Rhonda Skinner

Bear's Den Shamanic Healing LLC

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The hand drum has been used for journey work purposes by those who are shamanic practitioners. Player and drumming can tap into our 'waking dream state' quicker than meditation alone.
The hand drum has for centuries been used in healing work. The tribes' shaman or medicine man/woman would drum to travel to other dimensions and access knowledge about their client or their community so that they could bring back what is needed to align that person with their higher self. This could be for physical healing as much as healing their spirit. Today more than ever spiritual beings are looking to access higher dimensions and look to the hand drum to help them come into oneness with their purpose in this lifetime. Tapping into the heartbeat of Mother Earth and your primal self is a personal practice.
By making your own drum, you are birthing your drum into being. You place within it your own medicine Where that takes you is up to you. Your drum is a living being and will speak to you if you honor your drum in a sacred way. The connection you make with your drum is limitless.
This summar we will gather in the sacred mountains of Hocking Hills, Ohio. Where you can feel the presence of the divine. Join me for this powerful journey.

Below you will find a link for the different hides available and their spiritual meaning.

Try to tap into which one speaks to you and where you are at on your spiritual path. This will align with your medicine and be an ally for you.

Please fill out the form below.

Drum Making Retreat Hocking Hills Ohio
June 26th - 29nd

Tentative Schedule

Weekend Journey into the Mountains for a Drum Making Retreat

We will stay in a cabin on 10 acres in the mountains of New Plymouth Ohio, in Hocking Hills for a drum making workshop retreat. There will be time for a shamanic journey, drum circle by the fire and near the waterfall in Ash Cave, make a medicine bag and there is a yoga studio where we can gather in the am to start our day or outside under the sun.

Other activities include hiking, kayaking and sight seeing. There is so much to see in Hocking Hills, we can’t possibly see it all but we can start our journey with a short trip to Ash Cave. This was my first stop when I visited Hocking Hills and it is awe inspiring. It’s hard to fulling describe what you will feel in the presence of this sacred sight. We can start our journey there.

There are places for camping if you prefer to be in nature, that’s fine also. The cabin is limited to 8 people. there is a hot tub to relax in and hiking trails nearby. We will share the space and share the meal prep, supplies and cleanup. This shouldn’t be a lot of work and I prefer to keep it simple keeping the focus on the experience.

If you would like to offer your magic to the group, we can make space for that too. Let me know what you are thinking.

Here is a general schedule:

Meet at the cabin on Thursday, checkin time is 4pm. We can spend the evening unwinding from the drive and getting to know each other by the fire or visit one of the area sights. That evening we will start connecting to our drum by spending time with the hoop. This is a time where you can sand your hoop down and paint the inside if that speaks to you. This is a special time to begin to make the connection to your drum and honor your special medicine.
Friday am we can meet for yoga or meditation, then go for a journey to Ash cave. After that we can go to Hocking Hills State Park and visit Old Man’s Cave or any sights that you would like to visit.
Then we can make our way back to the cabin for lunch and relax for a bit after.
Late afternoon we will gather for our drum making workshop. This process can take up to 5 hours so we will give this time space for the birthing process.
Sat am we can meet in the yoga outside for a morning meditation and yoga.
Sat late morning/early afternoon we can relax at the cabin, go for a relaxing kayak trip or a hike, whatever we feel like. This will be free time. I'll have supplies to make medicine bags and paints we can work on anytime.
Sat evening we can spend time by the fire and take a shamanic journey.
Sun checkout time is 11am but we may get a late checkout since it is Sunday.

The cost for the cabin is $300 for 3 nights. Depending on how many people come. I'll know more as we get closer.

The cost for drum making is:

You have the choice to make a 12", 14", 16" or an 18" hoop drum.

12" will be a nice starter drum if you are not sure what size you would like. This one is $150.
14" is also a nice size and will have a good voice. This one is $180
The 16" drum is a nice size to carry everywhere with you. It will have a nice voice. The 16" is $220 for the workshop.
The 18" is slightly larger but still a nice size to carry with you. The voice is going to be a bit deeper than the 16" and the 18" runs $250 for the workshop.

What to bring: a towel or blanket to sit your drum on to work on it and any spiritual items you would like to have with you as you take this journey.

Also bring a crystal or stone to place into the handle. This is an option you might like.

Animal Spirit Meaning

Hide Selection

Your drum will carry the animal spirit that you select. You want to be mindful when choosing the right hide for you and what powerful ally you want or need to work with at this time.

We have deer, cow, elk, buffalo, and horse to choose from. You will be asked what your first choice is and your second for hide selection. I'll do my best to have the hides available.

Click on animal to see what their specific aspects are and see which one resonates with you.