____________Expressions in Song & Spirit & Social Change____________

There are so many songs which reference the sacredness of music. ‘The Secret Life of Plants,’ from Stevie Wonder ‘In Bloom,’ from Nirvana and too many more to really list here. Music can be considered a mathematical interaction, and there are many studies revealing what western science perceives as special about music. So, when I listened to Rupert Sheldrake’s TEDx talk, “The Science Delusion,’ which apparently was ‘banned’ from TED, I was interested in more of his philosophy.

Since he described himself an atheist, and a scientist, it was very interesting to read Sheldrake’s essay on Sacred Song. Being a poet, musician and a wanna be shaman, who has a ceremonial name based on the importance of sound, anyone who has written a book entitled Morphic Resonance probably has ideas that I would find interesting. Since musicians are one of the few scientific and artistic practices which describe the interaction of two waves as harmonic, the third note being created as the two emitted notes ‘morph’ together, there is a direct correlation between ‘Morphic Resonance ‘ and harmonics in my brain.

Considering especially, that as Sheldrake mentions, that the mind is outside of the body, that our memories are actually kept within the realm of spirit, the idea that song, art and creativity are brought into the world through ‘muses,’ begins to explain why some songs are prophetic. When considering what sacred song means to cultures of first nations, these ideas bring a perspective which makes a great deal of sense. As first nations used song and dance to pass stories of their ancestors to each other, using song in a sacred way, then it makes sense that the sacred would be open to listeners in a way not practiced today.

As many artists and musicians attest, often they don’t know why they wrote the words or use the images they do, the results of these creations are in my mind, specific creations of the muses, who may be using the songwriter to bring a message to societal consciousness, without having had the experience themselves. Sorta like ‘channeling’ chants. I find a Grateful Dead song, ‘Sunrise’ speaks as one who has had ‘been experienced’ with the lyrics ‘ I’ll sing to them this story and know why.’

Of course, knowing is about feeling as well, as Rita Marley reminds us, ‘Who Feels it Knows it.’ Yet, in my heart, I listen to the musicians who can show me they have been to the places I have, and still celebrate creation with song. Sacred.