Music

[James S]

I can relate Squeek, music is and always has been a very big part of my life, from days of composing & performing, to listening & collecting.

For me music can be both mood altering or mood enhancing. There is definitely an energy in music. The trick is to find the music that will enhance the mood you want for AP & meditating. If your finding that what your listening to is breaking your concentration try a different style or different piece. The music your trying might just have the wrong type of energy for you.

I don't want to try and suggest any particular type of music here. We're all different, so different types of music affect us all in different ways. You'll have to feel your way through what works. Perhaps try to find something that can work with the theme of mind awake, body asleep, something that will mellow you, but the melody keeps you interested, so your brain is still in tune with it. Generally it is good to stay away from vocal tracks, the lyrics usually distract you. Stick to instrumentals.

I have slipped into trance states listening to 70's electronic from Tangerine Dream, and from the flawless guitar work of Eddie Van Halen. Some of Eddie's pure instrumemtal tracks can raise such levels of emotion in me they literally carry me away.

James.

[sublime]

I totally agree with you about how important music can be... i also agree that there is a large spiritual feeling that i get when i listen to various songs. Mainly songs that either have lyrics that really mean something to me or just a very emotional point in the song... if you havent heard of Bright Eyes... you should check them out, a few of their songs do it for me... also Tool surprisingly really gives me a great feeling. It's weird because it's usually on the top of my head sort of tingling (wonder if it's my crown chakra). Anyways, i have almost 10 Gigs of music on my computer and about 250 cds so yeah music really has an impact on me.

[panabelle]

I know exactly what you mean!

I don't know anything about how music affects astral projection, but I do know a way to incorporate it into energy work.

Whenever I have a song stuck in my head and can't concentrate (which is just about always[]) I just picture the...energy...from the music turning into Ki and going into me. It's kinda hard to describe, but it almost always works. Now that I think about it, I've had some of my greatest success that way.

Try it and see if it works better just thinking the song or actually playing it. (Or if it does nothing [])

[Squeek]

Thanks for all of the sggestions!

Unfortunately James, instrumentals aren't really music to me :p  My kind of music is alternative Rock, and I'd say .01% of Alternative bands actually have a good song without lyrics (haven't found that 0.01% yet )  

If I were to listen to any song without lyrics it would be boring to me because I enjoy singing the lyrics to the song I am listening to...

[DjM]

Music is actually very closely associated with the astral body iteself.  In fact, the physical bone structure of a human being is musically constructed (profound; don't wanna get off-topic) in a musical manner.

Many researchers have worked with the theory of music in conjunction with living beings (i.e. not just humans).  The discoveries are quite revealing!  More specifically, it was found that plants would thrive when they grew in an environment that contained certain types of music.  The plants that were placed with clasical and jazzmusic thrived; plants that were removed from music simply grew; plants that were placed with rock, punk, and alternative music wilted.  This is a scientific fact!

There is a reason why classical music affected the plants as they did and it id directly related to a knowledge of the Harmony of the Spheres.  More precisely, classical music contains specific melodies that incorporate an understanding of the planets!  The creators of classical music understood the mysteries.

Have you tried listening to classical music (backround)?

I AM a musician and play many musical instruments (i.e. languages).  I certainly appreciate your dillema.

Music itself does not require lyrics; the melodies should speak to us...like the sounds of nature itself.  Part of spiritual development is being open to new things.  Try it!  Download some classical music and leave it in the backround.  You won't have the lyrics to distract you and the melodies will permeate your being just the same.

Here's a great site to acquire some classical music cheap ($25/year; MIDI and audio files):  http://www.classicalarchives.com/midi.html

I didn't always listen to classical, but realized that the course of my develpment must not be diminished by preferences.  I have found that I can leave classical (and some jazz) music on in the backround without disrupting my concentraion.  I was unable to avoid being disrupted by the music that I might typically listen to (i.e. blues; rock).

All the best!

[lateralus897]

Just to add a little more to this topic, I read (a quote from a member of Tool) that music can be considered equal to nature. You don't really need to understand anything about it, just sit back and let it influence you in any ways that it will.

[Squeek]

Hrmm...all of this is working out for you guys... I must be odd :p   Anyways I actually wouldn't consider Tool to be a "relaxing" band!  Hehe...  Can't even remember what I really wanted to say...

If you are a music fan, and you like Linkin Park (as I do) then write down somewhere that their new album "Meteora" comes out March 25th! yay!

So anyways im just lazy.  That's my problem in everything.  Yay.

[panabelle]

Ok, so:

Classical = good
No music = neutral
Punk = bad

Any idea where Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch, Smash Mouth, or tropical steel drum music fall?

[sublime]

I was just at my girlfriends show choir competition (singing and dancing show choirs from high school) and I am now noticing more than ever the tingling sensations i get throughout my back and head. Tool has a song on lateralus called Parabol and then it goes into Parabola, that switch (and abstractness of those songs) sends chills as well. I really wonder if these chills have anything to do with your energy body/chakras? sort of like when i first fell in love. i had this complete energy/lightheadedness/feeling of not really being there. It's really hard to explain in words but I would like to know if everyone has these feelings when they listen to certain music and what they think the cause is???

[panabelle]

I don't know about when listening to music, but sometimes when I watch TV and see a certain commercial (like the Harry Potter lego commercial - don't ask me why![|)]) I get the same chills you talk about. Kinda like a wave down your spine/back, right?

When I listen to music (actually, when I sing/dance to it, often listening isn't enough) I get this pulsing feeling, like there's no barriers and my energy is flowing through me.

[Ash]

hey squeek,

if you like a certain music, then it will work for you, as long as you like it because it relaxes you and makes you feel good. if you like it because it makes you feel energized and angry, it's probably not the best for this sort of thing. But don't discount anything. Just listen to it and see how it makes you feel. I once had a spontaneous astral experience while listening to Hole. (lol okay it was the 90s what can I say). anyways i think it works because it is just like meditation.

Think about it. When you meditate, you are supposed to focus on something... your breath, a candle, etc. When your mind wanders you gently bring it back to the object of your focus. When you are listening to music, or have a song in your head, it has this exact same effect. Your mind naturally makes it the object of focus. Why? Because you LIKE the song. That's incredibly beneficial. I think the reason many people suggest instrumental is because the lyrics trigger verbal associations that will take your mind away somewhere. But obviously, if the song won't get out of your head, you don't have that problem. So take something you like and just relax and listen to it. Let it be in your head and let it take over all other thoughts, and see what happens.

You could also try broadening your horizons a little bit. There's tons of instrumental music that isn't classical or whaling guitar. Try some native or african drumming or trance or something. But again, if you don't like it, don't worry about it. Use what you like.

ash

[themadness]

I believe Tool has mentioned that they do their work simply for themselves. To evolve themselves both musically and spiritually.

I agree with DjM, classical music can have a profound impact. Within classical music are such complex rythems and melodies that just play off of each other so well that it takes a lot of awareness to understand and feel the intricacies.

But I'm going to have to pitch some trance and techno to you Squeek. I simply love it. It can be as amazing as classical music, but there is such a raw energy in it to dance. I find trance to be excellent for raising energy or raising awareness. Even while driving in my car I can envision everything around me vibrated and moving to the music.Oh, it's just oh so sweet. http://www.digitallyimported.com/ Digitally Imported streams many types. The beats might not stick in your head as much and interfer. But if you're like me you've listened to so much techno that you can pick out beats and they will stick in your head just as easily as lyrics!

[sublime]

My favorite techno has to be Paul Oakenfold, Sasha and I also really like VNV nation which is sort of industrial... you kinda have to get used to the guys voice but after you do it's really cool. Techno has many climaxes (for lack of a better word) and that's usually when i get the energy sensations throughout my back and spine. I'll have to find a specific song and post it and you guys can let me know if you get a similar feeling or if it varies person to person.

[turtle]

One more thing about Tool.  They are students of Hermetic knowledge.  I don't know if they all are, but at least 2 band members are.  I learned this from their website www.toolband.com.  They contruct their music with this kind of theme.  In one of thier songs on their latest album, they use the lines "As above, so below", classic Hermetic philosophy.

I always have an interesting time meditating with Tool playing in the background.  (large energy movement sensations)

-Turtle

[Squeek]

I don't know about you, but music is about 9/10 of my life.  During school, I write down lyrics to the song that is stuck in my head.  Once I get home, I'm listening to music for a good 5 hours.  In my free time at night (when i normally train) whatever the last song I heard, or the newest downloaded song, is what is stuck there.  I have over 500 megs of songs just on my computer...this doesn't count my Cd's...

So anyway.  I have discussed before how music is totally messing up my concentration for Astral Projection and Meditation, but how can i get my favorite thing to work in my FAVOR?  Is there any other person out there with a common problem and solution?