The Encyclopedia of Crystals, Herbs, and New Age Elements: An A to Z Guide to New Age Elements and How to Use Them - Adams Media 2016

Rattle
The Power of Sound

ORIGINS

A rattle is a hollow percussion instrument that makes a sound when shaken. It can be made of almost any material and contains tiny items such as seeds, beans, or pebbles that make the rattling sound. The word rattle is most likely of imitative origin, or onomatopoeia, meaning that the sound of the word is meant to imitate the sound associated with the object. Etymologically, it comes from the Old English hratele, a kind of plant with rattling seed capsules.

HISTORY/LORE

The rattle is one of the oldest musical instruments. It comes in many different forms, from the maraca, a Latin American instrument that consists of a dried hollow gourd traditionally played in pairs, to the egg shaker, which is small and egg-shaped. Native Americans use wood, rawhide, gourds, and other materials to make rattles used in tribal dances and ceremonies. Shamans of northern Asia and North and South America use rattles for healing, divination, and communication with spirits. The rattlesnake has a natural rattle at the end of its tail to warn away predators. However, this is not a true rattle, as there is nothing inside the tail that is causing the sound. Instead, the sound is emitted when the various “buttons” or segments of the tail vibrate against one another. These segments develop throughout the snake’s life as it repeatedly sheds its skin.

USES

Rattles aren’t just for babies, although they do help infants develop cognitive and motor skills. Adults can also benefit from the power of the rattle. In meditation, the sound of a rattle has a similar effect to that of a drum or a gong (see entries in this chapter): It focuses your attention and keeps you grounded in the present moment. You might also try using a rattle in the shamanic tradition of calling upon spirits for aid during a struggle.