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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 6,988,399 |
Question of the Week: 67 - 11/19/2001 What Is Music? What is 'music' really? What sort of music do you like or has special meaning for you? Do you use music in your rituals/meditations/workings? Share your favorite music line quotation or the one that has expressed a thought, emotion or hope that you wish more people would 'get a clue' about. |
| Reponses: There are 18 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Music, What May Seem Insignificant Yet Can Be More Influencial Than Any... | Nov 12th. at 11:01:43 am EST |
| Aelfen Pandora (Chicago, Illinois US) | Age: 16 - Email |
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Music, what may seem insignificant yet can be more influencial than any philosopher and more giving than a loyal familiar. I am a Beatlemaniac, the Beatles' music speaks to me (no, not like Charles Manson). All You Need is Love has inspired me and others greatly; their movie, Yellow Submarine, is pondered in classes in universities. Music is poetry, but on a much higher level. It helps us sleep, dance, get over troubles, and love. Pop is not music, it teaches nothing but to be promiscuous and popular. Heavy metal is too angry, unless you like being inspired to act violently. I play the piano and take singing lessons, both of which I deeply enjoy. I've ordered a sitar in the mail, to heighten my thoughts about the art of sound. Blessed Be and All You Need is Love! |
| Music Is One Of The Major Driving Forces In My Life. Without... | Nov 12th. at 11:53:22 am EST |
| Night MoonFlame (Tidewater, Oregon US) | Age: 13 |
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Music is one of the major driving forces in my life. Without music I'd go nuts. I am a very musically talented person, (they said I'm just repeating). It affects my thinking and my moods, (well mostly I play songs that fit my established mood). Now this doesn't mean from listening to the same wonderful sad song for 6 hours straight, (I actually did that once) that I'm going to be all mopey and depressed. It just means it's a wonderful song with great lyrics and fabulous music to boot. I also beleive that music sends messages to out sub-conscious. None of the music I have would be very good for a ritual considring it's got very fast beats from start to finish or very loud no matter how low you turn the volume. And most, if not all, of them are love songs.(I'm a hopeless romantic*sigh*) And then the rest are a myriad mix of kicking butt and sad and happy songs not to mention all the various things that would take up a whole page to list. Music has been my inspiration for life and it has also helped me through the rough times by first sympathyzing(sad songs) and then telling me I'm better because of it(kicking butt songs). Hmmm my favorite line from a song... "I might be barely breathin' but I'm not dead"-Jodee Messina, Bring On the Rain. It says that even though it looks like I'm gonna be dead that I'm not dead just yet and I still have a chance, so don't condem me to death just yet. |
| I Disagree With The Individual Who Posted The Comments About Pop Influencing... | Nov 12th. at 1:20:03 pm EST |
| Elfster (Lewisville, Texas US) | Age: 36 - Email |
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I disagree with the individual who posted the comments about Pop influencing people to become popular or Heavy Metal influencing people to violent behavior. Music is music is music is music. For instance, I've been listening to Heavy Metal for close to seventeen years now (yes I lean back to the old days when Heavy Metal was about how much hairspray you wore in your hair), and I've yet to lose control of myself and fall over to a mannerism of chaotic violence. Music, much like the Pagan ways we each follow seperately yet together, is about an attitude, a manner of expressing one's self. Yet all musical art forms are merely releases for emotions - both of the artist and the listener. To help us release the emotions of sorrow, we turn to quiet musical forms, such as Enya, Loreena McKennitt, and others, so that we may lend more power to our sorrow and sadness. For romantic moods, we turn to many different artists, but generally those that touch our inner soul and speak of beauty and caring in our mind's eye. To increase the intensity of our daily workouts, we might turn to Punk, Alternative, or Heavy Metal music to help get the juices flowing and raise the heartbeat a little higher. No, music doesn't make us more violent, nor does it make us anything else. Music merely lends a stronger current of power into our current mindset...our actions are determined by our own selves - to suggest that music leads us towards a path of destruction and violence, no matter what the music genre, is to deny the concept that we choose to walk that Path ourselves. |
| For Me, Always, Music Has Been My Escape Route To All The... | Nov 12th. at 3:12:49 pm EST |
| Ciarrai (Somewhere In Middlesex County, New Jersey US) | Age: 34 - Email |
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For me, always, music has been my escape route to all the far-away places in my mind since I have been a child. During my "wonder years" I immediately went up to my room, off w/ the Catholic school uniform, on with the turn table, and into my trance I would go! Dancing, trancing, prancing, singing -- Mom didn't care; she raised 6 full blown hippies before me -- I was easy compared to them, and I was home! Immediately refreshed from trauma from the nuns, I would be better prepared to have positive discussion with Mom, and to do my homework completely focused. I'm 34 now, and this has not changed, except I'm by myself! (I am known to continue driving around the block until the music is over...) ***************** Just the other day, this one hit me in the face, "And then one day you'll find Ten years have got behind you, No one told you when to run You missed the starting gun..." Pink Floyd; don't know if it's Waters or Gilmour, or both... Let's just say that my last 10 years in this lifetime have been, well, "interesting!" ****************** "And the woman may be awestruck, And the woman may truly care, But the woman is so tired, So the woman disappears..." -- Bella Donna, Stevie Nicks "Come In Out of the Darkness..." -- as above! (Just feeling very "womanly today..." else I'd probably be quoting lots of Morrison!) |
| Music Has Always Been An Outlet For How I Feel. When I... | Nov 12th. at 6:31:07 pm EST |
| Amber "Heathen" Davis (Cornelius, Oregon US) | Age: 21 - Email |
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Music has always been an outlet for how I feel. When I was in high school I went through the whole Marilyn Manson phase (for all you parents out there--don't worry! It is indeed only a phase! lol). Towards the end of high school I moved on to listening to more intelligent music. The woman who owns a small Pagan store in the town I grew up in got me into listening to Loreena Mckennit, which I still listen to to this day. The first song I heard of hers was "The Highway Man", adapted from Alfred Noyes' poem, which happens to be one of my favorites. Depending on my mood, I can go from listening to Cradle of Filth (british goth/black-metal band) to listening to the likes of Enya or Loreena McKennit. I have a large cd collection, but the ones that I listen to the most are "Midian" by Cradle of Filth, "The Visit" by Loreena McKennit, "How To Measure A Planet?" by The Gathering, "Dark Side of The Moon" by Pink Floyd, "The Dance" by Fleetwood Mac, "The Velvet Darkness They Fear", by Theatre of Tragedy. When I'm sad, I can listen to something slow and soft and sit in the dark and cry...When I'm angry I can put in a Cradle of Filth cd and sing (or perhaps shriek is a better word for it) along. Some of my favorite songs are songs I like because they describe me, or how I feel...For example the song "Marooned" by The Gathering: I know I'm from a lesser tribe I suppose the range of my intelligence is way too wide And you don't see me 'cause I don't have much to say My emotional outlet is consuming the better part of me And apart from the wrong words a tortured cry is making me see That you don't see me 'cause I don't have much to say Hours and hours of jealousy are passing me by Although hollow silence is the only wave going through your brain And you don't see me 'cause I don't have much to say The only music I really don't like is pop and rap. Pop is all commercialized trash with the Britney Speare's bimbo types and wussy boy bands. Rap is just....ugh. Thats all I have to say about rap! And contrary to what someone mentioned in an earlier post, metal music doesn't necessarily inspire people to be violent. I love many metal bands and I wouldn't hurt a fly :-) Pop music on the other hand...well, personally pop music does have a tendency to make me want to lash out in violent ways ;-) As I once saw on a tshirt someone was wearing on the bus "SPEAR BRITNEY!" |
| Music Has Been A Very Important Part Of My Life From A... | Nov 13th. at 1:14:43 am EST |
| Gwydion Canu Bleidd (Knoxville, Tennessee US) | Age: 33 - Email |
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Music has been a very important part of my life from a very early age. Rock 'n' roll was what moved me as a kid (and still does whenever I need a release)--from the age of five, when I was introduced to the Beatles' music (and in my heart, the Fab Four will always be the reigning Kings of Rock 'n' Roll; there has been no one to touch them, before or since), through the age of sixteen, when I immersed myself fully in the poetics of Bob Dylan, and my subsequent discoveries of psychedelia, progressive rock and Celtic folk music. I like nearly all kinds of music, with the exception of rap (something about hearing it booming from cars going down the street past my house in the middle of the night while I'm trying to get to sleep--something that has never been easy for me--has fueled my dislike of this form of "urban art") and modern country-and-western (too much of the sameness that afflicts top 40 and even most "alternative" music). Music is the one thing that gives me comfort when I need it most, helps me to express whatever I'm feeling--rage, love, confusion, fear--and to, in the immortal words of the MC5, "Kick Out the Jams." For rituals, I prefer anything that will get me into the proper state of mind, so the more hypnotic, the better. Of late, my favorite artists have been the Strawbs, Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny. These are all connected, as Sandy was briefly a member of the Strawbs before joining Fairport Convention in 1968, and Thompson was Fairport's founding lead guitarist, and remains one of the finest folk-rock guitarists and singer-songwriters England has yet produced (as well as being a sorely underrated talent, as Sandy was, and as the Strawbs still are). Dave Cousins, founder member and linchpin of the Strawbs, wrote a song in 1972 that very definitely applies to the world today; at the time, he wrote it about Northern Ireland, but it fits particularly well in the wake of 9/11. The song is titled "New World": There is blood in the dust, where the city's heart beats The children play games that they take from the streets How can you teach when you've so much to learn? May you turn... In your grave new world. There is hate in your eyes, I have seen it before Planning destruction behind a locked door Were you the coward who fired the last shot? May you rot!... In your grave new world. There is death in the air, with the lights growing dim As those who survive sing a desperate hymn Pray that God grants you one final request May you rest... In your grave new world. After 9/11, that song expressed all the anger, the outrage, and the sorrow that I felt at what has become of our world. Yet another song, by the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens (also a longtime favorite of mine), written around the same time, expresses much the same feelings, but in a gentler tone, a wish for all to reconcile: "Now I've been crying lately Thinking about the world as it is; Why must we go on hating? Why can't we live in bliss?..." --"Peace Train" (1971) Music, above all, is an international language that we can all understand. |
| Great Topic! I Love Music. It's A Pleasure And A Wonder Unto... | Nov 13th. at 7:24:41 am EST |
| John ("New Naumkeag", Ohio US) | Age: 34 - Email |
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Great topic! I love music. It's a pleasure and a wonder unto itself; it's also like so many of the important things in life: so complex on the one hand and yet so utterly simple on the other hand. Music, like any art or like humor, faith, love, etc. just *is*. Even though its components are very complex, those components make something that is not only greater than the whole; it is a whole that is utterly different than the components. And that is both elementary and elemental... I like pretty much any kind of music. What kind depends upon my mood. No, I don't usually use music in my workings, etc.; my enjoyment of it or just listening to it would be too much of a distraction. There is a song that, to my surprise, actually helped me learn something pretty deep recently. It's the Fleetwood Mac song, "As Long As You Follow." I heard it playing in my mind as I woke up from an "informative" dream. The dream isn't worth repeating here; suffice to say I had been thinking about (the night and days before) the concepts of duality that Hinduism calls "maya" (the illusion/reality that everything seems separate) and "leila" (the loving play that God has with Its/His/Her creation, by means of maya). How to understand this was (and is) beyond me; how to deal with it was the issue facing me. And then I had that dream and heard that song in my mind playing when I woke up. I went online, found the lyrics, read them, and understood. It doesn't matter that there is the appearance of separateness nor loving play; what matters is going along with both in love and truth, to love and truth, through living our normal human lives. In Hinduism, this is summarized by the image of "the Dancing Shiva." In Witchcraft, it's summarized by the idea (not just the book) of "the Spiral Dance." And the song, "As Long as You Follow" --to me-- summarized the love and truth of Love and Truth as it loves and realizes Its Self, by and with and through our very selves as we live our human lives. I know, that's quite a lot for a song and probably not what the artists intended; but, that is the effect that it had on me, to my surprise but also to my relief and my joy. And then, of course, I set all those deep thoughts aside and just *enjoyed* the music. Wise and Blessed Be. --John |
| I Gave Up A While Ago Trying To Define Music. It's Like... | Nov 13th. at 10:27:18 am EST |
| Chronarchy (Columbus, Ohio US) | Age: 22 - Email |
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I gave up a while ago trying to define music. It's like Magic in that way: no definition and no description. I don't use music in my rituals, outside of chants or drumming to put people in an altered state. I use music to escape and to feel good. Parrotheads aren't common among Pagans, for some reason (I'm sure there are some closeted ones out there). Personally, I think that there's more to Buffett music than women, drinking, and women, and that everyone would get something out of it if they would give it a chance. Take a listen to "Fruitcakes" sometime: 'Where's the church, who took the steeple Religion's in the hands of some crazy ass people Television preachers with bad hair and dimples The God's honest truth is it's not that simple It's the Buddhist in you, it's the Pagan in me It's the Muslim in him, she's Catholic ain't she? It's that born again look, it's the wasp and the Jew Tell me what's goin on, I ain't got a clue!' Tell me that doesn't speak to Pagans. . . If you're looking for a quote from me, I'll be under the mango tree. |
| It's An Expression Of Something, But Music It's Not." A Teacher Of... | Nov 13th. at 10:54:07 am EST |
| Vivhianna (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario CA) | Age: 19 - Email |
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"It's an expression of something, but music it's not." A teacher of mine in high school once said this of the more--um--unorthodox types of music out there. Sometimes, to tell the truth, I'd be rather inclined to agree. Granted, in my opinion some of it's not bad and the lyrics can really be meaningful, but it's hard to appreciate lyrics you can barely hear over a crashing drum and screaming guitars in the background. Needless to say, the sort of music that appeals to my younger brother does not necessarily appeal to me. Music, it seems, is really hard to define. To some, it's a collection of sounds meant to express something, so in a very real way it's a language. To others, it has to have some sort of structure, a mathematical precision, to qualify as music. Some like music that sounds calm and pleasant. In the end, I guess it's all up to personal tastes and opinions, what music really is. My personal favourite sorts of music are classical, celtic, and occasionally a bit of R&B or pop. (I've learned a small appreciation for the Backstreet Boys out of self defence because my two best friends are big fans of theirs.) Music is useful, I find; when I'm upset I've been known to sing the "Dies Irae" from Mozart's requiem mass or play "Catharsis" on the violin. When I'm happy, it's a way to relax, either by listening to it or actually playing it. Music is a big part of my life, and I love it. Certainly I use music in ritual; it helps me focus, especially if I feel that the music I've chosen has a lot to do with what the ritual is in the first place. (Two favourite songs of mine for Samhain are by Loreena McKennitt, "All Souls Night" and "Between the Shadows".) Sometimes I'll listen to it on CD, other times I'll sing or play the violinor my bagpipes. All in all, it helps me a lot. Finally, my favourite quote from a song comes (perhaps ironically) from a hymn I learned in my Catholic school days. I have since adapted the song so I can sing it according to my present religious viewpoint, but I left these verses, numbers two and three, intact: "We offer you our failures, we offer you attempts, The gifts not fully given, the dreams not fully dreamt. Give our stumblings direction, give our visions wider view, An offering of ashes, an offering to you." "Then rise again from ashes, let healing come to pain, Though spring has turned to winter and sunshine turned to rain. The rain we'll use for growing and create the world anew, From an offering of ashes, an offering to you." |
| Wow ... What A Wonderful Topic. Music As Always Been Away To Express... | Nov 13th. at 10:59:40 am EST |
| ƒowyn (Western, Massachusetts US) | Age: 29 - Email |
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Wow ... what a wonderful topic. Music as always been away to express emotion. It moves my soul in ways nothing else can. It makes me sexy and it makes me sob. It can take me to places that I never imagined and it can solidify me in my own space and time. Can you tell that I have thought about this before? I listen to everything from Rob Zombie and Godsmack to Loreena McKennitt and Sylvia Brallier. I use music in almost all my work. Actually, I am almost never without it. It plays all day at work, in my car during all my travels, at home while I am bopping around cleaning or whatever. Each song has a different mood and meaning and the are all special. Currently, my father and I are trying to rebuild our relationship after many years of trial and separation. There is a song called "Butterfly Kisses" by Bob Carlisle that means a lot to me and it always makes me cry no matter what I am doing. I am my Daddy's little girl and that song is just perfect for the way that we really feel about each other, despite everything. It is like Bob Carlisle reached into each stage of our relationship as it changed and wrote the lyrics to match. I know that he is a Christian artist, but that doesn't matter ... it is that feeling of a father who loves his littel girl that matters. I wish that all families could remember that we are only part of each others lives for a little while and that time goes so quickly. You need to tell the people that are close to you that you love them, because they will not always be around to say it later. Butterfly Kisses By Bob Carlisle There's two things I know for sure. She was sent here from heaven, and she's daddy's little girl. As I drop to my knees by her bed at night, she talks to Jesus, and I close my eyes. And I thank God for all the joy in my life, Oh, but most of all, for... Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer. Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair. "Walk beside the pony, daddy, it's my first ride." "I know the cake looks funny, daddy, but I sure tried." Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right To deserve a hug every morning, and butterfly kisses at night. Sweet sixteen today, She's looking like her momma a little more every day. One part woman, the other part girl. To perfume and makeup, from ribbons and curls. Trying her wings out in a great big world. But I remember... Butterfly kisses after bedtime prayer. Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair. "You know how much I love you, daddy, but if you don't mind, I'm only going to kiss you on the cheek this time." Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right. To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses at night. All the precious time ... Like the wind, the years go by Precious butterfly ... Spread your wings and fly She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise and I'll give her away. Standing in the bride room just staring at her, she asked me what I'm thinking, and I said "I'm not sure, I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl." Then she leaned over... and gave me... Butterfly kisses, with her mama there sticking little flowers all up in her hair "Walk me down the aisle, daddy, it's just about time" "Does my wedding gown look pretty, daddy?" "Daddy, don't cry." Oh, with all that I've done wrong, I must have done something right To deserve her love every morning, and butterfly kisses I couldn't ask God for more. Man, this is what love is. I know I've gotta let her go, but I'll always remember every hug in the morning, and butterfly kisses... |
| To Say That Music Is Important To Me Would Be An Understatement... | Nov 13th. at 2:42:37 pm EST |
| Aurora Emerald (Portland, Oregon US) | Age: 25 - Email |
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To say that music is important to me would be an understatement. I am working to make a living as a composer, performer and teacher. To define music, I could spout out all sorts of techno-babble, "organized sound" or "expressions in sound". However, I truly believe that music relates to our subconscious as a symbol - much as the elements, colors, smells, and performance of magic does. I have been doing quite a bit of research to prepare for a class that I'll be teaching. In this research, I was drawn to Pythagoras. Reading about his thoughts on music were very moving for me musically and spiritually. He explains that music contains the same proportions that define our universe, that number is evident in it as number is the building block of the universe. He was the founder of the study of Music Therapy, teaching that certain sounds and groups of sounds reflect harmony and dis-chord in the universe and therefor can create the same in ourselves. I highly recommend reading about him if you are interested in drawing lines that connect music with magic/the use of universal energies. I am drawn to many types of music. One of the works that has moved me the most is Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber. Many will probably recognize it as being used in the movie Platoon. As far as ritual work, music is my ritual right now - it is how I am trying to find my "meaning of the universe." I am still a novice when it comes to performing ritual. I'm sure I will add music that moves me in my purpose. However, when I meditate, I prefer silence as my subconscious can be too influenced/distracted otherwise. Blessed be |
| Music, To Me, Is Simply Beautiful Noise. I Perceive Most Laughter As... | Nov 13th. at 7:41:10 pm EST |
| Riannon SilverMoon (New Westminster, British Columbia CA) | Age: 19 - Email |
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Music, to me, is simply beautiful noise. I perceive most laughter as music, I even view some people's voices as music, even if they are just speaking. The types of music (songs etc.) that I prefer, are Goth (not Marilyn Manson), Industrial, EBM, Darkwave, Ambient, and Celtic. But I do listen to and enjoy other genres, and if someone wants to introduce me to a new type, I will listen. The song I use most in ritual is a chant by Inkubus Sukkubus, a Pagan Goth Band, called "Wytches' Chant" It starts off as a whisper, grows louder, then fades out again - the chant is 'Isis Astarte Diana Hecate Demeter Kali Inana' - I find this one works beautifully when drawing down the moon or just meditating. I don't know what I would do without music. It helps to sustain me. |
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