Looking for an easy way to give your home decor southwestern or rustic flare? Try using Shaman drums along with your rustic home furnishings like I did. My love for these beautiful, American Indian drums began right after my husband and I bought our new home last year. We knew that because of our love for the southwest, we wanted true southwestern and Native American style home decor with unique rustic home furnishings. Once that was decided I started filling my new home with awe-inspiring southwestern and country pieces that would match my rustic decor and entertain my guests by telling a story at the same time. That is when I came across how easy 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 began digging into the history and meaning of Native American drums, and have only a vague idea of what the Shamans drum is. Or, maybe you are wondering how to purchase the right drum to use in your Shaman drum circle. Whatever the case, it is important to understand the significance this raw hide drum plays in Native American culture so you can develop a true appreciation for its art and let its power influence you in the right direction.

If you are fortuneate enough to attend or be involved in a Shamanic ceremony you will notice that the Shaman, or spiritual leader, will beat a unique looking raw hide hand drum with a soft mallet 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 Shaman receives healing and spiritual powers he uses to guide his people. If you look closely at the Shaman's drum you will realize that unlike many other leather Native American drums used during tribal ceremonies, these rustic drums have natural raw hide, stretched over a wood frame on one side and are laced with raw hide string on the other side. They don't have the loop hold like many other Indian drums do. A drum fashioned in this way allows for a natural hand holding position so you can fully control the drum and easily create the sound that is very important in bringing out the right tones necessary to guide you on your Shamanic journey.

You will also notice that many Shamans drums have paintings and symbols on the rawhide playing surface. These unique western symbols often depict a map of the universe or symbols of spiritual powers you can use to lead you in your spiritual journeying experience. If you are using the drum for Shamanic work, take time to look into the significance behind the painting. Since the southwestern symbols have spiritual power that directs the journey, you want to make sure it is in line with your own practices and influences you in that direction.

Also, I like to check the quality of the drum before buying. It's critical to check that there are no thin places at the points where the cords of the drumhead are attached. This is vital to the quality and life of your Shaman drum and will ultimately save you money by not having to have it repaired or buy a new one.

A lot of focus is placed on the drum alone but don't forget to choose the right striking mallet so you can enjoy the rich sound of these native drums to its fullest. You will see that there are many different types of mallets 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 add to your home decor or are using it to guide you in your spiritual journey, you will definitely be mesmerized by the true Native American style and southwest charm brought to your life and home by Shaman drums.