Drum - BEE Curious

Selvy Thiruvengadam has been drumming since she got her hands on her brother’s drum set as a kid, much to the chagrin of other household members, and neighbors. Since then, she’s collected and played many different musical instruments, but the drum has always had her heart.

The drum is one of the oldest instruments in the world, dating back to prehistoric times in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Drums appeared in Europe after contact with Arab culture during the Crusades. The earliest drums where made with reptile or animal skins stretched over a hollowed piece of wood from a tree trunk and struck with the hands. Frame drums originated in the Middle East about 5,000 years ago, which are the ancestors of the modern drum kit.

There are many cultural traditions around the world of drums being used medicinally for healing, spiritual connection, and communication. Drumming can promote physical and emotional healing, boost your immune system, and produce feelings of well-being. Drumming is also a great workout for your brain. According to Christiane Northrup, M.D.,

“Research shows that the physical transmission of rhythmic energy to the brain actually synchronizes the left and right hemispheres. So, when the logical left hemisphere and the intuitive right hemisphere of your brain begin to pulsate together, your inner guidance system – or intuition – becomes stronger.”

Drums carry their own special energy. You know what we’re talking about if you’ve ever gotten your hands on one. If you haven’t - it’s worth the experience, and there just happens to be a few kinds at the Mystic Bee Sanctuary if you are curious. Selvy recently commissioned a large family drum from Heron Drums in England for the Mystic Bee Sanctuary. The drum is made from stag, reindeer, and ash tree and is large enough for several drummers to play around it at the same time. The intention behind this drum is to build community, foster creative expression, spread more peace, comfort, and joy, and celebrate ALL of life.

The drum is dedicated to the Hawaiian Pueo Owl. As a night flying creature, the owl sees in the dark and can symbolize our ability to navigate through our own personal darkness. With so many people affected by depression, anxiety, and insomnia, a big part of the Mystic Bee Sanctuary’s mission is to help people see through the darkness with creative community building programs like its monthly drum circle - first Thursdays 10-11am at the Mystic Bee Sanctuary. BEE-mail Selvy at mysticbeemail@gmail.com for more information.

For some, drumming can bring up questions like “am I doing this right?!” Selvy invites people to join her and explore what drumming means to them and how ceremony and drumming protocol can become meaningful in a personal way. At Mystic Bee Sanctuary, drum protocol “plays” a beautiful part in honoring life as ceremony, bringing our awareness to how all of life is sacred. A variety of teachers from different paths in life have contributed to Selvy’s eclectic approach to drumming and she wishes them gratitude and blessings for all they offer this vibrational world!