Mythology is a powerful force in the world. Stories of gods and goddesses, heroes and heroines, and origin stories of objects and places all have influence over how people think and act.
How people think and act is particularly influenced by cultures. A culture is defined as a group of people who share common beliefs, values, behaviors, and ways of life.
Many cultures attribute great power to music, especially classical music. How does your current culture view music? What role does music play in your culture? Does your culture have any myths or legends that mention the healing power of music? If so, you may want to consider moving there!
Given the wide array of cultures in the world, there are certainly plenty of myths with references to the healing power of music. This article will talk about some of those myths and why they are so important.
Rome
The mythology of Rome is filled with stories of music. The most well-known story is about the god Apollo, his sister Artemis, and their divine connection to music.
Apollo was the god of music, while his sister Artemis was the goddess of hunting and wildlife. According to myth, only those who had achieved perfection in their field could see them.
Anyone with flaws in their character or skills couldn’t see them — a subtle reference to how only those with a harmonious personality and skill can experience true happiness through the arts.
Moreover, only those who had attained perfection in their craft could hear them — another hint at how art can improve one’s character and quality of life. Only then could you experience the full effect of nature, beauty, and music.
This reveals how important art is to Roman mythology — it is a sign of achievement in order to experience all that art has to offer.
Egypt
Music has been important in many cultures, but none more so than ancient Egypt. They believed that music came directly from the gods, specifically from Thoth.
Thoth was the god of wisdom, knowledge, literature, and magic. Music was one of his domains, along with healing and medicine. Therefore, music was highly revered and considered to have healing properties in ancient Egypt.
In fact, music was so important that it was mandatory for every child to learn to play at least one instrument. Not only did this educate them on how to make music, but it ensured that everyone in society had some musical knowledge.
There were strict rules about what kinds of music you could play depending on your social status and the occasion.
India
India is filled with music tradition. Many of their songs are in praise of the gods. Music is used to celebrate good things, to comfort those who are suffering, and to encourage work efficiency.
However, the most powerful use of music in India is its ability to heal. Music therapy is a profession in India that has been around for years, and it is very respected.
Those who are diagnosed with mental health disorders or who have experienced a traumatic event can visit a music therapist for treatment. They will be given instruments and asked to make music together which helps uncover underlying issues and releasing emotions.
Other ways music therapy is used include creating new songs about experiences or topics that concern you to help process them (1).
China
China has a rich mythology surrounding music. Many of these myths refer to the healing power of music, specifically the healing power of Chinese music.
Several stories tell of how music brought peace and harmony to the world. In one, music came into being when the sky and the earth separated, creating day and night. In another, musical instruments first appeared when a goddess divided a river in two with her spear, causing water to flow smoothly.
These myths suggest that music is intrinsically linked to goodness and virtue. People who use musical instruments are described as being wise, intelligent, and talented—qualities that promote well-being in others.
Music is also associated with prosperity and wealth. In many myths, gods give musicians special gifts or grant them special status as a reward for their contributions to the community. This suggests that people in these myths expect benefits from listening to music.
Africa
Afro-centric mythology and culture is filled with the presence of music. Not only is music an integral part of many African cultures, it is also considered a spiritual force.
Many African cultures believe that music, especially sacred music, was brought to them by gods. For example, the Yoruba people believe their gods gave them drums and sacred songs.
This is not limited to indigenous people either. Many black Christians believe that gospel music was brought to them by God as a means of healing and helping people connect with Him.
Because of this belief in the power of music in African culture, it is not strange to find practices or rituals that involve music. In fact, some tribal rituals require specific songs in order to be effective.
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is home to the mythologies of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. These countries are also home to some of the most populated cities in the world, making finding a music teacher difficult.
However, their mythologies are filled with gods of music, like Thor and Loki in Norway, and Hephaestus in Greece. Music is also mentioned frequently in their stories as a powerful force.
By studying with a teacher who knows about the importance of music in these mythologies, you will gain knowledge about how to use music therapy in your work.
Students have reported that studying music helps with stress management and improves communication skills. If you are already musically trained, taking lessons in another instrument may help you learn new skills to use in therapy.
the Middle East
A place where music is deeply revered is the Middle East. There, music is considered a form of art, and art is a highly valued commodity.
Many songs are written about love, which is why so many Middle Eastern songs are romantic. Love is also a strong emotion, one that can be conveyed through music.
Several other themes are used as well, such as nature and drinking from the wells of knowledge. These refer to learning new things and wisdom, which are esteemed values in this culture.
Furthermore, music is used to convey emotions like happiness and sadness. For example, happy songs are played at weddings to convey happiness and joy. Sad songs are played after a loved one has died to express grief and loss.
All of these themes and more are woven into Middle Eastern music, making it very rich and diverse.
Conclusion
Music has been around for thousands of years, so there is no reason to think it will go out of style any time soon! The ways we use music have changed over time though, just like how music itself has evolved over the centuries.
As technology advances further and further every year, the ways we use technology to listen to music will also evolve. New apps or software may replace current ones but never eliminate the need for them altogether.
With all of the new technology constantly being released and marketed by tech companies like Apple or Google, it would be hard for them not to incorporate musical features into their products.
Just remember: no matter what kind of device you have or what type of music you listen to, it all brings you some level of joy.
Hopefully you learned some new things about how to invest in your musical self this Easter weekend but any time during the year would do!
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Europe
Music has a long and rich history in Europe, which means that there are plenty of mythological references to music’s healing power.
The ancient Greeks believed that music came from the gods. Apollo, Dionysus, and Terpsichore were all deities associated with music. Apollo was the god of music, poetry, and medicine, while Terpsichore was the goddess of dance and music.
Additionally, the Greek philosopher Pythagoras believed that musical notes and intervals corresponded to specific elements and qualities. He is credited with being the first person to divide the octave into twelve semitones.
The Celtic people also had a strong belief in the healing power of music. They called this spiritual energy “music magic” or “the spirit of song.” They believed that singing or playing certain songs could heal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wounds.
