Practicing an instrument, breathing and slowing down allows you to face yourself, and see what is within that could be veiling the state of inner silence and stillness – that which we truly are, beyond the thoughts, feelings, and stories. Settling down the nervous system and coming into the NOW.
As I sit and breathe and play the guitar, I see what “negative thoughts” come up. In this case, a part of my psyche was saying “I already played that, it is not new or fresh or hip.” So here’s the game – we are more than our minds (and bodies, ultimately – we have both of them) and this thought itself (or any thoughts, regardless how dark or “negative,”) is not the real problem. It is just that, a *part of us* may believe it, and judge it as a bad thing. Now this is simply a belief, and a conditioned response. If we are neutral to it, and it doesn’t bother us, then we don’t really believe it and we are free of it. If there is a negative reaction to the thought, then we (meaning *this part of us*) might believe it, judge it, identify with it; or resist it and push it away. In either case, we want to uncouple the energy and emotions attached to the thought.
So what can we do? Well, first off, we want to gently zoom out and take on the presence of Pure Awareness, so there is some distance and we are not wrapped up in the chaos. This is not to deny or suppress any of it, quite the opposite – it is to fully be immersed in the experience, without fighting or trying to get rid of anything. We get to lovingly explore what we may have believed is true. In this case, the truth would be that the musical ideas simply ARE. It is possible to play something for the zillionth time with the energy of the very first time (seen as it is, in this moment) – OR the opposite, seen through the lense of thoughts/feelings/judgements. Which one do you think is a more objective truth, seen clearly? 🙂
The reality is, there is no real issue with the thought itself, unless it sways and stirs us up. So one idea of meditation, or a musical practice such as this is to become the witness of all these reactions. Where did that come from, and why? And why now in this moment? So we can SEE…in our own experience – “I” didn’t actually choose that thought, in that moment – that thought came to me, or rather, appeared in Awareness. It may have been something living in my subconscious, ready to be released and seen. Which is a good thing! Carl Jung said “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will rule your life and you will call it fate.” We live in a vibrational Universe, and we don’t really need to hold on to that kind of energy or programming.
Why would “I” choose to think a negative thought like that? It wouldn’t really serve me or anyone else, truly (except it is a play of the ego to keep itself safe from perceived external threat or harm. The thought is likely conditioned, and may even come from someone else. So in this way, we are using music to alchemize pain and limitation into truth, awareness, and liberation.
Another possibility is, “this part of us” may have something very valid to tell us – something it needs, desires, or emotions it might be holding onto. So we get to explore and listen, and get to know and integrate ourselves on a deeper level.