We all love that feeling of total relaxation when you find yourself bundled up in a soft blanket, in your bed or in an armchair, listening to the sound of the rain falling on the roof. Me, personally, I like to taste some pumpkin and chocolate chip cookies while listening to this sound. What about you?
What if we did it more often? At any time, while it doesn’t rain all the time, it’s impossible, you tell me! What about the rain sticks ?!

The origins of rain sticks

Originally, rain sticks or rain trees were used by indigenous peoples, especially in Chile , Brazil , Africa and undoubtedly elsewhere.
The manufacturing principle is simple. In general, the tube of the stick is made of bamboo, reed or cactus (collected and not cut to avoid extinction). It is dried, hollowed out, sanded, plugged, thorn … I mean that we insert thorns to create a spiral inside the tube and finally we partially fill it with seeds or small pebbles preferably of course water because they will be smoother. We close and let’s go to let ourselves flow in the soft sound of the rain.

The different uses

Now let’s talk about the different uses that we can make of it!
Among the best known, we use the rain tree as a tool for meditating, doing yoga, relaxing during a massage or at home or even to use them as sound effects or breathing time during storytelling.
More traditionally, it was used as a talking stick . As with the talking sticks in shamanism, the rain stick was used to define a speaking time for the one who turned the stick. As the length of the stick defines the flow time, we can achieve different speaking times, ranging from a few seconds to several minutes.
And of course, in antiquity, it was used to attract rain.
We can forget it, but the rain stick is also very popular for musical awakening . It allows hearing to work, developing children’s attention skills or motor skills , especially with small plastic rain sticks.
If you work in a company and have meetings, why not imitate some kings of Africa who replaced their scepter with a rain stick to entertain and appease the assembly?
The Chilean shepherds use them during the transhumance of their herds. If I had known as a child, I would probably have simulated this kind of movement with my little rodents by walking them around the house … maybe even the rain sticks can calm our furballs? To test, to test.
Let’s resume.

Therapeutic virtues

They are also used for its therapeutic virtues. After a few minutes of listening, the sound waves are reconverted into electrical energy to restore vitality to the brain cells and this is what leads to a positive harmonization . In addition, it is not only our hearing that is required, but also our whole body which can perceive even more frequencies than our ears.
Vitality, strength and energy… Rain trees are also used to purify our energy like the energies of a room. Thus, it is an ideal companion for understanding and living in resonance with oneself and the energies that surround us. We are less afraid, we are less negative, less tense and on the contrary, we will feel more peaceful and stronger with even a strengthened immune system, and a tenfold increase in self-awareness and awareness.

I tested for you the new rain trees that we have just received at Boullard Musique. I quickly noticed that despite the ambient noise, we are quickly caught up in this cascade of very realistic water sounds. The smallest sticks even give the impression of hearing a crystal-clear stream. But I was particularly impressed by the 150 cm rain tree whose music lasts 1 hour 30 minutes. The sound is incredible. At the same time very present and yet so discreet and calm… I felt both relaxed and revitalized!
And the particularity of these rain trees is the choice of wood . If you have read the article on shamanic drums, you can deduce that each tree has its own energy and therefore its own effects. Ash , for example, is a wood that strengthens the body, relieves sadness and increases our will and our inner availability. The elm , rather helps him to overcome our fears and promotes creativity. A classic to finish, the walnut which soothes and allows to connect to our higher self. There are still many other woods but I will not go into details because this could be the subject of another article, but it is clear that the chosen wood plays an important role. Of course, if you find yourself drawn to a certain rain stick when the wood initially doesn’t match the effects you want, your intuition may have better captured your needs . So follow her without fear. And if you are anxious at the idea … turn a rain tree and relax to the sound of runoff …

Miora