Shamanic drum-birthing: Reindeer skin and Branch of Mother Tree
Shamanic drum-birthing:
Reindeer skin and Branch of Mother Tree
With Christiana Aro-Harle
22.-28.06.2025
Särkjärvi, Ruotsinpyhtää
This is a continuation workshop/retreat. Best if you have experiences with shamanic journeying. A basic workshop in shamanic healing/journeying is recommended to participate in this workshop or you have worked privately with someone. Please check with Christiana if you are uncertain. Retreat: a great part of the time Christiana or someone brought in will be cooking for the group as you will be busy birthing.
If we speak of the tradition of shaman’s drum-making then we can speak of many years of it coming into being. These drum’s were not born overnight nor in a weekend. A shaman might dream of their drum for years or even days with the work needed to birth lasting over days, nights, even years.
You are invited to bring your dream with you and work intensely for one week being guided by Spirit(s), Nature and Christiana. This drum may be your drum you use in shamanic healing; it may be your initiation onto another path of your Life, or it may be a community drum or for certain peoples. During this week-long retreat part of your path may be revealed through birthing of the shaman’s drum.
The shaman’s drum is alive and has a spirit. This helping spirit is intimately connected with the shaman’s healing work whether for self, others or place. Within numerous cultures over the world the shaman’s drum can be heard pulsating in earth and sky and ourselves. This is a week-long adventure into the Spirit World, Spirits of Nature and your own World.
The Spirits, stories and traditions handed down through time guide us as they have guided our ancestors in making the shaman drum. We explore various stories and traditions from Northern Europe, Siberia, and North America while learning to work intimately with the Spirits in the making of our own healing drums during this intensive week. Shaman drums are often made by the shaman healer and relatives. We work individually and as a community. Drums are born from reindeer skin and split-pine frames, fire, water, earth and sky.
During this focused weeklong period we work through our spirit helpers and the shamanic journey, connecting with the spirits of nature, of direction and place to assist our work. Participants have opportunities to make out-sitting with the sun filled night. Through the help of our Spirit helpers and the Land we learn how to honour our drum and begin the path of working with it. The past and present through the shaman’s healing drum are our guides for living everyday life and healing.
This is a week-long retreat of research into the world of spirits and nature as well as your own journey.
No previous handicraft, “artistic ability,” or woodworking experience necessary.
We take at the most ten persons. No alcohol, drugs, ethnogeons please.
Language: English and Finnish.
Materials: Drums are made from reindeer skins and solid pine boards.
Meals: We prepare at least two-three meals per day, plus snacks, tea and coffee are available all day. We make food together in a semi-equipped kitchen. Outside is a large grilling area also. Food is mixed vegetarian, mostly organic. Perhaps fish. Definitely beans, seeds, nuts, eggs. All lactose free when moo-milk enters. We try to do all without milk to make cooking easier. Fermented veggies and milk products are also part of menu. Almost all Allergies and special diets we consider and plan for. Please speak with Tanja or Christiana.
Teaching site: is situated on a crystal-clear lake. We have a fully-equipped kitchen, big work room with a large wood-burning fireplace. We have a sauna which has simple washing facilities. The lands around the Page of 1 2 base camp are full of granite cliffs, moss covered boulders; forests, field and bog. The area has a richness of animal life: ravens, eagles, tom-tits, woodpeckers, quail, ptarmigan, lynx, wild boar, fallow dear and white-tailed deer, mice, swans, bear, wolf… https://www.discoveringfinland.com/nature-attractions/finnish-wildlife/
Cost: materials, rent, food, travel, guidance and 25,5% VAT total 800€ includes the deposit. Payment details below.
Accommodations: Own tent, tensile, hammock or mattress in communal floor space *.
Non-refundable deposit of 100€ to reserve your place by 22.05.2026. Limited to 10 places. Bursaries only if minimum of eight reached.
*More Accommodations: If you prefer a proper bed, with flush toilet, etc. Please reserve with one of the lodgings https://stromforsinruukki.com Ruukki is about 20 min drive from the course place. This is a very busy time of the year in our village. Most lodgings get booked up quickly.
Cancellations: With certified doctor’s statement we shall return your funds in full. If you cancel thirty days or less from the starting date we cannot refund your deposit unless someone steps in your place (gift someone!). If the organisers cancel (Tanja and Christiana or the place owners) we shall return your payment.
Any questions: info@solavoima.fi or WhatsUp and phone: +358 50 494 7030 or tanja.kangas@gmail.com
Arrival: You can arrive the day before in the evening. Ruotsinpyhtää or Strömfors is located in southeastern Finland about 2 hrs (coach) from Helsinki Kamppi. Coaches travel frequently near the village about 6 km distance from the coach stop, participants need to arrange a cab to the camp course site or we arrange something else. Check https://www.matkahuolto.fi/en/ for coach fares and timetables. Christiana will supply local cab numbers.
Airport: Helsinki-Vantaa a little over an hour away by car. By public transport: local train to Centre, walk. 10 min to Kamppi, bus leaves from there.
Trains: there is a local train from the airport to Helsinki Central Railway. There are no trains that go towards the venue.
Coach: The destination is Ruotsinpyhtää liittymä 68 (Loviisa). Coaches leave several times per day from Helsinki Kamppi. This stop is about two hours distant from Helsinki.