Music, Magic & Meditation K.S. Harkey (Storyteller, Spiral Cult Circus)
Introduction Meditative techniques are practiced as parts of many different religions, as well as in secular philosophies and traditional movement arts. Yoga, Qui-gong, Catholicism, Zen Buddhism, and many indigenous traditions represent just a few examples with a breadth of variety and kind. In some traditions, meditation represents the majority of practice: “In each of these scriptures, the main practice is described as an extraordinary state that is created from the union of (1) 'calm abiding' (concentrated meditation) and (2) 'special insight' (wisdom) (H.H. Dalai Lama, 22).” This is especially true in many eastern traditions. However, the practice of meditation is also considered foundational by many authors on Western magical practice. “There is much in magic which is not too dissimilar with the methods of meditation. That is to say, it follows an interior route, and is a means of dealing with the psyche without reference to any external object, symbol, or piece of equipment (Regardie, 43-44).” Meditation includes a variety of techniques applied singly or in concert by the practitioner to achieve directed, altered states of consciousness. Human beings experience a variety of states of consciousness on a regular basis as a part of ordinary life. For example, when we sleep we enter REM state, identifiable by the measurement of brainwave patterns. An altered state of consciousness, then, is altered in comparison to the way we go about being aware in our daily lives most of the time. This becomes meditation when we deliberately use the altered state to achieve specific desired effects within or upon our own minds. Basic techniques of meditation are well known: breath control, posture & movement, environmental elements, and so on. (The author presumes a basic familiarity with these on the part of the reader.) One environmental element that is commonly used to enhance the effectiveness of meditation is sound. This series will explore the usage of sound and music to bring meditative techniques into the realm of ritual magic.