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Have you found your favorite place yet? During a recent radio interview, I was asked if I ever watch TV. I was taken aback for a moment, since I had never been asked that before. My answer surprised the interviewer: "Yes--in homeopathic doses. Granted, most of TV programming is a wasteland, but there are some magic moments that come through as well. Our culture is not oriented to providing "peak experiences", and I believe we need all we can get--wherever we can get them."* Case in point occurred during Divas Las Vegas. All the divas were great, but it was Mary J. Blige who really raised the roof. When she shifted gears and went into "trance mode" and was filled with the Spirit, there was little doubt that something special had just taken place. Did you see that broadcast on VH-1? Did you see her performance during the Grammy Awards? If not, I recommend renting or buying the video. In fact, there is a long historical precedent for what often occurs during this form of Gospel music. Many people have experienced healings during and after--not to mention intense kundalini awakenings. In 1977, I was privileged to have been shown an unpublished manuscript by an anthropological graduate student at UC Berkeley. His thesis was "Trance possession in traditional African societies and how it now manifests in gospel, rock and pop music." It really opened my eyes and ears and mind and heart to a whole level of musical experience that was far removed from my Long Island upbringing ... but one in which I felt very much at home. Vocals vs. Instrumentals Scientifically speaking, it is difficult to categorize how much of the effect is due to the lyrics, the rhythms, or to the energy that comes through. If you are familiar with the shamanic sound healing tradition, you know that it may not be that the "music" is the key--but rather that the repetitive rhythms or words trigger a predictable response from our nervous system and consciousness. In other words, the music is, in this case, just a vehicle to get the listener receptive to what is coming. Traditionally, performances were deep down in caves, or more recently, in churches--or stadium-sized rock concerts. So it's a special treat to use television as the medium to tune in to a transcendent space from the comfort and privacy of one's own living room. These examples do have one thing in common--a high energy, fast and loud rhythm. In my last column, I mentioned some do-it-yourself tools. This month's suggested "listening club" includes: Shamballa, by Shapeshifter from www.visionarymusic.com Your comments about Divas or other televised trance-induction moments are also welcomed. Until next time, stay tuned. * I consider these TV moments to be serendipitous gifts that deserve to be honored and enjoyed. Other surprising places that I have experienced peak experiences have included underground parking garages that have great natural reverb, making it perfect for harmonic overtone chanting (and a self-induced "singer's high"). I call this the "simulated Taj Mahal effect", and find that it's much better than just singing in the shower. Here are some other places you may enjoy: concrete stairwells in certain large hotels, the tile covered bathroom in certain auditoriums.. Steven Halpern has been a leading proponent of sound healing since his 1975 release, Spectrum Suite, helped create this vital genre of recorded music. His latest releases include Chakra Suite and Music for Yoga |
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