Spirit of the Drum

A Sacred Drum or Rattle-Birthing Ceremony and Training

October 18th & 19th 2025

9:30 AM Saturday - 6 PM Sunday

Guided by Rob Murphy certified master shamanic-reiki practitioner and teacher.

Connect. Create. Remember.

Enter sacred space and journey into relationship with your Spirit Drum or Rattle—a living instrument, a spiritual ally, a voice of the Ancestors.

In this ceremonial workshop, you will be guided step by step through the intentional creation of your medicine drum or rattle, engaging in ancient and intuitive practices that awaken the spirit within.

During this transformative experience, you will:

 Journey to meet the Spirit of the Tree and Four-Legged Animal who gifted the

materials

 Learn a unique spiral lacing technique from the Saghic (re-dreamed Celtic)

tradition

 Participate in elemental ceremony to breathe life into your drum/rattle

 Deepen your bond with the drum’s living energy and guidance

 Receive teachings on caring for your sacred tool and working with it as a bridge

to your Spirit Guides and Ancestors

This is more than a craft—it is a spiritual initiation. You will leave not only with a sacred instrument but also with a renewed connection to your inner voice and ancestral lineage.

What’s Included:

 All materials for creating your drum or rattle

 Guided shamanic journeys

 Sacred space facilitation & ceremony

 Teachings on the care, feeding, and use of your drum or rattle

 Optional: Bring a small personal object to weave into the process

Let us Choose Our Materials:

Cedar or Maple frames: Cedar frames are much lighter in weight than maple frames. If you do a lot of drumming for extended periods of time this lightweight frame will be perfect for you.​

Maple -- Maple is a symbol of strength, endurance and protection.

Cedar -- Cedar has become a symbol of greatness, of nobility, of strength and of incorruptibility.

14” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $140

15” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $145

15” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $160

16” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $160

17” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $170

18” skin drum w/maple or cedar frame - $170

Spirit drums are made of different hides such as deer, cow, horse, buffalo, elk, moose. All are sustainably obtained from indigenous trading posts. No horses or cows were killed for their hides. The horses died of natural causes.

*Please let us know what your 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice would be in selecting your animal skin as some skins are not always available.

Deer -- Represents the Heart, the Natural Laws of Circulation: healing and love

Elk -- The element of Water, Emotions, and the Shadow Self Horse -- Represents the

Shamanic Journey that we ride into an alternate reality seeking healing for ourselves

and others 

Buffalo (Bison) -- Has to do with seeking guidance and wisdom from the Ancestors. It

is connected to serving the community and connection to Sacred Source 

Moose -- Represents the work of Divine Feminine energies. It carries us deep into our

feelings towards emotional honesty 

Cow -- Represents Mother Earth, a symbol of motherhood, fertility, nurturing, survival

and protection. 

Energy Exchange:

$450- 475 Includes your choice of wood frame, hide, and all materials needed.

Additional $100 if you also want to make a Rattle.

Cost of materials range from $150-175 and so $175 will be made as a deposit to Rob to purchase the material. If you choose materials less than $175, the difference will be credited to the remaining cost of the workshop. This will be deducted off your total workshop which will be due by the start of the workshop. If you cannot make it after you booked, Rob can still make

your drum for you.

Who This Is For:

Open to all seekers, artists, healers, and curious souls who are ready to enter into a

sacred relationship with Spirit through sound, ceremony, and craft. No prior experience

necessary.

✨ Reserve Your Spot

Limited spaces available: 20 spots to honor the depth and intimacy of this work.

RSVP - Rob will contact you as it gets closer with more information + touch base on what hide and wood frame you will be selecting.

Questions? Contact

robmurphy.shaman@gmail.com or Tel 804-363-9357.

Contact Rob Murphy for selection of materials and purchasing by email:

Interested in a Drum and/or Rattle bag for travel and safekeeping of your Spirit

Drum/Rattle?

Custom options are available.

Please bring with you the following: 

 A towel.

 Garden gloves.

 Water spray bottle.

 13'-15' stick of your choice to use for your drum.

 Beater/rattle.

 Journal and pen.

 Eye mask or pillow for journeying.

 Any sacred items you would like to add or embellish your drum or rattle with.

Your drum is a living being, so you will want to honor its spirit with love and respect.  It isimportant to work “with” rather than “on” your drum and it will teach you much!

Store it wrapped, face up, or hanging on a wall in a warm, dry place.  Keep it fromextremes in temperature like direct sunlight, and away from gas or oil heat sources which can dry the skin and possibly split the head.  Never get the drum too close to a

fire or radiator.  Never leave it in a hot car.

The natural law of skin drums is water expands and heat constricts.  In a dry, desertclimate, you can spray water on the drum or place a slightly damp cloth or paper towel on the drumhead before you wrap it in a towel or drum case.  When it is hot, cool it

slowly.  You can bring the tone down (loosen) by spraying water on the drumhead, up (tighten) by using the heat from a hair dryer about 12” from the drumhead. Simply rubbing the face of your drum can warm and slowly tighten a slightly loose drum.

When it is damp or humid you can protect the tone by storing your drum in wool, cottonor a drum bag.  When it is cold, warm it gradually. Be patient if you need to restore your drum’s tone before playing.  It takes time to adjust

the tone with water or heat.

You can clean your drum by rubbing gently with a slightly damp cloth.  You can keep the drum skin conditioned and from drying out by using Shea butter or a natural oil or saddle soap on the head and lacing. Also, I regularly rub loose tobacco over the drum face as an offering to the spirit of the drum.