18″ Shamanic Reindeer Drum “Solstice Shield”

Description

This unique Shamanic Reindeer Drum was birthed in Ceremony on the Winter Solstice 2024. The winter solstice signifies the returning of the sun and the first move towards the lighter days of spring. It is a time of personal awakening, of quiet energy, It offers the opportunity to look within yourself and focus on what you want and need. A time of strong manifestation energy it’s great to think about any goals or intentions for the coming year, to examine, celebrate and let go of the past, and to begin to make changes.

Striking pale Reindeer Hide with beautiful transparent areas is laced on a beeswaxed 18″ Oak frame and a red leather bound ring.

Finished with a red leather wrapped Bridget’s Cross handle inset with a stunning Black Labradorite (Larvikite) Cabochon, as the Heart Stone.

This drum comes with a matching red 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 spalted Yew wood handle, gathered in ceremony from a fallen Yew in the Neolithic glen at Kilmartin.

The drum comes with a small matching medicine pouch with a Yew wood totem, 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 striking shamanic reindeer drum has a powerful tone to its song, deeply resonant it would make a wonderful ceremonial or journeying drum.

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

The Reindeer carries a powerful matriarchal energy, immensely resilient and powerful and yet is a gentle spirit and a great healer. Here in these Northern lands, the Reindeer is sometimes associated with the Goddess Elen. In Mongolia Reindeer feature prominently on ancient megaliths carved with symbols. Little is known about their meaning or function; these “deer stones” take their name from the stylised depictions of flying deer carved into the stone. Reindeer as a totem animal symbolises protection, wisdom, resourcefulness, knowledge, connection, creativity and inventiveness. The Reindeer spirit will spiral us deep into otherworld journeys carrying us on its flying hoofbeats.

Oak In Celtic lore, the Oak is one of the ancient triad of trees (the oak the ash and the thorn), associated with the sacred groves, which served as gathering places for spiritual rituals and ceremonies. It is believed to be a gateway to the Otherworlds, where we can receive wisdom and support from our spirit guides and teachers, and it offers us doorways onto new paths in our lives. The Oak is often referred to as the King of Forest, and reigns over the light part of the year from the time of the Winter to the Summer Solstice. It is seen as a bringer of balance its towering presence and deep-rooted nature symbolising the phrase “As above So Below” as well as the connection between the earthly realm and the divine.

The yew is probably the most long-lived tree in northern Europe, it has a deep history and is associated with much folklore. Druids believed the Yew could transcend time, and because of its associations with death and rebirth it was regarded as the tree of eternity. Yew trees were often used as symbols of immortality but were also seen as omens of doom. The Yew tree represents age, death, rebirth, regeneration and reincarnation – the birth of a new soul springs from ancient roots as it decays inward the new growth moves outwards from its hollow centre. Although poisonous the Yew’s evergreen leaves were said to be symbolic of everlasting life and were often used to enhance magical and psychic abilities, and to induce visions. Working with the energy of Yew we can experience a symbolic death – casting away the outworn physical things and hindering conditions that have caged and limited our spirit and expression – to be symbolically reborn.Within the energy of the Yew tree we weave together past present and future, walking the spiral of life between our ancestors and descendants. From this place we can travel both forward and back in the otherworld realms gathering knowledge from the past on which to build our legacy to hand onto the future. The yew tree is sacred to the third aspect of the Triple Goddess, the Crone, most specifically to Hecate guardian of the underworld, death and the afterlife.

Black labradorite, also known as Larvikite or Norwegian Moonstone, is characterized by its deep black colour interspersed with shimmering flashes of silver and blue, is a truly unique and powerful crystal that offers a wealth of benefits for the mind, body, and spirit. It is a stone of inner transformation and connection to higher realms and is said to facilitate a deep connection with one’s higher self, spirit guides, and the divine. Larvikite acts as a protective shield against negative energies and psychic attacks. Its grounding and protective energy creates a barrier that deflects unwanted influences, making it a valuable tool for energy healers, empaths, and anyone who is sensitive to the energies around them. The stone’s calming energy helps to soothe emotional turmoil and release negative emotions such as anger, fear, and anxiety, promoting emotional stability, Larvikite encourages a sense of inner peace and well-being. In addition, it is believed to enhance self-awareness and self-reflection. It helps individuals to gain insights into their emotional patterns and behaviours, facilitating personal growth and transformation. This increased self-awareness can lead to greater emotional resilience and the ability to navigate life’s challenges with grace and confidence.

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 reindeer 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.

The Reindeer carries a powerful matriarchal energy, immensely resilient and powerful and yet is a gentle spirit and a great healer. Here in these Northern lands, the Reindeer is sometimes associated with the Goddess Elen. In Mongolia Reindeer feature prominently on ancient megaliths carved with symbols. Little is known about their meaning or function; these “deer stones” take their name from the stylised depictions of flying deer carved into the stone.

Reindeer as a totem animal symbolises protection, wisdom, resourcefulness, knowledge, connection, creativity and inventiveness.

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

The reindeer hides come from herds owned by traditional Sami herders in Northern Sweden, the animals are wild culled by their herders in order to make their traditional living and to maintain the health of their herds. Ros buys the hides through a small family run tannery to support and honour this traditional and ancient way of life, ensuring that all of the animal is used and nothing is wasted. 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.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.