The Healing Power of Music - Tones of the Spirit
by Gan Madar

The Ancient Greeks said "Music is an art imbued with power to penetrate into the very depths of the soul." Ask pregnant mothers who play music to their unborn children and no doubt receive plenty of response. A human fetus has a developed sense of hearing at 12 weeks old.

People often say they play rainforest sounds or whale calls to relax themselves. The tones and pitches of whale calls, when played in sequence make almost alien noises. When individual, they are merely different notes to a song. The same can be said for any music. Classical, noted as a very stimulating music, is often times used by students to study for tests. The theory is that by remembering the classical piece you listened to while reading, the information will refresh itself in your mind. This theory is proved by people almost all the time. How many times have you been listening to the radio and hear a song that brings a particular memory to you? Perhaps making out with an old boyfriend in a car in younger days, or maybe a deceased parent's favorite operetta. Whatever it is, it brings memories and emotion. If music can effect us in these ways, from before we are born, until after our own parents die, then what is to say it cannot heal us?

Some victims of stroke or mental illness have found singing an easy form of speech therapy, stammered words can be sung with less trouble. Music therapy has been implemented in some areas of the country, and results have shown that because endorphins are released when a person listens to music, less pain medication was needed, and breathing was made less strenuous.

Many different cultures such as Native American and Asian believe that chanting can bring healing effects by joining the body and spirit with words and tones of voice. Perhaps not even the words so much as the effort put forth for the control of voice in the ancient chanting of monks the world over. From deep Gregorian chants to the wavering pitches of Native American songs while in frenzied dance, these all strike cords in our own hearts. The chant or toning is meant to balance our inner spirit, which many people believe is the core of our real health. Broken legs and cat scratches aside, ancient peoples held deep-seated beliefs that when the spirit was at harmony, the ailments of the mundane would not be present, for indeed the ailments were the signs that the spirit was out of balance.

It is a simple thing for anyone to lose themselves to a daydream while listening to music, perhaps for even a few moments, but that is only a lesser degree of meditation. With the right kind of setting, or a lot of practice (like the Buddhist monks), who can say how strong the meditative state can become. When a person has the ability to live in isolation and contemplation like a monk, it is made easy for them, but what about those who have to rush off to work every morning? What about those people who have to confront stress every day?

Making time for yourself to relax is one of the most important things. No matter how little time you think you have, you always have a moment or two in the bathroom or in the office at lunch time to sit back and retune your inner instrument. Take a five dollar tape player to bed with you at night and pop in some Mozart. Close your eyes and breathe, allow the music to speak to you.

As much as they say music, acupuncture, herbs, or any other form of alternative healing can be used, it still comes down to one thing... you. If you believe you will be sick forever, you will be sick forever. Hypochondriacs make themselves ill with worry over illness. The power of belief is said to move mountains, so if we allow ourselves to relax a few minutes, listen to a little Buddhist chant, and believe we are at peace, truly believe it, perhaps inner harmony can be attained.

Copyright 2005 - G. Madar