07-22-2009, 11:21 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-22-2009, 11:24 PM by MisterRabbit.)
Well, my view on this subject, for what it's worth, is this:
Personally, I don't like dark and heavy music like you're talking about, because I am simply repulsed by it. Not very thought out, really, just a basic reaction to negativity, the same as I would feel if someone were saying things in a very angry or negative manner.
However, in trying to think of it in a more objective sense, I am reminded of something Ra said once. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy at the moment to try and look it up, but it went roughly to the tune of this: The questioner asked Ra some sort of question about dealing with the parts of ourselves that are less than angelic and certain desires, etc., to which Ra replied something like "All experiences are of the creator. All densities are of the creator, all acts. The desire of those of the confederation is not for you to avoid these things, but to experience them if you have the desire. For truly, it matters not. Any experience which is desired should be pursued." Or, you know, something like that. That's basically what I got out of it, I guess. So, in that light, while it does seem to me that this music does somehow (I would even say in an objective way, not just based on the person listening) seem to embody anger and certain "dark" emotions and things, I think that if you have a desire to listen to it, then you should. It seems to me that you ought to fully allow yourself to experience those things which it calls up in your mind, which are parts of yourself. And if you are able to love those parts of yourself and accept them without necessarily acting on them, then you have gotten one step closer.
However, I do also think that much of the reason certain people like certain types of music is purely chemical. That is, certain music produces certain neurochemicals or hormones, such as perhaps adrenaline and other stress-hormones in the case of angry music, or certain relaxed neurochemicals for new-age music, and people can become addicted to these chemicals just as much as they can pot, caffeine, cocain, or heroin (although obviously it's not as unhealthy as at least the last two). This may not be the case for everyone, but I do theorize that it is a contributing factor for many.
I think it's not so much what you actually do, but your intentions and how you react to it. Especially how you react, that's important. Allowing yourself to feel anger and even hatred, observing this from within and knowing that it is ONLY thoughts and emotions, and accepting it as just a particular pattern of vibration which arises from the creator like all others, and having a sort of neutral appreciation for it (like all other things), then you're on the right track. It's that attachment/aversion duality that gets us into trouble.
Personally, I don't have the desire to hear it, so I avoid it whenever possible, and put up with it when not.
Personally, I don't like dark and heavy music like you're talking about, because I am simply repulsed by it. Not very thought out, really, just a basic reaction to negativity, the same as I would feel if someone were saying things in a very angry or negative manner.
However, in trying to think of it in a more objective sense, I am reminded of something Ra said once. Unfortunately, I'm too lazy at the moment to try and look it up, but it went roughly to the tune of this: The questioner asked Ra some sort of question about dealing with the parts of ourselves that are less than angelic and certain desires, etc., to which Ra replied something like "All experiences are of the creator. All densities are of the creator, all acts. The desire of those of the confederation is not for you to avoid these things, but to experience them if you have the desire. For truly, it matters not. Any experience which is desired should be pursued." Or, you know, something like that. That's basically what I got out of it, I guess. So, in that light, while it does seem to me that this music does somehow (I would even say in an objective way, not just based on the person listening) seem to embody anger and certain "dark" emotions and things, I think that if you have a desire to listen to it, then you should. It seems to me that you ought to fully allow yourself to experience those things which it calls up in your mind, which are parts of yourself. And if you are able to love those parts of yourself and accept them without necessarily acting on them, then you have gotten one step closer.
However, I do also think that much of the reason certain people like certain types of music is purely chemical. That is, certain music produces certain neurochemicals or hormones, such as perhaps adrenaline and other stress-hormones in the case of angry music, or certain relaxed neurochemicals for new-age music, and people can become addicted to these chemicals just as much as they can pot, caffeine, cocain, or heroin (although obviously it's not as unhealthy as at least the last two). This may not be the case for everyone, but I do theorize that it is a contributing factor for many.
I think it's not so much what you actually do, but your intentions and how you react to it. Especially how you react, that's important. Allowing yourself to feel anger and even hatred, observing this from within and knowing that it is ONLY thoughts and emotions, and accepting it as just a particular pattern of vibration which arises from the creator like all others, and having a sort of neutral appreciation for it (like all other things), then you're on the right track. It's that attachment/aversion duality that gets us into trouble.
Personally, I don't have the desire to hear it, so I avoid it whenever possible, and put up with it when not.