Why is music used in rituals

I rarely need that anymore, but it was very helpful when I was starting out. For a living room sized ritual, a portable CD player or inexpensive bluetooth speaker will do well.

And for outdoor use, you need something with plenty of volume. We had about 60 people in a hotel conference room — it was great. For big outdoor rituals I used to use my vintage rack system, until I blew out the speakers. Whatever you use, make sure you test it before the ritual.

Practice playing the music the same way you practice everything else in a ritual. Know your cues — I call them out in the ritual script. Just knowing when to start the song is one thing. Make sure you also know when to end it, and if you need to let it play all the way through or if you should shut it off when the associated ritual action is finished.

Recorded music is by definition copyrighted. However, US copyright law specifically exempts music used in live religious services other countries may have different laws. You can play or sing any song you like from any source and be perfectly legal. But this exemption only applies to live worship services. See this article from LegalZoom for more details. I used 11 years of ritual playlists to help me figure out the list — and I ended up with 16 albums, not These would be my suggestions for what to use.

You are, of course, free to use what seems best to you. My only warning would be to never force a song into a ritual. But recorded music has a place in Pagan rituals as well. Find the right songs, put them in the right places, and enjoy them. Get newsletters and updates Close. Also, send me the Pagan Newsletter and special offers.

Also, send me the Pagan Newsletter. Toggle navigation. Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world. Tagged with: Ritual music Pagan Pagan music Paganism ritual ritual music.

Previous Post. Next Post. You can sing them by yourself, but if sung in a large ritual, many common chants have some options for harmonies musical lines that complement the melody , descants lines that go above or around the main chant line and complement it , or can be sung as rounds where people come in with the main line at intervals.

In some ritual settings, longer songs may be used to help set the mood, tell a story, or create a particular energy in the circle. There are options here, as well. You might sing the whole thing through. If someone in a group is a strong singer and comfortable with this they could sing the verses and the group could sing along with the chorus.

Sometimes a song might be played on some sort of speaker and people might sing along, or not, depending on the purpose. Sometimes you want music to go along with a ritual act. You might have music as part of a moving meditation, while people are working on a crafting project, as background to a meditation or during quiet reflective time or any other time people are quiet but you want to keep energy lightly focused on your ritual.

Some rituals may use music for people to move or dance to, or to play while people are moving between stations in the ritual where different things happen. The best music in this case is either very specific to the ritual act, or undemanding instrumental meditation tracks work well.

One use of music is the creation of playlists — and streaming music services offer a lot of options for creativity here! Part of my daily practice right now is listening to a song from a playlist every morning. I make note of which song it is, and take it as a mood for the day.

But another great use for playlists is to help reinforce long-term magical or ritual work. While I was working with each element I created a playlist of several hours and listened to that as my default listening for those few months. As with the elemental lists, I listened to it most of the time while I was working toward that goal. You can find pages that are no longer current in the archive. I post links to my Patreon as well. Need a little research help?

I offer research services for a reasonable fee. Home » Doing » Music in ritual practice. Contents Why? Breath as a magical tool Sound vibrates us Music creates connections Emotions, good and bad Focused space Group mind Pleasure and joy Including music What are your options? When might you use music in ritual? Upbeat songs can trigger a broad smile on your face, while sad songs make you cry.

Music has been our companion for centuries. It granted the shiver of emotion and a break from the dull, everyday life. Genetic studies show that the sensitivity to music has been passed down generation after generation.

Some tunes can give you goosebumps, others have an immediate impact on your brain. Scholars suggest that musical therapy will be significant in the nearest future.

Listening to music in a church or a concert hall is an experience that resonates with you deeply. At the beginning of human history, we gathered in tribes. The connection between individuals was crucial for the survival of the tribe. How is that similar to modern music concerts?

Surrounded his neighbors, with whom he shared values and beliefs, he could strongly feel the sense of community. All of them were dressed similarly, spoke the same language, and chanted the same religious songs and mantras.

Today, attending a music concert is strikingly alike. Singing out loud with other melomaniacs is just a reflection of chanting mantras with fellow tribesmen in ancient times. Maybe you even dance, sway, and clap together in the moshpit, a custom exclusive for music concerts. Feeling included is a strong craving in humans, and music concerts satisfy this need similarly to ancient rituals. The sense of community, combined with singing and dancing together, grants you with a religious-like experience.

Masses need somebody to lead them. Political strikes have activists, Hindu worships have monks, Christian masses have priests, and ancient rituals had shamans. Music stars — be it pop, rock, or rap — hold an elevated position in our society. Fame, prestige, and money are all that successful musicians have.

Sometimes, we ask our idols for an autograph, a photo, or even a hug. We look up to these people and praise them. This worship of musicians becomes even more evident during concerts.