Being Drummed for HealthAndrea Gustafson – January 2014

Spirituality is a large part of Native healing. They strongly believe that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. For this reason, Natives showed the utmost respect for Mother Earth and all her inhabitants. If an animal was killed for food, it would be honored in a specific way, just as plants were harvested with deep respect. Health was perceived as being more that just a physical state. It was also dependent on a person’s inner harmony with the power’s of nature. If one wasdisrespectful to any aspect of nature, that open the door to allow illness into the body. The majority of tribe members respected the animals, plants, streams, rivers, and other parts of nature because they wholeheartedly believed in the healing powers contained within them.

In Native cultures, nature had the ability to heal or harm depending on how it wastreated. Tribe members would perform group ceremonies of prayer, chant, dance and song to praise the animals, plants, and other physical elements of the world. Religion and community life were inseparable for the Natives.

The condition of one’s soul also determined whether he would live a healthy life orone full of sickness. Natives traditionally gave as opposed to receiving. This attitudewas essential as the peace of mind it brings is followed by health. If you were not spiritually generous and were alternatively selfish and dishonest you were subject experience “soul loss” where your health would likely deteriorate. Unless changes were made, death would inevitably follow.

Producing a trance-like/meditating state, sound and dance promoted healing. Natives believed that disease disrupted the natural vibrations and harmony of cells. The chanting and drumming of ceremonies would restore the vibrations to normal, promoting health.

Drumming moves energy and it's believed that illness is simply “stuck” energy. Thus, when we Drum people, we move their energy and dislodge it from where it'sstuck. This often provides immediate, lasting relief.

While Drumming a person may be done during ceremony, it may also be done lessformally in the person's home. This proves beneficial when the person is housebound or bedridden.