The Effects of Music
The effects of physical plane music on the human personality are many and varied. The two primary variables (factors) are the quality (and form) of the music and the quality (responsiveness) of the personality. Much depends upon the nature of the mind and the degree of independence present in the physical and emotional bodies. The whole process involves the interaction of energy (music) with energy (the aura and the personality).
The quality of music depends primarily on the purity of the tones produced and the concordance or harmony of the various tones and instruments. Music is essentially qualified vibration. On one extreme is music (noise) that is produced with many impurities and an absence of harmony. Much of the popular music today is produced with varying degrees of impurity, with many coarse and discordant notes (which are not recognized as such by those for whom that music is appealing). On the other extreme is much of what is called classical music, music noted for its purity, clarity, harmony, and constructive effects. Not all of the classical music can be considered in this category (of the highest form of physical plane music), for even classical music varies widely in form and quality. Coarse popular music carries with it a (potentially) destructive element. Refined classical music carries with it the potential for constructive interaction between the soul, the mind, and the entire personality.
The quality of the personality determines the response of the personality (on its physical, emotional, and mental levels) to the various forms of music. A coarse, discordant personality (aura) will usually find coarse, discordant music to be appealing. A refined, purified, and disciplined personality will usually find refined (classical) music to be far more appropriate. The bulk of humanity fall somewhere between these two degrees, and the taste or responsiveness of the personality to music may vary considerably even for a particular individual. The environment or atmosphere also plays an important role, for music can sustain a particular atmosphere for quite some time. Coarse, discordant music tends to stimulate the lower astral; other forms of popular music usually stimulate the emotional body on intermediate levels.
Whenever the emotional (astral) body is stimulated by music, the physical form tends to move in response. In other forms of music, in which the mind (rather than the emotions) predominates, the emotional body is calmed and relaxed while the physical form is not normally engaged. Much of the popular music can create tension and frustration (even in very subtle, unconscious ways). By observation and consideration, the spiritual student should be able to recognize the effects of various forms of music on his own aura and temperament, and take appropriate action to improve and qualify the situation.
Physical plane music can produce quite profound effects on emotional and mental levels, and some forms of (quiet, classical) music can actually encourage and evoke the alignment of soul and mind (and heart). Loud or coarse music can be quite stimulating in the lowest sense, while quiet and refined (mostly classical and semi-classical) music can be gently stimulating in the highest sense. Meditation music (if used) should be chosen for its gentleness and purity. The higher forms of music can be participated in with interesting and constructive effects. For the spiritual student at least, the lower forms of music are distracting and unproductive (if not counter-productive) (and should be avoided or tuned out). With proper discretion the various forms of (refined) music can be utilized quite effectively, but first the student should understand himself and observe first-hand the interaction of music and personality.
~~Authored by Peter Hamilton of The UpperTriad Association~~