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

Gerrie's comment was that the speed and slowing down
of the music was "a lot like when I was on (crack)
cocaine. Only when I was on cocaine and slowed down,
I got depressed." She said, The slowing down today with
the music was relaxing and good." Remember this piece
of music because I'm going to refer to it again.
Gerrie's response points out how mind and moodaltering
chemicals disturb the equilibrium of bodily
functions. Girdano and Everly in their book, "Controlling
Stress and Tension: A Holistic Approach," explain that
both the natural world and the human body run on time.
Time in the natural world is seen as solar, lunar and
seasonal time. With the human, there are fluctuating
times of energy, hormones, metabolism and
temperature. Biological rhythms are naturally recurring
cycles of activities governed by the nervous and
hormonal systems. Each cycle has a beginning and an
end; each has a zenith and a nadir level. Basic biological
620
rhythms stubbornly resist changes in the cycles.
Girdano and Everly suggest that, behaviorially, humans
are different people at different times of the day. Drugs
taken at one time of day have a stronger effect than the
same dose taken at another time.
Scientists believe that the addictive power of crack
stems from the steep rise and rapid fall of brain levels
when the drug is smoked or taken intravenously. Such
actions are an assault on natural biological rhythms,
violently interrupting bodily cycles that promote stability
and health. It isn't surprising that such an invasive
procedure strongly affects emotions. Well-chosen mind
and mood-altering music is a strong influence on the
restoration of equilibrium and the reeducation of mind
and body to their value in achieving integration of parts
of the self.
Cellist William Pleeth says, "Nothing is separated from
anything else. This whole scene is an unwrapping of an
endless universe." The whole scene exposes both the