Medicinal Drumming: An Ancient and Modern Day Healing Approach

Abstract

This article reviews the medicinal drumming praxis, an ancient and modern day ceremonial approach to psychological and spiritual well-being. A brief overview of similar, but culturally diverse healing modalities is presented along with a background on the evolution of certain Afro-Caribbean rhythms that are centerpiece to the drumming ceremony, and are used to activate and channel healing energy within a group setting. Distinctions between different drumming styles are presented and an explanation regarding the uniqueness of ceremonial drumming is offered. The conceptualization of the medicinal drumming praxis is operationalized into stages that sequentially unfold over the course of the ceremony. A discussion about the manner in which; rhythms, plant medicine, song, storytelling, colors, symbols and elements such as water, air, fire and earth, are used to produce an effect is presented. The effects generated by the ceremonial process and the tools used during a drumming ceremony are addressed. The process by which the facilitator (guide) ushers the group through the ceremony is explained and the manner in which the energetic current of the group is activated and molded during the ceremony is described. A discussion on generating and encoding intention into sound vibrations is provided. The capacity to stimulate group cohesion, unconditional positive regard, social connectivity, and well-being through ceremony is argued. The ability to elevate consciousness through drumming ceremony is explored. A discussion, on the use of ceremony as a sacred space that generates a pathway whereby the projection of constructive intentionality and communion with higher consciousness occurs, is presented. A previous evaluation of the model is offered along with a summary of a current training and implementation project funded by the San Francisco Department of Public Health is described.

Cultivating well-being, community cohesion and sense of purpose through African contemplative practices

“…Placing drumming back within a context of healing and preventative healthcare, rather than performance, might allow the full bene ts of ego-transcendence to occur, enabling social cohesion. The work of Bloom (2005) [55] asserts that while these ritual and ceremonial practices are multifaceted and based in the epistemology of a people, cross-cultural commonalities are de nitely worth exploring.…”

Drumming, singing and ceremony within a psychologically informed planned environment for women on the offender personality disorder pathway

“…Because of the nature and breadth of the definition of ceremony, there is limited research in this area. However, Núñez (2016) explored ceremonial aspects of traditional group drumming and broadly references observations of positive regard and social cohesion amongst its members.…”

Drums-Alive Intervention Effect on the Motor and Functional Skills in Youth with Intellectual Disabilities and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study

“…Drumming and voice generate harmonic frequencies absorbed by organs, tissues, bones, and fluid that resonate with the source's expressed activity (Kalyani et al, 2011). Drumming also increases body temperature, stimulates sweat and triggers hormonal fluctuations, induces relaxation, and reduces stress and anxiety, depression, and socially resilient and aggressive behavior (Fancourt et al, 2016;Janse van Rensburg et al, 2016;Núñez, 2016). With knowledge of the positive effect of PA, music, and drumming, a program called Drums-Alive, which combines physical movement, music, and drumming, will be proposed as an intervention to improve motor skills, attention, and behavior of youth with ID and ASD.…”