The Power of Music

I've recently acquire an iPod (nice one BigG).  I haven't bought into the MP3 player phenomenom up until now because years of constant exposure to music whilst DJing left me disinterested in listening during my spare time.  Instead I've spent "downtime" like on the train to and from work reading or just relaxing.

I've realised that there will be periods where I am not going to be able to do much so I feel that music will help to fill this gap especially as I believe that it has an ability to touch the emotions and lift the spirit in a way that other media cannot.  I consider music to be the "food of the heart and the word of the soul".  It is not restricted by the linear format of words and, personally, I feel it also has a more direct and deeper connection to the emotions than visuals do.

I was brought up on rock music and this seems to form the bulk of my iPod selection rather than the dance music that I partied to and DJed for years.  This is partly because the analogue (vinyl) based dance music I own doesn't make the transition to MP3 player so well, but also because I am enjoying taking "fresh ears" to the music of my youth.

That said, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin have been on hold during this last week or so, as  I have been continously listening to a CD called the "Eternal OM", which contains exactly what it says on the tin.  Sixty minutes of  "Om" or "Aum" ing.  Now whatever your opinion on the subject of meditation, tuning into the repetitive but resonant sound, whether as foreground or background music, has had a deeply grounding affect and has helped me adjust to what seemed to be a slightly surreal reality.  It has helped me to concentrate my thoughts and stay focused.  It has also provided a source of amusement for the kids who love it.

I put the iPod on "Shuffle" (random play) for the first time when walking from the station to work this morning.  The two tracks it threw up before I arrived??

Gimme All Your Lovin' - ZZ TOP
Sick Again - Led Zeppelin

What price on that - perhaps the Aum has got further into my subconscious than I thought?

Rather than having a religion or set of beliefs I tend to adopt what I feel fits the occasion.  I use whatever I feel stimulates my imagination to help me achieve my goals and I anticipate that there will be plenty of space for the esoteric on my journey as well as for the oncologists and the surgeon's knife.  I am happy to use anything that I feel will be to my advantage.