Kindling the Native Spirit: Sacred Practices for Everyday Life - Denise Linn 2015

Rattles: Calling Spirit
The Deepening: Communing with Spirit

Not all tribes used drums, but the use of ceremonial rattles is nearly ubiquitous. I love working with rattles. For me personally, it’s often easier to call Spirit with a rattle than with a drum. Somehow the softer sound seems to lull me into an expanded awareness of the world around me. In present day, rattles are used to soothe babies. This custom has its roots in native cultures where rattles were used to ward off negative sprits, so using a rattle with a child was thought to keep the child safe and protected.

Rattles were also used in dancing to enhance the tempo of celebrations as well as in healing ceremonies. Native rattles were made from a variety of materials, such as gourds, turtle shells, pottery, rawhide, and even carved wood, and were decorated in a symbolic manner, with every part of the decor having a deeper meaning. Dyes from roots and berries were commonly used to decorate Native American rawhide rattles.

Just as drums were considered sacred because their rhythm created a bridge from the physical world to the spiritual world, the cadence of native rattles also had the ability to alter consciousness and transport one to other realms. The frequency of most shamanic rattling measures in the theta/alpha range, which many say is roughly the same as the earth’s natural frequency.

When you shake a rattle, no matter whether it’s a plastic one you purchase or a rawhide one you make, you’ll activate genetic memories of dancing around the fire, and its sound can kindle the native spirit within you.

MAKING A RATTLE

There are many materials that can be used to make a rattle, from simple to complex. For instance, the plastic eggs that are seen everywhere during Eastertime can make a wonderfully easy, yet satisfying, rattle. When I make them, I place seed beads inside the plastic egg. It’s generally a good idea to put tape around the seam so the beads don’t accidentally fly out. If you want to take it a step further, you can cover the plastic egg in papier-mâché and then varnish the outside and cover in whatever decoration you choose. It makes a lovely and simple rattle. I’ve also known people to make them out of aluminum cans or packing tubes. What’s most important is the sound and the love that you put into it.

There are many ways to create a traditional native rattle from using rawhide or by hollowing out a gourd, letting it dry, and then attaching a handle to it. Here are instructions for making a rawhide rattle:

1. Soak the rawhide overnight. While it’s soaking, this is a perfect opportunity to honor and thank the animal from which the hide came. This is very important. (There are many sources available online to purchase rawhide. You can even use the large rawhide pieces sold in pet stores as dog chews.)

2. Even after the rawhide is softened, it will still likely be tough to cut, so you may need a box cutter or a strong pair of scissors. For the rounded part, you can use a turned-over bowl or circular plastic lid to cut around. Remember to leave one part longer (see illustration).

3. You can use an ice pick or a leather punch with a hammer to make the holes.

4. Lace the two sides together tightly with a tapestry needle and some waxed cotton sinew (or even dental floss). (See illustration.)

5. Fill the rattle head with sand and pack it tightly to make it into the shape you desire, and let it dry for a few days. Put it in the driest location in your home, but not too near to a heat source.

6. Remove the sand. The rawhide should be dry and hard to the touch.

7. Place the ends of the rattle head into water. This allows it to soften so that it can eventually be attached to your stick (see illustration).

8. Fill the interior of your rattle with small stones, seed beads, or larger beads. In some native customs, it was common to use the small, smooth stones that ants carry out of their nest called “anthill stones.” These tend to be very uniform in size and make a soft, gentle sound in a rattle. Some people use corn, beans, or seeds, but these tend to break down over time and thus can affect the sound of your rattle.

9. Insert a wooden handle. (You can use a dowel or a strong stick from nature.) Wrap the handle with the wet rawhide. You can secure it with thin strips of soaked rawhide. When the leather strip dries, it will shrink and cinch down on itself to secure the rattle handle in place. You can also use glue to secure it.

FINDING YOUR RHYTHM

Drumming and rattling can help you find your own rhythm and connect to the greater rhythms and cycles of the world. It’s great if you have your own drum or rattle, but you don’t need a drum to start—two wooden spoons from your kitchen will do. You can even turn over a cooking pot and drum on it. As you drum, you may notice emotions or memories coming to the surface. This is a healing process, so just keep drumming and let them wash over you. If you feel that nothing is happening, just keep drumming. Whenever you drum, whether you are aware of it or not, something powerful is happening. There is a vibration and rhythm associated with every gland and organ in your body, as well as with every chakra (energy center). When you drum, every part of your body absorbs the rhythm that it needs to stay in balance and harmony. Forget about trying to sound good—just keep drumming.

COMMUNITY DRUM CIRCLES

Drum circles touch us on a soul level; they have always been traditional in tribal cultures. Simply put, a drum circle is a group of people, either standing or sitting, who drum together on percussion-type instruments (rattles are also often used). The drumming is done in a circle, which connotes that there’s no leader—we’re all on equal footing together. This speaks of being in rhythm with each other. It’s a powerful way of bringing people together as well as encouraging them to find their own internal rhythm.

To get started, someone initiates a rhythmic beat with a drum or by striking spoons together or by hitting sticks on cans or kitchen pots. Practically anything that can be banged can be used. Everyone follows this “grandmother” rhythm until the cadence begins to evolve on its own. Have fun. There will be a point when everyone becomes fluid with the rhythm of the moment. You should leave feeling refreshed and cleansed by this rousing power of rhythm.

Ceremonial drumming circles are currently mushrooming throughout the U.S. People are gathering their forces, drumming together, and allowing the echo of the drumbeat to project that holy energy outward into the world. The unity of the drumbeats creates a primal core—raw and wild as the Earth Mother herself—which can flow outward into the universe. The drumbeat carries each person across the boundaries of time and space into long-forgotten memories of ancient rites. When jamming, drum your passion, drum your power, and please, my dear fellow soul travelers, drum for peace.

When your drum circle is complete, celebrate with a meal. Share your community and your food, knowing that you have reenacted an ancient archetypal journey to the center of the soul.