There are times when I need to take a vacation from myself and step outside the repeated mental constructs. Disarming the habitual thoughts with logic doesn’t work. That’s just more thinking. Einstein said, “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” Many in the mind-body healing arena have found that breaking habitual thought patterns can be a very healthy thing to do.
When I get stuck and my usual tools like meditation, yoga, running, or nature don’t take me out of my head, music is often the answer. Usually it’s the music itself more than the lyrical content that provides respite. It can carry me away or lift me up and out of my stories and my mental muck. It’s as if my whole body is listening. Eric Clapton’s version of “Born in Time” from the Pilgrim album is a strong favorite, as is Richard Bona’s vocalizing on Mike Stern’s “What You Believe” from These Times.
It can feel as if I’m riding the crest of a wave, or like I am catapulted to the top of the world, and for a moment I wonder what it would be like to always live in that place. But however long- or short- lived it might be, it’s powerful enough for me to lose track of time. The vibe has reached me to my core and I’m no longer dominated by the lower frequencies of the congested mind. Joe Satriani’s “Always with Me, Always with You” holds that kind of power for me, as does the supernal “Bach Prelude in G major.”
It’s a gift to be able to step outside oneself and, if only for a moment, allow for the connection to something much greater. There is nothing more sublime than Pat Metheny’s “Above the Treetops” from Secret Story, based on the traditional Cambodian hymn “Buong Suong” enhanced by the sweet and innocent voices of the choir of the Cambodian Royal Palace. The pure velvety tenor of country singer Vince Gill singing a ballad is another ascension into the heavens for me, as is Pat Metheny’s aptly titled “Slip Away” from Letter from Home. And Radiohead’s perennial “High and Dry” from The Bends always gets a second and third play.
At the top of my list is Pat Metheny’s “Last Train Home” and I prefer the live version from The Road to You. Its bitter-sweet melody and vocalizations at the bridge provoke a sense of nostalgia, for what I’m not sure. At the same time I feel invigorated and once again, my reset button has been pushed.
My list could go on, but these are the songs that I can return to when little else works. I encourage you to check out some samples of these compositions by clicking on the links above. They can all be found at Amazon.com in the mp3 download section or at iTunes. If none of these tunes work for you, I urge you to find some music that does. It’s a quick trip that requires no baggage or medication.
Feel free to comment and share your list.