Choosing Shaman Drums In Unique Southwest Style

Trying to decide on the right decor to give your home that great rustic style? Try using Shaman drums along with your western home furnishings like I did. My love for these beautiful, American Indian drums started right after my husband and I bought our new home last year. We knew that because of our love for the southwest, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style home decor with original rustic home furnishings. Once that was determined I started filling my new home with beautiful western and Native American pieces that would go with my rustic decor and entertain my visitors by telling a story at the same time. That is when I discovered how easy it was to give my home that chic country style that you see in designer home magazines, by decorating with shaman drums.

Maybe you are like me when I first started hearing about the symbolic meaning of Native American drums, and have only a vague idea of what the Shamans drum is. Or, maybe you are wondering how to purchase the right drum to play in your Shaman drum circle. Whatever the case, it is necessary to understand the significance this rawhide drum plays in Native American culture so you can develop a true appreciation for its art and let its power guide you in the right direction.

If you are fortuneate enough to attend or be involved in a Shamanic ceremony you will notice that the Shaman, or spiritual leader, will beat a unique looking rawhide hand drum with a soft drum stick to create the soothing monotonous beat needed to take him to an altered mental state. During this altered state of mind, called the Shamanic journey, the spiritual leader receives healing and spiritual powers he uses to help his people. If you look closely at the Shaman's drum you will see that unlike many other leather Native American drums used during tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural rawhide, stretched over a wooden frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. They don't have the loop hold like many other ceremonial drums do. A drum fashioned in this way gives you a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily manipulate the sound that is vital in bringing out the right tones necessary to take you on your Shamanic journey.

You will also notice that many Shaman drums have paintings and symbols on the rawhide drum head. These unique American Indian designs often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to guide you in your spiritual journeying experience. If you are using the drum for Shamanic work, take time to investigate the symbolic meaning of the painting. Since the southwest designs have spiritual power that guides the journey, you want to make sure it is in line with your own practices and guides you in that direction.

Also, I think its very important to check the quality of the drum before buying. It's important to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are attached. This is vital to the quality and life of your Shaman drum and will save you money in the long run by not having to have it repaired or buy a new one.

A lot of attention is placed on the drum alone but don't forget to choose the right striking mallet so you can enjoy the rich sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will find that there are many different types of mallets that evoke different tones from the drum and although I personally like to use a mallet with a fur covered head, it is a matter of what works best for you. Whether you are looking for Native American musical instruments such as drums to add to your home decor or are using it to guide you in your spiritual journey, you will definitely fall in love with the authentic rustic style and western charm brought to your life and home by Shaman drums.