23.7. 1993 Vitoria-Gasteiz / Spain - World Federation of Music Therapy

instinctual, affective level of the unconscious, the "no" is
packed with a feeling of personal power. There is a
strong linking of internal and external realities. There is
hope in seeing that there is more to life than previous
experiences have led one to believe.
Images are effective mood-changers, also. Actors are
well aware of this. One of the tricks in an actor's bag is
the ability to image in order to induce a mood response
appropriate to the character being portrayed. When an
expression of despair is called for in the script, the actor
imagines a scene of despair--perhaps something from
his or her own experience. A shift of mood occurs. Soon
the actor can express the despair being experienced
through imagination. On the other hand, a feeling of
despair can be lifted and transmuted in the same
manner. When images of nature occur, they often bring
feelings of peace, order and rightness to the imager.
Such images feed the spirit, and spiritual nourishment is
vital to recovery and maintenance of recovery.
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Imagery as a mood changer is particularly effective
when induced by music, which in itself has the ability to
change feeling states. Music, as images in sound, will
be explored in a few moments.
The addictive person is not lacking in imagination.
Rather, unaware of the power of imagination to rule
behavior, the addict has focused on images that elicit
destructive moods. Addicts in my groups nod with
understanding when I point out to them that they image
their drugs before they take them. They image getting
them before they go to get them.
MUSIC
Now let's talk about music as the vehicle for stirring the
imagination.