I have this habit. It’s just something I do from time to time. I hear myself saying, “I’ll never do that”, and pretty much now as soon as the words are out of my mouth, I know that some time, normally in the distant future, I will be doing that very same thing – it’s almost a given! The same was said about having a hide drum believe it or not several years ago. Being a vegetarian, almost vegan kind of girl, I was quite happy with my trusty Remo fiberskyn (vegan friendly) frame drum for about a five year period. I collected several along the way. They are a great drum, especially in the UK where we live so frequently in such a damp environment the sound from a hide drum if it isn’t made exceptionally well, can be disappointing to say the least. And as one of the joys of drumming is outdoor work, in nature or at a sacred site, then it is good to have a drum you can rely on to give a nice clear sound. The Remo drums are all weather drums and never fail to give off a beautiful sound whatever the climate or temperatures. It is for this reason and also because I am not a drum maker that I provide them with my Reiki Drum trainings. And it is for this reason I used to often mention to class attendees that I didn’t plan on having a drum made with natural skin at any time.
And then one day a goat skin djembe called to me. I tried to ignore the whisperings, after all I had my Remo festival djembe, why would I need anything else, but it was very persistent and so that was my first acquisition. Several djembes later and a love affair with a buffalo skin frame drum which has surpassed any other object I’ve been in possession of, I have come to realise the relationship one has with a hide drum is so much more than just the playing of it. A drum which has been birthed by either a skilled drum maker or yourself involves not only the spirit of the tree from which it’s frame is made, but also the spirit of the animal who has given its skin as a powerful tool for mankind. When I do Reiki drum healings Buffalo always walks by my side and is a great ally to have. It’s energy appears as a protective force and its strength and courage enables deep and powerful healings.
So having appreciated the virtue of owning and working with skin drums in the past few years I found myself this week in an insence filled Yurt in a small town in Kent taking part in my first birthing ceremony for a new addition to my drum family, a large ceremonial gathering drum. Because of the many community events I am involved with, I have been wanting to find this type of drum for the community for quite some time. There were many occasions in the last two years where I had felt a calling to do something about it, but had ignored it due to other commitments. This year with some of the larger events such as the Equinox Reiki Drum Share, the Sacred Sound & Light Immersion and the ancestral work I’m doing with the Honouring The Ancestors Retreat, and a few other promptings, I set the intention in January that I would find someone who could make something very special and sacred.
I was fortunate to have been guided to a lovely couple of shamanic drum makers, Phil & Lynne Cowley Jones from Shamanic Drums & Rattles UK. Phil and Lynne have been making drums for many years and every time I made enquiries from many different sources their name came up, so I knew they were the right people to do this for the Reiki Drum community. Check out their beautiful work at ancientkent.blogspot.co.uk The skin used for the drum was Red Deer. The week before the birthing I had had many promptings from Deer Spirit in the form of both doe and stag, so it seemed very appropriate. Deer energy is a medicine I am very familiar and comfortable with and I feel it is particularly appropriate for the Reiki community. With both stag and hind energy deer medicine is strong and determined, but also has a sensitivity, a gentleness and an unsurpassed compassion. Whenever I see deer in nature I know I personally am going to receive some form of healing on my own journey. Although I live on the outskirts of a town, I have on occasion had the smaller muntjac deer find their way into my garden and to me their energy represents “gentle” healing, such as Reiki. Although Phil and Lynne chose the skin, I feel this was the best animal for us to connect with as the Reiki community and it will be interesting to see what other Sensitives experience when they hear this drum in community.
Lynne and Phil prepared the skins and frame a few days before I arrived for the birthing process. They see themselves as midwives birthing the drum and the whole ceremonial experience felt deeply sacred. Phil spoke during the ceremony and his words felt channelled from some sacred place. He talked about the gentle voice of the drum, reflective of deer spirit, and also of the many Reiki people who gather together in our community of Reiki Drummers. He also said how this drum would be in the presence of peoples from all walks of life and all spiritual paths. That too is true. Since teaching Reiki Drum I have been blessed to meet many different people who follow different spiritual traditions but who are all attuned to Reiki and who are drawn to working with the drum. Reiki as we know has no religious dogma and is a system of healing that can be followed by anyone. Reiki Drumming has followed this ethos and it is because of this I feel it too is gaining popularity as a beautiful healing modality. During the ceremony a butterfly started to fly around the Yurt, a symbol of transformation perhaps for the work ahead.
Whilst the skin and frame were joined together in the birthing ceremony it will take a few days for the drum to be completely ready to play. I drove home from Kent on a very high plane of joy and appreciation for the wonderful spirit of this drum. At present, she sits in my teaching space and has a commanding and powerful presence. This weekend I am teaching a level II Usui Reiki class which has a few students who are passionate drummers, and they will appreciate her. When the drum is ready to receive her first beat I will do ceremony and bless that process. Next weekend I am running both a Reiki Drum Master Teacher class as well as a Reiki Drum practitioner class. I’m excited for this group of people as they will be the first to experience her as a community drum. For those of you who are coming along to our annual Spring Equinox Reiki Drum share event on March 23rd in Essex, our new community drum will be part of the healing which will take place on that day. She hasn’t got her name as yet, I need to find the time and space to journey for that and meet her Spirit, but I know her energy, coupled with the medicine of Deer is going to work a very special magic for the Reiki Drum community.
Due to cancellation there are a couple of places left on our annual Reiki Drum day being held March 23rd in Sheering, Essex. Booking is essential as we are almost full to capacity. But if you would like to join us for this high energy drumming event and are Reiki attuned, please email info@reikidrum.co.uk to see if there are still places remaining.
With love and blessings to you all, Sarah x
Forthcoming Highlighted Events
6 March– Monthly Reiki Share, Sawbridgeworth, Herts (repeated first Thursday of every month)
23 March – Reiki Drum Share, Sheering, Essex (2 places remaining)
5 & 6 April – Sacred Sound & Light Immersion, Sheering, Essex (1 place remaining)
3-4 May – Reiki Drum Practitioner Training
8 June – Usui Reiki Kotodama Workshop
17-21 June – Summer Solstice Reiki Retreat “Exploring Your Divine Potential” – North Cornwall
31 Oct-3 Nov – Honouring The Ancestors & Healing The Ancestral Line Retreat
