Magical Trances and Drum Journeys

Drum Journeys with Asta Wellejus: Saturday 12 December 2026, 11:00–15:00, Farum. Tickets cost 55–120 kr.

Anthropologist and witch Asta Wellejus visits Immigrantmuseet in Farum to discuss drum journeys, trance forms, and altered states of consciousness induced through sensory experiences. How have people journeyed through inner worlds across different cultures and traditions, and which methods can lead us into trance? The lecture covers Sufi whirling, classical shamanic drum journeys, and breath-based techniques.

The lecture begins at 11:00. You are welcome to bring a packed lunch. Coffee, tea, and cake are included in the ticket price, with access to water and a kettle.

Following the lecture is a workshop in shamanic drum journeys. After a brief introduction to the theory and origins of the method, participants experience it themselves. You will receive guidance to take home and can continue on your own. The workshop ends around 15:00, and since the museum closes at 16:00, you can stay and rest quietly afterwards.

For the workshop, please bring: headphones that connect to your phone, a mat to lie on (such as a yoga mat or skin), a blanket (as some people get cold during the journey), a pillow if needed, a cup you like, and optionally something with a pleasant scent. An audio file will be sent to you, or you can download it before the workshop.

Background: The distance between humans and nature has grown. Few of us live off the land today, and many experience ourselves as part of nature only in our free time, when we hike or rest in shelters. Yet we remain part of ecological cycles and must engage with this connection. This is a question modern witches work with - through rituals, foraging, nature immersion, and attention to seasonal changes. Asta Wellejus, an anthropologist and digital instructor, shares insights into modern witchcraft practice in Denmark and how trance states and drum journeys are used to communicate with other species, nature, and beings in other worlds.