Earth to Rebirth Drum Making - Local Gifts from the Earth - My Journey to this Point

A dream I had no idea I had eight years back when I began learning to make drums on Sacred Drumming is slowly materialising. This dream being simply, making drums from local animals, with no waste, knowing the hands that have all touched the deer, knowing the process of stalking, killing, butchering, skinning, slipping fur... the steps to make the raw hide that rebirths to become a drum.

Drum making is a role that has grown slowly. It wasn't my favourite part of my drum training initially. Drum making was hard work, emotional, and could be very long days guiding people. I love being in sacred space, I love walking between worlds, the space beyond the veil feels like home to me. Eight years ago I never would have thought I would be guiding drum making myself, and with so much connection to the process.

The drum making has slowly unfolded on my path, and with ease. My teachers initially referred me to people for drum making in one to one workshops. Then occasionally my pregnant clients ( I'm a doula too) would ask to make a drum as part of their birth preparation process ( you can read more on this in previous blogs). I then began guiding drum making workshops, and it was part of the first weekend of the full course i was training to teach, Sacred Drumming with Steven and Renata Ash. We would guide huge numbers of people in making their drums for the course.

The skins were bought from Germany, Scotland or occasionally Wales. I was still in awe of the skins, these huge rawhides from such beautiful quiet animals that roam our countryside. I didn't think much of the carbon footprint. I was in awe each time i received the box of raw hides from huge big Red Deer. Who wouldn't be?

I was very much learning.

Lock down happened, and Brexit during this time. These situations suddenly made costs rise significantly. It also made me realise I had a small dream to find a local farmer who I could learn butchery from. As how can I make drums and not be in touch with the process that comes before the stage of making a drum from raw hide?

After lots of research I found and booked a course on stalking and butchery, but due to covid restrictions the course was cancelled.

During lockdown and the years that followed I completed my training, and trained as a tutor of Shamanic Healing practices. At the beginning of 2023 after years intensely training I was out on my own. I didn't want all the training and time to go to waste as id spent six years (and lots of my adult life ) immersed in learning shamanic pathways and walking a pagan path. I thought I'd ask the universe, my ancestors for guidance.

Honesty a miracle happened!

In January 2023 I asked them to show me the way to finding a local source of deer skins from a local farmer, with an opportunity to see the process myself.

I said to spirit/ the universe/ my ancestors, 'If drum making is meant to be my path please help me find a local source'.

At the time I saw myself driving a little way, I assumed my vision would be where the course was be based in the New forest. However that vision wasn't quiet as accurate. In June I met Sarah, we met at a women's retreat, we realised we had lots of connections. I feel we were bound to meet at some point as we mix in the same circles.

After the retreat Sarah got in touch and asked if I would like some deer skins. She said she had lots salted and stored. It was a dream come true. We met up, and we began sharing skills, she showed me skinning, i showed her to make a drum and rattle. We began slowly one day a week meeting up, planning ideas, and working together preparing deer skins. ( The drive to where Sarah lives for me is just under an hour and in the opposite direction to the New forest haha).

I now prepare the skins with Sarah for all my clients that make drums, rattles, and for our workshops. for our workshops we offer people to make their drums from the start of the process, from slipping the fur themselves.

What I am finding is that the practical actions of slipping the fir yourself, is the ceremony itself, it brings the deeper sense of connection to the deer, to the process, and supports your relations with the drum the skin becomes. It is a truly incredible process! Within all the feedback we receive people speak about the deeper connection they have to their drum. they also often mention the deeper connection and sense with their ancestors from the past. As we use flint tools, our hands, and we work outside in a place where the deer roam wild where possible. This all supports the deeper connection and relationship with the whole process of drum making.

It really is a dream come true!!

This last weekend the dream for us both was realised as we went up the the Women Drummers, Makers and Players convention in Colchester. We took bones, antlers, skulls, skins dry and wet. We did a talk about the process, about our deer population, and how we prepare the skins using natural techniques. It was well received, we were so relieved. Then after our talk we found our stall so busy, it was brilliant. Brilliant meeting so many weirdos that love this work as much as we do!

Not only do we make make drums from local wild culled deer, culled with careful thought, love, experience. It is all local, so has a low carbon footprint. Our goal is to support local businesses where we can. The farm, our flint knapper Will Attard (@thepointyend). Photographer, Katie Williams ( @apocketofforest). The sites we hire are local business supporting the land. We buy local where we can too.

All our skins are worked on naturally, with no chemicals. Using traditional old techniques!

An absolute fucking dream come true!!!

I have so much gratitude to spirit, and my inner trust. How can we doubt the universe if we ask and they provide when it is something as big as this? ITs provided, we just need to do the work now!

I will leave you with some beautiful feedback from some of our drum makers that came on workshops or spent a day with us.

Thank you to Eva and Sarah for a wonderful experience creating my beautiful deer skin drum. I was gently guided through the whole process, from slipping the skins all the way through to blessing our newly birthed drums. What an amazing experience all round.

Lisa White

There are no words for such deep work, made deeper through working with the skin.

Kim

A wonderful experience with Sarah and Eva. A beautiful process in gratitude to our ancestors.  Highly recommend!

Olivia Varley – Sound Healer

I found the experience of working with the deer hide as very humbling process and one that helped me to connect to the work our ancestors would’ve done. Honouring the deer & its energy was important to me throughout.

Being a part of the process from start to finish helped me to feel more connected to drum.

Amy - Birthkeeper

I had a really enjoyable workshop day with Eva and Sarah making a drum that was given the name 'Jupiter'. Their approach to making drums from the elements and raw materials is very interesting. I recommend you give their guidance and teaching within nature a go.

Julian – Astrologer

The work Eva and Sarah do is really special.  I wanted to connect deeper with Sussex as my home, and I chose to make a drum with Sussex Deer skin to help grow roots here. 

L D Birthkeeper

Blog written by Eva Greenslade

Edited by Terri Anne Wilson