SOUL LOSS #6

 

Music, Musicians and Soul Loss

Music, until approximately a hundred years ago, was always meant to be spiritual, by the Greeks, indigenous peoples and various religions. However, there have always been demonic cults who welcomed dark, occult spirit forces through discordant sound. 

The Greeks exploited music for good and understood that just as musical discord could distort the spirit, musical concord could enable it.  

When we sin, we are without music or harmony. Rather control the modes of music in a city than its laws.

Many spoke of music as enabling humans to return to the Divine regions, a place once lost to them. 

The Greeks and others felt that sound should follow a certain "objective moral order." 

This is the reason classical music had and has such appeal. The great classical composers followed this idea and were supported by the church. 

Pre-modernistic music kept these principles up until the last century when skilled musical advocates arose that attempted to defile the sacredness by introducing discord. 

 

“I am conscious of having removed all traces of a past esthetic. I am cured of the delusion that the artist’s aim is to create beauty.” Schoenberg 

“Once the past has been gotten out of the way, one need think only of oneself.” Boulez

“Purposeful purposelessness,” to have absolutely no organization.” Cage

 

Other iconoclasts arose that supported this idea with the likes of Heavy Metal Music and similar genres. Foul words in their lyrics aggravated their toxic effects. This music was said to be able to wake up the dead and call up the Devil. Many musicians in these genres aligned themselves with Satan for impact or in truth. 

 

"The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day that you were created.” Ezekiel

Lucifer who became Satan, fell from heaven together with the other "fallen angels" Prior to that he was the chief musician in heaven and God's most beautiful angel. The Devil's Triad was said to exist in a particular musical tone. This "Trill" was said to enable one to become possessed by Satan which in turn opened the door to the Black Arts. For centuries, it was called the Devil's interval or the tritone because it is made of three whole steps. One can also hear the tritone in terrifying movie soundtracks, the sounds of Halloween, such as creaky floorboards and howling winds. It was designed to be chilling, unsettling, threatening and foreboding.

The tritone was also used by some famous composers but sparingly and for effect only.

Robert Johnson, previously a mediocre guitarist, was said to have met the Devil on the road at midnight. The Devil promised that he would make him one of the most famous guitarists of all time if he relinquished his soul to him. He indeed became that famous.

Many rock musicians seemed to become possessed on stage like Jimi Hendriks and some aligned themselves with the Devil implicitly or explicitly.

Tartini was visited by the Devil in a dream who dazzled  him by playing a piece of music which he knew would have been impossible for him to replicate. The dream inspired him to compose but he also said;

 

“… The music which I at this time composed is indeed the best that I ever wrote,and and I still call it the “Devil’s Trill”, but the difference between it and that which so moved me, is so great that I would have destroyed my instrument and have said farewell to music forever if it had been possible for me to live without the enjoyment it affords me.” Tartini

 

There were many others who flirted with dark forces including; Giuseppe, John Lennon, Bon Jovi , Snoop Dogg, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jagger, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and especially Heavy Metals; Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, Warriors from the Gates of Hell and Black Sabbath.

Sex, drugs, alcohol, addiction and even spirit possession seemed to be the order of the day with some.
David Bowie affirmed there has never been anything innocent or pure about rock and roll. From its inception it had two great themes: licentiousness, rebellion and seeking power through the dark arts.  Although rock and roll and similar genres can be melodious and gratifying, David Bowie was concerned that this music welcomed dark forces. 

Hendrix became an international rock superstar. He abused even the worst drugs, alcohol and women. He destroyed his guitars and amplifiers during concerts and set his guitar on fire. This would send the young concert-goers into a frenzy. It was said that his band had to be stoned to play properly. He was using music to 'take people on trips.' Not the light and right trip' but a dark trip. Many of the sounds, invoked were demonic and could affect the mind of the listener. 

Christian rock has been an attempt to counter this genre.

 

The Nazis and Soul Loss

The Nazis used music to torture their victims and rob their souls, especially the Jews. Musicologist Ruth Hacohen has called it the "music libel against the Jews."  The SS robbed the Jews and Jewish musicians of the only vital resource that they had for their survival by  forcing them to sing German patriotic songs while being tortured.

The Nazis took the demonic in sound to another level along with their genocide. 

Herman Goering who was a master in inducing soul loss in the perpetrators and their victims said. 

 

“It’s an easy thing. It’s nothing to do with Nazism, it has to do with human nature. You can do this in a Nazi regime, you can do it in democracy ... (and in any regime) The only thing a government needs to make people into slaves is fear… then you can get them to do anything that you want.” Hermann Goring

 

Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s diabolical propaganda genius had maxims that are being used effectively by despots throughout the world today including the United States of America. This can induce soul sickness and even loss.

 

If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself.

A lie told once remains a lie but a lie told a thousand times becomes the truth.

The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly - it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over.

 

This is the secret of propaganda: Those who are to be persuaded by it should be completely immersed in the ideas of the propaganda, without ever noticing that they are being immersed in it.

 

Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred.

 

Propaganda works best when those who are being manipulated 
are confident they are acting on their own free will.

 

Whoever can conquer the street will one day conquer the state, for every form of power politics and any dictatorship-run state has its roots in the street.

...the rank and file are usually much more primitive than we imagine. Propaganda must therefore always be essentially simple and repetitious.

 

The masses need something that will give them a thrill of horror.

 

We enter parliament in order to supply ourselves, in the arsenal of democracy, with its own weapons. If democracy is so stupid as to give us free tickets and salaries for this bear's work, that is its affair. We do not come as friends, nor even as neutrals. We come as enemies. As the wolf bursts into the flock, so we come.

 

It is debatable whether someone like Goebbels or Goring with soul loss began as a socio or a psychopath or became one since power corrupts and complete power corrupts completely... Sadly they were able to create soul sickness in a multitude. Most when facing justice at the Nurenberg trials were happy with what they had done. They had absolutely no regrets and were most likely psycho or sociopaths.

 

I recall a metaphor related to me by a Tsonga (tribe in the north of South Africa) tracker. Two of us were walking in the bush in big game country with him and he was teaching us the use of medicinal plants for healing. He was a devout Christian and his mother was a sangoma who had taught him the plants. He was also well aware of the fact that sorcerers and witches used certain plants for demonic outcomes. 

This is what he related: Anyone can become a witch. All that you have to do is go to powerful witch and buy a poisonous snake (an evil spirit.) This snake will then bring you anything that you want; power, sex, money… anything! But you have to feed your snake all the time. If you do not, the snake will eat anything and everything that you like or love.  

Success is always predicated on complete submission and selling one's soul to the Devil.

Many of Hendrik’s friends died under strange circumstances after his death. Hendiks himself died at a young age as have many musicians and others who turned to the dark side. There are consequences to sensate indulgence, power and possession.

 

What you destroy, destroys you; what you defeat, defeats you. 

What you sanctify, sanctifies you.
If you would dispel the darkness, seek the sacred.

 

Goebbels paradoxically stated that with time things might turn ...

 

There will come a day, when all the lies will collapse under their own weight, and truth will again triumph.

 

Sadly, it takes a long time and much pain and suffering on behalf of others in the interim but eventually, hopefully, light will prevail. With social media and the power of the internet many of us now wonder if truth will prevail if something drastic is not done to stop the lies.

 

 

 

SOUL LOSS #5

Loss From the following (when the soul separates 

totally from the body)

 

Severe abuse, illness.

Trauma, violence, war.

Isolation and severe loneliness.

"Sex, drugs, rock and roll."

Other addictions.

Satanism, violent militaristic cults and gangs.

The dark side of the Church, other religions and gurus.

Despotic leaders.

Musicians (notably Heavy Metal - next blog.)

Witchcraft, sorcery, intrusive spirits, energetic pollution.

Any or all of these can cause soul loss and even allow for  possession by dark spirits.

 

Soul loss often follows the unmitigated greed and need for power that we see in autocratic leaders and others.

 

Given full power greed becomes an enslaver of the greedy - fear becomes first a bully, then a torturer and then a killer. 

 

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

Sir John Dalberg-Acton 

 

“Nearly all men can stand adversity but if you want to test a man’s character give him power.” A. Lincoln

 

Power and greed can lead to malignant compulsions, desires and impulses, malice and the desire to wreak vengeance and retribution on any naysayers and those who oppose them. 

 

Spiritual and Religious Leaders 

To whom much is given much is required. 

(in terms of integrity and the laws of karma. )

Spiritual and religious leaders, gurus and priests can be the perpetrators. Gurus that came from the East “fell” on account of easy money, devoted followers and the ease with which they could exploit their women and men devotees - the women often sexually. There are many and the list below goes on. Because of their spiritual status and knowledge, it is even more reprehensible since these people should be held to a highest standard. 

To mention only a few of the worst.

Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram Yoga. 

Dr. Kausthub Desikachar.

Da Free John.

Amrit Desai. 

Sathya Sai Baba. 

Chögyam Trungpa, and Ösel Tendzin. (his student.) 

John of God. 

Their methods of manipulation and behavior were often quite diabolical.

Osho – Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh was probably the most notorious of these and invoked most of the methods below:

Sexual promiscuity (even pimping on behalf of the guru.) This was exploited as a remedy for releasing the students’ attachments and fears around sex. Hypocrisy ran rampant. The guru engaged “altruistically” and was officially “celibate” but doing this selfless service for the sake of the devotee. Those selected felt special and competition for the selection arose resulting in corruption and power-play. 

Self-abuse with drug use was acceptable because the guru was beyond the material. “The vehicle or body will be released” when he exits to the causal enlightened realm. 

The guru was totally unattached to all the wealth and extravagance that accumulated – it meant nothing to him but yet there were hidden bank accounts, private planes, boats and exotic cars. 

The intimidation and even weaponization practiced was essential to protect the cult from jealous and uninformed outsiders outside the ashram. Devotees were told not to communicate with anyone outside the ashram because those outside would not be able to understand their sophisticated level of enlightenment.

This environment created a group/cult “hypnosis,” a sense of community - they were are all in it together for the sake of a higher purpose. Even for the skeptical it was better to be there than to leave since there was a sense of belonging, community and security.  Those that tried to leave would be threatened with material and spiritual bankruptcy, doom and gloom if they left the fold.

Complete surrender and trust were essential for the instruction to work. To Self-realize one had to also release all that one knew and accept certain things that seemed abhorrent. This was essential and   necessary for the mission. Abuse and dogma were accepted as a part of the lesson. 

Only the guru had the ability to channel privileged information from a higher source. It required tremendous sacrifice to do this.

Dreaming him was a good sign that one was on the path. In reality the guru may have had the spiritual power to script and manipulate the devotee through the dream time as well as in real time.

The warning signs were obvious but easily subordinated to intimidation and the guru’s charisma and knowledge. These included:

Not talking truth to power – do as I say not as I do. An obvious attachment to all the things the guru told his students had to be released - ego, power, persona, pride, money and material “stuff.”  Hypocrisy was the order of the day associated with a lack of love and humor both antithetical to the spiritual path. In short the guru revelled in being, 

“A sage on a stage rather than a guide from the side,” instead of the desired opposite.

The tenets should have been:

Subordination of ego to the Higher Self. Compassion instead of judgement. Leading with humility, love and humor. Talking truth to power. Maintaining trust. Assuring safety. Pursuing spiritual excellence for all rather than power for oneself. Celebrating the myriad of differences and talents in all devotees and not playing favorites. Strengthening bonds. Encouraging asking for help. Not demeaning those less capable and even giving them more attention. Assuring equanimity wholeness, health and balance. Seeing the divinity in all the spiritual seekers.

SOUL SICKNESS AND LOSS #4

MANAGING SOUL SICKNESS

“Never yield to weariness of spirit. Sometimes the world’s cares and distractions will intrude and the spirit will become weak. At times like this carry on and soon the spirit will become strong again. God’s spirit is always with you to replenish and renew… When you are overcome by temporary conditions which you cannot control, keep quiet and wait for the power of spirit to flow back.” 
Twenty Four Hours a day. (A stable force for many in recovery in A.A.)

As well as 

"For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision... "  Sanscrit proverb

“No matter how long the night, the day will surely come.” 
African Proverb

 

This too will pass but it requires strong intention and self-awareness.

There are many remedies. I will highlight a few key ones.

Spiritual Practice            

The soul separates from the body with soul sickness. If the body is "cleansed" it will facilitate the soul's return. Somatic psychology is proving that attention to the body is also important for complete healing. Some form of bodily practice that inspires the senses can liberate toxic memories imprinted in the body and allow for deeper healing. 

Sensory and somatic oriented spiritual practice  can enhance this cleansing and reunion. It can be yoga, tai chi, chi gong or anything non-esoteric done for its own sake like dancing, singing, playing a musical instrument, walking or hiking in nature or something else like skilled body work, acupuncture or pressure. 

Many with soul sickness have cured themselves with deep immersions into nature.  

Reiki, sound healing, sensory driven guided imagery, shamanic expertise and laughter can also all be powerful medicine.

A regular, sustainable, enjoyable spiritual practice is the backbone of any of the other treatments. If necessary it may have to be done more than once daily. The standing postures and warrior poses in yoga which are not difficult can help give one a strong resolve as well as the strength and balance to face the difficulties. Spiritual practice will also help to subordinate monkey mind to spacious mind, ego to our higher Self, our shadow to our inclination to do good and our tricksters to our spirit guides.

Forgiveness

“Despise no human and consider nothing impossible, for there is no person who does not have his hour and there is nothing that does not have its place.” Talmud

One should never despise oneself - that is antithetical to the Creator who made us in His image. Soul sickness can be be alleviated with repentance and self-forgiveness. Victims need to forgive themselves, forgive others if possible, and also ask forgiveness of those they may have wronged. We never completely heal from a deeply shameful event until we forgive.

 

“In forgiving and letting go we can then exalt in treasuring what we truly most treasure.” J. O’Donahue

 

Victims of abuse may also have to forgive themselves as well as attempt to have the compassion and empathy to forgive others who may be victims of dire circumstances. 

 

“… We can only be redeemed to the extent to which we see ourselves.” Talmud

 

Those who cannot see themselves cannot be redeemed. It takes vulnerability and self-awareness to be able to accept help from others and come out of hiding.

 

Remember that you are made not for brokenness and sorrow but for wholeness and for joy.

 

Self-compassion aligns with self-worth and generates less in the way of negative emotions. If one has wronged oneself or others it is important to realize that ...

Acting contrary to conscience is different from justifying and rationalizing a wrong doing. The latter compounds, not merely worsens ...

 

The Higher Self or soul is pure and cannot be self-enabling. The ego enables its little self.  We need to admit what we did wrong, make amends, forgive ourselves and move on. Restoring Self-worth is critical. Self-worth means we are all worthy being made in the image of the Creator – even if our actions are unskillful - we are all on a journey of “Becoming.” No one is perfect and everyone (or almost everyone) can be redeemed. Self-esteem (with a small s) can be a recipe for narcissism and is not the same as Self-worth.

If we have wronged ourselves we need to admit to unskillfulness, take corrective action and let go of our angst. Universal Self-Acceptance (U.S.A) or an unconditional positive regard for the True Self reduces anxiety and depression and increases happiness, optimism, positive emotions, and Self-worth. We are all worthy of U.S.A. We need to treat ourselves as we would a good friend.

“Bring your sister grief by the hand and tell her to come and sit by the fire with you. Grief gives special honor to your losses and her tears are precious jewels that can be strung on strands of memory to be worn with pride and beauty by one’s spirit.”
Mpofu’s Grandmother

Helping others

Severe suffering, shame and humiliation often make recovery difficult but there can be healing. In turning the crap into manure the Phoenix can rise out of the ashes. We can take the suffering and make something useful out of it by helping others. Its not what happens to us but what we do with it that counts. 

“The soul has no rainbow if the eyes have no tears.” 

Native American saying

(There is no rose without a thorn.)

Bad experiences can be alchemized into opportunities. Furthermore, anyone that climbs out from the bottom of the barrel of suffering, grief and sorrow has the potential to be more spiritually powerful than those who have been fortunate enough to not have been there. When we are knocked down and get up – if it did not kill us – it will make us stronger. 

We should not be ashamed that we have been at the bottom of a pit. If we have managed to climb out of it we can be proud. We can start anew with the unbounded potential and strength of having had that experience. In every crisis there is also opportunity if one can rise above the pain. 

The healing can also be part of the Hero/ine’s journey where after a dark night of the soul we attain the “grail” and come back to give it away and do service. Many folks in recovery have done exactly that. Everything is a test. Depending on the individual it can be a catalyst for “Becoming.”

“We all have the price of sanctity in our purse...the reason we can’t purchase it is not because we are poor but because we are stingy.” B. of Clairvoux