Shaman Drums - Easy Southwest Decorating Tips

Trying to decide on the right decor to give your home that one of a kind western style? Use Shaman drums along with your western home furnishings like I did. 

My love for these one of a kind, American Indian drums started right after my husband and I purchased our new home last year.  We knew that because of our love for the old west, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style home decor with original rustic home furnishings.  

Once that was decided I started filling my new home with awe-inspiring western and country pieces that would go with my southwest decor and entertain my visitors by telling a story at the same time. That is when I came across how simple it was to give my home that chic southwest style that you see in designer home magazines, by decorating with shaman drums. 

Maybe you are like me when I first started digging into 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 choose the right drum to use 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 lucky 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 used 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 guide his people. 

If you take a close look at the Shaman's drum you will notice that unlike many other leather Native American drums used in tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural rawhide, stretched over a wood frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. Shaman drums don't have the loop hold like many other tribal drums do. A drum made in this way gives you a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily manipulate the sound that is very important in bringing out the right tones needed to guide you on your Shamanic journey. 

You will also notice that many Shamanic drums have paintings and symbols on the rawhide drum face. These unique western symbols 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 choosing the drum for Shamanic work, take time to study the symbolic meaning of the painting. Since the southwest paintings have spiritual power that directs the journey, you want to make sure it is in agreement with your own practices and leads you in that direction. Also, I like to check the quality of the drum before buying. It's critical to make sure there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are connected. 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. 

Most attention is placed on the drum alone but it's also important 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 drum beaters that pull out different tones from the drum and although I personally like using a mallet with a fur covered head, it is a matter of what you like best. 

Whether you are buying Native American musical instruments such as drums to incorporate into your home decor or are using it to guide you in your spiritual journey, I guarantee that you will fall in love with the true rustic style and southwest charm added to your life and home by Shaman drums. 

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