The Power of Songwriting: Your Quantum Healing

(This was an article that I wrote for Peter Colaric, singer/songwriter https://www.petercolaric.com/)

I am Grace Asagra.  I am not a musician but I have music in my heart and that is one of my secrets in living a healthy vibrant and purposeful life as I become a grandma and add many more years in my life.

Music in all its expression has been known as a powerful healing tool in many ancient cultures. There are scholarly studies of narratives in oral and written forms on how diverse culture used music therapy to alleviate physical, mental, emotional and spiritual distress. Greeks used music to relieve hangovers. Native Americans used music for everyday recreation, community gathering, healing, rites of passage, and many ceremonial purposes during marriage,  birth, death, wars, planting, harvesting and all other community life events that are considered of divine nature.  All religious and spiritual practices have music embedded in their rituals for healing.   The book of Psalms is songs of praise, appreciation, faith and hope. Healing shrines were composed of physicians, musicians and priests.

Past and present, here and there, music played a key role in peace, health and wellness. In wars, singers and musicians were deployed to war zone areas. The need for their presence is beyond entertainment. Music is one way of connecting with memories of family and loved ones as soldiers sacrificed for their beliefs and principles of protecting the lives of others. Music inspires brotherhood, patriotism, nationalism, bravery and heroism. Just what they needed not knowing whether they will make it alive or not.

Chants were created for prayers of thanksgiving and supplications. Mothers from indigenous traditions composed songs of lullaby, blessings and protections. It was also used as means of communicating messages between tribal groups in countries with on-going unrest.  Many gospel songs were written to elevate the spirit of the people so they can get through trials and tribulations particularly during the horrendous years of slavery.

In the small city of Legaspi in the Philippines where TV was not available when I was growing up in the 1960’s, radio was most popular in every home.  Song hits, a small publication of list of popular songs with guitar or ukulele chords, was made available for the family and their friends. A lot of Filipino men played guitar, sang and some wrote their own songs.  When Filipino gathered there was music, foods, drinks and jokes.

One day, when I was still working in New York City Hospital, our head nurse asked, “How come all of you know the lyrics of the songs?” This question came out of her observation that the Filipino nurses sang as they prepare medications. My response, “We grew up with radios, singing and dancing as the most accessible, affordable and safe recreation. This is how Filipinos away from home find home in foreign lands and cherishing memories that sustains.” But beyond precious memories, singing or just listening to lyrics evokes instant chemical reactions inside our bodies. It could even transport us to different places as far as our imagination allows us.

As a Critical Care Nurse with holistic nursing certification, I was the first one in our unit to initiate music therapy as a relaxation intervention that decreased the need for pain medications and normalized blood pressure and elevated heart rhythms. That beneficial effect also happened to the nurse looking after the patient. It becomes a win-win situation.  In long term and hospice care, they have added music therapy hiring harpists, pianists and singers as part of their alternative health modality and socialization program. Although, each music has the possibility of being expressed and received in diverse tones or musical interpretation because each musician and each listener brings its own energy that to the piece, it is significantly important to have it for over-all health and wellness. It’s neither good or bad.  It is just IS.

Exciting research has shown that the outer membrane structure of every cell in your body is a unique, semi-crystalline matrix.  It has a tone, a note, a vibration, a frequency, and a wave that helps us constantly find our balance with the cellular resonance effect. This discovery reveals that the ideal resonant frequency of each cell can also be sustained or regained by listening to music, creating music, expressing what’s in our hearts, our souls, our being to manifest our connection to the Source.

When I hear lyrics that just blends perfectly with the melody, the power of words and the power of each note comes together in a way that whoever listens to the composition does not necessarily have to know the language that the song is written nor the exact circumstance or story behind each composition.  But I do not underestimate of knowing the language upfront as feeling of the music becomes instant.  I have always wished to know Spanish words when I hear tango music. When I could not, I just put my self in the mood of the melody and words sang with such passion. It goes deep in our souls.

Songwriting unleashes inside out the longings, desires, aspirations and deep emotions waiting to come out to manifest and finally expressed itself.  Songwriting in events where the world is in chaos as it is now, is a perfect way to artistically and peacefully bring out all thoughts and emotions bottled inside of you.  The only caution I would say is for a songwriter not to just write on sad songs but make songs that  will uplift and elevate our understanding of who we are, what we are and how we can best serve the world as your songs add value to the people of the world.  It is also best to remember that lyrics, sang or not, has its own vibration already.  So be mindful in your choice or words as you write your songs.

Also, from the point of view of intention, clarity of thought and imagination, when you as a songwriter can be clear from the very beginning of what melody to compose and lyrics to write, it would be powerful to imagine what and how the ending would be.  Nothing is written in stones as all of you artists know that already.  So, enjoy the process and see what works for you.

I wish this blog is helpful to you.   I am honored to be acquainted with Peter. He operates from his heart and from love. 

To your outstanding songwriting journey as part of your healing process, I say Mabalos, Thank you.

Grace Asagra

https://linktr.ee/GraceAsagra (Website/Video Digital Course Series/Podcast links)

 
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"Have Courage And Just Put Your Music Out There" - Peter Colaric, Singer/Songwriter