With the changing light of a new season, there is a change in the activities and sounds of nature. Autumn arrives. The squirrels and chipmunks start gathering their stash for the winter. Leaves now rustle when the wind passes through. With the changing light, sound changes too, and we "feel" and "experience" this change.
So what is the connection between light and sound? The following chart provides an association of the chakras, their color ray and the musical key to which they vibrate. (Thank You Khiron). For those of you unfamiliar with the chakra system, or who wish to read further on the subject, we refer you to: The Seven Rays from Happy Buddha's Holistic Counseling Manual.
Son et Lumiere
| Chakra | Color | Key |
| 1 Root | Red | C |
| 2 Sexual Organs | Orange | D |
| 3 Solar Plexus | Yellow | E |
| 4 Heart | Green | F |
| 5 Throat | Blue | G |
| 6 Third Eye | Purple | A |
| 7 Crown | Rose Violet | B |
Pythagoras, philosopher in the Golden Age of Greece, 500-300 BC, was given the title of "Father of Music Therapy" for his work with development of the principle of harmonic vibrations and its subsequent application to healing. He played the lute for his disciples to promote rest and comfort, lifting "their vibration" through his awareness of the balance and music of the cosmos.
The key of music that one listens to, or vibrates to, has meaning. The light within one's aura is awakened by the music being played. Look at the popular music of youth. How much of it is played in the key of D or E, arousing second chakra sexual energy, or third chakra willpower energy? How many pieces of music of the socially active 60's were composed in the key of F to reach the heart chakra with something to "believe" in, or in the key of G to provide some truth that needed addressed in society? How many pieces of music, written in the keys of A and B lifted one off into the realm of the heavens to transcend the everyday concerns?
History has provided us with many examples of music used apply healing to body, mind and Spirit. There are Egyptian papyrus references to incantations to heal the sick.. Biblical David played his harp to uplift spirits and aid sleep and depression. Shamans have applied this principle to healing down through time. So have royalty, as exemplified by the Renaissance musicians called in to play for depressed Kings.
In "The Great Treatise on the Harmony of the Four Seasons with the Human Spirit" of the Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, 200 BC - 100 AD, reference is made for the need to strengthen the human body in the light of the changing seasons. In China, it is accepted that modern lifestyles interfere with the natural harmony of the body with the seasons. For this reason, music was developed using Chinese classical instruments for each season as a way of harmonizing one' s internal rhythms with the nature of that season. (See: this issue of: Spirit and Music.)
We include here Khiron's listing of current instruments in our culture that can be used to provide harmony to one's inner states as associated with the seasons.
SOUNDS AND THE SEASONS:
There are four modes of making sound which correspond to the four seasons.
Plosive instruments include those with hammers, such as piano, drums, bells, tympani and triangle. They are useful in counteracting lethargy and represent springtime.
The violin, oboe, clarinet, trumpet represent the summer season. They have a smooth energy as found in the jazz style of music.
The glottal instruments, such as the flute and cello, represent autumn in their richness and are used to give thanks.
The piccolo, coloratura voice, French horn, harp and dulcimer represent the highest mode, that of winter. They are useful in starting the new and regaining youth.
Autumn is here with the harvest. The cool air replaces the warm, and it is time to turn inside. Music that steadies the body's turn from the external life to the internal one is what harmonizes with nature at this time of year. It is time to set aside our "Barefoot" CD of those carefree summer nights for one of David Darling's cello pieces for evening listening.
Ava
