Feel free to look at photos of drums from previous classes at www.circleandsage.org
Email to sign up: circleandsage@gmail.com
Or call/text Melissa @ 828-777-2678
If you are interested, please follow these steps:
Step 1:
Please choose the size of the frame you would like.
The sizes range from 14”, 15”, 16”, 18", 20” *extra cost for a 20”
Choosing a drum size and hide:
Usually the larger the drum the deeper the sound. Also, sometimes the thicker the hide the deeper the sound. There are always exceptions though J
Typically hides from thinnest to thickest are: Deer, Horse, Elk, Buffalo (keep in mind this is not always the case depending on the cut)
Smaller drums are easier to travel with.
Step 2:
Please let me know which animal hide you would like.
The hides available are DEER, ELK, HORSE, BUFFALO (Horse and Moose are not always available so please check with me first)
Step 3:
Email me your choice of hide and size of frame by Sunday, Feb.11th
This allows me time to order materials with extra time in case there are any mistakes when delivered.
Step 4:
The cost for this workshop is $250 or $300 if you choose a 20” drum. Payment is due prior to class or a deposit of $150 by Feb.11th to hold your space.
*This cost includes the teaching, your choice of animal hide, wooden circle frame, extra long rawhide lacing, and a drum stick.
A follow up email will be sent once payment is received with more instructions for the workshop.
You can paypal me : circleandsage@gmail.com or @MTerrezza
You can Venmo me : @Melissa-Terrezza
You can pay using Check/Cash if local.
Animal Hide info:
Each animal carries specific energies. A starting point for reference of each is below. It is best to take time to commune with Spirit and/or your guides and/or knowing Self and receive guidance on which hide (this can be as simple as a clear intuitive knowing, more of a feeling than thinking or ego decision).
Deer: Gentleness, Ability to move through life and obstacles with grace, Being in touch with the inner child, innocence, Being sensitive and intuitive, Vigilance, ability to change directions quickly, Magical ability to regenerate, being in touch with life’s mysteries
Elk: Stamina, Dignity, Integrity, Nobility, Regal, Vision of Fulfillment
Horse: Presence, Elegance, Journey, Victory, Freedom, Nomadic Spirit, Endurance
Buffalo: Provision, Gratitude, Abundance, Consistency, Strength, Stability, Blessing, Prosperity
Moose: Unpredictability, Spontaneity, Confidence, All things feminine, Walking gracefully
Here is another article I found for more clarity on choosing a hide.
The Medicine Drum
Meanings of the Hides Used in our Drums
by Patrick Pinson
ELK
When we are working in the West on the Medicine Wheel – the Water, emotions, shadow self – then Elk Medicine gives us the stamina and endurance to get through the edges, from the known to the unknown. As we go through our fears, we expand ourselves and add more trust to our circle. Trust is the lubricant that helps us take the “leap of faith” that leads us to unity with spirit and to a reclaiming of our original grace.
Elk is powerful medicine for healing child abuse and addictive patterns. The Elk will bring up our unresolved grief and help purify and cleanse us through crying and grieving our sweet tears. The vibration of Elk opens the third Chakra, the belly, where we carry our fears and undigested values that interfere with our pure will. The Elk is a communal animal, hanging out with members of the same sex except during mating season.
DEER
When we are working on the natural laws of circulation – the circulatory system, the heart – then Deer is our Medicine. Many of us are taught to “figure life out”, so we live in our heads with little attention to our hearts. Deer opens the heart Chakra, teaching us to trust and to empower the feminine qualities of Love and Wisdom.
When we are healing “poverty consciousness”, the belief that there is just not enough time, money or love, drumming with Deer reminds us that we live in an abundant universe, with more than enough of everything. Deer helps us learn the Laws of Circulation –when we feel unloved, then it is time to love others, and that love comes back many-fold.
HORSE (Check for availability)
Horse takes us on the Shamanic Journey, keeping us in third dimensional reality so we may ride the vibration to the spirit world to get the healing we need for self and others. Horse is pure energy – like lightning, it can transport us quickly through the cracks and crevices to the other side. Drumming with Horse will lead us to trance states and to the higher vibrations.
BUFFALO
When we seek wisdom and guidance from the Ancient Ones, the Ancestors who came before us, drumming Buffalo opens the door to that vibration. Buffalo is associated with Wisdom and Abundance and is the source of the Sacred Pipe, as White Buffalo Calf Woman brought the Pipe to the People. When we pray with the Pipe, we are joining the masculine Sky Energy with the feminine Earth Energy, and whatever we pray for will be given. If we are manifesting from Spirit to Form, drumming with Buffalo is an ally in that intention, reminding us of the connection of Prayer (spirit) to Form (physical).
MOOSE (Check for availability)
Drumming with Moose is empowering the Feminine Energies, as Moose hangs out near the water, and can stay under water for up to a minute while eating from the bottom of ponds and lakes. Moose reminds us to go into and through the feelings and to take the nourishment available in emotional honesty. Moose is also associated with self-esteem, learning how to get our nourishment from the inside, and spontaneity, trusting ourselves to act in the moment rather than controlling future decisions through planning results. Moose is a great protector of the child, and working with Moose can teach us to nourish and protect the little one inside.
Love. Gratitude. Harmony.