I now know a little about why music has such a deep effect on me. This is something my mind could have never grasped had I not first experienced it. Like right now, the penetrating energetic sound of a violin and orchestra (Mendelssohn) is flowing through my ears and vibrating throughout my body. Thursday evening I listened to a work by Dvorak, and the feeling of excited, exuberant peace filled me and felt as though it were bursting thru my skin.
This is only happening because I am learning the way of deep awareness. I am learning to hear with more than my ears. When I let go of my mental constraints, the path to my heart, my inner being, my whole physical and unseen self is opened.
I think this true of all my senses, but today I am aware of the effect of sound. My inner self is especially impressed and influenced by the sound of music, no matter how primitive. When allowed, the vibrations of sound, especially music, resonate and reinforce whatever intentions or dispositions I have internally. The sound of music encourages me to focus and allow my awareness, my consciousness to travel deep inside me. For this to happen, my mind, my guardian at the gate, must move aside and allow the passage.
This can be the healing power of music, when music amplifies my body powers of healing. It can simply be the way to a deep feeling of peace. The energy that falls on my ears is sent into my inner self, and my whole self is filled with this energy. Some of this is simply a physical response if I am humming or singing. My enhanced breathing sends more oxygen to my whole body and all my cells are energized. My arousal centers are stirred, my whole body becomes awake.
I think musical sound has more than this simple physical effect. I think the vibrations and waves on the fields around me, when allowed, resonate with the fields of my inner being. The resulting harmony aligns my whole being with the universe to which I have thus become attuned. I am more “in tune” with the energy in the fields around me, and that gives me a feeling of great peace. I experience what it means to be one with the web of life, the web of reality.
Regretfully, I have heard considerable criticism for my humming. I now think that my humming is a way of aligning myself with the universe, and I want to encourage it, but be discrete. I want to cast aside the nagging, judging, mind constraints. But mostly do it when I am alone.
I now understand why my bell is so effective in helping me move so easily to a place of awareness. The familiar sound of my bell easily travels to that place of inner awareness and energy. It knows the way very well. It enthusiastically leads the way to that place, my controlling mind steps aside and my other senses seem to follow the sound of the bell.
I welcome and embrace the power of music. No matter if it is a sound of sorrow or joy, I know it is a harbinger of peace and healing.