THE HEALING SOUND OF MUSIC
By Kate & Richard Mucci

ABOUT THIS BOOK This easy to understand primer on music healing reveals how positive and negative vibrations affect not only humans, but trees, animals, and even the universe. The Healing Sound of Music traces the roots of music healing back for thousands of years, when ancient people used music and tones to cure many kind of ailments. Remember the biblical story of David playinghis harp to heal King Saul's jealous rage? And did you know that the ancient Chinese symbols for music and medicine are practically identical? What is this amazing thing called music? Our lives seem to revolve around it. Music IS the soundtrack of our lives... in malls, on the radio, in our cars, at our weddings; it's even played at our funerals. By being aware of the kinds of sound, including music, that infiltrate our consciousness, we can learn to make ourselves healthier and happier. The Healing Sound of Music shows you how to surround yourself with the kinds of tones and frequencies that will make and keep you healthier. You'll learn how to use music to enhance your immune system and fight stress, high blood pressure, cancer, headaches, chronic pain and even loneliness. You'll discover how to create a soothing environment in your home, which will enhance your own power to heal, transform and find true inner peace. Through simple techniques based on relaxing, breathing and learning to listen, you will be able to tune in to the power of music like never before. The Healing Sound of Music gives you musical prescriptions for healing the emotional and spiritual bodies. Children with ADHD and other behavioral problems, adults suffering from depression, headaches, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, even anxiety,... all will benefit from the incredible information and exercises in this book. The full length CD included with this book was recorded by the authors to demonstrate the kinds of musical frequencies that work to heal the body. Listen, and be well!

Chapter six

Healing Sadness and Depression

"If we can love the stars
without knowing the vastness of the sky,
We can believe in miracles.
If we can believe in rainbows after the darkest storm,
We can believe in hope.
Somewhere beyond the clouds, behind the rain,
There are a thousand rainbows.
One is finding its way to you."
Anonymous, from the Internet, 1999

At one time or another, most of us have suffered from the blues. Business or family pressures, periods of time away from loved ones, or even returning to work after an especially enjoyable vacation can make us feel out of sorts and kind of sad. Usually it lasts a few hours or days at most, and a funny movie or a walk in a favorite spot is all we need to shake the mood.

It's okay to have these down periods, because we all need the time and headspace to coddle ourselves a bit. We need to re-evaluate things in our life, and sometimes we can only do that if we're in a reflective, maybe even sad state of mind. But when these episodes become increasingly frequent, of longer duration, and finally all consuming, that is depression. Loneliness, isolation, despair, and hopelessness take over. Getting out of bed in the morning becomes a major achievement. For these unfortunate souls, the ideal of having inner peace may seem as unattainable as a lottery jackpot.

Depression doesn't show up on cat scans, x-rays, and blood tests. Those who are close to someone suffering from it have difficulty understanding that exhortations and threats cannot force their loved one to snap out of it. And while those suffering from depression often feel that it is their own personal hell, the fact is that those closest to them are also suffering.

There are many medications that supposedly alleviate depression. While these drugs may in fact control the symptoms, they cannot cure the illness. The cause must be searched out and eradicated. Regression and psychotherapy, hypnosis and even re-birthing sessions are all excellent ways of dealing with the issues that contributed to the depression. But a very useful, easily accessible healing tool is usually ignored.

That tool, of course, is the secret power of music. Whether you suffer occasional bouts of the blues or reside constantly in the depths of depression, music can have a powerful effect on your mental health. When the right kinds of music are combined with guided imagery and/or meditation, the effects on even severely depressed people can seem miraculous.

Music is like a spiritual vitamin supplementing the soul with strength, certainty, and hopefulness.

We've already talked about the effects that certain frequencies, tones, and vibrations have on the physical body. We've also considered our own emotional responses to various styles and genres of music. Now, we can use this knowledge of the power of music to dispel sadness and depression and claim the joy that is rightfully ours.

If someone were to ask you, "What's wrong? Why are you so sad?" What would you say? Do you feel you are too fat or too skinny, not attractive, or smart enough? Don't make enough money, have enough friends, or someone who loves you? When you consider all the things that we think are wrong with our lives, it's a wonder any of us gets through this life with a smile. We are just not happy with ourselves. We're waiting for that promotion, to lose weight, to get a new car, to have a baby… then we'll be happy. But of course, even when we get any or all of those things, there's no guarantee they'll make us happy. All we've achieved is a great job, a perfect body, a fast car, and a baby. What happens when you realize that there is nothing else to which you can aspire?

The worst thing that could happen is to realize that there is no hope of finding happiness, because there is nothing left to conquer or acquire. There is nothing out there that gives you joy. So what do you do? You have to remember: joy and happiness are within, living right alongside peace. You just have to greet and embrace them. You must become aware that you already possess all that you need to be genuinely happy.

Each one of us is a very powerful, spiritual being. We are all sparks from the same Light that is the Creator. If we can stay in touch with the powerful creator that is inside, we can recognize that we create our own happiness. We don't have to depend upon anything or anyone else for joy. But in order to listen to the inner, creative you, you must first learn to hear your inner self over all of the clatter that surrounds our modern life.

Listen

Go to the quietest space you can find, and just sit for five minutes or so. Sit quietly. Listen. At first you may think you hear nothing, but it will come. Listen to the hum of an air conditioner, the chirping of a bird, the wind rustling through the trees, or the buzz of electricity in high tension wires. Listen to each of these sounds individually. Focus on them, one at a time. You will begin to feel them deep inside; they will develop a rhythm to you.

If you sit long and quietly enough, you will begin to hear your own body. You may even want to cover your ears so that you can really focus on your own internal sounds. You will hear (maybe for the first time) your own breathing. Listen to the beating of your own heart. Regulate your breathing. Change its rhythm. Listen.

Train your heart to listen

Now, use this newfound skill by listening to a piece of music. "Millennium" is great because the pure tones arranged in simple melodies allow your mind to focus, and you can practice conscious hearing. Listen to the music with the same attentiveness you've just given to the silence and your own body. Let it transport you to a place within yourself where you may remember events and people which have caused you sadness or disappointment. If these things are making you depressed, it may be because you've made a judgment about their value to you.

Don't let judgments prevent you from seeing the good that lies beyond experiences. Release your judgments, and enjoy. If you're honest with yourself, you'll probably see that there is no reason to feel bad about these things or people. This may give you an immense feeling of relief, which may cause you to cry. That's a good thing, because crying releases pent up emotions, and allows negative energy to flow from the body. You then need to replace that negative energy with positive thoughts and feelings, expressed in affirmations such as the following:

I am the master of my own destiny. I decide now that I am happy and content.
I am beautiful, powerful, and creative. I can do anything.
I am in the best place I can be, right now.

Continue listening to the music for awhile. Create your own affirmations that confirm what you know in your mind, and in your heart-that you are the master of your own happiness.

Go a step further. Imagine yourself in a place of beauty, a place of peace. Picture the most beautiful place you can be, and be there.

Feel joy and peace flooding over you, becoming part of you. Use the music to take your self to that place now, and every time you begin to feel unhappy. Remember always that you created that beautiful place and those positive feelings, and they are yours whenever you want them.

Forgive and Be Forgiven

While you're in this place of peace created by you and the music, you may begin to think of other things that are making you feel bad. Is there someone who you feel has hurt you? Are you harboring resentment toward that person? Unresolved issues like this have a way of festering into depression and other emotional problems, and you should take this opportunity to get rid of them.

You may not be able to talk directly to those individuals, but you can imagine that you're meeting them to clear the air. Allow yourself to be drawn into the music again, into your peaceful place, and as you are, imagine that these individuals are there with you, standing in front of you. They are smiling, as are you. Notice what they are wearing, how they look. Really look at them, into their eyes. Address each of them individually, saying: "I forgive you, completely, and freely. I set you free, and let you go to that which is the best for you. All is cleared up between us, now and forever. I let you go to your own peace."

Now consider the people that you may have hurt. That includes you. Have you done something that has caused grief or pain to someone else? They may not even be aware of it, but you are. You hold it inside you. Now is the time to clear the air. Imagine again, that you are in your peaceful, safe place, and they are there. Hear them telling you that you are forgiven. Everything is cleared up between you, and you can go to your own peace. You will be astonished at how much happier you feel once you've learned to give and accept forgiveness.

Create Your Joy

We've said this many times in this book, and we'll say it again, because it is so important. To truly see your self, recognize your worth, and feel at peace, nothing is as potent as creating. Especially if you are creating music. With your voice, or with an instrument, this manifested act of creation will give you joy.

A part of your soul is stimulated when you make music. It is an honest, uncensored purging of the Self. Release your pent up fears, anxieties, sadness, by singing. Sing the blues, if you want. Make up a song explaining why you have the blues. Beat on a drum, play a flute. Strum a guitar. Make your own kind of music.

You've cleared the air. You've addressed long-standing issues. You've realized your power as a creator. You can push sadness and feelings of self-loathing away, and open your heart. You can see and enjoy the abundance that you have been given and that you have created yourself. In this glorious state of acceptance and joy, depression just cannot prevail, and inner peace and healing will be yours.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Both Kate and Richard Mucci are musicians (harp and guitar) who perform regularly throughout the USA. They also run music workshops where people learn how to harness the power of music and use it to heal themselves and others in body, mind and soul.