Because I love southwest decorating, I recently added ceremonial drums as part of the rustic, southwest decor in my new home. I was so impressed with the beautiful, southwestern feel that the Native American drums brought to my home, that I started learning about the history and the influential role they play in Indigenous cultures. If you are like me, you have probably seen how meaningful ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not know their importance in tribal ceremonies or how exactly they are used. Each tribe is unique in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very symbolic and part of the main focus of the ceremony. Throughout my studies, I have come to find that learning about these drums truly grants you a great appreciation of the American Indian culture and their customs.
As you begin studying about ceremonial drums, you will find it very interesting that the Indigenous people think of the ceremonial drum to be sacred. They are usually used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to come in contact with the Spirits and to connect with their creator. It is believed that each drum contains a spirit and that the drum beat signifies the heart beat of Mother Nature. Since the drum is thought to connect the people with the spirit world and lead the a healer in helping his people, you will see that they are commonly used by the healers or Shaman to enter the mind state, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to communicate with the Spirits.
Also, as you study the importance of ceremonial drums in modern culture, you will find that Native Indian drums have a significant role in the preservation of native tribes such as the Tarahumara. Making and selling these rustic style drums gives them the opportunity to earn a living, by selling and trading their cultural hand crafts, and helps them extend the knowledge and traditions of their culture to those who purchase them. The drum making knowledge, passed on from generation to generation in these tribes, teaches the drum makers how to make durable and long-lasting ceremonial drums with elements from the Earth and the environment around them such as pine wood and natural rawhide.
Today, Native Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Indian drumming groups and as Native American musical instruments, but they are also gaining popularity as pieces of decorative art, instruments used in school music classes and even as canvases for Native American art projects and Indian paintings. Some types of ceremonial drums are also used as southwest style furniture and western decor, such as the larger powwow drums and pedestal drums that are used as rustic, decorative tables. Today, it is very easy to find these unique Native American ceremonial drums online and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic decor. However you choose to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming purposes or in home decorating, you will no doubt be drawn to the simplistic charm and western style of ceremonial drums.
Craig Chambers is the director of Mission Del Rey and author offering free information online about how to use ceremonial drums for drumming circles and for chic southwestern home decorating. For more information visit http://www.missiondelrey.com