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Music can be healing, calming, sacred, joyous, and celebratory. For every
mood and emotion, there is a sound to match it. The sound may evoke Light,
or it may evoke darkness, or anywhere in between. For an understanding
of what I mean by "music for a higher vibration," please read
my article on the subject.
In addition, we have a number of articles about spirituality, information about metaphysics, and movie and book recommendations.
Some of the artists included here are overtly spiritual; some are not.
What they all have in common is the ability to contribute to a positive
vibration, regardless of the genre. I have purposely included a wide variety
of styles, and hopefully there's something for everybody.
Music for relaxation and
meditation
Most of the music in this category is referred to as "new age,"
but of course, not all new age music is soft and meditative. The albums
featured here are good for relaxing, meditating, yoga, energy healing,
or just recovering after a hard day's work.
Music
by Enya
Has anyone not heard of Enya? Her name is so synonymous with new age music,
that it's a cliché. I find Enya very relaxing, but it's not for meditating
or energy healing. For me, vocals get in the way, and Enya can have a
fairly moderate beat. It just doesn't work for real introspection, but
it's nice to have on while you eat dinner, say.
Relaxation
Suite
by Steven
Halpern
Steven Halpern is definitely one of the most well-known names in meditative,
healing music, and this album is his most recent work. It delivers on
its title: it is relaxation in a jewel box. I like to listen to this right
after I put the kids to bed. It helps me get into the quiet evening groove
that helps me recover from the day. I could list every Steven Halpern
album here, because they're all good, but that would be a big list. Check
out his page
on Amazon.com
for more music titles.
Music
by Tom Kenyon
We have several Tom Kenyon CDs, and they are particularly useful for meditation
and energy healing. Each CD has a different purpose and energy, and we
particularly like Infinite Pool and HeartWave II. Tom is
less well known than some, so you may have to buy
from him directly.
Music
by Loreena McKennitt
Loreena writes some very interesting songs. It's not what I'd call meditative,
although she has written a few that so reminds me of certain past lives
that I go right into that zone. Definitely worth checking out. A good
one to start with is The Book of Secrets.
Music
by Secret Garden
I really like Secret Garden. This is good, hanging out on a weekend afternoon
music. As with Enya, I wouldn't say it's good for meditating, but it is
very nice to listen to, very relaxing.
Music to stir the soul
What do I mean by "stirring the soul?" There are certain pieces
of music, particularly in the Classical genre, that are so heartbreakingly
beautiful, they sound like they just miraculously appeared on parchment,
direct from the Divine. I list some of my favorites here.
Symphony
No. 7
by Ludwig van Beethoven
You could argue that all of Beethoven's symphonies belong here, but I'm
focusing on those that I find particularly special. Another person's list
could vary wildly, so yes, it's all my opinion. This symphony has drama,
sadness, melancholy, and longing. I find it very powerful.
Symphony
No. 9
by Ludwig van Beethoven
The "Ode to Joy" is just that: joyous. It uplifts; it transports;
it is, quite simply, divine.
The
Marriage of Figaro
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
I like opera. If you don't, then skip ahead, or give this a listen anyway.
In my opinion, Mozart did some of his finest work in his operas, and this
is his best. What joy, what beauty.
Messiah
by George Fridric Handel
You don't have to be a Christian or believe in anything in particular
to appreciate the beauty and perfection of this piece.
Music
by The Tallis Scholars
The Tallis Scholars sing very old chants and hymns by composers such as
Thomas Tallis, Palestrina, William Byrd, and others. They sing a capella
and typically record their albums in old cathedrals. The result is quiet,
relaxing, peaceful beauty, and you could meditate to a lot of it, actually.
I find it brings up old memories of past lives.
Fantasia
on a Theme by Thomas Tallis
by Ralph Vaughan Williams
You may not know this by the title, but it has ended up in a few film
scores over the years. This piece of music is so beautiful it makes me
cry.
Music to sing along with
Music
by Abba
Yes, Abba. Come on, now. Don't tell me you can listen to "Dancing
Queen" without smiling.
Music
by The Beach Boys
Happy music about days of summer fun. What's not to like?
Music
by Johnny Cash
I love Johnny. He just was who he was. No pretense, no flashy suits. Just
the Man in Black, singing about what he knew.
Music
by John Denver
Don't groan. JD may be out of fashion these days, but he's still one of
our greatest singer-songwriters. Here is a songwriter who could really
get into his joy: his joy in his spirit, his joy for nature, his joy for
being alive. Rocky
Mountain High
is still one of my favorite albums. I was privileged to see him in concert
a few years before he died. He, along with U2,
was capable of creating that sense of joy in the audience and opening
your heart chakra. I've seen many wonderful and gifted performers, but
JD and Bono are the only ones I've seen who could truly do this.
Music
by Neil Diamond
I never got to see Neil Diamond perform, unfortunately. Neil was part
of the soundtrack of my growing up in the 70s. What a fantastic songwriter.
But what I love, really love, about Neil is that his music is positive
and upbeat, and at the same time it is true and honest. Neil's music can
help you find your joy. Just listen to "Holly Holy" or "America."
And, if you're a real fan, you should rent the movie Saving
Silverman
(ages 15 and up), which is very silly indeed, and Neil even makes fun
of himself in the movie, which shows you that the man has a sense of humor,
which raises him even higher in my estimation.
Music
by Jack Johnson
We sure are glad Jack had to give up surfing. Jack makes good music, and
he's really concerned about healing the Earth. We and our kids particularly
recommend his Curious
George
soundtrack CD.
Music
by The Lively Ones
I like surf guitar. If you like surf guitar, these guys are, in my opinion,
the best. Needless to say, this is not music to relax to, or meditate
by, but to party and dance to!
Raising
Sand
by Robert
Plant
and Alison
Krauss
I've been a big fan of Robert Plant for some time, and this latest collaboration
is fantastic. The last track, "Your Long Journey," is just heartbreaking.
Music to rock out to
Music
by The Beatles
It's true, you probably can't have a music list that doesn't include The
Beatles. There's never been anything like them, and they are timeless.
And if anyone out there hasn't heard Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(perhaps living in a cave?), then please rectify this omission at
once.
If
I Should Fall from Grace with God
Rum
Sodomy & the Lash
Red
Roses for Me
by The
Pogues
Judging by the album titles, you're probably wondering why they appear
on this page. Mostly to illustrate a point: you can still have fun and
listen to loud, raucous music without having to turn in your LightWorker
badge. Perhaps it's my Irish blood that draws me to The Pogues. Their
music sounds like something you would hear around 2am in a rowdy little
Irish pub. Now, a warning to parents: there's swearing in the lyrics.
But there's also poetry in them as well. The songs range from very funny
and bawdy, to sentimental, sad, and melancholy. There's a lot of real
human experience and emotion in these songs, and the lively Irish beat
is infectious.
Music
by R.E.M.
We really like R.E.M. Our kids really like them, too. Any band who would
sing "Furry Happy Monsters" on Sesame Street has GOT to be cool.
Music
by U2
I was privileged to see U2 in concert in 1987 for their The
Joshua Tree
tour, still one of my favorite albums. I was a fan to start with, but
that concert was simply amazing. The arena was sold out, and the show
was played "in the round"—the band were surrounded on all
sides by their audience. I have seen few singers who are as good as Bono
at playing to a crowd, and getting right into your heart chakra. What
a passionate, amazing performer. He knows, intuitively, where our shared
experience lies, and in his music he says, "Look, here it is, here
is what is true. Forget about those things that divide us." Wow.
Children's music
There are a lot of really wonderful musical artists who are devoted to
helping children. Our kids love "mommy music," but they also
love what they consider to be "their music." Here are some of
their favorites.
Sing-A-Longs
& Lullabies for the Film Curious George
by Jack Johnson
This is one of my daughter's favorite albums. The songs are outstanding.
We like Jack Johnson's songs for grown-ups, too, but I have to say: this
is my favorite album by him as well.
Really
Rosie
by Carole King
This is the soundtrack to the TV special from 1975. The songs are from
the Nutshell books by Maurice Sendak. Carole is fantastic, and so is this
CD. Unfortunately, it's not very easy to get these days. The one I've
linked to is an import.
Music
by Raffi
We have several Raffi CDs, and our daughter simply adores Bananaphone .
In fact, "Bananaphone" often gets stuck in my head...
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