Stuff Around My Home -- Hoop Drum

I made this hoop drum in Winnipeg in the summer of 1997, about six months before I moved to Edmonton. A local feminist artist and respected indigenous elder, Mae Louise Campbell, facilitated a women's drumming circle with which I drummed for a couple of years. Every once in awhile, she would host a workshop where we could each make our own drum and drumstick.

My drum is made out of deer hide which, of course, was sopping wet during the process in order to be pliable. From the round edge of the large circular hide, we cut long thin strips which became our lacing cords. Then, using an awl and hammer, we punched out a specified number of holes at even spaces around the hide's edge.

Mae Louise then showed us how to lace and secure the hide to the wooden hoop around which it was stretched. This part of the process took the longest and was the most difficult to do. My work was a little uneven but it got the job done, LOL!

Here's what the back of my drum looks like -- 

The wooden hoop inside the drum is cedar from British Columbia. It's the most expensive hoop material to use but it is the best because it will never, ever warp. Other woods can (and often do) warp from the wetness and then your drum is ruined once dry. Here's a view of the cedar hoop --

Every step of the drum-making process was accompanied with smudging and other rituals to honour the deer, the cedar, the completed drum, life, and ourselves as makers and drummers. In the final ritual, we scattered loose tobacco on top of the wet drumhead to honour the drum. The tobacco remained there until the drum was fully dry about a week later. Once removed, small permanent brown stains remain on the drumhead, indicating that it is a sacred drum used for spiritual drumming.

We also constructed a drumstick out of a peeled red willow branch and a suede leather pouch stuffed with cotton and glue. On my own later, I added the decorative suede thongs on the drumstick's head and handle, finishing off each one with blue-and-white pony beads. As you can see in the previous photos, I added similar suede and bead accents to the four cardinal points of the drum itself. Some women painted their drumheads when dry, but I left mine in its natural state so as to keep the tobacco marks visible.

I've had many years of enjoyable drumming with this drum in a variety of settings -- various drumming circles (pagan or otherwise), Earth Day drumming circles, shamanic drumming, and on one memorable night, a candlelit labyrinth walk. My drum got its most regular use, of course, during the thirteen years I facilitated my own women's spirituality drumming circle here in Edmonton. Although that drumming circle is in the past now, I still drum with my personal drum every now and then on special occasions.

Oh, and when I do have to transport my drum to an event, here is its large tote bag!

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, May 2021]

Pow Wow Time!

A couple of days ago My Rare One and I went to a traditional pow wow held in conjunction with Edmonton's K-Days celebration. The pow wow dancers, drummers and singers came from Alberta's Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and other Treaty 6 First Nations in the province. We watched for about 4 hours and had a great time!

Have you ever been to a pow wow? It's been about 25 years since I last attended one in Manitoba at Sagkeeng First Nation north of Winnipeg. I was long overdue to go again. And My Rare One had never been to a pow wow before and was very keen to experience all the sights and sounds.

The drumming groups with their powerful pow wow drums and traditional singing were uniformly excellent! I loved seeing the older and younger men sitting together at the drums, all clearly having a wonderful time. You should have seen the look of pure joy on some of those kids' faces as they drummed and sang as accepted equals with the other men in their circle!

[Photo credit:

Greg Southam / Postmedia]

The dancing and the dancers' regalia were pretty spectacular too. There was every style of regalia and every kind of dance, except there was no hoop dancing (at least not on the day we attended). The dancing was divided by age group, gender and kind of dance. In between each category, there was always an "inter-tribal" round dance where anyone was welcome to participate, whether or not they were in regalia or street clothes or were pow wow dancers or members of the audience.

My favourites have always been the traditional women grass dancers -- so dignified and regal as they move with small steps, caressing Mother Earth with their feet, slowly dancing like the centre of calm and strength in the swirl of energetic male dancers, jingle dancers and shawl dancers.

My Rare One's favourites are the jingle dancers, young girls and women festooned with small metal cones on their regalia which make a joyful and rhythmic tinkling sound as they energetically dance.

To conclude this post, here's a tiny jingle dancer for your delight!

[Photo credit:

Greg Southam / Edmonton Journal]

Drumming With Intention

At my monthly drumming circle, we drum three times during the course of the evening. The second of these sessions is reserved for "drumming with intention." As we drum, we hold in our minds and hearts those who need healing of some kind, whether physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, financial or what have you. The spiritual theory of drumming with intention is that the vibrations of the drums carry our thoughts and prayers out into the universe where they blend with the universal heart beat and convey the desired healing power.

At yesterday's drumming circle, My Rare One and I drummed with intention for our dear friend Elaine, who is undergoing breast cancer surgery today. May the healing power of the drum assist her in having a successful operation and proceeding to a full recovery. Be it so!

Celebrating Hekate

Ancient crone of wisdom,

Hekate! Hekate!

Old One, come to us!

Since Samhain is in October, what better time is there to celebrate Hekate, the Queen of the Witches? The Greek goddess Hekate is so ancient that She existed long before the Olympian deities. Crone goddess of the crossroads, Hekate led the abducted maiden goddess Persephone back from the Underworld by torchlight to the waiting arms of the mother goddess Demeter. In the subsequent Christian era, Hekate's name was linked with magic and the occult. She then became characterized as the Queen of the Witches.

To honour Hekate at our October Drumming Circle, we wore our finest witches hats while drumming and singing. Here's some of the women showing off their various styles of pointy chapeaux! And see the little statue of Hekate sitting on a small djembe drum, peeking out of the middle of the Circle?

Many of the participants at that evening's Circle consented to pose for a photo especially for my blog. Thanks, all you wild and wonderful women! It was a fun gathering!

[The photo of Hekate comes from Sacred Source website, where I purchased my statue several years ago.]

The Surprising History of the Bodhran

Carrying on from yesterday's post . . . it's easy to assume that the bodhran is an ancient Celtic drum used by the Irish since time immemorial and indeed, many claims have been made to that effect. But research shows that the bodhran originated and was used in years past simply as an agricultural implement -- a handy tray made of wood and goatskin in which to carry peat or grain. Perhaps it was occasionally used as a drum if loud noise was needed for whatever reason, but that was certainly not its intended purpose.

No, the bodhran is a purely modern musical instrument, first seriously played as a drum in the mid-1960s. When the huge renaissance of Irish music started in the 1970s, Celtic bands like The Chieftans brought the bodhran to prominence. Huge strides have since been made to refine the bodhran's manufacture and drumming techniques. It's impossible now to imagine Celtic music without the bodhran and its distinctively authentic sound!

So the bodhran is not an ancient instrument after all -- but aren't stories always better with a wee bit of the blarney?

My Bodhran

Last summer My Rare One went to Nova Scotia to visit friends. While driving around Cape Breton Island, she bought a large 18" bodhran drum as a surprise gift for me back in Alberta.

A bodhran (baw-RON) is an Irish frame drum played very fast with a wooden tipper. It provides the distinctive rhythms often featured in Celtic music.

The bodhran drumming technique is challenging to learn. And, of course, it takes a lot of practice to become proficient. Luckily for me, I've found an excellent bodhran teacher here in Edmonton to teach me the basics. I'm enjoying trying my hand at this new style (for me) of drumming.

Here's a really short clip of what a bodhran sounds like in the hands of a skilled drummer -- Caroline Corr of The Corrs. Needless to say, I sound nothing like this! But maybe someday?

My Drumming Circle's 10th Anniversary

In October, the Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle which I facilitate marked 10 years of celebrating the Divine Feminine! When I started the Circle in 2001, who knew it would last so long?

This definitely called for a parTAY! So, of course, there must be balloons . . .

. . . which must of course be in the colours of the Triple Goddess: white for the Maiden, red for the Mother and black for the Crone.

And what's a celebration without door prizes in pretty gift bags?

The swag included an assortment of smudges, a set of Louise Hay affirmation cards, items honouring the Goddesses Yemaya and Athena, plus a lovely Wheel of the Year from the Glastonbury Goddess Temple.

Here's a shot of the Circle set up in our downstairs family room prior to everyone's arrival. We had 18 women attend that evening and believe me, we raised the roof with drumming, singing and much snacking on goodies!

Blessed be my Circle's past, present and future and all the women who have attended and will attend! I am grateful for all.

Yemaya, Goddess of the New Year

Last night at my drumming and chanting circle we celebrated Yemaya, the Mermaid Goddess sacred to the spiritual traditions of West African and Caribbean people. On New Year's Eve, people in Brazil who honour the Goddess build sand altars on the beach where they leave small gifts for Yemaya along with their wishes and prayers for the upcoming year. The tide washes everything out to the sea -- to the Great Mother, Yemaya. She responds with Her blessings.

At a special point in our Circle, we closed our eyes and each drew a small pewter seashell from a blue bowl half full of water ("Alberta ocean"). Every seashell had a different word engraved on it -- a word representing Yemaya's blessing to us for 2011. My seashell had the word Strength.

We took our seashells home with us after the Circle so they can remind us throughout the year of Yemaya's special gift to us. I put mine in a small pottery dish on my bedside table.

[Portrait of Yemaya by Maria Giulia Alemanno]

Winter Solstice Singalong Offer

Judging by the comments on yesterday's post about "reclaimed Christmas carols," it seems that some of you are quite intrigued by the idea of singing Goddessy or pagany lyrics to old seasonal favourites. If you like, I'd gladly mail you a copy of my Circle's Winter Solstice Singalong booklet ("free and gratis" of course, so the price is right!) It's about 12 pages long and contains a good selection of other reclaimed carols. Just leave a comment on this post and tell me your mailing address. Since I moderate all comments, I won't publish it -- don't worry! I'll send the booklet off in the mail this weekend so hopefully, you will receive it by the Winter Solstice. And then away we go, a-caroling!

Reclaimed Christmas Carols

Last night, my Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle met for our annual Winter Solstice celebration. (The Circle meets on the first Wednesday evening of every month, which is why our festive partying seems so early!) Anyway, we had our usual singalong of Solstice songs and chants, including several "reclaimed" Christmas carols. Lyrics for such reclaimed carols are widely available on the Internet.

I thought I'd share one with you today which is a particular Circle favourite:

God Rest Ye Merry, Pagan Folk

God rest ye merry, pagan folk,

Let nothing you dismay.

Remember that the sun returns

Upon this Solstice day.

The growing dark is ending now

And Spring is on its way!

Chorus

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy!

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

The Goddess rest ye merry, too,

And keep you safe from harm.

Remember that we live within

The circle of Her arms.

And may Her love give years to come

A very special charm!

Chorus

Today is Summer Solstice!

We are one with the infinite Sun

Forever and ever and ever!

Every Summer Solstice, my Rare One and I like to sing this chant as we walk around our back yard and garden. We drum to the plants and trees, encouraging them to take full advantage of the longest day of the year. The Green Man supervises us from His spot on the little garden shed.

One year a neighbour heard our drumming and inquired about it a few days later. She subsequently came to my drumming circle a few times but (being a devout Christian) I don't think my emphasis on the Divine Feminine sat all that well with her.

But who knows what may grow from Summer Solstice drumming!

The Little Drummer Girls

Earlier this week the Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle met to celebrate the Winter Solstice. This is one of my most favourite circles every year. We honoured Sankta Lucia, the Nordic Goddess of the Winter Solstice, with drumming, singing and much snacking on seasonal goodies. We sang special Solstice songs and chants, some of which are "reclaimed" Christmas carols. One of these, "The Little Drummer Girls," is always a particular favourite of the women of the Circle -- for obvious reasons, no doubt! Here are the lyrics (and just imagine the pa-rum-pa-pum-pums in the second and third verses, okay? It'll save me lots of typing, LOL!):

Sun, they told us,

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

Would rise again today,

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

Her finest gifts She brings,

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

Sustain us 'til the Spring,

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

Rum-pa-pum-pum

Rum-pa-pum-pum

We will honour Her,

Pa-rum-pa-pum-pum

When She comes.

Winter Solstice,

We come to celebrate,

You have a flame to bring,

A source of warmth 'til Spring,

We will honour You,

With our drums.

May we meet again,

May hand and drum keep time,

We play our drums for You,

We play our best for You,

May You smile on us,

As we drum.

Transporting Sacred Water

The Lion's Head is where pilgrims gather sacred spring water to take home and, for that purpose, Chalice Garden sells plastic souvenir bottles. When I went to buy one, the saleslady took note of my foreign accent, deduced that I would be flying home (not driving) and told me that I'd never get my water home in one of their bottles. Because of airport security, the bottle would have to go in my checked luggage, and the bottle tops were simply not watertight. The sacred water would all leak out during the flight, she said.

So off I went to the Glastonbury shops, where I found a metal Glogg water bottle with a good, waterproof, screw-on top. On the mystical morning of 09-09-09, I filled it full of sacred water and screwed the top on tight. For good measure, I put it inside a big zip-lock freezer bag along with a couple of the small (empty) Chalice Well plastic bottles. I'm pleased to report that the water made it back to Edmonton safe and sound! Once home, I decanted it from the Glogg bottle into the more decorative souvenir bottles.

At the October meeting of the Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle, we celebrated the Goddess of Avalon and had a special blessing with the Chalice Well water. Each woman received a tiny half-ounce plastic champagne flute as a Holy Grail stand-in. I poured sacred water into each flute from the Chalice Well bottle. Then we each thought of something in our life that needs healing, whether it be physical, mental, emotional, spiritual or financial. I recited the following blessing --

Daughters of the Goddess, may you be blessed and healed by this sacred water from Goddess's holy Chalice Well in Avalon. Blessed be!

Then we all raised our glasses to the Goddess and drank Her sacred water of life.

The Women of the WDGCC

Over the past eight years of the Circle's existence, hundreds of women have attended. Many we see only once or twice. For whatever reason, they do not become regular members and that's fine. This Circle will not resonate with everyone nor will it meet everyone's needs. But many women do become regulars. Some come for a year or two or three until their lives change and they move on. Some attend for many years and stop coming only because they no longer live in Edmonton. A small handful have attended faithfully right from the Circle's start in 2001. Women have come and gone from the Circle like the never-ending stream which feeds the Sacred Well of the Goddess.

All kinds of women come to the Circle. Young, middle-aged and old. Every race, every creed, every type and description of women. Mothers and daughters. Aunties and nieces. Friends and lovers. Every shape and size of women. Women at every stage of the spiritual journey. Women with every life experience imaginable.

I have been privileged to meet many wonderful women over the years because of the Circle. Our paths probably would have never crossed otherwise. To me, this is the greatest blessing derived from hosting the Circle every month.

Women's Drumming and Goddess Chanting Circle (WDGCC)

Since 2001, I have facilitated a monthly, public, self-care Circle for women which focuses on the Divine Feminine. Every month we celebrate a different Goddess, a statue of whom is placed at the centre of our Circle. I speak briefly about this Goddess's myths, attributes and significance to our lives as women. Then we have a blessing and purification ritual for ourselves and our instruments (drums of all kinds, shakers, rainsticks, tambourines and other percussive noise makers). The blessing ritual involves one of the four elements and is tailored to honour whichever Goddess is being celebrated that month.

We drum three times during the course of the Circle, thereby honouring the Maiden, Mother and Crone. Between these drumming sessions, we sing songs and chants celebrating the Divine Feminine and other subjects like the moon, Nature, the spiritual journey and ourselves as women. We do not drum or sing in order to reach any performance standard of musicality but rather, to express our soul spirit and our connection with the Goddess, ourselves and each other. Therefore, there is no "wrong" or "bad" way to sing or drum. The Circle is a safe space for expressing who we truly are.

The Circle closes with another simple ritual. All the women stand at the centre of the Circle. We link our arms and sway together with a gentle rhythm, singing:

By the Air that is Her breath,

By the Fire of Her bright spirit,

By the Waters of Her womb,

By the Earth that is Her body:

The Circle is open, but unbroken.

May the (peace, love, joy) of the Goddess

be ever in our hearts!

Merry meet, and merry part,

And merry meet again!

Tomorrow -- who are the women of the Circle?

Ritual in my spiritual practice

When I first started walking the Goddess Path about 20 years ago, I did a lot of ritual, both on my own and in groups. Coming originally from a Protestant background, I think I was ritual-starved. Protestants are not big on ritual and regard it with suspicion. It smacks of Catholicism, or worse. So being hungry for ritual, I quite enjoyed learning and performing the rituals of casting a circle, calling the quarters, honouring the four elements, smudging and purification and all the other rites and rituals of goddess circling. I found ritual very powerful, affirming and moving.

Over the years, however, I have found myself doing fewer and fewer organized rituals. Once my ritual anorexia was addressed and fed to overflowing, my need to actually perform a lot of ritual diminished in my spiritual practice. I am much more inclined today to simply perform small individual acts of casual ritual rather than to participate in any large-scale formal rituals.

My main ongoing participation in a group ritual setting occurs in the monthly drumming and chanting circle which I facilitate. More on that tomorrow.