For the next several posts I want us to consider the healing power of music. Music therapy has been used for years in a number of different situations, and we will focus on music therapy in a post that is part of this series.
Today, however, I want to call your attention to the musical journey. I first learned of the musical journey during a seminary class and a following internship with Austin Recovery here in Austin, Texas. My participation in musical journey, and my subsequent study of it, leads me to wish that it might be included in the training of anyone involved in the healing arts – both physical and spiritual.
Following is a description of the musical journey as it is found on the website for Austin Recovery (http://www.austinrecovery.org).
Musical journey is an experience-based therapy modified from Integrative Breathwork made popular by Jacquelyn Small. The journey consists of an hour of evocative music without words facilitated by cyclic breathing designed to put the participant in a meditative state of consciousness. The breathing combined with the musical pattern is designed to invoke emotions often blocked by more cognitive or protective processes of the brain. Musical journey allows repressed emotions and memories to surface and be felt, rather than simply being discussed. This expression is most often described as cathartic and speeds the healing process, often dramatically.
Oftentimes, addicts and alcoholics have spent much of their lives using to keep a particular memory or set of events out of their consciousness. By being able to bring these memories up, experience them and release them, many of our clients find a clearer path to recovery.
After each musical journey, clients go directly to art tables to draw mandalas depicting their hour-long experience. Mandalas are traditionally Indian and are seen to be a snapshot of the soul. You will see the result of some of these musical journeys in the mandalas included in the artwork of this website, as well as in the mandala gallery.
Music has the power to reach into the innermost part of a life and help transform it.
tmitchellmusic 
Very interesting. I want to know more about the style of music they use! I will also research the breathing component as well. Can’t wait to read more.
Tom – I want to relate my personal experience with the healing power of music. When my husband John died suddenly in 1988 (at age 41) I was lost. He and I did everything together and I was miserable and depressed and didn’t know what to do with myself. My therapist at the time suggested I make a list of things that I had enjoyed before John and I got together. Music was high on the list and so with trepidation I stepped out and auditioned for the Austin Civic Chorus, now known as Chorus Austin, I believe. I passed the audition and began to attend rehearsals on Monday nights. I quickly realized that I could come depressed but after singing for three hours in rehearsal, I would leave feeling much better. Over time I came to understand the business of singing is a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual actvity. I could not sing and be depressed. This is borne out in the article on musical journey. I just found out in the most practical way – by doing it! So I was back in the Covenant Choir on Wednesday after Morris’s memorial service on Saturday. I don’t know if I do anything for the choir but it is surely doing a lot for me!