Hanscom - Creation myths and song

It is interesting how the music can be such an integral part of one's culture and spirituality. There are many accounts where music or song is connected to the visual imagery found in nature, including in some culture's creation myths. This is a phenomena called synesthesia, where one's senses such as taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing can be blended or interrelated with each other. For instance, one might be able to taste a smell, or hear something and visualize colors or shapes. This is an ability that all humans were given, according to Abram in his book The Spell of the Sensuous; it isn't a special gift only a few people have in the world. 

In his book The Magician's Nephew, Lewis writes that Aslan created Narnia by singing a unique creation song. This creation myth was directly inspired by the story in Genesis where God creates the world by the Words he spoke. I thought it was interesting the Lewis made Aslan sing creation into being, rather than speaking plainly. I really enjoyed this interpretation because I believe music has a way of transcending language and create feelings or emotions that words can not. 

In the film we watched about the Navajo Indians, they believed that they were responsible for singing the world into existence. They sing ritually over the land and their environment to ensure they will have good crops and weather. I thought this was an interesting connection to make with the creation myth Lewis writes in his book. There is something extraordinarily creative and life-giving about music that transcends spoken language. 

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