Spirit of the Drum Oracle, by Flavia Kate Peters and Barbara Meiklejohn-Free
Rockpool Publishing, 1922786713, 136 pages, 36 cards, February 2025
Spirit of the Drum Oracle by Flavia Kate Peters and Barbara Meiklejohn-Free is an intriguing and spiritually enriching deck designed for those who are interested in exploring the mystical and shamanic world of drumming.
The creators, both well-respected in their fields of spirituality and divination, bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to this oracle set. For decades now, Peters and Meiklejohn-Free have travelled worldwide, sharing the power of the drum in their shamanic workshops and ceremonies. This deck is a compilation of their drum wisdom translated into oracle form, providing readers with the beat of spiritual illumination.
“In the beginning was the sound, and the sound spread through the entire universe, reaching out to everyone. A spark was created, the spark of life, which lives within the spirit of the drum awaiting its brith and connect with each individual soul.”1
The deck itself is beautifully illustrated with each card capturing the essence of drumming as a tool for spiritual awakening and personal transformation. The artwork is vibrant and evocative, featuring a blend of traditional and contemporary elements that appeal to a wide audience. There’s an impressive range of drums featured in the deck: frame drum, battle drum, temple drum, log drum, kettle drum, Siberian drum, whale drum, witch drum, and more. And the imagery of each reflects the culture where or time period when the drum has been most widely used.
Looking at each card is a like a catching a glimpse into the drum’s spirit in motion. The images are snapshot into the drum’s potency; the images come alive through the sense of beat and feeling of movement being portrayed. Meanwhile, the red frame on the border around image feels like a sacred container for the vibration. The gilded red edges also add a dimension of rooted yet active energy. Every card is numbered, and the name of the card along with one or two keywords is at the bottom.
The guidebook features an introduction to the deck, guidance on how to use the cards, and card spreads based on different drum beats. The entry for each card in guidebook showcases the card image, shares a quote, offers meaningful insight about the card’s message, shares a “high beat” and “low beat” idea of how to integrate the energy of the card, an incantation to connect with the drum’s vibration, and a tidbit about how and when the drum is used titled “Drummery”.
After becoming acquainted with the deck by shuffling them and saying aloud the incantation the authors provide to begin one’s journey with this deck, I pulled my first card: Drum Kit. The imagery was a little bit of a shock to my system, as I had been anticipating what I considered a more “spiritual” or “shamanic” drum. But this card’s keywords were “Rock n’ Roll” with an image of an enthusiastic drummer pounding on his drums while his hair flies wildly in the air behind him. And then I realized, the hypnotic rhythm provided by a band’s drummer is quite a potent spiritual force!
The message for this deck was about how I am a grounding force of stability for those around me, along with how my tenacity to see things through will yield successful results. This felt extremely resonant with me, as I have been unusually busy recently with quite a few projects requiring my attention. It often does feel like I’m the control center for the appointments, events, and daily “to-dos” for my family, and the card’s acknowledgement of how I keep the beat for everyone made me feel very seen. I especially liked the authors’ advice that read:
“This card also serves to remind you that it’s important to go wild once in a while and let your hair down. Get that natural rhythm going, feel that beat thumping in your chest and swing your hips.”2
Seems like it’s time for me to have a rock n’ roll dance party!
One thing I especially appreciate too about this deck is the authors’ reverence for the many things a drum can do, whether that is inspire one to dance or calling back one’s power to reclaim their wholeness. The many cards focus on the drum as a sacred instrument, not just for music, but as a conduit for meditation, healing, and connection with the spirit world.
This deck would be especially potent to use in conjunction with a drumming practice. Whether that practice is using your own drum or looking up different drum styles and beats on YouTube, there’s a wide range of potential for discovering a new drum meditation through the cards’ guidance.
Overall, Spirit of the Drum Oracle is a powerful tool for anyone seeking to enhance their spiritual practice with drums, connect with their inner wisdom, and explore the transformative power of rhythm. Its thoughtful design and comprehensive guidance make it a valuable addition to any oracle collection. Peters’ and Meiklejohn-Free’s decades of drumming wisdom shines through, encouraging users to embrace the power of the beat and explore their own spiritual paths.
Alanna Kali is an astrologer, numerologist, and pioneer spirit that loves to explore life through the lens of depth psychology. She has a passion for studying the humanities and social trends. Her academic work is centered upon reuniting body, mind, and spirit through eco-psychology. She loves reading, spending time in nature, and travel.