Music and Magic

This article was written by Kate West
posted under Pagan

Music and music-making are some of the earliest forms of magic.

The use of drumming to raise energies, either those of the spirit world or those of the participants to power the magic, is evident in almost all societies around the world. Likewise the use of vocal sounds to harmonize with the Elements and the divine is a very ancient tradition. This is not surprising when you think of the emotions and feelings that music can engender.

In today�s Craft we use signing, dancing, and chanting to raise energy for our spells and it has become traditional to "drum up the Sun" at both the Summer and Winter Solstices. However, I would point out that out-of-time drumming on an out-of-tune drum is more likely to persuade the Sun to hide rather than to shine. Many witches also like to have music as part of their Rituals and workings, although if you are not personally musical this can be a problem, as most CD and tape players seem to malfunction if placed within a cast Circle.

Another way you can use music is to find pieces, which, to you, embody the essence of the Elements. Many people find that instrumental pieces are the most useful for this. Use your selected pieces to mediate on the Elements. If you are talented you can even create your own, as my partner has done for us. I have also found that tapes of wildlife, birds for example, and natural sounds, like the wind in the trees or the sea, are an excellent aid to meditation, and you can always record these yourself.

�Try listening with your eyes closed and you will hear more.�

From The Real Witches� Year by Kate West

Kate West
The author of over a dozen books, Kate West (United Kingdom), has become the U.K.'s most successful author on Witchcraft. She is the recipient of a Lifetime Contribution to Witchcraft award and has been recognized as the most popular factual writer on... Read more

RELATED PRODUCTS

The Real Witches' Craft
The Definitive Handbook of Advanced Magical Techniques

Kate West

$18.95 | Add to Cart

Please note that the use of Llewellyn Journal articles
is subject to certain Terms and Conditions

Exploring the Dark Side: Identifying 3 Types of Negative Paranormal Phenomena

Whatever your background is, it's bound to happen to you: the scary paranormal case. We're not talking about your run-of-the-mill haunting here. We're talking portal hauntings, negative entities, and bad earthbound spirits�in a nutshell, things that scare us! These cases usually start out as a seemingly routine investigation; then, somewhere... read this article

	Evolutionary Astrology: How Our Nodal Axis Defines the Soul's Path
	The Mibramig Magical Tarot
	Cultivating Bliss: 4 Ways to Explore Your Inner Garden
	Exercise: Asking for a Dream Visit from a Loved One in Spirit
	The Final Secrets of Enochian Magick

Most recent posts:

The Hidden Factor of Magick
"Will this ritual or spell really work?" There are really only two possible answer to this question: "No" or "I don't know." There are some...

Dreaming with the 4 of Cups
The Book of Shadows Tarot, volume 2: So Below is now available! This morning, I shuffled my deck, fresh from the box and drew a card for this...

I Saw Your Future And He's Not It Author Louise Helene on Examiner.com
Check out a fascinating interview with I Saw Your Future And He's Not It author Louise Helene on Examiner.com, detailing her book and relationship...