Dark Mother Drum Birthing Retreat
Join Sarah and Sam for our first ever Dark Goddess Drum Birthing inside the Temple walls… you have waited long enough.
Event details
* this page may be updated if event is repeated in the future *
Dark Mother Drum Birthing Retreat
Join Sarah and Sam for our first-ever Dark Goddess Drum Birthing inside the Temple walls… you have waited long enough. Working with Willow Wood and the energy of Deer, we will alchemize darkness into sweet drum medicine, celebrating the deep lessons our Divine Mother offers us through creating your very own timeless and primal percussion instrument.
The days are too long yet this life is too short not to sink into the wilds. Join us standing shoulder to shoulder with the Great Mystery within the darkness, to call forth the power and love of The Dark Mother.
You are worthy of Divinity. Let the arms of the Mother hold you.
Come, we have a seat waiting just for you.
Our drum birthing weaves together the magick of your heart and hands, along with the majesty of the deer and the watery flexibility of the willow. The deer drum heads will be dyed with natural materials leaving them a beautiful color somewhere between black, dark blue, purple or grey, surrendering into the chaos and intuitive wisdom of Mother Nature.
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In this 10-hour mini-retreat, we will make our own 16” Frame Drum and mallet. This event will also include:
-Honoring the medicine of the Deer & Willow
-Hole Punching the Drum Head
-Lacing the Drum
-Frame Decoration
-Circle work
-Ceremony building
-Meditation
-Breathworking
-Pathworking
-Creative expression (opportunity to paint, draw, write)
-Drum playing, chanting, dancing & more!
We will learn, share, and co-create our sacred instruments together.
The creation of the drum is a meditation and ceremony in itself, an active prayer of the body and mind. As we birth our own drum, may we remember that the heart\drum of our ancestors -- of our global ancestors -- is the same one that is beating inside us today.
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The drum head will be made with deer medicine, which taps us into our heartspace, and brings forth grace. Deer, even while running from a predator, remain graceful. Deer Spirit acts as a teacher of how to be gentle, determined, and sure footed, even in difficult situations. The medicine of this animal is understated and tender. A drum with deer hide sings a surprisingly deep song and is one of the lowest maintenance drums to have. It sounds powerful in most heat and humidity conditions when other drums might be temperamental.
The frame will be made with Willow medicine. Willow and the Dark Mother go hand in hand, with folklore connecting to water, the moon, and supporting with grief and pain. It is known as the “Tree of Enchantment,” known to be resilient, and with limbs that quite literally weep, it is a powerful alchemist for grief. Most willow species thrive close to water or in damp places, embodying Earth as well as water. Because of its watery theme, the Moon (and illuminating the dark) is often associated with Willow. It is closely tied to the Greek Goddess Hekate, the Mother of witches, who is closely tied with Moon Magick. The Greek poet Orpheus carried willow branches on his adventures in the Underworld. Apollo gave him a lyre, as harps were often carved from willow. Even the bible connects willow to harps as well as grief in Psalm 137 (“By the rivers of Babylon we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion. There on the willow-trees, we hung up our harps.”)
Willow caps and crowns were worn to symbolize grief in the 16th and 17th centuries. Young willow twigs were chewed to relieve pain, which then gave way to scientists isolating the active component, salicylic acid. From this, the world’s first synthetic drug, acetylasylic acid, was developed. It was marketed as Aspirin, to relieve pain... Willow, quite literally, relieves pain. Native American Traditions revere the Willow Tree as a symbol of strength and stability in old age and experience, as well as a symbol of deep inner knowledge and open-mindedness. Willow’s ability to absorb shock without splintering is why it is still used to make cricket bats. Willow regrows with vigor when it is cut back and can grow several feet in a season. These properties came to symbolize renewal, vitality and immortality.
This is the magick and medicine of the drums to be born.
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$299 for one participant
-or-
$555 for partnered pricing *This is for two participants to each make their own drum. With Partnered Pricing, you bring a friend, and you both save.
**If the financial investment is prohibitive for you to attend, please reach out to us for installment payments.
Space is very limited, with a maximum of 12 participants.
The retreat begins promptly at 9:30, doors open for arrival at 9am to ensure enough time to set up your nest and ground in the space.
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Chair seating is available upon request. Props (bolsters and back jacks) will be available as well. Please bring any props from home that would make you feel the most comfortable.
A 1-hour working lunch is built into the workshop. There are some restaurants local to our gathering space, but you would likely need delivery. You are welcome to bring your own food. A refrigerator, microwave, and toaster are available on-site.
This offering is intended for guys, gals, and the whole spectrum of pals.
*If you have arthritis, please know there is a moderate amount of weaving, pushing and pulling… hand movement with gentle force. Sustained dexterity is ideal. If this is not you, please let us know! We can make sure we have an extra set of hands to support you as you need.
*You will receive an email prior to the event which prepares you further for the day on what to bring with you. An early note: plan to bring your own old towel and you may bring your own object to build the mallet on. Keep your eyes peeled for good sticks or bones to use for your mallet handle!
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*Registration for this mini-day retreat closes Saturday, June 15th, 2023
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***Cancellation Policy***
If you are unable to attend the retreat after signing up:
-prior to June 15th you will be reimbursed for 50% of your admission price.
-on/after June 15th we will have used your investment to gather supplies.
*You may transfer your seat to a loved one, but no refund will be given.
This workshop is not intended to appropriate Native or Indigenous culture. While we honor drum making as an Indigenous art, we celebrate the drum as a divine tool of alchemy and Goddess celebration that has been found throughout all civilizations, from the beginning of humankind.
Links & Tags
Temple of the Rebel Goddess
