The Power and Benefits of Spiritual Drumming & Shamanic Rhythms

I've spent over two decades exploring spiritual practices, and I can tell you that spiritual drumming, also known as shamanic drumming, is one of the most profound. What I've found is that the rhythmic beat of a drum isn't just music, it's a powerful tool for healing, connecting with ancient traditions, and deepening spiritual exploration. Trust me, this practice offers incredible transformative potential. In this guide, I'll share my insights into the many uses and powerful manifestations of this ancient practice, helping you discover how it can enrich your life.

What is Spiritual and Shamanic Drumming?

When people ask me, "What is shamanic drumming?" I often explain that it's a practice deeply rooted in ancient traditions across cultures. It involves repetitive drumming rhythms to induce an altered state of consciousness, often for healing, meditation, or journeying into spiritual realms. These days, while the terms 'shamanic drumming' and 'spiritual drumming' are often used interchangeably, both refer to this potent practice where the drum becomes a guide to inner and outer worlds. It's truly a powerful form of drumming as a spiritual practice.

Exploring the Ancient Roots: A Brief History of Shamanic Drums

I've found that while no one truly knows who made the first drum, or which culture first popularized drumming, what we know for sure is that drumming is in every culture to some degree. It's a living tradition that has stood the test of time. There are over 30 different types and shapes of drums, over a hundred drumming styles, and a multitude of traditional reasons for drumming. For example, African drumming dates back to the Mandinka (or Maninke) people in western Africa around 1300AD. Thousands of ancient images depict women and men holding or playing the drum in artwork and hieroglyphs.

How Did Ancient Cultures Use Drums for Communication?

Think about it this way: drums were like primitive telephones! They were used to communicate with tribes miles away. African drumming, for instance, was seen as a tool to communicate locally among humans and over long distances, to celebrate battles and births, for festivals, to mourn loss and death, and to inspire during religious ceremonies and signal rites of passage. I find this fascinating, drums have been such a large part of African people's daily experiences for so long that drumming is thought of as pulsing throughout the collective consciousness of the continent. Moreover, in many First Nation communities, a King Drum, also known as a POWWOW Drum, was most often positioned in the middle of a circle and beat collectively and in unison to honor ancestors. This deep bass resonance was believed to facilitate spiritual connection and group cohesion. More recently, these handheld drums have been seen in protests and rallies to bring awareness to important issues, continuing their legacy as tools for collective voice and spirit communication.

What Are the Transformative Benefits of Spiritual Drumming?

In my experience, the benefits of spiritual drumming are vast, touching every aspect of our being. While many cultures historically engaged in honoring traditions, these days we recognize specific advantages. What I tell people is that these are the key benefits of incorporating shamanic drumming benefits into your life.

How Does Drumming Facilitate Healing and Well-being?

You don't have to be a shaman to use the power of drumming healing. The art of using drums for healing is universal. Anciently, if someone was sick, the pounding of the drum was thought to beat out disease or bad spirits. The great news is that the vibrational frequency of the drumming sound profoundly affects the elements in our bodies. Think of it this way: the Earth itself has a healthy beating resonance, and sacred drumming is thought to bring someone back into harmony with the natural rhythm of Mother Nature. Our mother's heartbeat is the first sacred pattern our bodies witness as drumming, and in my belief, each mother is connected to Gaia. Our heartbeats carry on this rhythm throughout our lives, and when we engage in drumming, we are reminding our hearts of the union of all.

Can Drumming Enhance Your Physical and Mental Vitality?

Absolutely, it can. Many sensual songs with an awakening beat can resonate deeply within. I've found that drumming has been linked to alleviating symptoms such as arthritis. Just from listening, people can be put into a heightened state of awareness and relaxation. Drumming classes for exercise, such as cardio drumming, naturally encourage the body to move and release tension. Here's what's really eye-opening, drumming releases endorphins and enkephalins from the brain which are associated with overall feelings of wellness and euphoria. In my experience, alpha waves in the brain increase during and after drumming, promoting a profound sense of calm and clarity.

Why Use Drums for Praise, Worship, or Musical Expression?

I combine these two because their fundamental purpose often intertwines. In both cases, the drum is used to make music, but the underlying reason differs. For musical enjoyment, the inner symphony and rhythm are externalized through the repetition of the drumbeat. The musical melody is played for human pleasure. For praise and worship, a musical rhythm beats to honor deities and/or the Divine. It's a way to express reverence and connect spiritually through sound.

How Does Spiritual Drumming Deepen Meditation and Shamanic Journeying?

The rhythm of the beat is known to keep one present and bypass the ego, serving as a vibrational guide into someone's psyche, soul, or to connect with ancestors and deities. This is the part I love. Drumming is used as a sincere way of getting the attention of the Divine, facilitating mystical experiences such as communication with spirits. This might be done with a tribal spirit drumming rhythm. Tribal spirit drumming is usually done with the purpose of bringing in ancestors or escorting the souls of the deceased into the afterlife. Why? I believe the resonance of the heart is love, and the heartbeat signals this love with its rhythm! The heart's energy of love is what mediums tap into to build a bridge to the other side. Played for the emotional level, drums also help us mourn. Here's what I've noticed, the repetitive rhythm acts as a sonic anchor, inducing a trance-like state that allows the practitioner to access expanded states of awareness, similar to what we see with increased alpha waves. It truly helps to bypass the analytical mind.

What is a Shamanic Drum? Exploring its Sacred Origins

People often ask me, "What exactly is a shamanic drum?" It's far more than just an instrument. In my experience, a shamanic drum is often decorated by the shaman or made specifically for them, imbued with personal meaning and blessings. I've found that its history isn't always clear, but many shamans pass down their drums or create their own. Animal hides, such as goat, elk, deer, cow, moose, horse, and buffalo, are traditionally used in making drums. This isn't just about materials; it's about incorporating the 'animal medicine' and spiritual attributes of these creatures into the drum's essence, connecting the drummer to their spirit. Many drums are round or bowl-shaped, but some are egg or oval. Spherical sacred geometry was historically used when making drums. Drums were decorated with depictions of elements, Gods and Goddesses, animals, healing plants, the sun, stars, cultural symbols, and more, each carrying profound spiritual significance.

How Can You Begin Your Own Spiritual Drumming Journey?

If you're wondering, "What should I actually do to start spiritual drumming?" The great news is, you absolutely can! You just need a willingness to journey and explore. Here's what I recommend for beginners:

1. Acquire a Drum: You can find simple hand drums or frame drums online or at spiritual shops. You don't need anything fancy to start, just something that resonates with you.

2. Set Your Intention: Before you begin, take a moment. Hold the drum, feel its presence, and breathe deeply. What do you want to achieve or explore? Healing, clarity, grounding, or spiritual connection?

3. Connect with the Drum: Place the drum over your heart or hold it close. Visualize your healing energy flowing into it, and in return, feel its love beaming back to you. Listen to the silence, and then to your own heartbeat.

4. Find Your Rhythm: When you feel ready, allow a simple, natural rhythm to emerge. It doesn't have to be complex or "musical." Just allow the seeds of a rhythm to implant in your body and externalize it by beginning to drum. Focus on a steady, repetitive beat, like a heartbeat. This is actually a good sign because it helps bypass the analytical mind.

5. Induce a Conscious Trance: To induce an amplified state of consciousness, a conscious trance, simply focus on the repetitive beat. Let yourself loosen and move or sway with the rhythm. Any thoughts of "I don't have rhythm" will fall away; trust me, it's an innate human quality to have natural rhythm. You're awakening and honoring your rhythm as you drum.

6. Explore and Integrate: Continue for as long as you like. Afterward, take notes on your experience. What did you feel, see, or intuit? Each drum, and each session, has its unique voice and lessons.

7. Consider Guidance: If you're looking for different rhythmic styles, some basic patterns include a slow, steady beat for grounding, or a slightly faster, consistent beat for journeying. There are many online resources or local drum circles that can offer guidance.

You're not alone in this journey, many seek guidance when learning to journey into altered states. You can also explore local groups or workshops to learn from experienced practitioners. Remember, it's about the journey and the connection, not perfection.

A Psychic's Perspective: My Journeys with Spiritual Drumming

My childhood experience of drumming first started in the church under religious dogma, but my true immersion into sacred drumming began in 2009. I was invited to an event marketed as a guided meditation with shamanic drumming. It was a shamanic drumming circle, an active meditation, led by a woman who called herself a sacred drummer. I remember asking her, "What is a shaman drum?" She showed it and explained how the rhythm of the drum can calm the mind and naturally transport one's consciousness. She said, "The sound gives your mind something to focus on so you can journey inward. It drowns out the ego." She used a simple shamanic hand drum, and the rhythm wasn't fancy, just slow and repetitive. The words spoken in the meditation were woven between the beats of the drum. Here's what I noticed: my entire body relaxed, and I was more present. I was able to surrender and allow the experience to happen without the pressure of needing anything. I've found this is key to exploring the Akashic records; allowing the mind to quiet and the intuition to guide. The experience of being more conscious was, in itself, the experience. Having no need for anything more, just satiated me. It was beautiful.

I've also attended drumming circles where I used a drum myself, and I couldn't help but giggle. It was a juicy experience of Divine connection. Through drumming, I've deepened my connection to ancestors, gaining insights and messages that would otherwise be elusive. It acts as a bridge, enhancing my psychic abilities and mediumship by providing a vibrational frequency that aligns me with spiritual dimensions. What that really means is, the drum helps me tune in to the subtle energies of the spirit world, making communication clearer and more profound. This is where things get interesting, the drum becomes an extension of my spiritual antenna.

Integrating Spiritual Drumming with Your Other Spiritual Practices

I often recommend to clients that they integrate spiritual drumming into their existing spiritual routines. It's a fantastic way to enhance other practices. For instance, think about it this way: how spiritual drumming can deepen your meditation practice. A gentle, consistent drum rhythm can provide a focal point, helping to quiet the mind and achieve a deeper meditative state faster. It's truly complementary!

You can also use drumming to clear your energy field before an energy healing session or to prepare yourself for a psychic reading. The vibrations help to cleanse and activate your aura, making you more receptive to insights and healing. What I tell people is that the drum's rhythm helps to ground you while simultaneously opening you up to higher spiritual energies. It's a powerful primer for any spiritual work you might be doing.

Questions I Get Asked Most

Can I experience spiritual drumming if I don't own a drum?

Yes, absolutely! While owning a drum offers a personal connection, you can experience the benefits of spiritual drumming by listening to guided audio journeys or music specifically created for this purpose. Many artists and practitioners share audio tracks online that can help you enter a meditative state. I've found that simply listening can be incredibly transformative.

Do I need to have musical experience to practice spiritual drumming?

No, you definitely don't need any musical experience. Spiritual drumming is not about creating complex melodies or perfect rhythms; it's about intention and connection. The repetitive, simple beat is what helps you enter an altered state. Trust me, your natural heartbeat already provides all the rhythm you need.

Where can I find spiritual drumming music or guided sessions?

You can find spiritual drumming music and guided sessions on various platforms. YouTube has many free tracks, and streaming services like Spotify or Apple Music offer curated playlists. Many spiritual practitioners and shamans also offer workshops or recordings of their sessions, which I've found to be incredibly helpful for beginners.

Spiritual Drumming: A Living Tradition

Bottom line, shuttling one's consciousness into different realms through spiritual drumming is an act of self-love and profound discovery. May that love and your inner shaman meet and collide, creating marvelous sparks that reveal your sacred self, transform you, and light up your world. Shamanic drumming is the collective heartbeat of our soul family. It is the pulse and heartbeat of a community, a truly beautiful and living tradition we all can continue. This practice serves as a forever reference to an ancient way of life, a faith tradition guided by the soul and empowered by the Divine. I truly believe that by embracing the drum, you embrace a powerful path to self-discovery and connection.

Jae has always had an affinity for the Divine. She started studying to develop as a psychic-medium at the age of 15. Over the last 20 years she has dived heart first into healing herself and passing on what she's learned to others. Her teachers range from master mediums in Lilydale to self-taught lovers of the Tarot and dedicated energy healers with more than 100 years of experience between them. She is constantly learning. Forever a lover of life, Jae only shares wisdom in her articles from first-hand experiences and remains committed to supporting the spiritual community.