Drumming

Symbols in the ShamanStore : The Noaidi

The banner you seen when you click on an article to read is multi-cultural. This is intentional, as it supports the idea that shamanism and the dimensions of spirit are all around us no matter where we go.

First we find Noaidi, the Shaman in the Sami culture of Northern Scandinavia. The Noaidi places a piece of antler or metal on top of the drum to act as an interpretation piece. When the Noaidi beat the drum with a beater the other piece would move by force of the resonance of the drum. This movement would be interpreted by the Shaman in forecasting the future and the actions to take within the siida, or tribe.

The Sami culture shifted in the 16th and 17th century through the efforts of others attempting to instill Christianity throughout the world. Many Noaidi drums were destroyed.

The Noaidi has three animal spirits with which some of them work closely: A bird, Saivoloddi, to guide them when they travel the spiritual world; a fish or snake, Saivo-guelle, who follows them into the underworld; and a reindeer, Saivo-sarva, who fights for the shaman in his spirit-world battles.

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