The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming [Paperback]

Michael Drake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 2002

This useful book reveals profound teachings about shamanic drumming, which is a time-honored method of healing and helping others. Rhythmist Michael Drake presents the first practical guide to applying this ancient healing art to our modern lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Michael Drake has provided a textbook on shamanic drumming that should be an enduring classic." --Jim PathFinder Ewing, author of Reiki Shamanism

"Recommended to anyone seeking to connect deeply with the drum as a tool for personal, interpersonal, or group spiritual and healing work." --Nowick Gray, Alternative Culture Magazine

"I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the practice of Shamanic drumming. Lots of information, easy to read. Thank you Mr. Drake." --Cindy (Drumheart) Green, Lulu Reviews --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Author

In Western culture, there is a great renewal of interest in the practice of shamanism. This surge of interest can, in large part, be attributed to the purity of shamanic cosmology as well as the freedom and individuality of the shamanic experience. No intermediary such as the church or priesthood is needed to access personal revelation and spiritual experience. All dimensions of reality and the mystical knowledge and powers they contain are available to one who practices shamanism. Every shamanic practitioner becomes his or her own teacher, priest, and prophet. Shamanic practice brings one ultimate power over one's own life and the power to help others do the same.

Most people will never have the opportunity to meet a shaman, let alone learn from one. Though no substitute for an apprenticeship situation, a handbook can convey the fundamental methodological information. The information presented here is the culmination of my quest to understand the power of rhythm. It is a synthesis, a blending of drum ways I learned under the tutelage of Mongolian shaman Jade Wah'oo Grigori with rhythmic knowledge from many of the world's shamanic traditions. Truly significant shamanic knowledge can only be acquired through individual experience; however, one must first acquire the methods in order to utilize them.

Shamanic drum ways provide the opportunity to acquire shamanic experiences. The techniques are simple and effective. The resurgence of shamanism nationwide can, in large part, be attributed to the fact that shamanic drumming offers a relatively easy means of controlled transcendence. When a drum is played at an even tempo of some 180 beats per minute (or about three beats per second) for at least fifteen minutes, most novices report that they can journey successfully even on their first attempt. This ease of induction of altered states and related experiences contrasts dramatically with the months or years of practice usually required by most meditative disciplines to induce significant effects. Today's drummers are rediscovering the trance or ecstatic aspects of drumming. This new rhythm consciousness is oriented not toward performance and musical virtuosity, but toward personal transformation, consciousness expansion, and community building. By employing the drum ways described in this book, you will have an opportunity to personally experience shamanic states, power, and healing. These ways do not require faith or changes in your definition of reality. No change in your subconscious mind is required either, for the drum only awakens what is already there. It will awaken the shaman that lies dormant within you.

The most effective way to learn shamanism is to adopt the same basic concepts shamans do. For example, when I speak of "power," it is primarily because the term is basic to shamanism. Power can represent many different things. To some shamans, power is understanding energy and how to utilize it. To others, it is a measure of one's ability to manifest a vision in the material world. However, it is best to avoid any preoccupation with seeking a scientific understanding of what power may really represent or why shamanism works. I practice shamanism myself, not because I understand why it works, but simply because it does work. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 132 pages
• Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.; 3rd edition (May 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591131642
• ISBN-13: 978-1591131649
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michael Drake is an internationally respected writer and recording artist. He is the author of The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming and I Ching: The Tao of Drumming. His articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Awareness, Sacred Hoop, and Mother Earth News. Raised in a conservative Southern Baptist Church, Michael had his first ecstatic experience as a youth at a church revival; an evangelistic meeting intended to reawaken interest in religion. This state of rapture and trancelike elation inspired his spiritual quest.

Michael spent more than 30 years of his life seeking answers to some of life's most perplexing mysteries: Why am I here? What happens when you die? What is life's purpose? He explored the world's great religions. He considered the philosophies of humanity. He studied the theories of modern science. At a crucial point in his search, Michael came in touch with the transforming power of shamanic drumming and of an ancient shamanic way of self-knowledge. Under the tutelage of Mongolian shaman Jade Wah'oo Grigori, he learned the healing rhythms and drum ways of an ancient shamanic lineage. He discovered that therapeutic rhythm techniques have been used for thousands of years to create and maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health. Inspired by his studies, research, and experiences, Michael founded Talking Drum Publications in 1991 in order to publish information related to shamanic drumming. For the past 20 years he has been facilitating drum circles and workshops nationwide. To learn more visit: http://shamanicdrumming.com/.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Book Description, January 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming (Paperback)

In response to the phenomenal resurgence of the drum nationwide, Michael has completely revised and expanded the 1991 edition for all those folks discovering the power of drumming. This useful book reveals profound teachings about shamanic drumming, which is a time-honored method of healing and helping others. Trained as a ceremonial drummer in the Mongolian and Native American shamanic traditions, Michael presents the first practical guide to applying this ancient healing art to our modern lives. Through a series of simple exercises, lessons, and rituals, he teaches you the basic shamanic methods of drumming. The focus is on creating sacred space, invoking the powers of creation, journeying, power practice, initiating change through intent, power animals, windhorse (personal power), geomancy, drum therapy, drum harmonics, drum circle dynamics, archetypal healing rhythms, and the universal rhythmic phenomena that come into play whenever we drum. Whether you are an accomplished percussionist or a total beginner, this user-friendly book will help you harness the power of drumming.

Reviews

"The Shamanic Drum expresses things as they are, and it's indeed true that the drum and the proper ceremonies are the way in which we balance and harmonize the energies of the Earth, its creatures, and our relationship with all realms."
-Dhyani Ywahoo, author of Voices of Our Ancestors

"A clear and practical work."
-Julia Cameron, author of The Artist's Way and The Vein of Gold

"Apprenticeship would be the ideal way to learn shamanic drumming, however most of us will never be fortunate enough to have this experience. This book is definitely the next best thing."
-Lisa DiPlacido, review editor for Friend's Review.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, easy to read, in-depth, step-by-step guide to journeying, September 18, 2007

By 

Yana E. Murphy "http://murigius-starboard.blo... (Berkeley, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming (Paperback)

Michael Drake has written a sensible guide to taking a traditional shamanic journey with measured drum beats to a alternate reality where, with practice, one can meet one's spirit/animal guide. He describes with obvious deep knowledge how to use and care for a drum that will act as both a vehicle to journey and as a healing tool.

I got the impression from reading The Shamanic Drum: a Guide to Sacred Drumming that the author genuinely loves his relationship with sacred drumming and wants to share this timeless knowledge. His methods are completely safe. He states what I've found to be true: one always has one foot in this world as he/she journeys to another and can 'return' as soon as one wishes.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Imagery, March 27, 2006

By 

Monarch (San Fran Bay area, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shamanic Drum: A Guide to Sacred Drumming (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed the imagery presented in this book. The journeys of the soul were mesmerizing. The guidance for drumming was most useful. The songs presented were short, easy to remember, and inspiring. I was a little put off at the end when the author seems to imply that the book is more for the use of Native Americans (although I have some Cherokee ancestry) and not for people of other descents.