If you are a sound healer you have probably used a rain stick during group sound baths or private sessions.
For those of you not familiar with a rainstick, it is a percussion instrument that mimics the sound of rain when turned over. It’s a long, hollow tube with small pins or thorns inside that are arranged in a spiral. When the rainstick is turned upside down, small objects like pebbles, seeds, or dried beans fall through the tube and bounce off the spikes, creating a sound similar to raindrops.
Although I have found that my clients don’t find the sound of a rain stick soothing like real rain. I actually don’t find it soothing either. I find that the sound of a rainstick remind me of the sound that insects make in horror movies.
When I use a rain stick in energy therapy sessions, I am using it intentionally to move and disperse stuck energy – which can be uncomfortable at times for the client. I’ve heard from another subtle energy worker who uses the rain stick and shakers to drive away negative spirits. The lady in the link says that spirits don’t like the sound. That video is pretty interesting and worth a watch if you are interested in energetic attachments.
When I was in Bali for my Module 2 Sound Healing Training by Sound Healing Bali, I got to use what they called a Glug Glug. (I highly recommend their sound healing training.) It is a handmade instrument made with stacks of pop cans, filled with water to create the sound of flowing water. Now this was a water sound I could get excited about. One of my teacher’s students made it, but no one knew how he did it. I loved it so much that I decided to make one, enlisting the help of ChatGPT to find the right glue. If you want to make one y0urself, read on for directions.
Step 1 Collect your materials etc. I’ve included links to some of the materials I bought on Amazon.
5 empty pop cans (try and use steel cans not flimsy ones as you may puncture them by squeezing too hard when in use)
Metal Repair Glue Make sure to get a glue that is meant for metal plumbing repairs. I tried a multi-purpose epoxy originally and it turned to rubber and eventually failed. 🙁
Fun duct tape or spray paint, acrylic paint for decorating
Water
Cardboard
Popsicle stick
Measuring Cup
Scissors
Pliers
Level surface
Well ventilated room – outside is preferable.
Step 2 Removing Metal Parts
I used pliers to pull off the tab and the little piece of metal that folds into the cans when you open it. I do this so that neither of them fall off into the cans. This will make an annoying rattling sound if that happens.
PRO TIP from Ben Diamond – Fellow Sound Healer: If you trust my water measurements – Try to not pop open the cap on the can that will be on top, maybe just drain it via the punched hole in the bottom. This way you avoid step 11.
Step 3 Puncture the Bottom
Puncture the cans on the end without the opening. I used the end of scissors to make this hole by using the palm of my hand like a hammer. Make sure to hold your hands steady so the can doesn’t topple over when you attempt to puncture it.
PRO TIP from Ben Diamond – Fellow Sound Healer: Don’t puncture the can that will be on the bottom. It does not need a hole.
Holding the can tightly, I twisted the scissors around to make the hole big enough to fit a finger.
Don’t touch the hole with your finger as it will be sharp.
Step 4 Remove Moisture
Make sure the cans have no moisture on them. Moisture will make the next step a challenge.
Step 5 Mix the Epoxy
Mix your epoxy according to the manufacturer’s instructions. I mixed it on a piece of cardboard from recycling and stirred it with a popsicle stick.
Step 6 Stack your Cans
Stack your cans to make sure they fit together nicely.
Step 7 Apply the Epoxy and Build your Water Stick
Apply the epoxy around outside of the bottom of the pop can you are putting on top of the first pop can.
You will be stacking them on top of each other as most cans are stackable for space saving reasons.
Your epoxy should be thick enough that it will give you some support and hold the structure while you continue to stack. Be gentle like a ninja. If you bump it, it will come crashing down and epoxy glue is not friendly for clean freaks. Leave it to dry according to manufacturer’s instructions in a place where cats or other humans won’t nudge it and disturb this phase.
Step 8 Add a Second Layer of Epoxy
I like to add another layer of epoxy around the connection just to be sure it won’t leak. Allow this to dry.
Step 9 Fill the Water Stick
Fill the water stick with around 1.75x a can of water using the measuring cup. Example: With 5x 500ml cans, fill them with 500×1.75=875ml of water. This is enough to create some nice water sounds including the glug glug sound.
You can experiment yourself by temporarily closing the hole by stuffing the opening with a cloth or sponge and turning the stick upside down to hear the sound it makes. It’s important to temporarily plug it because leaving it open will affect the movement of the water and therefore the sound.
Step 10 Seal the Opening
Once you are happy with the sound, you need to seal the top. I cut another tin top about 5mm bigger than the opening. Then I attached it with epoxy. Let this dry.
NOTE: If you chose to leave the top can unopened – you don’t need to do steps 11, 12 or 13!
Step 11 Extra Epoxy
I added another layer of epoxy to the top opening if I found any holes or weak points. Let this dry.
Step 12 Decorate!
Time to decorate! I taped mine with duct tape. You can decorate however you want. Explore other tapes. I used duct tape because I found some fun patterns and I can wipe it clean if someone leaves chocolate fingerprints on it.
I applied two pieces on each end in a cross pattern to cover the metal but do what you think works best with the size of your cans.
Then, I applied the tape in individual strips, one row at a time, being careful to overlap.
I hope you like it! I love using this water stick in private sessions, guiding the client to gently wash away stress, or negative energy. This sound is absolutely soothing. Here is a link to a video of it – just note that recording sound over an iphone doesn’t make the best quality of sound, but it sounds really awesome in person. Water Stick or Glug Glug Sound Healing Instrument – YouTube 🙂
