Sacred Circles' Coven

The Metaphysics and Ritual Uses of the Drum

Included by Seaweed for SCC

*~*A theroy on the metaphysics and ritual uses for the djembe and ashiko © by Seaweed.*~*

Metaphysics Entrainment

Entrainment is a phyical law, discovered in the 16th century. It was odserved that if you put two clocks, that are beating at different times(or paces), upon the wall next to each other, they would begin to tick at the same time(or pace)...The Law of Entrainment is synchronization. It is rhythm. We are rhythm. We are entrained...Our hearts beat. We walk. Rhythm is a natural instinct within us all.

Hand Technique and Tonal Correspondences

I'm going to cover the 3 main sounds you can get out of a djembe and ashiko. These sounds do not require alot of force. You do not want to stike hard on the drum. Motions are light, relaxed, and happy. This is better for your drum, and your hands.

To get the bass sound use a flat hand, making sure that your fingers are held close together. You want to strike your drum head slightly off center, letting your hand bounce off the skin. Always make sure that your fingers are held close together, and your hand does not stick to the head. You want a clean, happy bass.

The Bass sound opens up and brings us into theta, or a deep trance state. When we play the bass the energy can be visiulized as coming out of the bottom of the drum, traveling down into the earth. It is the heart beat of the Mother. The bass is the bottom foundation of rhythm.

The tone is play by using the same flat, tight hand, but this time you are only going to make contact from the finger tips down to the bottom knuckles on the edge of the drum. Again, it is very important to keep your fingers held together, and to let them bounce off the head of the drum.

The tone inishates the alpha level of trance, or light trance. (Did you know your tv will put you into an alpha trance?! lol) The tone is an up and down motion, the energy is visulized as connecting sky and earth. The tone is the middle part that listens to Spirit and keeps the energy flowing. It is the here and now on Earth.

The slap is the hardest sound to master. At first, it may feel akward, and be frustrating, but with pratice you will become adept and comfortable. The slap is done by slightly cupping your hand, then letting your fingertips strike on the very top edge of the drum. When playing this sound, you want your fingers to be slightly parted. You will want the pads of your hands to rest at the very top rim of the drum, sling shotting your fingers off the head. It is not a hard strike, it is a quick strike creating a loud crack.

The slap brings us into a beta level, or everyday, problem solving trance. The slap is of this plane, and is the sound Spirit uses to speak to us. It is the top part of rhythm that demands attention. But beware! The slap is also the sound of ego. This sound can make or break a drum circle.

Ritual Uses

Meditation

When meditating with the drum, the bass is the key. The bass brings you deep into the realm of Spirit. It is the heartbeat of the mother, strong and steady foundation.

When begining meditation you will want to play a slow, steady bass rhythm. The heartbeat rhythm is ideal. The heartbeat is a simple 8 beat rhythm. If you count to 8 over and over again, striking the bass on every 1 and 2, you will acheive the heartbeat.

Begin by playing this heartbeat over and over, until it is so ingrained into your mind, that you almost don't have to think about it anymore. Then, close your eyes, and connect with the sound of the Mother. Let it bring you into deep trance. While in this deep trance you connect with Spirit. The heartbeat may be double times, striking the bass on every 1,2,5, and 6, instead of just 1 and 2. Spirit may also begin to speak, by adding slaps. Listen to the voice within, and let Spirit take you on a journey.

Using the Drum in Ritual

There are many, many ways to use the drum in ritual. It can be the entire ritual, or just a few parts of ritual.

Cleansing Space and Banishing Negitivity

The drum can be used to cleanse space, and banish any lingering negitivity. Begin by playing a steady and comfortable rhythm. Then, in your minds eye, visulize the positive energy flowing from the drum, and forcing out and negitivity (slaps are good for this). Then see the positive energy wrapping around the circle. Creating a sphere of protection.

Chants and Songs

Any chant or song can be greatly enhanced by having a steady rhythm flow. Listen to the song or chant. What feeling and impressions does it give you. Listen to your inner self, and play a strong steady rhythm.

Inviting or Invoking

You can invite the elements as well as God and Goddess using the drum. When you first begin, place your hands flat upon your drum. Close your eyes, and feel the energy of the element or deity. What type of rhythm most connects and calls this element or deity? As an example: I feel a flowing, up and down energy in the West. When I invite this element I use rhythms that go up and down. Using mostly tones in the begining of the rhythm cycle, and mostly bass in the end. When inviting energies, and using the drum ritualy you most listen to your inner voice, and play what you feel best represents and calls the element or deity. Always remember it is not the drum that calls the energy, it is you and your will. The drum is a mere tool, used as a symbol, helping your mind to focus.

Spellworking

When spellworking with the drum, I begin by meditating. Using the drum to ground and center. Then focus upon using this meditational bass rhythm to releace all things that no longer serve you, deep into the earth, so that it may be rebirthed into something more positive... Then, bring the aspect of your spell (such as healing, prosperity, and so on) into your mind. See this aspect starting as a seed, then growing and growing into full bloom of the aspect. When doing this your energy will rise. Let Spirit speak through the drum.

Thanking Energies and Opening Ritual Space

When thanking the energies, play a strong steady rhythm. Feel the energy of the element or deity within your being. In your mind, thank the energies for helping you, and release them back from which they came.

Before ending your ritual, play the same steady meditational bass rhythm. Relaxing yourself, preparing to return to the here and now physical world.

Drum Circle Ettiquette

Drum circle ettiquette is a guidline for a productive, positive, and healing; not to mention phat, fun, and steady jam.

Some stuff to think about...

1. The most important thing there is: Never touch another persons drum without permission, unless of course it is neccesary. Like when it is begining to rain.

2. There is normally a fire, with that in mind, fall down drunkeness is not advised. "Why?", you may ask, well simply stated, a person falling into the fire not only kills the drum circle and all its energy, more importantly people and fire don't mix to well.

3. Around said fire are normally dancers, both male and female. These dancers are part of the circulation of the energy from the drummers and the fire to the community. Therefore they need their space around the fire. At large drum circles this is very important. Reasons for which are outlined in Suggestion #2, dancers and fire don't mix well upon contact either. I have never seen a dancer pushed into the fire and I would like to keep this out of my memories.

4. The drummers also have their place in the circle. Drummers should be relativly in the same area. An example of why; If 3 drummers are on one side of the circle and 3 are the other side of the circle, there is a very good chance of two separate rythyms going at once, that begin in different places. This will confuse dancers and it can crash a circle very quickly. There for it is advisable to have all of the drummers and people playing various instruments, in one area to avoid confusion.

5. Listen to the beat of the drum circle before you start playing. Get a feel for the bass rythym, that is the foundation for the drum circle. When you play, play with the rest of the drummers, not over them, the time for finessing the rythym is not constant, give others a chance to express themselves.

6. Dancers are a very integrel and important part of a crankin' drum circle. With this in mind, do not crowd out the dancers in the circle. Dancers will constantly come and go from the inner circle. You will get a chance to dance. Some dancers will dance off and on the whole night. If there are too many dancers around the fire though, one or more of them may have way to personal meeting with the fire. Did I mention that the fire is undsriminating as to who falls into it? It will burn dancers, intoxicated people and drummers without descrimination.

7. There is a fire tender, this is the person that keeps the fire going. Unless this person asks you specifically for help, leave the fire alone. This is for her/his safety as well as your safety. The fire tender doesn't know what you consider tending a fire, and you don't know what the fire tender has done to get or keep the fire going. Leaving the fire to the tender will reduce the risk of serious injury to all involved in the circle.

8. The dancers are not there to be groped, whistled at, molested or fondled. This goes for both male and female dancers. Anyone who makes any unwanted sexual advances of any kind should be treated as a sexual preditor and should be removed immediately. Although giving a complementing to a dancer because you think they dance well is encouraged, rudeness is not.

9. If dancers wish to dance for a paticular musician be drummer or otrherwise please feel free. However it is not normally polite to plant yourself one inch from the drummer and dance. Some drummers see this as invading ther personal space, I know that I don't like having people Cramed right in front of me when I am drumming. With that said expressing yourself is great and dancing for a paticular drummer is an awsome way to say "Your drumming is way phat, cool."

With these guidelines a drum circle can be a healing experience for the community. It can also keep you from getting thrown out of gatherings and various other circles.

Happy Drumming

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