The Power Drum
A Drum Born for Ceremony
For the past 20 years, I have been building Shamanic Drums by hand. Each drum has its own story, its own place in Ceremony and its own journey to the person who is called to become its Caretaker.
Now, something new is emerging.
I am creating a new type of Shamanic Drum. One that is much larger than the handheld Shamanic Drums I have built throughout my life.
I call them Power Drums. 🙏🏻
These are very large Ceremonial Shamanic Drums that rest on a dedicated frame, positioned on the ground in front of you. Rather than holding the Drum in your hands, you sit before it and enter into a different relationship with its sound.
The first Power Drum I am building is a
26-inch Drum (That's 66cm!).
This is the smallest size I am planning to offer.
It is a very different undertaking from anything I have created before.
A New Chapter in My Journey
For many years, building Shamanic Drums has become second nature to me. I know the process so well that my hands seem to know what to do before I need to think about it. I can immerse myself fully in the Ceremony of building without having to consider every step along the way. I like to say that the process happens "Auto-Magically!".
The Power Drum is different.
Every stage presents something new. Every decision asks me to slow down, listen, learn and find my way forward. I am developing the design, working through the practical challenges and allowing the process to reveal what needs to happen next.
In many ways, this project reflects where I am in my own life. I am preparing to step into a new chapter, one where I can dedicate myself fully to this Shamanic work - full time. 🙏🏻💚
I have been physically working towards the birth of my first Power Drum for around ten months. There is a great deal involved, both in the physical building and in the personal Ceremony that accompanies it.
I am taking my time.
One of the most meaningful parts of this journey has been returning to deer hide.
The very first Ceremonial Shamanic Drum I ever built was made using deer hide. That was where my journey began.
Over the years, I moved towards Kangaroo hide for my handheld Shamanic Drums, developing a deep connection with the materials and the process.
For these larger Power Drums, I am returning to the Deer.
Working with deer has always held a special place in my heart. I associate the deer with healing, wisdom, gentleness, family and protection.
Returning to this hide feels like coming full circle, back to the beginning of my journey, while stepping into something entirely new.
My handheld Shamanic Drums will continue to be made with kangaroo hide. The Power Drums will follow a different path.
I want to honour the deer and the life from which each hide comes. This is an important part of the relationship I am developing with these new Power Drums.
Returning
to the Deer
Ceremony takes many forms.
People gather for group meditation, healing work, spiritual practice, and a range of sacred gatherings.
The Power Drum is ready to become a part of these spaces.
Its size opens up new possibilities for working with sound. The larger drumhead offers a different physical experience when struck. The sound, vibration and resonance are something I am exploring as the prototype takes shape.
I am particularly interested in making these Power Drums available to people who facilitate Ceremony and feel called to work with a Drum of this size.
My intention is to create something that can be used in sacred spaces around the world, supporting the work of those who gather people together through sound, presence and Ceremony.
A Drum for Ceremony
Allowing the Drum to Emerge
There is still much to discover.
I am refining the design, working on the supporting frame, exploring how it can be assembled, and considering the practicalities of transporting a Drum of this size.
The building process requires patience, experimentation, and a willingness to learn.
At the moment, I am deep in the physical work. I have spent days sanding the timber alone, preparing the structure with the care it deserves.
The work is teaching me things I did not expect. It is deepening my connection with myself, with the land, and with the wisdom that emerges when I give myself time to listen.
I find myself thinking about these Power Drums constantly. They appear in my dreams and and have been in my shamanic journeys for decades. I can see them taking physical shape. I can hear them.
The first Power Drum is being created here in my workshop, through my own hands and my own Ceremony. It is the beginning of something I hope to share with others.
The Power Drum is calling us....
The Build
Has Begun
The first Power Drum is no longer just an idea.
The build has begun.
I am currently working on the prototype, bringing together everything I have been envisioning over the past ten months.
Every part of the process is new to me, from developing the structure to working out the finer details of how this Drum will come together.
At the moment, I am deep in the timber work. There has already been a great deal of sanding, shaping, testing, and refining. It is a slow process, but one I am thoroughly enjoying. 💚
I am not rushing this Drum into existence. I want to give myself the time and space to get it right, both in the physical construction and in the Ceremony that accompanies its creation.
This first Power Drum is being built for me. 🙏🏻
It is my opportunity to learn, refine the design, and discover what is possible before making these Drums available to others.
There is still much to work through, and I will share more as the build progresses.
For now, the work continues. The timber is taking shape, the vision is becoming something tangible, and the first Power Drum is slowly coming to life.
26-inch Power Drum
$4,985 AUD
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Handcrafted Power Drum with Deer Hide
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Purpose-built collapsible portable timber frame
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Beater included
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Delivery quoted separately based on your location*
About Your Pre-Order
The first Power Drum is currently in development. By submitting a pre-order enquiry, you can register your interest in bringing one of these Drums into your own Ceremonial practice.
Full payment is required before the build begins. This marks the beginning of the Ceremony of creation, with the Power Drum being brought into being specifically for you.
From that moment, the creation of your Power Drum becomes a personal journey, shaped through intention, time, materials and Ceremony. It is not simply a Drum being made for sale. It is a Drum being created for you to welcome into your life.
As its caretaker, you will hold a responsibility beyond the Drum itself. You will be the person who brings its voice into Ceremony, facilitating sacred space for meditation, healing, reflection and connection. The Power Drum becomes part of the work you are called to do, supporting the Ceremonies you hold and the people who gather within them.
*Delivery costs will be confirmed separately once your Drum is complete and ready to travel.
Thank you!
The support and positive feedback that I have received about my Shamanic Drums has been quite overwhelming. As I read some of the Testimonials, my heart is truly filled with joy & love.
I never had imagined in a million years that so many people would love my Sacred Items as much as they do and that people would want to own their own Australian Made Shamanic Drum, birthed by me.
For this, I am truly honoured.
Thank You! 🙏🏻
Mark Wellard
Shamanic Drums
