The featured guest recently on the popular all-night talk show, Coast to Coast AM, was the 80-year old pioneer researcher, Cleve Backster, who discovered and proved the sentient qualities of plants. In simpler terms, using his lie detection apparatus, which he helped invent, Cleve demonstrated that plants respond to our thoughts, our moods, and our music.

I was especially thrilled to hear that his new book, Primary Perception, has just been published — especially since Backster was one of my early mentors. In fact, it was his biofeedback equipment and experimental protocol that played a considerable role in my graduate research into the healing powers of my impressionistic compositions, which were unlike any other music available in l97l-73.

One of the fascinating breakthroughs of those experiments was that we discovered it was possible to measure the healing power of music that was played in a room by measuring the plant’s response to the way the human subject in the room was responding to the music. This gave us a more accurate way of measuring the effect of the music, rather than merely verbally asking them how they felt when they listened .

I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of actually objectively measuring states of consciousness, rather than merely dealing with subjective “opinions.” So when a new multi-media product comes along that combines alternative wellness and computer gaming, I knew that the developers were onto something good. In The Journey to the Wild Divine, you learn to manage stress with breathing techniques and specific brainwave patterns; you connect to the Myst-like temples and mountains through small monitors on your fingers.

Biofeedback, in brief, uses electronic equipment to measure an individual’s internal physiological and psychological states. The “feedback” helps the individual learn how to control these states in order to activate or maintain specific brainwave patterns which relate to states of consciousness.

The Journey’s biofeedback component measures a player’s galvanic skin response (GSR) and heart rate variability. For example, one sequence requires the player to lower a floating feather, In order to do that you need to move into a meditative state; the player actually sees how getting into this deeply relaxed state helps move the feather down.

The Journey to the Wild Divine creates a true mind-body link to the gaming world. Benefits of playing this game typically include reduced stress, enhanced powers of creativity and intuition, improved mental and physical performance, and an overall feeling of being in balance and “in tune” with oneself and the world.

As such, it’s an entertaining and insight-engendering tool for self-discovery that is also an adventure set in a world of exquisite beauty. If feels like you’re in the gloriously colorful parts of the move What Dreams May Come. (If you haven’t seen that film, check it out soon: the visionary visual section is an all-time best nominee!)

Combining art and science to support spiritual growth has always been a cornerstone of my work as a musician. The Wild Divine project helps us reconnect with an inner technology that relates to the age-old mystical mind-body psycho-technologies of sages, shamans and yogis. This is a contemporary manifestation of an ancient tradition, and one I think many of you might be interested in.

This project has already received endorsements from Deepak Chopra, Joan Borysenko, Jean Houston and James Twyman. For an introduction to the experience, go to www.stevenhalpern.com and click on “Doctor Sound Recommends.”

Kurt R. Smith is the founder of the project that incorporates elements of the classic mythological hero or heroine’s journey with 3-D graphics, video, biofeedback and music. The soundtrack features well-known Tibetan monk Nawang Kheochog, and Colorado-based Chris Berry. Volume Two is slated to include some of my own music. I’m looking forward to seeing what the synergy between their music and my compositions creates.

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Steven Halpern is one of the world’s leading composers of music for healing, wellness, and inner peace. His recordings combine ancient principles of sound healing, the healing powers of Mother Earth, and state of the art recording technology. His latest releases are Crystal Bowl Healing and Ocean Suite. Contact Steven at AskDrSound@innerpeacemusic.com or visit his website at www.stevenhalpern.com.

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