The Whole Music Experience

  photo by Patricia Herlevi (Conclusion of the book Whole Music Soul Food for the Mind Body Spirit) Super Music verses Junk Music (Excerpt) Like many other Americans, I spent my childhood eating junk food and listening to pop music.   Both the junk food and commercial music provided quick fixes and temporary comfort followed by agitation and hyperactivity later.   While food allergies and sensitivities increase in our society, I developed sensitivities to heavily programmed music without a strong melody or natural rhythms (in sync with the natural heartbeat).   I escaped into the worlds of jazz, classical, folkloric, and indigenous music.   However, some pop music, such as the Beatles with strong melodies and interwoven harmonies provides its own type of healing. In my twenties, I gravitated towards alternative rock.   It’s as if I needed to evolve spiritually, physically, and intellectually before I could appreciate music genr...

Balancing Chakras and Doshas I first encountered Javier Ramon Brito when he joined my LinkedIn group Musical Healers.  Metaphysician/sound healer/musician/music producer/energy healer all rolled into one person, Javier represents a modern renaissance healer.  A visit to his website (which I listed at the end of this interview) reveals a wide array of recordings, articles, services, and shared wisdom.   When I first came up with the idea for the new Whole Music Experience feature Music-Sound-Healing, Javier came to mind.  I’m especially fascinated with his knowledge that correlates specific compositions or types of music to meridian and chakra systems in our bodies.  I had asked a question in Musical Healers (and not the first person to ask this question), “If Ch opin 's and Mozart’s music is so healing then why did the composer suffer from ill health?”  See Javier’s complete response to this question in this interview.  I also encourage y...

Even if you don't know your personal dosha, we are now moving into the summer Pitta Dosha season.  And every change of season also has a strong Vata element.  So here are some musical tips to help you balance the Pitta and Vata doshas. For Vata, remember that slow, low, repetative and warming music balances the dosha.  So here are a list of recordings that can help you in balancing this dosha. Marjorie de Muynck, In the Key of Earth , Sounds True Lisa Spector and Joshua Leeds , Through a Dog's Ear Volumes 1 and 2 , (works for humans too), Sounds True and BARD Dr. Andrew Weil and Joshua Leeds, Relax and De-Stress/Deep Calm , Sounds True The Miracles (and wine series) on Kirkelig Kulturverksted (Norway, kkv.no) This series includes Spain, France, Italy and the New World (cello and piano anchor the music) Also try the Alap section of Indian ragas and you can try relaxation CDs that feature nature sounds. Vata tends over intellectualizes, gets caught up i...