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

ut also in order to block, or delay, the sensation of pain.
An additional hypothesis regarding relaxation concerns
the Reticular Formation (or system) of the Brain Sten
which serves as a modulator between sensory input
and motor output, When stimulus (such as sound) is
extensive, it can excite, and when linited it may relax, In
particular it is the Ascending Reticular Formation (more
commonly known as the Reticular Activating System),
which influences the state of alertness; reduced activity
of this portion can lead to a state of hypnosis, trance or
sleep
And now to the psychological aspects Traditional
Healing is aimed at those individuals who sprang fron
the self-same cultural and societal roots as did the
Healer or Shaman, and who share his own philosophy
and beliefs It is these shared faiths and the confidence
of the patient in the abilities and powers of the Healer
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which serve as the rock-solid basis of traditional
healing, Alongside these there exists a clear social code
of the Forbiden and the Permissible, any transgression
of which can lead to Inbalance and hence to illness.
The Healer is acknowledged by his patient as being
posessed of an expert knowledge of traditional law and
an ability to restore equilibrium due his inherent powers
and his ability to make contact wíth the forces of
affliction.
It should be stressed that whilst such magic thinking
(which embraces the concept of supernatural powers)
may be regarded by western psychology as a form of
pathological regression, within traditional societies the
supernatural remains a concrete part of reality Spirits,
Demons, Ancestors, Gods and Demi-tods all inhabit
their surroundings and watch over them all the time.
Within this web of beliefs, music is also considered to