Handcrafted Drums

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am an enrolled tribal member of the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation. My name is Kristina Nez Begay. I am the owner and a community healer at Hozho’ Healing Wellness Community – an Intergenerational Space for Connection, Sharing, & Healing located in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

I am an Indigenous artist specializing in drums and other sacred tools. I understand the importance of right relationship and creating from a good place. Much care is taken with each material to honor and use in a good way. Making drums is a concentration of mine. Part of my purpose is to move beyond the basic mechanics of the drum making process into something deeper and more meaningful. Deep within each drum, is my prayer to bring healing to all People and Mother Earth.

The cultural unrest that rose up was an impetus for me to channel some of my own unsettled emotions and energy into creating something positive. As an activist, I put my values and message into some pieces in the hopes that they would be catalysts to conversations that can lead to better understanding of others cultures. I created many drums that each focused on an issue in Indian Country and the political climate of the global community.

Other pieces are centered on an event, a vision, or even a recurring dream in my life. I take what I am getting at the energetic and intuitive level and bring it down to the physical in the form of a drum. This makes it tangible and provides an opportunity for others to see into that visionary experience. The drum then tells a story for others to hear and participate in if they choose.

DRUM MAKING IS A CEREMONY

Making a drum is a very special and sacred time for me. It has a way about it that is inherently different from other things. It is a tool the Creator uses to provide me with an opportunity to recognize what I need to work on.

The drum will become what it wants to become. Forcing it or working too quickly will only create more frustration. This is a reminder to slow down and be aware of how we share our Light with others. You must take time to breathe steady and strong as you pull the strings. This is time to connect and listen to your heart beat and connect to the heart beat of Mother Earth. Listen and allow the process. There is no place for control or resistance.
In life, often we hold things in and push down painful emotions and traumas. When we are afraid to look at our own reflections and release the wounds and pains of the past, we are holding our breath.

Taking steps to be more conscious of how we are breathing in daily life allows us to take in “inspiration” from the world around us. Exhaling is the place for us to move heaviness out. In the drum construction process, breathing while pulling the straps is practice for what we should do normally. We are then, breathing life into our creation and being conscientious of our movements and flow along with choosing what intentions and thoughts to hold.

I create drums in Sacred Space with good thoughts, positive intentions, blessings and gratitude.

BENEFITS OF DRUMMING

Science shows that drumming 4 beats per second for 12- 14 minutes switches us to the theta brain wave state. This is the place of luminous awareness otherwise referred to as shamanic state of consciousness. Here we can obtain guidance about our lives and communicate with the Divine.

Drum Buffalo Front
Drum Bear Front
Drum Horse front
Drum Deer Front
Drum Elk Front
Sonic Driving or repetitious sound for relaxation and grounding

Sonic Driving or repetitious sound helps people to move beyond their logical, linear mind and into more of a meditative state through relaxation and grounding.

Drumming can be beneficial for whole person balance and wellness. Using the drum regularly allows the conscious brain to sit aside so healing can occur. This is apparent mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially as well.

Put self directed healing at your fingertips with a drum and discover how simply integrating it into your life can assist in releasing blocked energy and heavy emotions and return you to a state of harmony and connectedness.

Customize Your New Drum

I wanted to talk to you a little bit about the changes that we’ve made in ordering drums. So now instead of going into the shop and picking out a drum that’s already made, you can choose to have one with customizations.

Hozho’ Healing Drums

There are three levels of customizations for handcrafted drums to help you easily choose the right option for your needs. Every drum comes with a card that describes the medicine of the animal hide used and a tag indicating it has been created by an enrolled tribal member of the Navajo Nation. A beater is included with your purchase and the drums all have a loop for easy hanging. All of our drums and turtle shell rattles are created in sacred space and smudged.

Silver

15” Hand Drum on 10 Layer Maple Frame for Durability

Gold

Customizations for a Truly Personal Touch

  • $20 – add a 16 sided cedar frame
  • $10 – add a colored beater – choose from purple, black, red, blue, turquoise
  • $15 – add a color to your drum frame – choose from purple, black (matte or gloss), aqua, green, cherry wood, or sea foam. Have another color in mind? We can probably do it!

Platinum

Medicine Drum: Have personal meeting with Kristina either over the phone or video conferencing to discuss what you want to get out of your drum and how it will be used. Kristina will intuitively connect to you and the animal hide and create a drum that specifically weaves together your medicine. You are encouraged to bring any blessings, gratitude, or intentions to your session that you would like to include. It will be imprinted into your drum during the creation process to bring energetic healing to you every time it is played. Your piece of functional art will be named, dated, and signed. A video that highlights the meaning of your drum and the details will be posted on the Hozho’ Healing you tube channel for you to access anytime and share with your friends.

  • $222 – add to drum of your choice