The Five Elements, Emotion and Music Featuring the Music of Jami Deva
by Cory Trusty. Daytona, Florida.
Traditionally in Chinese philosophy, there are 5 elements, Metal, Water, Wood,
Fire, and Earth. Each of these elements has an association with a particular
color, season, organ, emotion, sound, etc (Figure 1). These elements interact with each
other in a specific manner within the generative and control cycles.
Following the elements in Figure 1 around the star in a clockwise motion, one finds
the generative cycle, for example, Water generates Wood, which in turn generates
fire, etc, etc. By following the lines making up the star in a clockwise position,
one finds the control cycle, for example, Water controls Fire, which in turn
controls water, which in turn controls Metal, and so on. The control cycle
therefore is easy to understand in a physical sense. We use water to quell a
Fire and the welder uses Fire to shape Metal. We know also that
emotions have a physical nature, being tied invisibly to biochemicals.
Figure 1:
Chinese Medical theory states that the body is damaged by excessive emotion.
For example, excessive anger is associated with the Wood element is said to injure the Liver.
Worry, the emotion of the Earth element, when in excess is said
to damage the Spleen and Stomach, leading to symptoms such as nausea, bloating, etc.
Continuing with the correspondences from Figure 1, we find also the Lungs are damaged by excessive
grief, the Kidneys by excessive fear, and the Heart by
joy (this can be understood easily when one considers the harmful effects of
amphetamines used to achieve an artificial joy, which depletes the Heart qi often
leading to insomnia).
The control cycle becomes useful when considering recovery from
health problems associated with an excess of a particular emotion. For example,
meditation on feelings of grief can be used to overcome feelings of anger.
Imagine an angry temper tantrum slowly dissolving as it yields to tears...Metal
controlling Wood. One can therefore experiment
the control cycle in daily life in terms of one's emotions. One way of doing
this is to listen to music, which draws out particular emotions. My friend
and musician, Scott B. Lions died unexpectedly last month. Many of his
compositions, inspired by joy and love, helped him to overcome grief he
experienced in his life...Fire controlling Metal. Scott once told me that music was the greatest art, because
listening to songs allows you to directly experience the emotion and experience
of the performer. Therefore, in our grief for him we are doubly blessed with his music.
Using music as a means of meditation we can access and activate our emotions
to relax and heal our bodies. Different sounds resonate with particular
elements. The sound of the Fire is laughter, of the Earth is singing, of Metal
weeping, of Water groaning of Wood shouting one can access particular emotions
during meditation, thereby balancing one's mind and spirit. These sounds can
be found in different compositions, instruments, rhythms, lyrics, etc.
In a recent article in Acupuncture Today coauthored by Mary Elizabeth Wakefield and Donna Carey, co-founder of
Kairos Institute of Sound Healing together with Marjorie Demuynk, the former state:
"Although sound exists all around us, humans hear within a very limited
range. Although we can't audibly hear all the vibratory sounds of the
universe, they are still accessible to us. These sounds - these unseen
powers - can be harnessed to help us heal at physical, emotional and
spiritual levels. We know this is true on a musical level when we listen
to music to help soothe our sadness; lighten our spirits; wake us up; put
us to sleep; help us relax; or just experience the pure joy of a
particular composition. We can (and do) see our depression lift, our
bodies loosen and our pain subside, while our spirits soar as we feel the
impact of the music in our body"
Some songs particularly stand out in terms where they fit within the 5
element schema, and therefore how they can be used during clinically during
Acupuncture treatments, for example. I asked Jami Deva, musician and former graduate student
of the Florida School of Acupuncture, if he thought about these things too, to which he replied "of course
in fact my solo album that I have been working on 4 three years is
titled 'Element.' I was WAY influenced by the 5 element theory in acupuncture school
and then when i began my studies in Sufism , I discovered that the great
traditions of esotericism are all based on reverent association with
the elements. So I in fact have a collection of original material recorded while
attuning 2 specific elements." Both Jami and his music are mystically harmonious
in nature. Please enjoy his 30 minute ethereal meditative piece entitled "The Space."
Congratulations to Jami as he is working on his next album in Miami. Don't be
surprised if you start hearing more of his music soon.
References
1. Figure 1 by Ashlynn Ward www.paganism.com
2. Wakefield, Mary Elizabeth and Carey, Donna. Facial Soundscapes: Harmonic
Renewal -- A New Non-Needle Modality Acupuncture Today. June 2003.
3. The Space by Jami Deva, Moksha Sommer and Jemal Hines