Music has a tremendous cathartic effect. When we have troublesome and hurt feelings, a sad song can help bring out those feelings so we can get over them and get on with life. When I listen to fast paced music when I'm involved in a physical activity, I fall into sync with the rhythms and find the activity more enjoyable and productive. When I'm studying, classical music can set my mind in a more receptive state.

I love listening to music, composing and playing instruments (violin, trombone & keyboard). Music gives me an outlet to express my creativity and emotions and it is a way to communicate some of that with others.

I believe that when we are in different states of mind, we will automatically seek out the kind of music that resonates with us. Perhaps the music attaches to various life experiences and helps us to embrace and benefit spiritually from them in ways that we might not otherwise.

Sound is vibration, everything vibrates, all the atoms are vibrating at a rate of speed, as well our bodies are at different frequencies, as well as our brains. When we are healthy, we are vibrating at a higher frequency than when we are sick. Since highest energy wins, we can make our selves better by singing chanting or humming. I have done this myself and have cured myself many times with this method.

There is a movie it is a parody called Repossessed staring Linda Blair and Leslie Nielsen, in this movie rock and roll is used to defeat the devil. It makes a funny thing to watch, but it is not too far off. In my book 30 years among the dead (I believe that was the book) a guy had a haunted house and he wanted to get rid of the ghost. He had a house party 24 hours with music blasting the entire night through in every room. The effect this had was to raise the vibration to a level that erased the residual energy of the ghost from the rooms, thus driving them out.

The way he defeated the negative or low energy, was to fill the house with high love and happiness energy. So I have used music for healing and, I have read how it was used for clearing, I believe that there could be many more benefits as well. So in these two examples, we see how music works inward and outwards. It also helps with manifesting, I have used music for that too, very specific lyrics I made up.

There are notes for each of the chakras as well, these can be reached by humming at different pitches, you can feel the vibration in different parts of your body corresponding to the chakras.

Music to me as Pat W said is an gift from God and soothe the soul when it is wounded. You can be tired, lonely, stressed out and in a bad way emotionally but let an certain song or music play an instantly you are transported in time to that place an time when you first heard it and it begins to nuture your soul back to health no matter how wounded you are most of the time.

I rememeber reading about this man who was so tired and stressed out when he left work. He got in his car and flip on his radio and it was playing an song back when he was at his prom and he instantly smelled the scents, he smelled the fruits scents in the air, smelled the perfumes in the air, felted the wind blowing in his hair (back than) and the happy feeling he was feeling than instanly all of what he had been feeling before was gone he was alive, happy, and feeling youthful and energetic and so full of love and happiness. Just an song now that is so powerful.

Some music will make you want to jump up and start dancing and jumping around like an kid again with no cares in the world just youthful bless and happiness.

Music transcend everything nationalities, and races for even if you don't understand the words sometimes the music touches your soul and you understand the meaning.

I have always heard that music soothe the savage beast it will calm him down. Now I think they were really talking about an man/woman who was raging than an animal. But who knows it might work on them I have not paid any attention to how it affects animals only humans.

All music don't do that some repel you but some music will touch you in that special way and bring you out of that hurtful, depressed, tired, lonely, stressed out state of emotional feeling that is very hurtful.

MUSIC is an gift from God that will reach down and touch your soul if you let it. MUSIC is oh so powerful. It will bring you back to an happy state of being or remind you of sad times depends on what you are listen too. If you are lonely don't listen to lonely songs listen to up beat and cheerful songs.

I am something of a musician, and your question caught my eye. I think that if you look at how the brain processes music, you might gain an understanding of just how music can work to empower us and affect our souls.

Music is processed by the right brain. (If you are left-handed, it is the opposite.) When we listen to music, our left brain hears it, and our right brain gets into the act right after that. Thus, both sides of the brain are working together at the same time; thus the feeling of enrichment and "wholeness" we feel when we listen to our favorite music.

Albert Einstein did poorly in school until his parents bought him a violin, and he was given lessons. The rest is history! He used to sit down with his violin and play when trying to work out some difficult problem. He was actually getting his whole brain to work together when he did this.

I think enough has already been said about how music makes us feel, and how it can change our feelings. I personally find classical pieces without a lot of repetition in their structure to be ideal for "turning on" my right brain. Also, playing the piano adds yet another layer to the process, as we are now using our body and thus even more of the brain.

I am glad, Pat, that you found the answer to your grief in composing. I thought you would be interested in how it actually worked for you. I find the same release in writing, composing, painting or other forms of art, and singing. When I am especially down, I get into my car, and sing, "Ave Maria"- the version with the high "A" at the climax. In the act of singing , I feel Mary. I feel angels, and sometimes, my God. All religious singing does this for me. I cannot listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus" from "The Messiah" by Handel without singing along with the sopranos or altos. Because it is Christmastime, I thought everyone would love to take another look at your question, which is an excellent one.

Blessings, and Christmas Light, Jai