Core Harmonics Practices
Practice the Harmonic Arts: Modalities of Contemplation
The focus of the Art of harmonics is practical and experiential implementation of the principles of harmonics. It puts forward ideas that deal with the premise of the cosmos as harmony and a methodology for transforming ones experience to reflect and substantiate these concepts.
Its purpose is to provide a base of reference to navigate ongoing experiential inquiry and development in an trans-disciplinary context, as well as to offer a shared framework for collective engagement in harmonic experience that goes beyond purely material or even psychological dimensions of harmonic meaning.
Moreover, the Art of Harmonics offers a trajectory capable of effecting a profound metamorphosis in our perceptual framework and efficacy in the world. By informing perception, choices, and actions across all levels, it becomes the catalyst for transmuting consciousness into a state of unification and equilibrium, thereby ushering in a heightened state of harmonic integration with the surrounding cosmos.
Vocalization (Harmonic Volition)
Vocalization serves as a profound expression of our intrinsic harmonic agency, representing our innate capability to initiate vibrations and oscillations that reverberate through the fabric of reality. This facet of harmonic practice encapsulates not only the act of utilizing our vocal cords or physical instruments to create audible sounds, but also delves into the concept of harnessing our imagination as a potent instrument in itself, capable of producing harmonious thoughts that resonate on subtler planes.
On a practical level, the act of vocalization encompasses the art of using our voice or tangible instruments to manifest sound in a material form, enabling us to communicate, evoke emotions, and create resonant atmospheres that can influence our surroundings and internal states. Whether it’s the euphony of a musical performance, the cadence of a spoken word, or the rhythmic chanting in various spiritual practices, vocalization becomes a conduit through which our inner harmonies find an external expression.
However, vocalization extends beyond the audible realm. It opens the door to a deeper dimension where the imagination itself becomes an instrument of creation. By conjuring harmonious thoughts and conceptual melodies within our minds, we engage in a form of internal vocalization, producing cognitive symphonies that impact our perceptions, emotions, and ultimately, our reality. This mental harmonizing has the power to influence our mindset, shaping our perspectives and motivating our actions.
At its core, vocalization is intimately intertwined with the underlying processes of consciousness. It invites us to recognize and operationalize these processes as oscillatory behaviors, akin to the undulating waves that characterize harmonics. Just as different frequencies and wavelengths create diverse harmonies, our conscious states and thoughts produce their own unique resonance. By understanding and consciously engaging with these oscillatory dynamics, we gain a deeper insight into our own consciousness and how it interacts with the greater tapestry of existence.
In essence, vocalization is not limited to mere sound production; it serves as a gateway to exploring the intricate connections between sound, thought, consciousness, and the fundamental principles that underlie the harmonious nature of the universe. Through the deliberate exploration of vocalization, we embark on a journey of self-discovery and creative empowerment, aligning ourselves with the symphony of existence and the resonant currents that flow through all aspects of being.
Listening (Harmonic Perception)
Listening, an inherently significant act, stands as a cornerstone of our perceptual engagement with the harmonic tapestry of reality. It represents the fundamental receptive function that bridges our consciousness with intricate nuances of harmonic existence. At its essence, listening transcends the mere physical process of auditory perception; it is an art of contemplation that has the power to awaken us to that which resonates through every facet of our lives.
When we engage in contemplative listening, whether to the melodious notes of music, the tranquil serenity of silence, or any auditory input, we embark on a journey of mindfulness and focus. This act of attentive listening, regardless of the complexity or nature of the sound, serves as a powerful tool to draw the scattered threads of our thoughts and experiences into a concentrated focal point. By immersing ourselves in the act of listening, we align our awareness with the present moment, allowing us to momentarily set aside the distractions of past and future.
Contemplative listening serves as a catalyst for deep concentration, enabling us to harness the power of undivided attention. As we attune our senses to the nuances of sound or the absence thereof, we find ourselves drawn into a state of heightened awareness. The mind becomes a vessel that captures the intricate interplay of auditory stimuli, guiding us away from the ceaseless chatter of the mind and into a realm of singular focus.
This practice of listening can be directed toward various layers of sound, ranging from the external auditory environment to the internal echoes of our own thoughts. By becoming acutely aware of the act of listening itself, we transcend the boundaries of sound and embark on a journey through the layers of consciousness. This progression mirrors the classical stages of concentration outlined in ancient texts such as the Yoga Sutras, leading ultimately to states of profound meditation and realization, including samadhi – a state of transcendental consciousness, and the jnanas in Buddhism, which represent various stages of wisdom and insight.
In essence, listening emerges as a bridge that connects our consciousness with and actually directs the harmonic currents reverberating through the cosmos. Through contemplative listening, we not only heighten our sensory experience but also traverse a path toward greater self-awareness, profound concentration, and a harmonious resonance with the universe. Just as an attentive musician listens deeply to the vibrations of their instrument, we too can attune our inner faculties to the symphony of existence, unlocking layers of insight and understanding that extend far beyond the realm of sound.
Resonance (Integrated Harmonic Feedback)
The underlying condition of reality can be experienced as an integrated state of resonance, where oscillating threads of existence weave an inseparable tapestry. This interconnectedness forms a harmonic feedback loop that unites the act of listening, which is harmonic perception, and the act of vocalization, which is harmonic volition. This intricate dance of resonance gives rise to a continuum of existence that emerges and unfolds from within itself, a self-sustaining cycle that encompasses the entire spectrum of sonic experience.
The process of generating and receiving sound is not a linear sequence but an indivisible unity. The very act of generating sound is intertwined with the receptive function of listening, creating a harmonious dance of creation and perception that unfolds spontaneously. It is from this holistic state that all forms of harmonic practices emanate, each endeavor a unique expression of this universal symphony, all aspiring to find their way back to the source of resonance, where unity and multiplicity converge.
As the listener turns their awareness inwards, there occurs a profound resonance in response to the act of self-hearing. This internal reverberation, born from the silence of pure awareness, becomes an echo that traverses the corridors of consciousness. In this resonant interplay, the echo itself transforms into sound, as the quietude of awareness awakens to its own harmonic nature. This transformation marks a shift from the unmanifest potential of silence to the manifest expression of sound, illustrating the inherent dynamism within the resonance of existence.
To engage in the practice of resonance is to embark on a journey of refining our sense of orientation with a universal harmonic co-ordinate system. It’s akin to tuning our internal instrument to resonate with the frequency array of life and harmonically ‘echo-locating’. This practice extends beyond the realm of sound, influencing how we perceive, respond, and create in every facet of our lives. Just as a tuning fork vibrates in resonance with a particular frequency, we, too, can attune ourselves to the underlying currents of reality, enhancing our ability to harmonize with the world around us.
In essence, resonance encapsulates the symbiotic relationship between listening and vocalization, perception and expression, and the unity within diversity that characterizes the fundamental nature of reality. By embracing the practice of resonance, we not only deepen our connection but also amplify our role as co-creators within this universal interplay, contributing our individual voice to an infinitely vast choir.
Additional Resources
| Author | Title |
|---|---|
| Ahjan Amaro | Inner Listening |
| Alain Danielou | Music and the Power of Sound: The Influence of Tuning and Interval on Consciousness |
| Barry Parker | Good Vibrations: The Physics of Music |
| Bruce Adolphe | The Mind's Ear: Exercises for Improving the Musical Imagination for Performers, Composers, and Listeners |
| Chenyang Li | The Confucian Philosophy of Harmony |
| Christian Scripture | New Testament: Gospel of John |
| Clifford Rose | Neurology of Music |
| David Elkington | The Ancient Language of Sacred Sound: The Acoustic Science of the Divine |
| David Tame | The Secret Power of Music |
| David Temperley | Music and Probability |
| Dmitri Tymoczko | A Geometry of Music: Harmony and Counterpoint in the Extended Common Practice |
| Don Ihde | Listening and Voice: Phenomenologies of Sound |
| Dr Ferdia J Stone-Davis | Music and Transcendence |
| Eli Maor | Music by the Numbers from Pythagoras to Schoenberg |
| Ernest G. McClain | The Myth of Invariance: The Origin of the Gods, Mathematics, and Music from the Rg Veda to Plato |
| Fabre D'Olivet | Music Explained as Science and Art and Considered in its Analogical Relations to Religious Mysteries, Ancient Mythology, and the History of the World |
| Frank Wilczek, Betsy Devine | Longing for the Harmonies: Themes and Variations from Modern Physics |
| George Prochnick | In Pursuit of Silence: Listening for Meaning in a World of Noise |
| Gyorgi Buzsaki | Rhythms of the Brain |
| Hans Cousto | The Cosmic Octave: Origin of Harmony |
| Hans Kayser | Textbook of Harmonics |
| Hans Kayser | Akroasis: A Theory of World Harmonics |
| Hartmut Warm | Signatures of the Celestial Spheres |
| Hazrat Inayat Khan | The Mysticism of Sound and Music |
| Hazrat Inayat Khan | The Mysticism of Music, Sound, and Word |
| Hazrat Inayat Khan | The Music of Life |
| Hermann Hesse | The Glass Bead Game |
| Hindu Scripture | Nadabindu & Dhyanabindu Upanishads |
| Jeffers Engelhardt | Resounding Transcendence Transitions in Music, Religion, and Ritual |
| Joachim-Ernst Berendt | The World is Sound: Nada Brahman: Music and the Landscape of Consciousness |
| Joachim-Ernst Berendt | The Third Ear: On Listening to the World |
| Jocelyn Godwin | The Mystery of the Seven Vowels |
| Jocelyn Godwin | The Harmony of the Spheres: A Sourcebook of the Pythagorean Tradition in Music |
| Jocelyn Godwin | Music, Mysticism, and Magic: A Sourcebook |
| Jocelyn Godwin | Music and the Occult |
| Jocelyn Godwin | Harmonies of Heaven and Earth |
| Jocelyn Godwin | Cosmic Music: Three Musical Keys to the Interpretation of Reality |
| Johannes Kepler | The Harmony of the World |
| John Fauvel, Raymond Flood, Robin Wilson | Music and Mathematics: From Pythagoras to Fractals |
| John Zorn | Arcana V: Musicians on Music, Magic & Mysticism |
| Johnathan Goldman | Healing Sounds: The Power of Harmonics |
| Jonathan Sterne | The Sound Studies Reader |
| Keith Blanchard | Reverberation: Do Everything Better with Music |
| Kenny Werner | Effortless Mastery |
| Laurence Wuidar | Music and Esotericism |
| Mahayana Scripture | Surangama Sutra |
| Matthew Wright, Richard Weaver | New Directions in Linear Acoustics and Vibration: Quantum Chaos, Random Matrix Theory, and Complexity |
| Maxwell Steer | Music and Mysticism |
| Nikita Braguinski | Mathematical Music from Antiquity to AI |
| Nils L. Wallin, Bjorn Merker, Stephen Brown | The Origins of Music |
| Oliver Sacks | Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain |
| Peter Michael Hamel | Through Music to the Self |
| Peter Pesic | Music and the Making of Modern Science |
| R. Murray Schafer | The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World |
| Richard Colwell | MENC Handbook of Musical Cognition and Development |
| Russill Paul | The Yoga of Sound: Tapping the Hidden Power of Music and Chant |
| Siglind Bruhn | The Musical Order of the World: Kepler, Hesse, Hindemith |
| Stephon Alexander | The Jazz of Physics: The Secret Link Between Music and the Structure of the Universe |
| Steve Madison | The Musical Theory of Existence: Hearing the Music of the Spheres |
| Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche | Tibetan Sound Healing |
| Toru Takemitsu | Confronting Silence |
| Trevor Pinch, Karin Bijsterveld | The Oxford Handbook of Sound Studies |
| Victor Wooten | The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music |
| W. A. Mathieu | The Harmonic Experience: Tonal Harmony from its Natural Origin to its Modern Expression |
| Yuval Ron | Divine Attunement: Music as a Path to Wisdom |