I'm excited because I just ordered my first drum! Yeah, some may say that's backwards--How can you be a shaman without a drum?--but then, I also bought a motorcycle helmet before I even had a motorcycle! All in good time, I say. Since I didn't have an actual drum, I've been using CDs and online music for my meditations, which works just fine.
And since I sold my motorcycle, I decided to channel some of that energy (money) into a really nice drum. I've had plenty of opportunities to buy one, but I wanted something special since this will be used not only for personal use but also for (hopefully) public ceremonies. Buying something more mass-produced just didn't feel right. So why not pay a little extra for something more customized?
From a friend's recommendation, I've purchased my drum from The Drum People, out of Alabama. The drum maker is Cherokee/Metis, and he and his wife hand-make all the drums, beaters and storage bags. I was attracted to them because they use reclaimed cedar wood so that living trees are not cut down. Plus there isn't any mass assembly line churning these things out. So far, my experience working with them has been great. They take time to make sure you get what you want, and they have all kinds of ways to customize your drum and any other accessories. Plus, they emphasize the spiritual energy that goes into making and using a drum, which is important to me. Unfortunately, they no longer hand-paint on the drum heads due to a busy workload, but that's fine with me.
I'll let you know when the drum arrives!
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