moonvoice | [Vilturj] The Drum

What follows herein are some personal perspectives on drumming, and this is only a brief article outlining what I feel are some necessary steps in my practice for having a harmonious relationship with the drum.

The drum is alive. In Vilturj, the drum is an animal or a creature that responds well to kindness and politeness, and responds poorly to neglect and disrespect. There are many different types of drums in Vilturj, but one thing remains the same; that each drum is treated as one might treat a close friend or a family member.

There are different types of drum, but the two main drums that I am familiar with are the:

Hrum - this is a large drum named after the god who gave us thunder and fire. The way the drum is made is not as significant as its size, it must be at least a third of the size of the person playing it (in height). These drums are often used for contacting sky spirits and gods.

Itkatca / Ikatca - this is a more standard sized drum used for general journeying and for contacting personal perevrni (spirit helpers) and czuciki (spirit guides). It should be of a size that is comfortable to hold with one hand. It is generally a one-sided drum with seven spokes stretching the skin on the underside to represent the seven directions.

The drum is a fundamental part of journeying within the practice of Vilturj as a spirituality. Here are some short pointers on working with the drum:

1. Heating the drum - traditionally done by an assistant - gently by a fire helps the drum to 'speak' more clearly, and to carry the person using the drum between worlds. Don't overheat the drum or hold it too close to the fire. If you don't have a fire, rub it gently but thoroughly with your hand, or with a piece of chamois.

2. It is considered rude to just start 'banging' a drum, especially with a stranger's drum who may not forgive you! The drum has been made with the skin of a real animal, and you'd no sooner start banging on the animal without warning it first!

3. Once the drum has been heated, start, or continue to rub in a circular motion with your hands, this can be clockwise or counter-clockwise. Signal your intention to work with the spirit of the drum. The circular motions often start to stimulate trance state.

4. The first notes are often played on the underside of the drum, flicking the fingertips up against the underside of the skin. If the skin is protected, one 'flicks' the side that is considered closest to the ground.

5. If you work with a beater (instead of your hands), pick up the beater and trace that in a circular motion on the drum too, to familiarise the drum spirit with its brother.

6. The first tune drummed will often be a personal rhythm, or a rhythm to call the spirit helpers and gods to you.

7. Remember to trust the drum spirit, if you have treated it with respect, it will guide you to the rhythms necessary to your practice or to the practice of the 'shaman' or Orai'ma/ka that you are guiding.

Some drums won't summon all spirits, remember that certain spirits will like certain sounds and cannot be made to come to you with smaller drums. Many of the sky spirits require large drums that make greater sounds.

When warming down the drum, do not just place it down on the ground abruptly. Make the circular motions with your beater and with your hand once again, warming it down and signalling a 'rest' time for the drum spirit.

The drum should be treated with respect at all times. If it's not being used, keep it clean and take it down sometimes just to spend time with it. Each drum has its own personality, some drums are stern, some are playful, some are deeply connected to the underworld, some are 'young' and some are 'old and wise.' The animal skin used in its making will often determine parts of its personality.

Remember, treating the drum with disrespect also treats the spiritworld and the spirits with disrespect. This in turn can harm your practices when travelling through the otherworlds.