Shamanic drums from the heart of Scotland

Hello and welcome to Star Onyx. I’m Alistair, a shamanic drum maker based in Central Scotland.

I trained as a Shamanic Practitioner in 2021, later deepening into Ancestral Healing through the teachings of Fotoula Adrimi and Fi Sutherland at the ISIS School of Holistic Health.

For me, spirituality is not a concept “out there”; it’s a way of being in right relationship with life, the land, and all living things. I practice and experience my spirituality through my everyday life: in the way I cook, craft, sit by a fire, or watch the wind moving through trees. My practice is rooted in presence, humanity, and reverence for the rhythms of nature, and that’s the energy I bring to every drum I make.

The Drum as Companion

The shamanic drum is more than an instrument - it is a companion, a teacher, and a sacred tool for journeying and profound healing work for yourself and/or your community. Its sound mimics the first rhythm we ever heard - the heartbeat of our mother in the womb, and by extension, the heartbeat of Mother Earth herself. This is why the drum has been revered by indigenous Shamanic cultures for millennia.

Each drum I craft is made in ceremony, using traditional materials (prior to dyeing/painting) and time-honoured methods. I credit my drum crafting ability - particularly the building process - to teachers such as Melonie Syrett (The Drum Woman), Cordula Hallensleben (Ajaki Arts), and a range of other skilled makers I’ve studied through self-guided learning over the years.

Whether dyed with plants or painted with symbolic imagery, every piece is a unique living vessel for your connection to spirit, self, and the unseen.

About My Craft

In my shop, you’ll find a range of handmade drums, beaters, rattles, and sacred tools. I can also co-create items with you as bespoke pieces that reflect your journey, your medicine, and your vision.

Although I’ve trained in ceremony and energy work, my primary offering is through craftsmanship: the art of creating something soulful, symbolic, and alive with intention. That’s where I feel most connected.

As of 2025, I am also delivering in-person drum-making workshops in Dundee, co-facilitated by my good friend and fellow Shamanic Practitioner, Rhonda Spence.

A Little More About Me

I live a holistic life in Central Scotland with my wife, Stephanie and our Jack Russell, Anam. Stephanie is a fellow artist (often co-creating drums and rattles), researcher, and the director of Hearth Property Ltd. Stephanie’s work centres around helping holistic entrepreneurs and soulful business owners start, fix, or optimise their property portfolios, as well as bringing communities of practitioners together to support one another’s work via commercial property.

There’s a shared ethos between us, of living in rhythm with nature, building lives rooted in purpose, and supporting others to do the same. As our paths continue to evolve, we find more and more ways to collaborate, and many of our clients do too.

I also have a background in holistic health, especially gut healing, and I spend much of my time cooking, baking or in nature hiking, foraging, and making fires. To me, the Earth is the greatest teacher.

Star Onyx is the bridge between my love of the natural world and my lifelong draw to art and creativity. I create tools that are handmade, heart-led, and soul-filled companions for your personal journey and your spiritual practice.

If something calls to you or you’d like to work together, I’d love to hear from you.

Slàinte Mhath,
Alistair