drumming, anyone can join in and
The healing power of
DRUMMING
CIRCLES
Michael Drake is a
writer, rhythmist, and
ceremonial drummer of
Cherokee descent.
Through his work
he has guided thousands
in the healing art
of ceremonial drumming
and here he shares the
basic tried-and-tested pro-
gramme that he uses with
his own groups
"African and Asian cultures
have been practicing com-
munity percussion for
thousands of years. Now
Americans are fast joining
'drum circles,' informally or
through organized cen-
ters..."
So wrote Harriet Barovick
recently in Time Magazine.
All over America,
people of all ages
are taking up drumming
in astounding numbers.
At a grass roots level, small
drumming
circles are gathering .....
Since there are no prerequisites to
explore rhythms with hands and
drumsticks as an exhilarating way of
communing. While some drumming
circles are content to jam and make a
lot of rhythmic noise, others prefer
to explore intricate patterns of
rhythm, and still others gather for
shamanic drumming.
Shamanic drumming is a time-hon-
ored method of healing and helping
others. Shamanic drumming circles
provide the opportunity for people of
like mind to unite for the attainment
of a shared objective. There is power
in drumming alone, but that power
recombines and multiplies on many
simultaneous levels in a group of
drummers. The drums draw individ-
ual energies together, unifying them
into a consolidated force.
Synchronized drumming is the most
effective, so individuals should alter-
nate the responsibility of setting the
tempo and leading the group. The
basic steps that I describe here I have
found most effective.
1: FORM A CIRCLE
Simply join together, forming a circle.
By creating a circle, you are struc-
turing an energy pattern that will con-
tain, focus, and amplify the power
generated by drumming.
2: CLEANSE THE SPACE
Next, you should smudge the space
and all participants. This can easily be
accomplished by passing a smudge
bowl clockwise around the circle.
The drummers can then smudge
themselves and their drums.
Smudging cleanses the mind and
environment in preparation for spiri-
tual or inner work. The sacred smoke
dispels any stagnant or unwanted
energy, opens the energy channels of
your body, and raises your personal
power or windhorse. According to
Mongolian shamanism, windhorse
can be increased through smudging,
drumming, and other forms of
shamanic practice in order to accom-
plish significant aims.Sage, cedar,
thyme, and sweetgrass are traditional-
ly used for smudging, but any dried
herb is acceptable. Light the herbs in
a fire-resistant receptacle and then
blow out the flames. Then use a
feather or your hands to draw the
smoke over your heart, throat, and
face to purify the body, mind, and
spirit. Next, smudge your drum by
passing it through the smoke.
Conclude the smudging by thanking
the plant whose body made the
cleansing possible.
3: CALL TO THE DIRECTIONS
At this point, you may wish to invoke
the powers of the Four Directions.
Invoking the Four Directions or ele-
ments is an ancient shamanic rite
practiced cross-culturally to access
and honor the powers of creation.
The facilitator can lead the group in
this process. I like to have the partici-
pants stand and face each direction in
unison. Rotate clockwise, facing first
the East, then South, then West, then
North, inviting each direction to par-
ticipate and assist in the ceremony. If
you wish, you can include Father Sky
above and Mother Earth below as
the fifth and sixth Directions.
4: DECIDE ON YOUR INTENT
Having invoked the Four Directions,
it is important to form the group’s
collective intention or goal˜what you
desire or expect to accomplish. Intent
is a kind of decision making that
directs the focus of our attention. It is
through our attention that we influ-
ence and direct the aspects of our
experience and the world around us.
5: PRAYER ROUND
The next step is to commence the
first or "prayer" round of drumming.
All participants should focus their
attention on the group intention or
goal during this round of drumming.
It is the responsibility of the facilitator
to set the tempo. A steady,
metronome-like pattern with precise-
ly regular intervals, at around 180
beats per minute (or three beats per
second), is the most effective. This
rapid "eagle-beat" creates the sensa-
tion of inner movement, which, if
you allow it, will carry you along. It is
projective in nature and carries your
intention, prayers, and awareness
into the spirit world that underlies
and sustains our physical reality. All
forms and eventsin the material
world have their source in the spirit
world.
6: FINDING UNISON
The timeframe, however, varies from
ceremony to ceremony. It is best to
trust your intuition in this process.
When leading a group, I move the
beater around the drumhead until I
find the sweet spot and my drum
begins to sing and hum. Eventually, I
can hear the sound of my drum mov-
ing around the circle, resonating
through each person’s drum. The
drums begin to sing in unison and
the experience is indescribable. I
sense that each person is connected
to the spirit world. I try to hold this
energy dynamic for as long as possi-
ble. This climactic phase eventually
wanes, and the drums start doing
their own thing again. This is usually
the point where I signal the end of
the first round of drumming with
four thundering beats of the drum.
7: THE HEALING ROUND
Once the group intention has been
introduced, commence the second or
"healing" round by drumming the
pulsating lub-dub, lub-dub of a heart-
beat rhythm. Stroke a steady heart-
beat rhythm at around 180 beats per
minute (or 90 heartbeats per
minute since one-heartbeat equals
two beats). This magnetic pulse
draws power from the spirit world
into the drum circle. Each participant
should clear his or her mind of every-
thing. You must surrender all attach-
ment to the desired outcome to
achieve success. It is best to close
your eyes and focus on the sound of
the drums. Let the drums do the heal-
ing. The drums will shape available
energy into a powerful vortex that
will spiral out into the fibers of
Mother Earth’s web.
When you feel the power ebbing,
signal the end of the second round of
drumming with four booming beats.
8: GIVING THANKS
Commence the final or "thank you"
round of drumming with the even
cadence of the eagle-beat. Sustain a
tempo of 180 beats per minute for
one to five minutes. Participants
should give thanks for the needs met
and the needs they are asking to be
met.
9: Finally, signal the end of the
drumming with four resounding
beats. It is important to conclude the
drumming circle by rotating counter-
clockwise, thanking each of the direc-
tions for their participation and assis-
tance.
This counterclockwise movement
will close the energy vortex and sig-
nal that the sacred time of focus is
ended.
I have found these basic steps be
very effective in a myriad of situa-
tions. Feel free, however, to adapt
them to serve your own needs.
Rhythm is a very personal thing.
Experiment with different tempos
and rhythms. My intention is to pro-
vide a foundation upon which the
reader can then build.
Drumming circles open portals to
alternate realities. They facilitate a
merging of the physical and spiritual
realms. They expedite communica-
tion with helping spirits and draw
them in. The drumming circle also
links the consciousness of each par-
ticipant to the entire Web of Life. It
develops a continuous, shared con-
sciousness with all our relations.
Even small groups of people of one
mind, one purpose, and fully attuned
through the drums can transform the
world and manifest what is needed to
benefit all beings.
A recent medical research study
indicates that drumming circles
boost the immune system. Led by
renowned cancer expert Barry
Bittman,MD, the study demonstrates
that group drumming actually
increases cancer-killing cells, which
help the body combat cancer as well
as other viruses, including AIDS.
According to Dr. Bittman, "Group
drumming tunes our biology, orches-
trates our immunity, and enables
healing to begin." Other studies have
demonstrated the calming, focusing,
and healing effects of group drum-
ming on Alzheimer‚s patients, autis-
tic children, emotionally disturbed
teens, substance abusers, trauma
patients, and prison and homeless
populations. The primitive drum-
ming circle is emerging as a signifi-
cant therapeutic tool in the modern
technological age.
© 2002 by Michael Drake
Michael Drake is a writer, rhythmist, and cere-
monial drummer of Cherokee descent. He is a
member of the United Lumbee Nation and
author of The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to
Sacred Drumming and I Ching: The Tao of
Drumming. He has studied with master drum-
mers from the Native American and Mongolian
shamanic traditions.
Michael lectures and gives workshops around
the USA.
To learn more, log onto Michael’s website
http://ShamanicDrumming.com/