Rain Sticks

Rain sticks are ceremonial musical instruments from South America used to invoke rain spirits. Traditionally they are made from dead cactus tubes with hundreds of cactus spines hammered into the tube. Tiny lava pebbles cascade gently through the tube, sounding much like rain.

In place of cactus, bamboos are now used with nails hammered in and tiny pebbles or glass beads or small seashells fill the tube. The rain stick has lost it original usage with modern technology of rain cropping. Instead it is now being used by some energy workers for room cleansing or even as a meditation tool.

I got my first piece of rain stick in London in 1999. It was not a sought after item during those days and even now I think that not many people have gone into the sounds of rain. Just try it - close your eyes. Tilt the rain stick at an angle and allow the "rain to pelt at your window sill". It can be very calming and relaxing.