The Tahya(tm) Ceremonial Systrum revitalizes the use of this historic percussion instrument ~ i.e., reinvesting in the sacredness of our daily lives and remembering the sacred temple we've been given for this lifetime's journey ~ remembering where we stand, wherever we stand, is sacred ground. Revere Mother Earth upon whom we stand and invoke Heaven Above to protect and bless this sacred ground and natural Order-of-Things including the restoration of balance in our lives and our planet including the all-important bees (see The Bee Goddess) and the balance of climate to protect the planet for generations to come.
I invite you to stand with Ceremonial Systrum in hand. In so doing let us re-connect with the priestesses and priests of ancient civilizations who walked in ceremonial procession and ritual thousands of years ago ~ women and men who habitually participated in blessing and creating sacred space, igniting an energetic that remains omnipresent at the ancient temple sites.
The Tahya(tm) Ceremonial Systrum ~ unveiled 8.8.08 in Historic Downtown Bethlehem ~ is custom-crafted by Cooperman(tm), a leading frame drum manufacture. This sistrum (plural: sistra), replicates the percussion instrument chiefly associated with ancient Egyptian priestesses and priests.
Depicted on many temple and tomb bas-relief carvings and wall paintings dating as far back as the Old Kingdom (from the reign of Teti, 6th Dynasty c. 2323-2291 BCE), the sistrum was a sacred instrument used in dances and religious ceremonies, particularly in the worship of the goddess Hathor, [pronounced Hat h'or (from ancient Egyptian hieroglyph Hwt-Hr)], the cow-eared goddess of love, joy, motherhood, music and dance.
The use of sistra may have originated in the practice of shaking bundles of papyrus flowers. The onomatopoeic ancient Egyptian name for the instrument is ssst ~ sesheshet ~ probably derived from the sounds the instrument makes: a soft jangle resembling a breeze blowing through papyrus reeds ~ a sound intended to placate the gods and goddesses.
Designed in the shape of the ankh hieroglyph, the instrument was representative of life and renewal. It was made of wood with a face resembling Hathor depicted at the top of the handle. Transverse bars were set horizontally into the hoop frame with a number of metal disks or squares, which produced a tinkling sound when the instrument was shaken. Most depictions of ancient hoop sistra reveal rods fashioned in a snake-like design, echoing the symbolism of the uraeus (Greek: cobra) ever-present in Ancient Egyptian artifacts ~ e.g., pharoahs' crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt.
Exploration into the symbolic origins of the uraeus, the serpent goddess, leads researchers to the Old Kingdom (approx. 3,000 BCE). A Second Dynasty Pyramid Text proclaims, 'sky speaks and earth trembles' when the living 'uraeus of Re' feeds the risen King. (1) Among other descriptions (e.g., Lady of the Sycamore Tree, Mistress of the stream who makes the river rise), Hathor is known as 'Eye of Re'. She can be the Wedjat eye - the 'whole eye' - meaning the eye as a bodily function, and, as agent of the god's activity, (she is) the instrument of divine energy and power projected out into the world. Although this serpent eye frequently manifests as a wild and destructive force, she also emanates radiant beauty and attraction.(2)
The Tahya(tm) Ceremonial Systrum, hand-crafted by Cooperman(tm) also resembles the sistrum held by ancient Egyptian queens. For example, among the treasures of Tutankhamun, a wooden shrine was found covered in sheet gold. The right side has
four scenes, all of an unusual kind. In the left of the top register the queen extends toward the king a sistrum and a necklace with an elaborate counterpoise. At the front of the counterpoise are the head and shoulders of a goddess, surmounted by cow's horns and the sun's disk and having the uraeus on her brow. Human hands project from beneath her collar, each hand holding a sign for "life" (ankh) toward the king. The identity of the goddess is revealed as the Great Enchantress in the inscription beneath the necklace. Addressing the king, the queen says: "Adoration in peace, receive the Great Enchantress, O Ruler, beloved of Amun!"(3)
To order your own hand-crafted Ceremonial Systrum (made in the USA) Click Here!
In open-air processions, the sistrum was used as rhythmical accompaniment. In ancient Egyptian culture, percussion instruments and rhythmic music were considered particularly imbued with spiritual or shamanistic power to influence and transform consciousness and therefore reality.(4) Many temple scenes show processions of priestesses playing round and rectangular drums, sistra, cymbal and clappers, still visible at the temple complex dedicated to Hathor at Dendera, Hatshepsut's Chapelle Rouge at Karnak and other ancient Egyptian temple sites. The instrument's sound seems to have been regarded as protective and also symbolic of divine. (5) The effect produced by the sistrum was to arouse movement and activity, to clear and create sacred space, and to invoke or offer blessings.
Utilizing this instrument stirs a recognition and restoration of the sacredness of daily life as we tap into the body's wisdom and personal power and gain insights into achieving harmony of mind/body/spirit via the rhythmic and movement patterns of traditions steeped in antiquity. Expand your imagination, creativity, individual growth and fulfillment and recover a personal spiritual connection to well being.
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JOIN THE PROCESSION!
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Tahya(tm) Ceremonial Systrum: 16-3/4"h hardwood Cooperman(tm) custom handcrafted sistrum
with 6 pairs of hammered nickle silver (german silver) jingles creating a percussion instrument with a sweet yet robust jingle dynamic
To order, Click Here!
made in USA
Also, see information Egypt Beckoned and/or notify us if you are interested in touring Temples of Isis and Hathor in Egypt ~ an itinerary is in the making for February 2010.
For more details and/or to schedule Tahya to make a presentation in your community:
E-mail: info@tahya.com
610-776-7045
