16″ Shamanic Red Deer Drum “Deer Heart”

Description

This unique Shamanic Red Deer Drum was birthed in Ceremony on the Holly Full Moon in Aquarius the Sturgeon Moon, Weavers Moon & Grain Moon on the 9th August 2025.

Rich toned Red Deer Hide with unusual and striking markings, is laced on a beeswaxed 16″ Willow frame and a nut brown coloured leather bound ring.

Finished with a stunning piece of naturally shed Red Deer Antler handle found on a walk in the Celtic Rain Forest near our home, on the West Coast of Scotland.

This drum comes with a matching nut brown leather leather song caller, birthed together with the drum, this is stuffed with wool from our own ‘pet’ sheep and is bound onto a hand polished Holly wood handle, from our own Holly trees.

The drum also has a small matching crane bag (medicine pouch), and contains personally gathered natural sacred items representative of the four elements of earth, air, fire and water and also includes a hand picked crystal – as a gift for you, and your drum. As your connection to your drum evolves these unique pouches can be filled with personal items which can be changed in and out dependent on the work you are undertaking together with your drum

This shamanic red deer drum has a lovely harmonic tone to its song, a light weight and resilient medium sized drum, it would lend itself to all journeying and healing work, especially for those who working for healing the land and connecting to nature.

Listen to a recording of Deer Heart here – use headphones or speakers to hear the full range of tones.

The Red Deer carries the energy of a gentle powerhouse. Swift moving with a keen eye, the deer connects us to our heart energy. In Native American traditions the deer was a messenger, an animal of power, and a totem representing sensitivity, intuition and gentleness. In Celtic lore there were two aspects of the deer: the female red deer, symbolising femininity, gentleness and grace; and the male red deer, related to the sacred and to the forests, symbolising independence, purification and pride. The stag is known as the king of the forest, the protector of all other creatures. Red Deer spirit transports us gently and quickly into and out of otherworld journeys on fast moving hoofbeats.

The Willow is the tree most associated with the moon, water, the Goddess and all that is feminine. It is the tree of dreaming, intuition, and deep emotions, and its power is that of helping emotions to come through to the surface and be expressed. The willow facilitates healing on many levels and helps us move through our lives with grace and ease.

Holly this tree moon brings us courage and the strength to really ‘be’ our own power, (not just stand in it) coming from a heart centred place. Holly is the evergreen twin of the Oak. It is said, that whilst the Oak governs the light half of the year, the Holly tree governs the dark, winter months. Holly is a tree of inner courage, and holds up a mirror, reflecting to us what we need to work on to grow and evolve in all areas of our lives and will also cast light on others whom might not have our best interests at heart.

The Full Moon follows a period of intense building energy and outward activity, and we can feel its influence for a few days before and after the exact phase. The high energy of this time stimulates a burst of productivity and there’s a sense of things coming to culmination or fruition. We begin to see the results of what we started at the New Moon. This time can bring about new perspectives, breakthroughs, and revelations.

All of these energies have been woven into the drum during its birthing.

Ros Simons has been creating sacred shamanic drums for over 20 years, using personally refined techniques and practices that were handed down to her in the traditional way from teachers and mentors.

The drum-birthing process is carried out in ceremonial space, with prayers and thanks given to honour the spirit of the animal, the trees and the stones of the earth that gifted themselves to bring these sacred allies and medicine tools into being. The drum lacing is cut from the same hide as the drum head ~ weaving the spirit of the animal into the drum; the wood, the colours and any crystals incorporated into each drum are gathered through otherworld journeying and guidance from her drum guide, each drum is unique.

Your personal drum will become a guide, a healer, a teacher and a friend, that walks with you on your path, and takes you on a deep journey of other world and inner world exploration.

All of the Shamanic Drums birthed by Ros are guaranteed for two years provided you treat them with love and care and follow the included drum care instructions.

If this shamanic red deer drum has already found its keeper or you would like a Shamanic Drum similar to this, but unique and birthed especially for you, then you can order a bespoke drum to be made to your individual wishes and birthed with your own prayers and intentions. For more information please take a look at the Commissions Page.

All of the hides and frames for Ros Simons shamanic drums are sustainably and ethically sourced.

The red deer hides come from wild culled deer, a process which is necessary to maintain the health of the herds; and prior to being purchased by Ros the hides were being buried or burnt. All the skins Ros uses in her drums have been a bi-product of another sustainable purpose (killed for food or due to environmental pressures of overpopulation) and would otherwise be wasted; no animal was ever killed just to provide skin for a drum. Drum making can be seen as a reparation, a way of returning some beauty and honouring to an animal whose life has already been taken. In this way we return more to the ways of our ancestors, ensuring that all of the animal is used and nothing is wasted. The spirit of the animal lives on and is reborn into the drum.

The Wood for the frames is sourced from sustainably managed forests; and the wood for the song callers is personally gathered by Ros and seasoned every year.