X8 Community Drummer Spotlight: Russ M.

“Why we drum”

We drum to belong to the past, our earth, our people, and the animals who we share the earth.
We have been drumming since the Stone Age.
Drumming ties us to our ancestors who have drummed before us.
Every culture has drums. By drumming, we recognize we belong to one earth.
When we come together and drum, we belong to the people in our circle.
Drumming is so fundamental to us that our very heart beats.
We drum to connect to our own heart beat.
We drum to belong.
(by Russ Mead)

We lived in a remote high desert area 30 miles from Zion National Park for many years. We would rescue abused and neglected animals and often found ourselves in a dark place after witnessing this cruelty. We discovered that having a simple ceremony to honor the animals eased some of the burden of this emotionally heavy work. Drums and flutes became part of these ceremonies. After pondering why drums fit so naturally into this healing process I wrote “Why we drum”. At least for me, I do feel connected to those around me, the animals, the earth and do center myself when I am in a drum circle.

For years I carved Native American Style Flutes. I added to this knowledge by learning how to make cedar elk hide drums. We invited friends over for weekend drum making sessions where we built cedar frame drums on an old cable spool under a mesquite tree. When the drums were tight we would say a few words over the drums to honor the Elk, then have a drum circle around a fire in the front yard. Those were tremendous times with incredible friends.

We moved to Seattle where the drum culture is strong. I discovered the Turtle Spirit Jam which in Seattle which draws a unique mix of musicians, Shamans, Wiccans and some folks who just like to drum. When the weather is nice we meet under huge trees, next to moving rivers, and on the beaches of the Salish Sea. I now prefer non-animal skin heads on my drums. For Christmas my wife ordered me an X8 Cajon which has become my favorite drum which I take to drum circles with a flute I carved long ago.