Dissertation Title:

The Great Mother’s Heartbeat: Drumming to Heal the Sister Wound

Candidate:

Alexa Rodell

Date, Time & Place:

February 3, 2023 at 1:00 pm
in the Studio Classroom at the Lambert Campus


Abstract

Though the image of a modern drummer might conjure the form of a male, there is much evidence to support that the drummers of antiquity were more commonly female. This study explores the rich, robust history of the frame drum and the ancient women drummers of the Mediterranean region. Because the drums of ancient times were often played communally, this inquiry crosses into relational territory by exploring sister dynamics and “the sister wound.” The sister wound is defined as the historical malevolence between women involving gossip, betrayal, jealousy, and other forms of cruel interrelational dynamics. The term sister when used in this dissertation does not imply shared biology, but rather denotes a level of closeness between women. The question driving this research is: How might participating in a drum circle, once an important female ritual, offer healing for contemporary women who have experienced the sister wound? This inquiry utilizes a depth psychological approach, a hermeneutic phenomenological methodology, and participant-based interviews with five female frame drummers. An interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) reveals four superordinate themes: the sister wound, vertical relationships, connection, and healing. Each theme is brought into conversation with depth psychology to address the original research question. Findings suggest that communal drum circles can be used to heal the sister wound, but instances of relational wounding were also present. The results support the notion that the drum and drum circle can act as a pharmakon, possessing within it powers for both rupture and repair.

Details
  • Program/Track/Year: Depth Therapy, H, 2017
  • Chair: Dr. Mary A. Wood
  • Reader: Dr. Craig Chalquist
  • External Reader: Dr. Annette Williams
  • Keywords: Depth Psychology, Sister Wound, Frame Drum, Phenomenology, Goddess Mythology, Pharmakon