drum trances

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[hassMysteria]

I have been recently experimenting with different drum beats before silent meditation...it has REALLY helped in the relaxation process, and sometimes I can meditate while drumming a slow repetitive beat..but other times it is more distracting...I guess it depends on my mood or level of relaxation.

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual? I'm fairly new at using a drum for this purpose but am an experienced (not necessarily ((good)) ) drummer, and am just looking for any tips for using a drum for meditative and trance purposes.

It has so far proved to be very effective in relaxing me and raising energy....not sure if I'm making the most out of it though

also if there are any particular rhythms that are ((particularly)) good for these purposes...please do share!

thanks   

[violentsound]

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual?

also if there are any particular rhythms that are ((particularly)) good for these purposes...please do share!

Not unless drum machines count. Heh.

As for the second, I read that 4.5 beats a second induces trance state easily.

[hassMysteria]

Not unless drum machines count. Heh.

As for the second, I read that 4.5 beats a second induces trance state easily.

I have some sort of free software that came with a book I got a long time ago that can make beats to help induce trance states which I'm thinking of opening up and seeing what it is now..

the other day while drumming I was in a very deep trance...and I don't know how hard I was hitting my drum...but now middle parts of all my fingers (cept the thumbs) are bruised and feelall wierd....hahaha...I don't know how I managed that .....other than that, when I finished drumming and went into silent meditation I had a really good session that lasted a lot longer than I thought it had.................looking into wrapping my hands next time though 

[Morag]

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual?

The other night I had the best meditation ever while listening to a shamanic drumming CD. (I have no drum.)

I have always had trouble getting into a meditative state, but listening to the drum really helped me get into a near-trance state.

The CD I listened to was part of the Celtic Totem Animals box kit by John Matthews. (I know the general reaction to the words "box kit" but it's pretty solid.) 

As soon as I get my drum I'll probably use it during ritual as well.

[Elspeth Sapphire]

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual? I'm fairly new at using a drum for this purpose but am an experienced (not necessarily ((good)) ) drummer, and am just looking for any tips for using a drum for meditative and trance purposes.

I was trained to go into deep trance when around beating drums.  Which makes it hard to attend drum circles... ::grin::  A bell brings me back.

I know alot of people who find the beating of drums or flute music relaxes them for meditation.  During ritual, drumming can set the beat for the action.  Just pick a rhythmn that isn't distracting from what you want to do.

Drum circles are good places to ask questions.  Most the good drummers are more than willing to talk 'shop' at breaks.

Elspeth Sapphire

[MelanieS]

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual? I'm fairly new at using a drum for this purpose but am an experienced (not necessarily ((good)) ) drummer, and am just looking for any tips for using a drum for meditative and trance purposes.

I use drumming and dancing (they go together in my mind) quite a bit in ritual and meditation. I am very bad at both. By very bad I mean that there would be no entertainment value in observing it.   

For the drum I have a very inexpensive tambourine thing, and I started out by listening to either other people drumming who knew what they were doing or listening to drumming CD's and picking out a very basic beat to play along with. After a while I got to where certain beats felt right to me and I'm not musically inclined enough to be able to say what those beats are. I usually use solo drumming for meditation/relaxation type things.

For raising energy I usually combine drumming and dance. I actually find my best results come from not really drumming, but a similar concept which is these finger cymbals that are used in belly dancing (if memory serves, they are called zills). These are kind of cool because they produce a chimey sound for a different result. All in all, it's a fun way to raise some energy if you're liking the drumming thing.

I'll second the drum circle recommendation - they are usually very willing to talk during breaks. I don't think I've ever met a drummer that isn't nice and willing to share information.

Melanie

[hassMysteria]

I use drumming and dancing (they go together in my mind) quite a bit in ritual and meditation. I am very bad at both. By very bad I mean that there would be no entertainment value in observing it.   

For the drum I have a very inexpensive tambourine thing, and I started out by listening to either other people drumming who knew what they were doing or listening to drumming CD's and picking out a very basic beat to play along with. After a while I got to where certain beats felt right to me and I'm not musically inclined enough to be able to say what those beats are. I usually use solo drumming for meditation/relaxation type things.

For raising energy I usually combine drumming and dance. I actually find my best results come from not really drumming, but a similar concept which is these finger cymbals that are used in belly dancing (if memory serves, they are called zills). These are kind of cool because they produce a chimey sound for a different result. All in all, it's a fun way to raise some energy if you're liking the drumming thing.

I'll second the drum circle recommendation - they are usually very willing to talk during breaks. I don't think I've ever met a drummer that isn't nice and willing to share information.

Melanie

oo! I do love my zills I've been belly dancing ...or at least trying to do so for about a year...((finally going to take lessons!)) ..and I have used zills when dancing/meditation type stuff...that's great that you mentioned that  I have even taken them to drum circles *laughs*

I think I'm going to need to get some new drumming CDs ..................my fingers are just now starting to feel better....I don't know how I got to the point I was hitting them so hard, but I guess that is the nature of trance

that software that came with a book I got was sooooo worthless and not really what I thought it was going to be ...oh well

[Tana]

The CD I listened to was part of the Celtic Totem Animals box kit by John Matthews.

Hey, that is my travel-CD if it has to go quick
The most intense travels I've had with the help of this CD.

(I don't have a drum and I don't think I have enough feeling for rhythm to use one either.)

[Ravenari]

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual? I'm fairly new at using a drum for this purpose but am an experienced (not necessarily ((good)) ) drummer, and am just looking for any tips for using a drum for meditative and trance purposes.

I drum or use clacking sticks while journeying, though I tend to stop once I actually hit trance and slip into the otherworlds (which can take anywhere from five minutes, to well... until I can't feel my arm anymore). I know that a lot of research indicates that faster beats are more conducive to trance, but for me I find slower, more paced beats help me, so experiment with beat timing and see what works for you.

The very fast drumming sessions have never really worked for me, I like something that resonates with a slower heartbeat, so I tend to start drumming fast and then slow down.

CDs are really good, especially for longer journeys, and if you have the equipment you can make your own CD of drumming and then put it on loop or repeat. Alternatively, if you have fellow friends who are also into paganism / open-minded / patient, you can get them to drum you through trance instead. The positives about this is that they can use the drum to bring you out of trance when necessary, and act as a physical anchor if you're wishing to journey (vs. meditation).

I find raising energy specifically through drumming doesn't work as well (for me personally) as drumming to ride into the otherworlds, and then raising energy there via interactions with spirits / gods etc. But I do think it's more than possible to generate energy through drumming.

[Aster Breo]

CDs are really good, especially for longer journeys

Do you know of any commercial drumming CDs that you'd recommend?

[Ravenari]

Do you know of any commercial drumming CDs that you'd recommend?

Not personally, unfortunately, since I do my own drumming manually or see about having an assistant (which doesn't really happen these days since I've lost touch with a few people).

I'm sure someone else will know of CDs to recommend though.

[Starglade]

Do you know of any commercial drumming CDs that you'd recommend?

I have to plug Mickey Hart's "Planet Drum" and "At the Edge" (as in "drumming at the edge of magic"). LOVE them for trance work, even if I do very little of it anymore. When I did? That's what I used.

Considering he studied trance drumming and native/aboriginal techniques before coming out with the cds, I think it's little surprise they work--well, like magic. :-)

[Aster Breo]

I have to plug Mickey Hart's "Planet Drum"

I HAVE "Planet Drum".  I used to use it all the time when I was teaching tap.  I can't believe I didn't think of it!   

[Go]

I have been recently experimenting with different drum beats before silent meditation...it has REALLY helped in the relaxation process, and sometimes I can meditate while drumming a slow repetitive beat..but other times it is more distracting...I guess it depends on my mood or level of relaxation.

does anyone else use drumming for relaxation/meditation , or during ritual? I'm fairly new at using a drum for this purpose but am an experienced (not necessarily ((good)) ) drummer, and am just looking for any tips for using a drum for meditative and trance purposes.

It has so far proved to be very effective in relaxing me and raising energy....not sure if I'm making the most out of it though

also if there are any particular rhythms that are ((particularly)) good for these purposes...please do share!

thanks   

I use a drum during group rituals, and sometimes a rattle as well.  I don't often do it at home, as the more tranced out I get, the harder it is for me to keep a beat.  Personally I generally stick to a simple 1,2,3,4 pattern in rituals and save the fancy stuff for drum circles.  I vary the speed of the 1-4 pattern depending on the energy level or the speed of a group chant.  You can kinda feel when to shift things over. 

Go

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