Shamanic Drum Birthing Retreat - 'on the road'
Create your own shamanic drum & receive a needle-felted beater in collaboration with Joanne Tavern of Universal Holistics, near Linlithgow.
Sunday 13th July 2025
This small group experience is for spiritually aware souls who want to enjoy the deeply transformative and restorative feeling of playing and journeying with your own, personally hand-crafted shamanic (frame) drum & beater, imprinted with your own energy.
By popular demand, I now have a 1-Day Drum Birthing option
On this focused day, you'll make your drum in exactly the same way as described here for the weekend BUT there isn't time for you to make your drum beater - this takes almost as long as the drum! So instead, I pre-make a plain needle-felted beater for you to take home with you.
Spirit of the Drum
Drums have been used for thousands of years by indigenous peoples as an instrument for making music, for celebration and dance and for shamanic journeying, vision seeking and ritual.
Having a deep relationship with your own personal drum is transformational. As you use it and work with it you become the drum, the beat resonates with your heartbeat, you become one with your drum and are easily transported to non-ordinary reality from where you can journey to meet with your guides and receive healing and guidance.
The drum is Great Spirit’s favourite instrument, that is why we were given a heartbeat ~ Mano, Navajo Elder
I had the most beautiful experience at Dawn’s one-day drum birthing workshop. Set along the serene coast of Innellan, the location alone felt like peaceful, powerful, and deeply grounding.
From the moment I arrived, Dawn held the space with such warmth and wisdom. Her deep knowledge and gentle guidance made the whole process feel sacred. We journeyed, connected, and created - not just a drum, but something truly meaningful.
Choosing the wood for the frame, weaving the willow handle, and blessing the deer hide — every step was intentional and filled with reverence. Dawn carefully prepared our drum beaters using felt and driftwood from the nearby ocean, which added another layer of connection to the land.
This wasn’t just about making a drum - it was a journey, beautifully held by someone who truly walks her path with heart. I’m so grateful for the experience and would highly recommend it to anyone who feels called to make their own drum 💜
Lynsey Monaghan, April 2025
I have just had the most wonderful day creating my shamanic drum with Dawn.
Everything flowed beautifully from start to finish, gently connecting my energies to each part of the drum.
It felt like a powerful building up of layers of connection, stopping often to honour the process. I would love to return for the weekend birthing retreat to perhaps create another…. I am so filled with love and gratitude for today Dawn.
I look forward to sharing my drums voice at your circles 
Mhairi Scott, April 2025
Watch the birthing process!
Please note that the drums being played are not fully dry so not at their otpimum sound yet.
It takes 4-5 days for your drum skin to fully dry out :)
The process of birthing my first drum was so much more than I had expected. I felt gently guided and held by Dawn in this first experience of making my own tool for my work as a healer. Without pressure or rush we floated through the process and the whole retreat was deeply relaxing and enjoyable. Preparing the skin, connecting to the materials and working with them touched and moved me on different levels. It awakened my inner child, the accurate and determined woman and my creative spirit. Seeing the results taking form empowered and strengthened my self esteem and confidence, that I could really create something beautiful and meaningful. I realized after the retreat how much energy had shifted within me. Stuck emotions had started to flow again and I felt happiness and gratitude after the retreat. Dawn is a wonderful guide in this and besides that, she also created wonderful meals. I had a deeply connecting and joyful experience I am truly grateful for. Thank you Dawn! Andrea Zahle, Nov 2023
I attended Dawn's first Drum Birthing retreat in Oct 2019. What a wonderful, gentle and loving experience I had! Dawn's compassion and dedication to drawing in spirit while birthing our drums was extraordinary! She allowed us to connect to our drums on a spiritual level; helped us to draw out our drums individual characters. I love the drum I made with Dawn. Every time I pick it up I feel it's love for me too and the relationship we are creating together.
Thank you Dawn for holding such a wonderful space while we went through this process. For guiding us so beautifully and gently with your loving heart 💓. Thank you for welcoming us into your home and taking such tender care of us. It's an experience I will treasure. Clara Hill, Oct 2019
Check out what's included!
Your Drum
On the 1-Day Retreat
You will be birthing a 40cm/16inch (approx) frame drum covered with deer (or goat - on request) hide.
I will pre-make a plain earthy toned drum beater for you to take home with you, using driftwood from local beaches which I hand burnish to give a sliky smooth feeling to the wood.
The day will run from 9:30am - to approx 5:30pm... sometimes a little longer, the drums take as long as they take.
Rereshments and a light lunch are included :)
What to Bring
Your open heart full of love.
A pen to capture your insights from the drum journeys - I provide a workbook to capture these in or you can bring your own journal :)
A large towel to place your drum on whilst you're making it, a bath towel or sheet is a good size.
Something to wrap your drum in (or you can use your towel) to take it home as it will still be damp when you leave, OR why not invest in a drum-bag?
I will soon have another batch of my own drum bags available.
What are the retreat timings?
Where is the retreat being held?
Can I make a Vegan drum?
What do I need to bring with me?
Remind Me - What's included in the Retreat?
The drum birthing experience
Drum meditations and ceremony form a key part of the day as we journey to make deep connections with all aspects of your drum.
Creating anything, but especially a drum, can bring up some of your 'stuff', e.g. 'I'm not creative' etc. Don't let this put you off! I am here to guide, support and assist you so that you go home with a drum that you're proud of.
As we create the drums from animal skin they won't be fully dry by the time you head for home, which means that you won't know exactly what it will sound like.
Your intention and presence in selecting the skin that you are drawn to, and the way you work with the drum frame and handle all affect the sound. Trust that you will create a drum with the perfect sound for you and all will be well.
On the first day, when you asked us what we want/ would like to get out of the weekend, it became clear in my mind and I replied, clarity, stronger connection to self and, my guides and ancestors.
As soon as you began the initiation Drum meditation on Friday, that’s when the visions started and they continued throughout the whole weekend and continued as strong as they had begun to this very day. Firstly, I would like to say that I had such an amazing time with yourself and the other drum birthers!
The morning breakfast and sharing each other’s journeys and experiences were very uplifting and motivational to say the least.
Each step of the Drum birthing process, from selecting the Drum skin, to the frame was not only enlightening but also very inspiring, each moment felt like I was coming home, like a jigsaw was being completed. The laughter and support shared by everyone enhanced the love and the unity spirt to a much higher level.
Your guidance and patience enriched the vibration of your beautiful home and surroundings, to where healing and releasing naturally took place; to make space for the blessings I was soon to receive.
Watching the Drum come together was so beautiful and heartfelt, but upon hearing the powerful sound of each drum simply took my breath away, four drums, four completely different sounds, all linked to everyone’s essence, vibration and journey.
Before arriving in Bonny Scotland, I was feeling very good, when I left Dunoon, I was feeling great, energised, uplifted, motivated to create and embrace the new path which I had already begun walking.
Words cannot express the love and joy I felt being on your course Dawn, everyone I tell, can see and feel how much I enjoyed it and what it meant to me.
I definitely would recommend your course to friends and family, as it would be such a fabulous experience for one and all.
Thank you for your time and teachings Dawn, keep on shining your light!
Owen French, July 2023
I can highly recommend this workshop 😊 I’m loving my new handbirthed drum. Dawns guidance through the process and kind, supportive energy kept me inspired. Staying in her beautiful home was a bonus.
Sophie Marsh, September 2020
Engaging, welcoming, warming experience held by Dawn. The whole experience from the moment I walked through the door took me on a journey I will always remember. Thank you so much Dawn for helping me to birth my first drum.
Cheryl Brind, October 2019
Spaces are limited to 4 to ensure that you create the perfect drum for you :)
A deposit of £100 secures your place - book early!
(n.b. deposits are non-refundable (unless I have to cancel) but can be transferred to another date)
Hi, I'm Dawn,
I Help the spiritually curious to reclaim their authentic power and create a truly fulfilled life.
One of the main ways that I do this is through crafting sacred tools such as medicine drums, drum beaters and rattles.
Guiding people to craft their own drum is one of the most rewarding experiences that I offer..... it's often about way more than 'just the drum' as you re-connect with your innate soul-self. It's beautiful to watch you grow as you receive deep insights through the drum meditations.
I still pinch myself that this now my full time 'work' - not that it feels like work!
And if you want to take it deeper then I can support you further through other retreats, therapy trainings (e.g. Shamanic Healing, Reik-Drumming or Reiki), my Soulfull Living Sanctuary monthly membership group or 1:1 therapeutic sessions.
I look forward to meeting you on retreat soon :)
Dawn x
