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Peace Through Music

Healing Powers of Sacred Music

Many great philosophers, throughout history, have written lamentations on how music is of vital importance to the human spirit.
"Mus
These range from Schopenhauer and Nietzsche in western philosophy and Hazrat Inayat Khan in the east to name but a few.
ic is
Furthermore, it appears that the vital function of music in individuals' lives transcends social and historical context. Randal
behi
McClellan's book The Healing Forces of Music: History, Theory and Practice (originally published in 1991) examines this in depth. nd
He shows how many cultures such as Chinese, Hindu, Egyptian, Greek and Shamanistic have used music as a force for healing. the
He reveals that we have an incredibly rich history of music-making, with the rst evidence of a musical instrument, a ve-holed work
ocarina existing from over 10,000 years ago. He suggests that "music gave expression to those thoughts and emotions too ing
expansive and too deeply felt for our rudimentary languages". Indeed, one could argue that music still provides this function of
today. Although our languages have evolved, we still feel the desire to express the ineffable through music. the
whol
In addition, there is a vast wealth of scientic research which has revealed the benets of music in healing patients, Ventre's e
(1994) case study showed how music built up an environment of love, acceptance and trust for a patient attempting to recover univ
from sexual abuse and suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In addition, McCaffrey (2008) found that music erse.
connects individuals with their emotions and self-awareness, creating a healing environment. Similarly, Perruzza & Kinsella Musi
(2010) found that music therapy transformed their patients' lives. It empowered them, gave them a renewed sense of self, a c is
not only life's greatest object, but music is
means of expression and a sense of purpose which transformed the illness experience. This is but a tip of the iceberg into
life itself" Hazrat Inayat Khan
thousands of years of philosophical thought and scientic research which has arrived at the same conclusion: music can have a
profound effect on the mind, body and soul. Furthermore, music can be used as a spiritual tool for personal development and
healing. This article examines how both eastern and western cultures have used spiritual music as a powerful healing tool.

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Hindus have developed a complex set of mantras which can have healing qualities. A mantra is a single word or a
phrase with specic vibrational qualities. While mantras are not songs, with any denable melody, nor are they
valued for aesthetic purposes, the qualities of the sounds and rhythms are highly valuable in Hindu culture. They
tend to focus on either clearing the mind of unwanted tendencies or to cultivate the mind's desirable tendencies
(McClellan, 1991). Single syllable mantras are usually repeated in order to, generally speaking, free an individual
from restraints or frustrations. Whereas phrased mantras tend to relate to a specic cure of an ailment.
McClellan's (1991) in-depth analysis shows in greater detail how there are phrases of mantras which relate to
removal of fear, removal of worries and pain, to cure illnesses and to cultivate qualities such as divine wisdom,
intelligence, faith and many more. Mantras are said to affect change by releasing a 'liquid nectar' in the pineal
gland, hence the reason that Hindus frequently wear a red dot on their forehead, in between their eyes, to
symbolically highlight the importance of the third eye or pineal gland. Modern science now understands that the
pineal gland is responsible for producing melatonin and serotonin, two chemicals which are crucial for both
regulating our sleep patterns and our moods. It is an essential chemical in both short and long term happiness. Therefore, we can see an interesting crossover between
ancient Hindu mantras and modern science. The pineal gland also releases DMT, a chemical which contributes to the creation of dreams in REM sleep. Dr. Rick
Strassman, in his book DMT: The Spirit Molecule (2001) explores the role of DMT and its presence in the phenomenon of both spiritual and near death experiences.
Therefore, Hindu mantras, as a form of spiritual music which bears little correlation with traditional forms of western music, provide a means to control a part of the mind
which is crucial in our everyday life in healing and self-improvement.

Similarly, although with some important differences, the Sus use music as a form of purication. As Hazrat Inayat Khan (1882-1927) explores, "The vibrations of music
free the soul and take from a person all the heaviness which keeps him bound". Inayat Khan, in a collection of essays The Mysticism of Sound and Music (published in
1991), speaks about the dervishes, who use music as one means of spiritual development. He describes the dervishes as follows, "They have the power of wonder-
working, and the power of insight. They are dreamers, and lovers of God. They worship God in nature, especially in human nature". Dervishes, he suggests, are those Sus
who are most receptive to the spirit and the soul. They feel the music more deeply than the average person and resonate with it on a spiritual level, "Whoever among them
is moved by spirit may manifest the ecstasy, which is called wajad, in the form of tears, sighs or dance. It is therefore that those who do not understand the meaning of
their dance call them "howling dervishes", or "dancing dervishes". Thus, dervishes listen to music as a form of purication of the spirit, a practice during which a listener
may express himself through music in many different ways. Inayat Khan reveals that the main difference between the Sus and other spiritual groups is that the Sus
discourage crying as a form of self-pity or a sadness of the ego but permit tears as an expression of a realisation of and connection to God. Hazrat Inayat Khan
established an interfaith service called The Universal Worship Service in which people attune to the religions of the world with readings, the lighting of candles and music
from the various religions. The Universal Worship inspired the founding of this radio station.

In Chinese culture, different tones relate to different parts of the human body. Jingduan Yang, M.D. (2014) suggests that the ve tones of the pentatonic scale have a
particular afnity to the healing of mind, body and soul as they do not contain any tones which present great tension. The tones of this scale are: Gong, Shang , Jue
, Zhi and Yu . They are equivalent to do, re, mi, sol, and la or C, D, E, G and A in the western scale of C pentatonic. Each note has an afnity to a specic organ, to the
spleen (Gong / C), lungs (Shang / D), liver (Jue / E), heart ( Zhi / G) and kidneys (Yu / A) respectively. For example, tones relating to Gong / C are described
as peaceful, soft, steady and smooth. As Yang (2014) explores, "Gong empowers the energy of the spleen, which partnering with that of the stomach is in charge of
digestion, metabolism, and energy production. The spleen nurtures the muscles and prevents bruising and bleeding. The spleen also empowers our thinking and ability to
process information".

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Thus,
each
tone
has a
compl
ex set
of
relatio
ns to
a
speci
c
part of the body. This relationship of specic tones to
specic aspects of the mind, body and soul is one
which has been developed over thousands of years
and which is central to the ways in which Chinese
culture uses certain forms of music for varying healing
purposes. Indeed, it is quite remarkable that the most
important Chinese scale matches the western
conception of a pentatonic scale, a scale which is also
at the heart of most western music. Indeed, this is not
by accident. The pentatonic scale relates to the
mathematic formulas of Pythagoras, who developed
the tonal system based on his appreciation of
harmony in the cosmos.

Another function of spiritual music is for mnemonic

purposes. In Jewish and Christian cultures, prayers are
frequently attached to songs. This not only gives them
qualities additional to that of the words of the prayer
but makes them easier to remember, making the
worship of God a more pleasant and accessible task.
Speaking from personal experience, having gone to a
Jewish high school (although I am not, nor have ever
Peace Through Music been particularly observant or religious) there are still
many prayers which I remember, due to the melodies
which were attached to them. The melodic and
rhythmic qualities of the songs, allowed a connection

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to
the
pray
ers
whic
hI
still
valu
e,
des
pite
not practicing them on a day-to-day basis. Thus, music
facilitates a greater connection to spiritual music and
to those around them (if in a group) than otherwise
possible. These prayers almost always relate to
connecting with God or to healing a part of the mind, body or soul. In Jewish culture, there are prayers to connect with God at certain parts of the day, week or year and
prayers with a more specic purpose, relating to healing the sick, caring for the soul of a deceased to name just two examples.

Therefore, music has been used across many cultures for its ability to aid spiritual connection to God and its healing powers. Furthermore, music that is expressly spiritual
may have a healing effect on the mind, body and soul. Updike (1994) argues that the rhythm of music has a profound impact on one's experience of time. She refers to a
(1987) study by Watson which found that the use of music temporally and spatially extended healing consciousness. It is perhaps unsurprising that music of a spiritual or
religious nature is often slow in rhythm, reecting its attempt to soothe the soul and awaken a connection to God. Thus, spiritual music may also be ideal for healing
purposes. If this music extends the perception of time, this may allow people to feel less restrained or nervous by an impending illness. Of course, music evokes a
connection to spirituality and a healing state in many different ways. Indeed, healing takes on many different variations, it may involve healing a physical, mental or
spiritual ailment. Therefore, depending on the nature of the ailment, it may be suitable to use the soft repetition of Hindu mantras, the intense spiritual and physical
connection to the music of the dervishes, the relation of specic soothing tones to different parts of the human body, as in Chinese culture, or the infectious melodies
which facilitate a connection to music and the social group, as evident in Christian and Jewish cultures. Certainly, it is wise to learn from each of these groups regarding
the spiritual importance of music and its ability to heal.

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Asher Kenton BA (Hons), MA

References:

Inayat Khan, H., 1996 (originally published in 1991). The Mysticism of Sound and Music. Boston & London: Shambala Publishing.

McCaffrey, R., 2008. 'Music listening: its effects in creating a healing environment', Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 46 (10), pp. 39-44.

McClellan, R., 2000 (originally published in 1991). The Healing Forces of Music: History, Theory, and Practice. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse Publishing.

Perruzza, N., & Kinsella, E.A., 2010. 'Creative arts occupations in therapeutic practice: a review of the literature', British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73 (6), pp. 261-268.

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Strassman, R. J., 2001. DMT: The Spirit Molecule. A Doctor's Revolutionary Research into the Biology of Near-Death and Mystical Experiences. Rochester, VT: Park Street.

Updike, P.A., 1994. 'Aesthetic, Spiritual, Healing Dimensions in Music', in: Art & Aesthetics in Nursing (eds: Chin, P.L., & Watson, J). New York, NY: National League for
Nursing.

Ventre, M.E., 1994. 'Healing the Wounds of Childhood Abuse: A Guided Imagery and Music Case Study', Music Therapy Perspective, 12 (2), pp. 98-103.

Yang, J., 2014. 'Healing with Traditional Chinese Music', from The Epoch Times [online]. Available at: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n3/1140056-healing-with-traditional-
chinese-music [Accessed on 27/1/15].

WhatDoctorsDontTellYou

IntheAugust2014edionofWhatDoctorsDontTellYouafascinangarclewaspublishedentledTherightvibes.Thisarcleoutlinedthenewresearchthat
indicateshowmusicoersapowerfultherapyforvariouscondionsincludingstroke,heartdiseaseandevencancer.

Thearcleexplainsthateverycellinourbodyhasitsownfrequency,soeverybodyhasauniquecompositefrequency.

ThearcleincludesresearchbytheAustralianholischealerDrJohnDiamond,atrainedpsychiatristwhousesmusicasavitalpartofhealingtherapy.

Foraddioninformaoncontactwww.wddty.com

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