Conversations with Jarrod L. Robbins

Hi Jarrod, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Virginia Beach, VA and moved to Los Angeles around the end of 97′. While growing up in Virginia Beach, I seemed to have developed an early appetite for folklore, superstitions and the esoteric and was thankfully well fed by the availability of The Edgar Cacey Center library.

Not being aware that one could dedicate one’s life to such endeavors though, or having any external encouragement from a family of boatmen, I moved on, was sent to military school, went on to work on Tug boats running up and down the East Coast, and played in bands.

In the early 90s, I attended The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, where I received an Associate in Industrial Design and a Specialized degree in Special Effects.

Once I moved to Los Angeles though things changed quite a bit. Quickly disenchanted with the Film Industry, its mindset and the path it was on at the time (hasn’t gotten any better since), I decided to begin painting “professionally”.

After about a decade and a half of painting and having international exhibits, winning awards, and having magazine articles written about my work, I found that the “Art Scene” had also left me with a really nasty feeling that was driving my work into ever darker and unhealthy realms.

For a few years after, I stopped everything creative. It was a trying time, a lot of anger, a lot of bitterness, a complete existential and identity crisis. It had gotten to the point of being quite debilitating. It was then that someone had mentioned to me “meditation”. What did I have to lose, right?

After I had gotten into meditation, all the folklore, all the mythology, and that hunger for the esoteric that I’d felt as a child returned with a vengeance. I still didn’t know what I was going to with this “reawakening”, but it was a great feeling.

During my crisis, though an interesting thing happened, I came across a Possum one day. Now I found this meeting quite strange being during the day. We actually hung out for a while before he had to leave. I then later asked myself, why did I see him? What did that meeting mean? I came to the conclusion that when we think of a Possum, we think of it as being the animal that “plays dead”. Well, the Possum doesn’t really play dead; it internalizes all its senses and lowers its heart rate when it finds itself in a “stressful” situation, well this is exactly what happens in meditation. He was telling me to go inside myself.

Well, I did go inside (my house) after that meeting and proceeded to draw a picture of a Possum with a hood, staff and lantern (kind of Hermit Tarot style) and thought nothing more of it until a friend suggested that I write a story for children. Well, having not ever written a story, this didn’t sound like a pleasant venture. But a seed had been planted in that conversation and I did eventually set forth to write the story. So, about two or three years ago I finally wrote, illustrated and published “Tyrfell”.

It’s about a young orphaned Hedgehog named Hermin who meets up with an old Possum shaman. Together they set out on an adventurous pilgrimage to a holy mountain. I’d say it’s kind of a Tolkien – Orwell lovechild.

Well, after that I made a deal with myself, if I was going to “create” again, my motivations would have to be completely different. If I was going to make “art” again, it would have to heal. If it doesn’t heal, it’s not art.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, of course not. It’s not supposed to be. If it had been a smooth road, it wouldn’t have been the right road. Even the seed must break its husk and fight in the darkness to reach the light, right? I never planned on starting or running my own business. It was the furthest thing from my mind. Ravens’ Folk initially came about from me wanting a traditional handmade frame drum to assist me in my practices but not being able to find one.

After tracking down the raw materials and learning how to make a drum and drum beater for myself, many friends seemed to enjoy what I was doing and wanted some for themselves. That led to word getting out. Slowly more products then began to develop: more frame drums, drum beaters, rattles, jewelry, leather pouches, runes, etc. and I was then thrust into the 21st century kicking and screaming: getting my first mobile phone (at 50), getting Facebook, getting Instagram and starting a website.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my logo, I use the terms Handcrafted Art and Ritual Tools. As previously mentioned, I started with making traditional frame drums. This consists of taking the animal hide, be it Elk, Horse, Bison, etc., and soaking it overnight, stretching it over a wooden frame and crafting it the next day, then letting it dry overnight. Once I started to make more drums I began to experiment with various sizes and different hides, each one unique in its sound and feel. I later began adding hand-painted ancient symbols and magical staves to the faces of the hides.

The rattles are also handcrafted, made of Deer or Elk hide, and filled with various things, such as corn or barley to achieve different sounds. Some I trim with Wolf, Coyote, or Fox fur.

One of the most interesting things about choosing this path (if one actually chooses a path) is the rabbit hole it leads one down. To learn how each animal contains its own energies and how one can come to work with those energies. To realize how each hide sings a different song and in its own way, responds to the elements.

This knowledge I believe, only helps me deepen my respect for those animals and strengthen my connection when working with them.

What are you most proud of?
Well, that’s a difficult question. A couple of things do come to mind, though.

I’d have to say that I’m pretty proud of the fact that I had always believed that a proper life was when you have your “normal” life, your “spiritual” life, and your “creative” life all working together and aiding each other. I feel as though I’ve somewhat achieved that or am on my way to having the different paths of my spirituality, my studies, my practices, and my creative output all becoming a single path. That’s a good feeling.

Also, I believe that when you’re where you’re supposed to be, little signs begin to appear to give you a bit of confirmation.

For instance, after going through my Dark Night of the Soul and having now set my artistic compass to healing, within a year of launching Ravens’ Folk, my wife and I had the honor and privilege of being invited backstage with the group Heilung after one of their rituals, and I was able to gift Annicke Shireen, one of the group’s powerful feminine energies, with a rattle which she now uses on stage. What an honor and strange turn of events. I reset my artistic vision to healing, and within a year my work assists in bringing healing to the world through a band whose name Heilung in German actually means healing. Pretty nice.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’m so proud of the response and support the work has received from serious practitioners who have taken it upon themselves to preserve the Old Ways. We happen to be walking this earth in some strange times where the wisdom, knowledge, and beliefs of our forefathers appear as though it’s being scrubbed away. These practitioners are the ones carrying the large burden of preserving these ancient gifts, and I’m so thankful that even if it’s in some minor way, I can assist them with their tasks.

Contact Info:

• Website: ravensfolk.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ravensfolk
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ravensfolk

Image Credits
All photo credits: Ravensfolk except Annicke photo: @cacei.ro