Could The Way We ‘Consume’ Music Be Affecting Our Mental & Physical Health?
- Siobhan O'Flaherty-Hilder
- Jun 14, 2022
- 15 min read
Updated: Jun 18, 2022
This blog covers a plethora of subjects on how music can be utilised to enhance your health and wellbeing, its main objective is to help educate you on the pros and cons surrounding Vibrational Medicine held within music.
In the last few years, the health and wellbeing of the planet and its inhabitants has been the focus of much discussion and debate. Those of us aware of the astrological catalysts that occurred in 2020 recognised that the transition into the Age of Aquarius has brought much opportunity for change and growth. From saving the planet to saving ourselves, we have felt the need to strengthen and connect deeper, recognising the implications and impact we as individuals have on the world. Now, more than ever, reaching optimum physical health lies in the hands of the individual and taking responsibility for our own health and wellbeing has become increasingly important. To a greater or lesser degree, the ‘fight’ against Covid has compelled us to re-evaluate how we experience our lives, it has also encouraged many to make the necessary changes to improve their physical and emotional resilience.
Music & Meditation- have we been sold a lie?
For many, incorporating a form of meditation into their daily practice has become an integral part of life in an effort to lower stress levels and re-establish balance. And as science grappled with understanding the virus and the body’s response to that virus, natural medicine was given the opportunity to shine and provided the support needed to take responsibility for personal healing and spiritual growth. As a result, the business of ‘Wellness’ has become big business. Globally over the last decade this industry has grown exponentially and is currently estimated to be worth around $1.5 trillion. However, along with the many authentic natural remedies, the market is currently flooded with many unregulated products that may look as if they successfully address health conditions, but they often lack the knowledge and understanding necessary to achieve what they advertise. For example, the fashionable world of meditation currently has over 2,500 apps available to help develop this practice. When natural therapies and disciplines are practised professionally and authentically, they are extremely powerful but unfortunately this intense market drive has encouraged many industries to exploit natural healing traditions and modalities, which is not only unsustainable and detrimental to the natural world, but has led to much confusion, disappointment and a mistrust of natural therapies.
Skills such as meditation are invaluable to help strengthen our electromagnetic fields, yet the art of meditation takes years of discipline to harness as a skill to be used for healing. Busy lifestyles, city living, and urbanisation has reduced our interaction, access and connection to nature which means our ability to ‘recharge’ is greatly reduced, and therefore access to these meditative, calm ‘spaces’ is even harder, some relying on nature soundscapes to bring a little peace back into their lives. If you have found yourself on a journey in search of a deeper connection, listening to music and nature soundscapes that relax the mind can be a useful tool, and often is the first, easy step you can take. But I must emphasise ‘meditation music’ is not a form of meditation; it cannot replace the hours, months and years of training necessary to attain a higher level of consciousness, but it may help you relax enough (shift brainwave states) to access the correct mental state to initiate meditation.
Predictably the music industry has attempted to follow this trend and responded by producing more Lo Fi versions of music, and music for relaxation and meditation. But the flaw is, that whilst it has been scientifically established that sound vibration can improve mental and physical health, the music that is typically generated within the industry does not observe the specifications required to produce soundscapes or music for healing.
In recent years I decided to focus on developing the integration of my classical music education and holistic health background with the scientific research and knowledge necessary to produce music that incorporates the correct healing frequencies referred to as Vibrational Medicine. I discovered that not only could this be applied to complement and strengthen meditation practices, facilitate sleep and relaxation, activate healing etc but these frequencies are equally at home in all genres of music. This discovery led me to ask the question: Why isn’t all music used for this purpose? The simple answer is over time our focus has been shifted towards its entertainment value.
Vibrational Medicine- Mozart and Science
As technology has become more sophisticated, it has facilitated considerable scientific research to establish and harness the potential of sound. As a result, here are a few examples of the positive effects Vibrational Medicine has on the human body.
Heal trauma held in the cells of the body - Brain- The Mozart Effect
Increased rate of healing bone and tissue - Ultrasound Bone Tissue Engineering
Lower production levels of stress hormones - Cortisol - Psychological and Physiological Signatures of Music Listening in Different Listening Environments—An Exploratory Study
Mental health treatments - Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder- The Use of Music in the Treatment and Management of Serious Mental Illness: A Global Scoping Review of the Literature
Reduces Depression and Anxiety
Decreased stress levels and less emotional exhaustion - Reduced burnout
Improved quality of life for patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Link to Overview
Raise IQ - The Mozart Effect
Prevent Epileptic seizures - The Mozart Effect
Destroy cancer cells - Ultrasound + Cancer
Acoustic engineering of heart tissue- Stamford University
Brainwave shifts to allow for healing to occur within the body - link
The healing benefits of music that contains vibrational medicine is undeniable, science now recognises its power. For example, Mozart's piano sonata K448 for the treatment of epilepsy (1). This study found that after 5 minutes of listening to the piece, just over 79% of patients had a significant decrease in the epileptiform activity. In simple terms just five minutes of listening to this Mozart piece could half the potential cause of an epileptic fit. What is notable is that one patient in this study showed marked improvements even though they were in a comatose state, proving that this mode of healing - using complex combinations of frequencies generated by the vibrations of the music - surpassed the cognitive appreciation of the music and connected on a cellular level in the subconscious. Did you know that the brain can heal itself if given the chance; and, if seizures can be prevented, there is more chance for healing to take place? Yet, due to the limitations of science being unable to identify ‘how’ this occurs, it is not recognised and prescribed as a viable treatment.
Using music to help heal traumatised and wounded soldiers has been implemented throughout history and was an integral part of soldiers’ rehabilitation and healing process returning from war. Florence Nightingale and her nurses used music therapy during the Crimean war to assist in the physical, spiritual, and emotional recovery of soldiers and noted that wind instruments like the flute and the use of the voice seemed to be the most powerful. Yet today, those who have epilepsy are advised either to take anti-epileptic drugs, have surgery to remove the small part of the brain that is causing the seizures, even have a small device inserted into the brain to help control the seizures and some are even advised not to have children as the condition is believed to be genetic. All quite extreme, expensive, and potentially dangerous compared with 5 minutes of Mozart.
Music and our Mood
We have all experienced the emotional reaction we have to music and thanks to streaming platforms, there are endless ‘mood enhancing’ playlists we can access at the touch of a button, or how some film scores hold significant power over our emotional responses to the visual; some film scenes were regarded as ground-breaking by their use of certain musical motifs and soundscapes. For example: the two-note musical motif for Jaws, or the shrill screeching strings in Psycho’s shower scene. Both were designed to induce symptoms of stress and fear which reinforced the visual, helping to intensify and immerse the viewer deeper into the scene.
But our relationship with music is not just emotional or physical, it is also spiritual, evidenced by its use in most religious and spiritual practices. Yet, music is the least understood tool for wellness or assisting a spiritual practice, and as I delved deeper into the subject, I discovered that access to this type of knowledge is extremely limited, as with many authentic natural healing modalities. The original knowledge has either been lost, misunderstood, misused, and over time it has been manipulated with profit being the primary focus. This understanding surrounding ‘Vibrational Medicine’ stems from an ancient form of healing, and like most healing modalities, it is usually handed down from generation to generation ensuring the practitioner is in right relationship with their healing practice. Not only does Vibrational Medicine require an in-depth classical education in music composition and performance, but it also incorporates and thus provokes a continued understanding of mathematical codes and sequences found in all of nature. This is naturally combined with a dedicated level of spiritual inquiry and training necessary for any natural healing modality, specifically when focused on Meditation. Music is the perfect vehicle to effortlessly transfer the frequencies necessary to heal the human body as, fundamentally, music consists of organised sound, sound being audible vibration, vibration is assimilated throughout the human body, not just in the human ear. Every living cell, organ, tissue etc emits and absorbs vibration. It is upon these vibrations that the intention of the practitioner or artist is transferred through their energetic blueprint.
When music is used for medicine, in its correct form, it strengthens all systems of the body by supporting and echoing the correct frequency found within each molecule of the body. Each cell of the body must reach its optimum ‘amplitude’ to enable it to work effectively, every part of the body, even the smallest constituent, is a part of this bioenergetic communication network. Vibrational medicine stimulates this network to work effectively and activates the body’s restorative systems to respond without the side-effects often associated with pharmacological remedies. Everything living vibrates at precise frequencies. This is true not just for molecules, cells, tissues, organs, and the body’s vibration as a whole, but also for parasites, bacteria, viruses, etc. Imbalances, disorders, and diseases alter the bioenergetic communications network, by using healing music, particularly when combined with other vibrational medicines such as Trace Element Therapy, balance can be restored, and the process of healing activated. This is the first step to strengthening the mind, body, and spirit connection.
Music, Maths and the Planet
Not all music has healing abilities, and here’s why... Science has studied the effects of music and vibration on the brain and has shown us how some vibrations can cause the brain waves to shift, which directly affects our immune, endocrine, and neurological systems. In other words, there is a direct relationship between brainwave states and the physical and emotional body. The symbiotic effect music has on the cells of the body - how they react to each other - is fascinating. Unfortunately, not all the effects can be positive - some are damaging as not all music or vibrations contain the correct combination of frequencies that heal the body - some can induce a stress response, which can reinforce trauma.
Science measures the frequency of vibration in Hertz and the number of Hertz equals the number of cycles per seconds. Coincidentally, when the frequency of the planet was discovered by Winfried Otto Schumann in 1952- The Schumann Resonance(2) the general understanding of music started to dramatically shift, and this is when everything started to change…
We know of ancient sacred instruments in Egypt and Greece which were found to be tuned to reflect a more natural and relaxing vibration. In 1953 we went from tuning our orchestras from A4 = 432hz up 8hz to A4 = 440hz. This change was instigated by the Music Commission of the Italian government in 1885, followed by the American Federation of Music in 1940, which led to the globally signed agreement in 1953. Technically, when instruments are tuned to A4 = 432hz the music has more clarity and less noise pressure, which means the music does not need to be so loud to make the same sonic impact. The reason why this frequency tuning induces relaxation could be linked to its relationship to the mathematical sacred codes reflected within the natural world.
Listening to music that reflects the same frequencies found in the natural world means that our bodies instinctively begin to resonate and respond to the music. As this happens, we can connect deeper to the vibrations found on earth and, as a result, our connection to the natural world is strengthened. This process grounds us, strengthens our own electromagnetic field and allows our brainwave states to reach a more restorative frequency. If we are highly stressed or stuck in behavioural cycles that are reinforced by fight or flight modes, vibrational medicine held within this form of music will begin to reduce the levels of stress hormones being produced which cause inflammation and degeneration within the body. It is that simple. It does not seem like much, but when we raise the frequency by 8hz (8 more cycles per seconds) a lot of the detail held within the music is lost. This is not a tuning that resonates with this planet nor humans. It is interesting to note, a year after the Earth's frequency was discovered, Herbert König who was the student of Schumann and later succeeded him at the University of Munich, discovered the connection between the resonance of the earth and its direct relationship with the human brain. The earth vibrates at 7.83hz - (inaudible to the human ear which can only hear 20hz -20khz) which is also a frequency of Alpha waves in the human brain. When our brain inhabits Alpha - Theta states, we are in a state of meditative joy. Which links me back to the increased popularity with meditation practices and the subsequent strengthened connection to our natural world which helps to support our mental and physical health.
The 8hz change, even though some would say is small, is enough to change the physical waveform of a note in water. Below is a picture of sound waves passing through water, captured through the study of Cymatics. Here you see a visual comparison of A=432hz and A=440hz effect on water (of which the human body consists of roughly 70/80 %). We can see the picture of 432hz is clearly defined and allows for more detail throughout the radiating circles, the design is more intricate, refined and focussed. The 440 hz picture shows less definition, the centre of the circle is larger and lacks detail as much of the circle is blurred. The difference between the two is significant, and the effects of both on the human body should make you consider the tuning of every piece of music you listen to from now on.
The Earth’s ‘heartbeat’ affects every atom on this planet and although it is inaudible to man, some can sense when the earth's frequency shifts, supported by the findings in the Schumann Resonance. This natural connection to the space we inhabit is the key to understanding our own health as the Earth’s vibration directly affects all organic matter living on earth and possibly beyond.
Sacred Music Depicted in Art
It is understandable when considering the path music has travelled in the last century alone to see how this fundamental aspect of music and its miraculous potential has been ignored. The music industry has proven to be a highly profitable business based on producing music for entertainment. But, as society's consciousness shifts, so will its art. For example, our own personal listening habits or experiences surrounding the enjoyment of music may not reflect those healing meditative qualities depicted in this painting by John William Waterhouse, the Depiction of Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, completed in 1895. But what if I told you, it could?
This understanding was well documented in spiritual and religious practices and reflected in its music, mantras, art, and architecture throughout the ages. It was understood that sacred music could incite prophetic visions and help guide you into a state of bliss where healing could occur; it could even summon angels. This painting is important as it helps preserve the memory of this understanding. Art is wonderful for providing us with insights into the artist's mind and the consciousness of the time. So, if this understanding was known over a hundred years ago, why does that seem so far-fetched and unattainable now? What happened over the last century or so to enable the dissolution of such an experiential understanding? One clear change has been the removal of music education at this level in schools - when we remove the arts from education, we take a massive step backwards in the progression of our spiritual evolution. This, coupled with the marginalisation of religious and sacred music; the decimation or removal of some of these frequencies common in the production of mainstream music, has rendered us devoid of the physical, emotional, and spiritual support that music so generously offers.
Advances in technology, designed to give us far greater access to music, for example streaming platforms, MP3 downloads etc, has further reduced the sound quality of the music, which also weakens its true capability. This, combined with small speaker designs, the ever-rising cost of attending live performances, removes us a little further from the original effects that live music can create.
Summary
When form, vibration and colour reflect these mathematical/light/divine codes, a more balanced, harmonious state is reached.
When our brain wave states reflect the frequency of the earth, we can learn more easily, be creative and allow for deep meditation and flow states to occur. When we resonate at a frequency closer to that of planet Earth we heal faster.
Finding time to connect to nature has proven benefits for our health by raising immunity, lowering inflammation, and preventing degeneration.
Ill health, unbalanced lifestyles and stress all have negative effects on our body’s electromagnetic field. The frequencies at which we resonate at directly affect our bioenergetic communications network - which links our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual worlds.
Changes in brainwave states influenced by external frequencies are responsible for negative and positive effects on our sleep quality, creativity, imagination, relaxation, alertness, and mental acuity.
What should you look for when choosing music to help improve your mental and physical health?
Based on my research and experience, here is an initial checklist that I recommend following when choosing music.
Everything that is involved in the production of music - from creation to completion.
Words carry vibration, so if lyrics are used be mindful of the story they are telling.
The instruments used and the engineering all have an impact on the frequencies contained in the end product.
The energy and intention of the artist performing the music will also have a great effect on the final vibration; vibration is influenced by unconscious and conscious thoughts, actions, and intentions of the performer. This is true for all music.
The performer of music created for any form of physical, emotional or spiritual healing, must be in ‘right relationship’ with the tradition that is being expressed. Being in right relationship means that information used in any form has not been misappropriated from a tradition which has been carried by lineage holders for centuries.
Vocal toning is the purest form of vibrational medicine. Software (computer) generated sounds are the lowest.
Current post-production techniques remove valuable frequencies from the original recording. If you can, it is best to enjoy music in a live setting, or high-resolution recordings. The comeback of vinyl and high-quality Hi-Fi systems supports this requirement.
Music streaming platforms have algorithms that can introduce you to a vast world of undiscovered artists, tailored to your music taste. Use one that has the highest sound quality but remember streaming platforms lower sound quality.
With all this in mind, I hope that you are now more informed about the true potential of music and its multifaceted effects - good and bad - on all levels of the body - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. Be mindful of the music you consume; the brain is highly sensitive to external and internal stimuli. To heal this planet, we must first heal ourselves, and vibrational medicine can be a valuable and integral part of the healing process as it both activates and supports healing transitions. Ideally, we should be focussing all our energies on healing and protecting the planet but that cannot be done when we are constantly in a state of stress - fight or flight - states of survival: survival dictates that we focus on ourselves. By taking responsibility for our own health, with the intention of correcting and strengthening our own vibration, we will be in a better place, physically and emotionally to support our planet.
In conclusion, the easier it is to find a connection to the planet the healthier we will be and the stronger our electromagnetic fields become. It is not such a leap in understanding to make the connection that listening to music which reflects the same frequencies found in the natural world, can mean we have access to and can connect with creation itself. Being disconnected is the true pandemic humanity faces. Music undoubtedly, in the correct vibrational form, connects us all.
"As you begin to experience and consider the reality of matter to be vibration, you will also start experiencing the true potential of the mind: consciousness, perception, sensation, reaction and manifestation which facilitates a deepened understanding of connection, and connectivity."
1) The Mozart Effect; Link to The Royal Society of Medicine’s Journal:
2) The Schumann Resonance - discovered in 1952. It is the measure of the energy caused by lightning strikes across the planet, occurring at around 44 times a second. -The frequency that results from the sum of these waves occurs at around 7.83 Hz- recently this reading has been fluctuating a lot.
If you are interested in assisting your meditation practice with vibrational medicine I have curated a series of Youtube videos for an Introduction to Vibrational Medicine - for all abilities. Level I can be found on the Sacred Sound Sessions page.
And if you would like to receive regular free music/vibrational sound offerings, or get first access to live performances, music releases, retreats and more please Subscribe to my mailing list.
For further information and clarification on natural therapies, I highly recommend reading the blog series 'Debunking The Myths Surrounding Natural Medicine' by Colleen O’Flaherty-Hilder who, as well as being my mother, has 40 years of professional and pioneering experience in the field of natural medicine.
THANK YOU FOR READING
SIOBHAN
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