From: kre@po.CWRU.edu (Keith R. Elflein)
Newsgroups: alt.pagan
Subject: Using Music for Engergy Raising in Ritual
Followup-To: alt.pagan
Date: 22 Jan 1993 01:46:29 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University
Distribution: world
NNTP-Posting-Host: b61693.student.cwru.edu

Hi, I dunno if any of you remember me, but a few months ago, i was a
"budding Wiccan" By that, I mean I was just beginning to find myself...and
i really would like to thank everyone again for all their support and
assistance that they so generously gave me in my state of "confusion." 
	I just would like to keep you posted on my progress in Wicca. For the
first time in my life, i actually feel that i am truely communicating with
Deity..and I LOVE IT. It's the best feeling in the world...oh, i have not
done a "formal" ritual yet..for that matter i haven't even "formally"
dedicated myself to Wicca yet. I know that last statement might raise a
stink, but for me, i want to perform a "formal" dedication when i am ready.
Right now i use the Simple ritual (gestures) and i practice my circle
casting..that's about it. Oh, and i am experimenting with essential oils
and collecting (slowly but surely) my ritual tools...it's kind of funny how
they sort of fall into place. I was worried about whether or not i could
get my hands on a cauldron, but thanks to the gods, one showed up on by
back doorstep...it was one of the very first tools i found :) 
	ANYWAYS...to the point of my article, i would like to give something back
to all of you who helped me find wicca...There are some particular musical
pieces that i feel are excellent personal energy raisers when listened to
(or playing yourself :) Depending on what you are doing, i suggest staying
with certain types of pieces. For instance, for circle casting, you might
like to try something short and to the point, like an overture or serenade.
For this case, i recommend any of the Rossini Overtures such as Semiramide,
The Barber of Seville, and, of course, La Gazza Ladra (William Tell is nice
too). Also,some of the First movements to the Mozart Piano Concerti (the #9
and #23 particularly) are great energy raisers. One of the best is the
Overture to the magic flute and the overture to the marriage of Figaro by
WA Mozart. all these short pieces i have used for small tasks such as
circle casting with great success.
	Now, for bigger tasks such as spells, you might want to take your time and
raise as much energy as you can...for this i would like to put forth a few
titles that i have used and that have more than done their job :) Fist, you
might like to go out and find a tape or CD of Brahms' Hungarian Dances.
These are incredible energy raisers, especially if you really get into
them-dancing. Other good energy raisers are the LATER works of Mozart such
as his Symphony #40 or #41 and certainly the Requiem Mass. A lot of the
earlier stuff by Mozart i find too "fluffy" for serious energy
raising...but they may be good for small tasks. {The Requiem mass is VERY
powerful...but sort of on the depressing side...if you are able to take
that energy and use it to your benefit, though, it is excellent.} Not all
of the requiem is depressing though...i suggest looking into it to see if
it is for you. Along the same lines as the Requiem is Carmina Burana...very
powerful :) Another type of music that is VERY good for energy raising is
music of the Baroque era. The "perpetual motion" style of writing
definitely is a good energy boost. 
	I guess in summing up, i would have to say that it really depends on the
task-at-hand...Brahms, Mahler, Beethoven, Strauss and later Mozart works
are good for heavy, in depth work.   Early Mozart, Bach, Rossini, Vivaldi
and any other lighter works are good for smaller tasks. I suggest you try
implementing some of these in your ritual and see how it works. If you can
"feel" and "become" the music, then it will work wonders for you. But, some
people cannot spiritually connect with "classical" music. For them, i am
sorry, but i cannot give any advise there. I use what works for me :) Oh,
by the way, U2 is an excellent energy raiser too ;-) I hope you find some
of these suggestions useful.

						Keith
P.S- excuse the typo in the title :)
														

"All the Gods are one God, and all the Goddesses are one Goddess, and there
is one Initiator." 
Newsgroups: alt.pagan