Drum Birthing Workshop

The medicine drum is a sacred tool of shamans around the world, and it is an honour to be the keeper of a drum. It is a living, breathing entity, holding the spirits of the animal and tree that are part of it. Your drum will be your companion in your journeying and healing.

In this full day Shamanic Drum Birthing workshop, you’ll craft your own 16” drum and beater that will have its own heartbeat that is connected to your heart, and yours alone. 

We’ll start the day by creating sacred space, welcoming in the directions and elements. You’ll use traditional methods, as your ancestors would have done, and you’ll work in ceremony throughout the day to imbue your drum with your own energy, love and intent and celebrate the birth of your very own sacred shamanic drum.

After making your drum, you’ll make a beater to go with it and for both drum and beater, you’ll use all natural materials, which help you connect with the wisdom and medicine of the plants and animals that have helped to make it.

Throughout the day, you will also learn about the history and cultural significance of drumming and gain a deep understanding of the sacred nature of drums in shamanic cultures.

At the end of the day, we’ll close with a ceremony to connect with and bless the drums we have made.

The materials we use

All the materials we use in our drums are ethically and sustainably sourced, mostly from within the UK, thus supporting local craftspeople. The hides we use come from within the UK and are from deer or stag. The hides are a waste product, so by using them to create shamanic drums, the animals are honoured as their spirit will live on in the drums that are birthed.

The wooden hoops are made from native Ash, the traditional material for making hoop drums in the British Isles.

If you would like to make a larger drum, or using different hides and/or wood, please get in touch before booking to ensure I am able to source the materials you wish to work with. Please note there may be an additional cost depending on the size and materials requested.

You are invited to find your piece of wood to serve as a beater handle; this will help you to forge a deeper connection with your drum. This should be a sturdy stick, around 12” long and around 1” in diameter (no need to be 100% precise though). Hazel and willow are good options, as they tend to be nice and straight, but any wood you feel drawn to will work just as well. Just visit a woodland area and see what you find. If you choose a fallen branch, please check that it is not rotten; if you choose part of a living tree, remember to ask permission first and give thanks afterwards.

The beaters will be stuffed with raw wool from native sheep so please let me know if you have any allergies to wool or lanolin, or if you are pregnant, and I will source an alternative for you.

What happens before the workshop

Before the day of the Drum Birthing, I prepare the hides ready for you to work with and hold a series of ceremonies to honour the spirit of the animal whose hide is being used. In the first ceremony, I journey to meet the spirit of the animal and tree and ask their permission to use their hide and wood. Then I hold a second ceremony to bless the hides, working with plant spirit medicine, and then hold a final ceremony of gratitude to honour Mother Earth for her gifts. Only then are the hides fully ready for you to birth your drum.

Exchange

Places are strictly limited so booking is essential.

The exchange for the day is £285. This includes all materials, tools and the sacred ceremonies that will take place throughout the day.  £125 deposit is required to secure your place, with the remaining £160 payable in cash on the day or you have the option of paying in full in advance. 

Please note that all deposits and payments are non-refundable if you change your mind or can no longer attend, as I need to purchase and prepare all the materials in advance. In the unlikely event that we cancel the workshop, you will of course be given a full refund.

A simple, homemade lunch is included in the day, along with a selection of herbal teas and coffee through the day. I ask that you bring a sharing dish for lunch, as community is an important element of the day and this is a lovely way to share part of ourselves with others. 

Once you have booked your place and paid the deposit, I will email you with full details of the workshop, the address and what to bring with you. If you have any questions at all or any accessibility requirements you would like to discuss before booking, please email me at: thewildedges@pm.me

About me

I am an experienced shamanic practitioner, drum maker and facilitator, regularly holding sacred gatherings and shamanic workshops. I am passionate about sharing ancient and traditional wisdom so that we may all remember the old ways and honour nature, our ancestors and ourselves.