Medicine Drum Making Workshop

Learn to make a 14” medicine drum & beater from natural materials

NEXT GROUP DATE- TBC – Brynberian, Pembs 11AM – 4PM

NOTE- as I’m focussing on teaching this year (see here) I’m not holding any group drum days myself, if you would like to host one, contact me for my availability- anyone arranging a day for me will have a 50% reduction on there drum.

For an intimate experience email me to arrange a date to suit us both.

Cost £233- includes all teaching, materials for a 14″ deer drum and drum beater

£255 includes a drum bag for you

These prices are for a local group with me- to book please email info@rachaelcrow.co.uk

£100 booking fee will be required, pay here.

Spend the day making a 14” deer/stag hide medicine drum & drum beater from natural materials.

Spend an day creating and birthing a drum, tuning in with the natural materials, giving thanks and prayers as you use your hands, putting your love, energy and intent into this medicine tool to create a truly special drum for yourself!

The day will begin with a journey to connect with the energy of stag and deer and close with a ceremony to connect and bless the drums.

Using natural and traditionally prepared hides and timbers you with birth a sacred drum made from deer/stag skin.

16″ Drum is a larger drum, ideal for ceremonies can be chosen for an extra £30.

On occasion I can get Reindeer, horse and elk hide, these are an extra £100.

Drum bags-See examples here

Hide medicine/ meaning listed below.

Hoops are crafted from Ash, the world tree.

Rosewood, Oak, Cedar or Willow may be available for an extra £20.

Beaters are made from Welsh coppiced wood, stuffed with raw sheeps wool. (let me know if there are any lanolin allergies or if you may be pregnant!)

Feedback from my Drum making days- (more below)

“Rachael has a very gentle and relaxed approach and she gave very clear guidance throughout the drum making experience. This helped me to tap into my creativity and enjoy the process, working at my own pace. Our small group shared this experience on a very deep level, laughing, crying and calling in our personal inspirations. I feel like I’ve truly birthed a drum which is unique and aligned to my energy. I’m really looking forward to playing it and seeing what magic unfolds.”

“I have made drums before so had an idea of what might be involved – pain, complicated methods, tears, lots of undoing and redoing, man-made materials for example. It was therefore an absolute revelation to me to create the unique and beautiful drum I birthed with Rachael Crow and an intimate group of really lovely women in deepest Wales. We began by creating our beaters -each person had creating something completely unique and beautiful. The options for being creative were plentiful, allowing us all to inspire and be inspired by each other as we went along. The making of the drum was SO much simpler than any method I’ve worked with to date. No fuss, no complexities, just straightforward and logical. The possibilities for adding meaning, for filling your drum with you, are simply endless. The whole Ritual was tenderly and lovingly held from a drum journey to meet our tree, our animal, through to celebrating with cacao and taking our drums into the belly of the earth for a stone blessing. I really loved every moment and would definitely recommend anyone thinking of birthing their own drum come to Rachael’s experienced hearthside.”

“What a magical weekend birthing a wonderful drum in the safe hands of Rachael. Expertly guided and held from the moment we arrived, I am now the custodian on the most wonderful instrument. An experienced not to be missed with a master drum maker. Much gratitude x”

Hides come from mostly within the United Kingdom and are either from culled wild fallow deer/stags. The hide is a waste product so by using it we are honouring the animal. As a life long vegetarian/vegan I’ve wrestled with the ethics for a long time, in the end my calling to make drums and bring people to the heartbeat of our Mother was too strong! I source them as ethically as possible, supporting local crafts people. On occasion I may have to source hides from outside the UK, hides such as buffalo /cow are from the US. (read more here)

All teaching, tools and materials are provided.

Suitable for those used to crafting and complete beginners!

£100 booking deposit will be required, pay here. please note deposits are non refundable due to the small amount of places. Please remember to bring the rest of your payment on the day.

About Rachael Crow- I have experience of holding ceremonies for almost 30 years, I’m a Reiki Teacher, workshop facilitator and Earth keeper! I made my first drum on Dartmoor over 20 years ago and love to share this skill with others.

Please bring lunch and snacks for yourself for the day, an old towel to make your drum on and wrap your drum in.

You may wish to dream into some symbols to paint inside your drum hoop, I will bring some natural ochre for this. Some people put reiki symbols, personal symbols, healing symbols… you may also like to bring personal items such as feathers, crystals, hair, fur…which can personalise your drum and beater. I will have some things you can use for this too.

Please email info@rachaelcrow.co.uk to book

Hide Medicine/Meanings-

Deer’s medicine includes gentleness, the ability to listen, grace and appreciation for the beauty of balance, power of gratitude and giving, ability to sacrifice for the higher good, connection to the woodland goddess, alternative paths to a goal. Deer teaches us how powerful it is to have a gentle demeanour, to exert keen observation and sensitivity. Deer’s are in tune with nature and all it comprises. They are sacred carriers of peace and show us how to open our hearts and love unconditionally .Deer teaches us to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings who are in our lives, to gently nudge them in right direction, with the love that comes from deer.

To call upon the Stag is to call his divine power to enhance a new beginning or new venture, to bring dignity, power and integrity and to fertilize new ideas. With the stag as your drum it is a time to stand tall and be seen, now is the time to attract those that you desire. It is your time and thoughts manifest reality, be positive, assertive and diplomatic and your dreams will materialize.

The Stag is an Earth tied energy and will bring harmony and a sense of natural progression, he encourages stability and patience, patience is a virtue bestowed upon the wise. To be able to wait and be comfortable waiting. The stag is a solitaire for most of the year, but with his antlers comes his need to share, he will make himself known to all that seek his influence and will give willingly to all that are prepared to accept his ways. The Stag has always occupied the Celtic lands and is the source of many a myth and legend. It takes a skilled hunter to find an older stag, with age comes wisdom, with responsibility comes a stronger will to survive.

Reindeer medicine beckons you to stay true to your inner compass. You’re on the right track. Now’s not the time to wander off. Keep your mind clear and your focus sure. Avoid anyone who brings drama and chaos. Reindeer wants to work with you on your soul’s purpose in this incarnation.
Reindeer is a creature of magic. Reindeer medicine keeps one foot solidly in reality during your learning process. You make magic out of stardust, wonders, and wishes, but it doesn’t mean there is no room for a mind-heart balance. Remember the ability to make and change your reality begins with a positive thought.
Reindeer energy keeps you moving forward.

Elk medicine signifies that you are entering a time of plenty. In other words, everything you need, you will get. This prominent member of the Deer family is also bringing your awareness to your competitive nature. Are you engaging in something competitively rather than working within the group to reach a common goal? Another aspect of Elk symbolism could be strength and empowerment. If you need to be impressive in a situation, you can draw on its power.

Horse medicine is physical power and unearthly power. In shamanic practices throughout the world, horse enables shamans to fly through the air and reach heaven.
In understanding the power of horse, you may see how to strive for a balanced medicine shield. True power is wisdom found in remembering your total journey. Wisdom comes from remembering pathways you have walked in another person’s moccasins. Compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing your gifts, talents, and abilities are the gateway to power.
As a power animal, horse, is primarily a message carrier and is often concerned with traversing “gateways.” It is associated with the power and responsibility that comes from exercising authority, and the wisdom required to use it in a balanced way. On an emotional level, horse is connected with the need for compassionate understanding.
The horse enabled people to explore and find freedom from the constraints of their own communities. This enabled them to travel and thus discover the multiplicity of life and all of its powers. Horses have great appeal to most people. We are fascinated by them, and riding one raises us above the mundane, and renews our sense of power. They signify the wind and even the foam of the sea.
Horses were given powers of divination. More than one legend speaks of the clairvoyance of horses and their ability to recognize those involved in magic. They are symbols that can express the magical side of humans.

Feedback from my Drum making days-

“Thank you with all of my heart for such a special day. It was incredibly nourishing and enriching. You created a beautiful space for us not only physically, but also spiritually. I loved all the elements you included into the day and how patient you were teaching us! You are an incredibly inspiring and powerful being, full of so much light and love and it’s been an honour to meet you. I very much hope I get to meet with you again before too long. It felt a magical connection between us all that day. Thank you so much again for all you brought to the day.”

“A very big ‘thank you’ for such a beautiful day, way beyond what my imagination had given me.
I feel a wholeness within.”

“You are an amazing woman & such a natural teacher & leader & we all had just a totally magical day.
Thank you from my heart.”

“Thank you for making the day so special”