The main concept of shamanic drumming is the same as it was thousands of years ago, as a simple and effective technique to enable the participants to experience ecstasy. Practised in diverse cultures across the world, it involves drumming to induce a range of ecstatic trance states to enable you to connect with the spiritual dimension of reality.
Drummers use a specific repetitive rhythm, beginning slowly and then building up the intensity to a tempo of between three and seven beats per second. The increased tempo is what induces trance states and facilitates the shamanic techniques of journeying, shape shifting and divination. People undertaking this therapy may progress through a series of trances until they reach the point where healing can occur. Once this has happened and participants are ready to return to normal, the tempo of the drumming is slowed.
In some cultures, sound is regarded as one of the most effective ways to establish a connection with the spirit realm since it travels through space, destroys visual and physical barriers and conveys information from the unseen world. Some shamans believe that the spirits of nature create their own sound world and it is possible for humans to communicate with them through the sound of the drum.
The key to understanding this unique therapy is to accept the idea that the universe is made of vibrational energy, that is a single flowing, rhythmic being. The entire universe is created through vibration and can be influenced through those created by shamanic drumming.
To find out more about this therapy, and look out for the next shamanic drumming workshops near you, visit herondrums.co.uk