The Spiritual Meaning of Music
In pre-technological, pre-industrial eras, several distinct human societies developed that are the core of all societies today. As individual languages and cultural realities evolved from these root groups, so did distinctive varieties of sound and rhythm. These primary sounds can all be traced to activities related to sacred connection of individuals to an aspect of the divine. The spiritual meaning of music, therefore, can be observed through accounts of human activity as far back as history has been recorded.
Other People Are Reading
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Nature
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When seeking the spiritual meaning of music, listening to nature is a good place to start. Waves crash, wind blows, the elephant trumpets and the whale and the bat make their way on a map made of sound. Early song and dance mirrors and pays tribute to forces of nature; even today, the purest, most beautiful sounds are more often than not created on instruments made of natural materials. Without human activity, the planet itself makes music.
Harmony
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A primary source of meaning in music is the creation of group harmony. In root tribal cultures of the modern world, music making was reserved for the spiritual leaders for formal performance with an express purpose of uniting individuals for social or seasonal celebrations and preparation for warfare. Studies of collective chanting have also been shown to promote unity, for better or worse. Today, choice of music unites people more abstractly, but never the less through internal harmony based on a common sound.
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Vibration
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These days, the definition of spirituality for the individual is personal. There are no identified spiritual leaders generating sacred vibrations from a higher source to unify society. To the contrary, the majority of music today is made by individuals as a form of self-expression that may or may not provide meaning for others. As a result, personal identification with another's ideas can sometimes be confused as spiritual meaning. Some vibrations generate peace, others do not.
Exploration
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Study of the origin of various musical styles is a great way to develop your own spirituality. Some very popular rhythms in modern music are directly rooted in aggression, which in their time and place may have value, but used irresponsibly are destructive to the individual spirit. Some songs are written specifically to manipulate a particular point of view. Knowing what the words and the music mean can help you decide for yourself what is best for you.
Rock and Roll
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In American rock and roll, nearly every musical format has been explored, expounded, translated and transformed, uniting race, gender, religion, culture and socio-economic status in some common place. The pursuit of freedom, the right and restrictions to happiness and the timeless challenge of falling in love are all aspects of the individual spirit, exemplified by this genre of the individual. Let your own search begin with you.
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