Ceremonial drums gave my home that great, southwestern look I was trying to achieve. I was so impressed with the beautiful, rustic look that the Native American drums added 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 important ceremonial drums are to the Native culture but do not know their importance in Native ceremonies or how exactly they are used.
Every tribe is unique in how they use ceremonial drums but one similarity between each tribe is that the Native drums are very significant and part of the main focus of the ceremony. Throughout my research, I have come to find that learning about these drums truly gives you a great appreciation of the American Indian culture and their customs.
As you begin reading about ceremonial drums, you will find it very interesting that the American Indians think of the ceremonial drum to be sacred. They are most often used in powwows, Shamanic ceremonies and honor ceremonies to call on 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 believed to connect the people with the spirit world and guide the a healer in helping his people, you will see that they are commonly used by the healers to enter the mind state, known as the Shamanic journey, needed to communicate with the Spirits.
Also, as you learn about the importance of ceremonial drums in modern culture, you will find that Native Indian drums play a significant part in the preservation of native tribes such as the Tarahumara. Making and selling these rustic style drums allows them to earn a living, through selling and trading their cultural hand crafts, and helps them extend the knowledge and traditions of their culture to those who buy 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 raw hide.
Now days, American Indian drums are not only used in Indian ceremonies such as Native American drum groups and as Indian 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 southwestern paintings. Some types of ceremonial drums are also used as southwest style furniture and Native American decor, such as the larger powwow drums and pedestal drums that are used as rustic, decorative tables.
Today, it is very easy to buy these unique Native American ceremonial drums on line and in stores that sell southwestern, western and rustic home decor. However you decide to use your ceremonial drum, whether for drumming purposes or in interior design, you will definitely be drawn to the rustic charm and southwest style of ceremonial drums.
Filed under: ceremonial drums | Tagged: ceremonial drums, drums, indian, indian musical instruments, native, Native American Drums, pow wow
