sanity and music

[Technosoul]

In Eqypt of old music was part of their philosophy and linked to their knowledge of math and colors.

In ancient China and India music was concidered as something very sacred and came close to be a kind of religion - or expression of the spiritual.

In Native American cultures the drumming and dance steps were a way to communicate with the great Spirit in nature.

Classical music was the expression of the awe of nature (as interpreted by the few who had ears to hear it and put it into musical form) - however times had changed by then and so they had to stop performing classic music in the areas of the city were "common folk" might hear it - for when they did perform the papers reported it cause "maddness in the streets" and that the classic music was stirring up primitive and animalistic emotions in people causing them to go insane).

Carl Jung also wrote about the trance like maddness of teenagers dancing to rock and roll music in the 1950s. One preacher got famious demonizing rock and roll music saying it was the devils music. He warned it would lead to kids towards pre-marrage sex and drugs (as it turned out he was right about that). But was becoming clear that music could be used to create a state of altered conscousness simular to the effects of mild drugs. Is an altered consciousness the same as insanity or maddness? Not sure.

Needless to say most religions quickly saw the advantages of music as a way to enfluence the minds and moods of people. So we got all kinds of religious music from more stemulating gospels to stress relaxing meditational music. Music seems to help humans embody the spirit - which is a feeling of some kind (logically).

The universe has a rythem - it is a song. They say a baby can hear that music inside the mother with the drumming of the heart beat - and that if it crys after brith you can calm it (him or her) down by singing a song.

Any comments?

[toys]

One preacher got famious demonizing rock and roll music saying it was the devils music. He warned it would lead to kids towards pre-marrage sex and drugs (as it turned out he was right about that).

Wait... music "caused" the decline of morality in society? <insert something about art imitates life>

I think that any manner in which you can lose yourself (in a trance-like state) can create an avenue to your soul (or your god or your mind or etc.)... be it music, humor, meditation, etc. Music is a form of expression and it allows you to get in touch with your(real)self... and if at the end of that journey you find insanity, then perhaps that's all that was there to begin with.

Is an altered consciousness the same as insanity or maddness?

In a sense, absolutely. It's a method by which our minds reach new levels (or depths?). We've all had bouts of depression or mania... or lapses away from what is considered normal. That doesn't make us mental cases (unless it's not temporary). Listening to music is an easy way to get lost in ones' head, easy because you can turn it off. The hard part is voluntarily altering consciousness without any aid. I would think the hope with music, in religion - for example, is to provide a simple method for insight. Sure it can be used as propaganda, but that only works when you don't find your own individual way to relate.

I think of music like language, where your thoughts are limited by the means you chose/use for expression... and not the other way around. Your method of communication does not set your mind, it's just a vehicle.

[Roberto]

Any comments?

Music undoubtedly has influences that are overlooked by most modern western music. Indeed most western music affects the baser human energies, one of which is the sex drive. Music can have healing powers as well as improve creativity, concentration, memory etc.

[Technosoul]

Wait... music "caused" the decline of morality in society? <insert something about art imitates life>

I think that any manner in which you can lose yourself (in a trance-like state) can create an avenue to your soul (or your god or your mind or etc.)... be it music, humor, meditation, etc. Music is a form of expression and it allows you to get in touch with your(real)self... and if at the end of that journey you find insanity, then perhaps that's all that was there to begin with.

In a sense, absolutely. It's a method by which our minds reach new levels (or depths?). We've all had bouts of depression or mania... or lapses away from what is considered normal. That doesn't make us mental cases (unless it's not temporary). Listening to music is an easy way to get lost in ones' head, easy because you can turn it off. The hard part is voluntarily altering consciousness without any aid. I would think the hope with music, in religion - for example, is to provide a simple method for insight. Sure it can be used as propaganda, but that only works when you don't find your own individual way to relate.

I think of music like language, where your thoughts are limited by the means you chose/use for expression... and not the other way around. Your method of communication does not set your mind, it's just a vehicle.

The one religious preacher - who was a relative of Jerry Lee Lewis (who sang Great Balls of Fire and Whole Lotta Shaken Goin' On) apparently selected Rock and Roll something bad happening - keeping in mind that Rock and Roll was originally performed only in all African-American neighborhoods. In other words - not my idea personally.

Does music reflect life - indeed I think I did cover that in saying that Classical music (reflected) the awe and wonder of nature. And that the universe is a song because of its balance and beauty. Now if we only had some music worthy enough to immate the beauty and art of that pretty girl you used in the photo on your post.

If that is you, please note that I never try to stand up agenst pretty women or dynimite. So you would automatical win the debate as I am obligated by my policy to surrender,.

But even without that goddess like image I must agree with your words alone and would very much like to thank you for the wonderful insight into this topic.

Music can express what words cannot say. And when it comes to those more profound altered states of mind that contain extra-reality experiences on a visonary or feeling scale, only music and other forms of art can translate what was experienced - words become of non-effect (other then poetry).