Agave Polestar Didgeridoo Designs

by Alcvin Ramos

The Century Plant or Maguey (Agave Americana) is an agave originally from Mexico but cultivated worldwide. It has a spreading rosette (about 4 m wide) of gray-green leaves up to 2 meters (6 ft.)long, each with a spiny margin and a heavy spike at the tip. Its common name derives from its habit of only occasionally flowering, but when it does, the spike with a cyme of big yellow flowers, may reach up to 8 meters (25 ft.) in height. The plant dies after flowering. The average life-span is around 25 years. Tequila is made from a different species, Agave tequilana (also called Blue Agave or Tequila Agave).

Recently, the agave has been used as a material for creating didgeridoo and has proved to be a beautiful and excellent sonic instrument. Traditionally they are made out of termite-hollowed branches and tree trunks of various eucalyptus, as well as bamboo. Agave didgeridoos produce an incredibly full, smoothe, and resonant sound and are very light to carry.

Alcvin harvests his agave from secret places in the beautiful hills of Southern California, and Central Arizona, when the stalk has already bloomed and is in a state of decay. He has workshops in Oxnard, California as well as in Tempe and Sedona, Arizona where he creates his pole star didges. He calls his instruments "Pole Stars" in honor of the ancient Chumash people's worship of celestial bodies; the Pole Stars refer to the North Star and Sun and is embodied as the Eagle which supports the heavens on one side; and Coyote and Morning Star on the other side. Depending on which side won in the heavenly contests between the gods, humanity was rewarded or suffered.

Alcvin has been playing and performing didgeridoo since 1993 and is highly qualified in creating fine didgeridoos having studied directly from masters in Australia's Northern Territory (Katherine, Darwin, Cairns) and is also a professional musician, composer, teacher (of the shakuhachi flute), and recording artist. He spent his formative years in the Southwestern United States and has a deep affinity with the atmosphere and landscape of the agave.

If you are interested in purchasing an authentic hand-made agave didgeridoo, please contact Alcvin directly, ramos@dccnet.com. Each instrument is personally and lovingly harvested, created, and tuned by Alcvin Ramos. Superb tools for music, meditation, or healing practices. Prices range from $500.00-$2000.00. Please inquire for availability of stock.

 I will be creating didgeridoos from

these beautiful, giant pieces.

Harvesting agave.

Raw agave stalks harvested in Southern Califonia.

Standing with the harvested agave stalks in Tempe, AZ.

Starting the creation of the didgeridoo.

Finished and ready to blow your mind!

TO SEND FORTH THE BREATH OF LIFE

"The pole star was at Kasunalmu, a sending place from which the first winds (breath of life) appeared in the lower realms. As this divine wind flowed down, it spread life thorughout the universe and blew sacred Atishwin into innumerable air souls. " 

            --From A CIRCLE WITHIN THE ABYSS  

     A Book About the Metaphysical Teachings of the Chumash Indians 
by Dr. John Anderson