Music As The Carrier Wave
       by Kay Ortmans-Pawley

From the beginning of time, the power of music has been recognized as one of the greatest aids in changing consciousness and bringing people into harmony and rhythm within themselves and with those around them. Now, at this time of great crisis throughout the world, music is again coming into its own, bridging language barriers, freeing emotions, drawing up powers that have been hidden and forgotten, but which are essential to overcome some of the obstacles surrounding us. Inspiration can be received using music as a carrier wave. Whenever there is a need to bring people together, music can play a significant part.

Basic to this process of change is recognition that the wisdom of the body has a large part to play in bringing harmony and purpose back into our lives. Because we carry a lot of negative emotion or residue from the past music can be a tremendous tool to draw these memories to the surface for discharge and transformation.

The Well-Springs Program provides a process for re-education; clearing old habit patterns and establishing new ones. It is an invigorating way of helping people who have intent to grow and to become more flexible. The emphasis is on high-level wellness rather than therapy. It takes for granted that everyone has a spark that can be ignited and opportunities are provided to draw out the potential faculties of each individual through the power of music and movement.

Accepting responsibility for our actions and life circumstances is an important part of the process. Instead of blaming others, we realize that we draw situations to us by our attitudes and state of consciousness. If we feel angry inside, we are going to draw anger to us in one form or another. By taking time to learn how to dissolve the blocks that have held up our growth and by changing our attitude and feelings, our outward circumstances change.

In the Well-Springs Program, people are encouraged to let go over and over again to enable true perspective to emerge. Whether the need is for clarification of a problem, re-evaluation of circumstances or time to reactivate the will for purposeful action, letting-go is essential.

This process is a synthesis of experiences that leads to a natural unfoldment of the individual. We usually start by freeing the body tensions through a series of movements we call Relax and Rebound. These easy movements are done to music, drawing resistance from the body, creating a rhythmic flow and a sense of well-being. Each time they are repeated, either in a group or at home with the aid of our "Relax and Rebound" tape, a deeper release can be felt.

The Relax and Rebound principles--the art of letting-go and catching the "light rebound"--brings a spontaneous response to living and frees the body of many hindrances and held-in tensions. The willingness to let go is the key to the whole process.

We move then into a more sensitive response to music. Often we begin by just walking in a group with each person going his or her own way, catching the rhythm of the music. When everyone is in sync, a power is released that is infectious and stimulating. The quality of fine classical music that is used determines to a large extent the response of the group.

This experience creates a high energy level and a sense of well-being that carries with it courage, humor, and purpose. It is developed through movements we call Reality Movements -- pushing, pulling, bouncing and stretching -- done without music at first until a certain amount of flexibility is felt. Then, back to the music, perhaps using a Well-Springs tape that encourages quick response, changing speeds, mood and rhythm spontaneously. This kind of experience aligns body, mind, spirit and emotions.

We often introduce color through a variety of fabrics of different weights and shades. Sometimes we suggest that they choose colors not necessarily to their liking in order to invite old memories, through association, to come to the surface. The charge of these memories can then be released through the process of moving with the music and freeing the emotions connected with them. The experience is very powerful and leads into a variety of group experiences with color. In the rest period which follows, those who wish to share tell of their experiences. At times of deep emotional release, someone may move intuitively behind the one sharing and place their hands on the other's shoulders for additional support. This is impersonal love rather than personal closeness that is needed. It is amazing how much deep release takes place at this time.

Then we offer deep relaxation or guided meditation, followed by music to further free the subconscious. While still relaxed, we take large sheets of butcher paper and select colored chalks. The chalk drawings that follow express the feelings that are surfacing without consciously knowing what they are. Music continues to offer support and rhythmic flow.

No artistic talent is needed. We just enjoy the music with the conscious mind and let the subconscious take over. Sometimes accumulations of anger and frustration come first and black and red chalks are much in demand. Then fresh sheets of paper are taken and another level of consciousness seems to appear without using the conscious mind to direct the procedure. We just let go to the flow of the music. Often, surprising beauty reveals itself.

After several pictures have emerged, we turn to clay. Clay provides resistance, and it is helpful first to throw it onto a small board on the ground over and over with all the strength we have. Then when we see a shape we like, we sit down and work with it reflectively. Working with clay brings wholeness and real comfort. Again this is spontaneous. The music and the rhythm of the hands allow shapes to come and go that gradually reveal significance and meaning. We suggest always having a journal handy. Each time an image appears that reminds us of something, we jot it down and continue to work the clay. Dialoguing with clay can lead to profound inner experiences. Sometimes clay pieces of such quality are achieved that they have been fired and cast in bronze.

The follow-through is important in this process. Many reminders surface and insights flow which need to be accepted and used in appropriate ways. Often important decisions are made. Astonishing stories can come through and lead to changes in people's lives and deep fulfillment. In viewing these expressions in chalk drawings and clay, other people often see more than the person who did them. Sharing these can lead to even further understanding. Group clay throwing is a great experience. After everyone has warmed up and responded to everything that's been going on, there seems to be a need to discharge feelings and shout -- sometimes with joy, sometimes with anger, and sometimes just frustration. So we have plenty of fairly moist clay available, 150 pounds for a group of 15 people. A wooden board about 8x10 is supported against a large tree. In the meantime, balls are made from the clay and piled on an old table ready for throwing at the board.

Participants then line up, one behind the other, and vigorous music such as Prokofiev's Piano Concerto#3 is played. First there is a dry run without using the clay. That means running as fast as we can and throwing with the rhythm of the music, aiming at the center of the board. At the same time, with no holding back, we shout the words we can't stand to hear once more or things we'd love to say to someone but wouldn't dare. Then begins the big adventure.

This is the real thing. Now we pick up two balls of clay as we pass the table and start to run, yelling at the top of our lungs. It is a hilarious experience for everyone. Often the most reserved people are the greatest "shouters". We keep this going until the momentum finishes and people can't run anymore. Then we close in towards the clay board. As the music continues, groups of five and six people at at time start working with the clay. Periodically it is necessary for everyone to step back and look at it from another perspective and then move in again. This continues until something recognizable emerges on the board -- hopefully.

Anytime our buttons have been pushed and we find ourselves reacting emotionally, we can practice grounding, just relaxing the whole body down through the feet - rather than holding in the solar plexus, ready to pounce again. Remember that when we decide to let go, the Rebound is just around the corner and the "light touch" can come into focus, which helps most situations.

Nevertheless, there are times when more action is needed to clear the air. We can move energetically to great music, thrusting out our arms alternately from the center of our body, repeatedly saying or singing words that have triggered us until they have no more power. This blows the charge and we can return to our normal balance, responding rather than reacting. In the end, we may even reach the place where the person who has pushed our buttons becomes our best friend because they have helped us to clear out of our etheric body yet a deeper level of fear, anger or frustration.

Another good way we help change our emotions is to have someone give us a neck and shoulder massage and a "brush-off" while standing. The "brush-off" is done by moving the hands from the middle of the back, up over the shoulders with considerable pressure, sweeping off down the arms with an accent. Alternately, the hands sweep down into the waist and off the hips. This needs to be done with a great deal of energy and a quick rhythm, preferably to music. The results can be amazing. Incidentally, we don't have to be in an emotional upheaval to benefit from the "brush-off." It can be used anytime for a quick pick-up.

It is not necessary to work through the whole process. The more experience one has with the Program, the easier it is to choose what part he or she needs at any one time. When one decides in the split second to get up and put on fine music and move, in spite of her/himself, then wonderful surprises can occur. Occasions when one really does not want to move are usually when the biggest releases can take place. This process can lead to the surfacing of deep emotion. It is not always positive, but each time one move into and through it energetically, clarification can come on the wing. The music is chosen to bring up humor and enable us to throw out all kinds of "kefuffle."

That word is very meaningful to me and stands for all the fuss we make about life and our circumstances. When people ask me what I mean by it, I usually say, "Well, you know how much time we spend complaining about circumstances, health, lack of money, our mates or children. But if the doorbell rings, we immediately drop all the kefuffle (complaining) and look forward to seeing an unexpected guest. In one second we can change our whole attitude, which makes us realize that any situation has only the power we give it."

Layer after layer of kefuffle can drop off when we are willing to let go old opinions, sense of limitation, inadequacy, resentment, complaints. On the other hand, if we have allowed an accumulation of frustration to build for years, we may have to take it off layer by layer. As we do this, we frequently reach a bottom level which we call "the muddy stream"-- a condition most people pass through when they seriously undertake a process of change. We couldn't care less about anything. At this stage, if we happen to be at home and are housewives, we may bake potatoes every day for a week, leave the house in a mess and feel all the old habit patterns reappearing again even though we thought we had left them behind long ago. Unless we have really moved the old negative vibration out of the body, they can be triggered off at anytime, a smell, a sight or sound can ignite the whole battle over again, accompanied by depression.

There is another process of significance, which we call Alignment-Through-Music, that is unique to Well-Springs. It is a form of massage to fine music. The Alignment synchronizes body, mind, spirit and emotions simultaneously and takes about two hours. It is offered by certified facilitators who are located in different parts of the country. Through this process, deep memories can emerge that seem to be the cause of situations we find ourselves in today. With the help of the music, the massage and the high consciousness of the facilitator, the old vibrations and emotions surrounding those memories can be drawn up and out of the body. A change occurs as negative emotions are replaced with a higher vibration and new habit patterns are formed, which in turn change the circumstances. Many people have profound experiences.

After the Alignment and a short rest, some people choose to do free movement to reinforce the new vibration. Others prefer to do another picture or so. But the majority of people write their experience in every detail as their are many ramifications to bring together before establishing new balance.

It is helpful to meditate to music, emptying our thoughts and allowing intuition to lead us towards transformation and peace. For those who have never meditated to music, be prepared not to be able to use your familiar procedure. To allow high music to enter our being, we breathe deeply with the phrases of the music for quite a while. When we feel we are riding in overdrive, then the music sustains us and when it finishes we come into balance again. Sometimes it is important for us to have a focus. For instance, we can start by putting a question in our computer and then turn our attention to the music, not to the question. Many times the answer will come to us through intuition. Why do we use fine classical music? For many reasons. Perhaps the most important one is that classical music brings order and form into the awareness of the subconscious. Another is that every time we move with fine music, we find ourselves in a state of exhilaration. It lifts us into a higher conscious state of personal refinement and well-being.

The great composers offer inspiration, development and fulfillment which can be experienced by us on all the nonverbal level. We use the music of Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Puccini, Rachmaninoff, Dvorak, Vaughn Williams, Franck, Faure, DeBussy, Elgar, Chausson, Francaix, Lekeu, Ysaye, Vieuxtemps and many others, allowing it to draw up (like a magnet) corresponding qualities from ourselves. In this way, we stretch to encompass the music and respond with our whole being. Music of this quality can motivate us as individuals as well as draw large groups of people together for purposeful decision making.

Edited version reprinted from Journal of Holistic Health, Vol. VIII, published by Mandala, PO Box 1233, Del Mar, CA 92014