Small Sun Hand-carved Gourd Rattle

NOTE: Due to the handmade nature, the rattle you will receive may differ from the rattles in the images. They may have a different animal or pattern on the back. For the price, you will receive ONE rattle.

The gourd rattle is described as the sound of Creation. The creation stories tell of the first sound, a shimmering sound, which went out in all directions; this was the sound of “the Creator’s thoughts.”

The seeds of the gourd rattle embody the voice of the Creator since they are the source of newly created life. The seeds within the rattle scatter the illusions of the conscious mind, planting seeds of a pure and clear mind.

In South America, the shaman’s rattle is a sacred instrument. The rattle is believed to embody the sacred forces of the cosmos through its sounds, structural features, contents, and connection to shamanic trance.

The various parts of the rattle also symbolize the structures of the world. The handle is the vertical axis that ascends into the Celestial Realm. The Upper World is represented by the rattle’s great head-gourd, which contains spirits. Joining the head of the rattle to the handle, symbolizes the joining of masculine and feminine elements in the universe, an act of fertilization that bestows the sound of the instrument’s creative shamanic power.

From a shamanic perspective, caretaking the rattle and playing it properly during ritual fulfills the destiny of the human spirit – to sustain the order of existence.

The repetitive sound of the rattle, like that of the drum, helps induce trance states. The shaking of rattles creates high-pitched frequencies that complement the low frequencies of drumbeats.

The high tones of rattles resonate in the upper parts of the body and head. The low tones of drums act primarily on the abdomen, chest, and organs of balance while stimulating an impulse toward movement.

Rattles stimulate higher-frequency nerve pathways in the cerebral cortex than drums. This higher-frequency input supplements the low-frequency drumbeats, thereby boosting the total sonic effect. Try a rattle and drum shamanic journey.

The cosmic cross represents the eternal spirit of a person and the union of the masculine and feminine principles the very cycle of life and death which reminds us of the great act of procreation of not only the universe, but also of humanity, and our individual selves.

SHIPIBO-CONIBO TRIBE
The Shipibo-Conibo are indigenous people along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest in Perú. Formerly two groups, the Shipibo (apemen) and the Conibo (fishermen), eventually became one distinct tribe through intermarriage and communal ritual and are currently known as the Shipibo-Conibo people.

FEATHERS
All feathers are naturally molted, cruelty-free, cleaned, and sanitized.

These items are completely handmade by a family of the Shipibo tribe, in the Amazon jungle of Peru. The items they make are always of high quality and completely unique. I am committed to giving more than a fair trade price for each item made. This is a great way for us all to support the indigenous communities of the world whilst providing a way for tribes to hold onto their traditions.

Please note that the rattle can vary slightly in colour and size. The head size is approx 5-7cm