Observations placeholder
Pythagoras - Iamblichus's Life - Healing 'passions of the soul' and insomnia with music
Identifier
014680
Type of Spiritual Experience
Background
A description of the experience
Iamblichus – Life of Pythagoras [translated by Thomas Taylor]
The whole Pythagoric school produced by certain appropriate songs, what they called exartysis, or adaptation, synarmoge or elegance of manners, and epaphe or contact, usefully conducting the dispositions of the soul to passions contrary to those which it before possessed.
For when they went to bed they purified the reasoning power from the perturbations and noises to which it had been exposed during the day, by certain odes and peculiar songs, and by this means procured for themselves tranquil sleep, and few and good dreams.
But when they rose from bed, they again liberated themselves from the torpor and heaviness of sleep, by songs of another kind. Sometimes, also, by musical sounds alone, unaccompanied with words, they healed the passions of the soul and certain diseases, enchanting, as they say, in reality.
And it is probable that from hence this name epode, i.e. enchantment, came to be generally used. After this manner, therefore, Pythagoras through music produced the most beneficial correction of human manners and lives.
The source of the experience
PythagorasConcepts, symbols and science items
Concepts
SpellSymbols
Science Items
Activities and commonsteps
Activities
Overloads
AnxietyDepression
Extreme emotion
Fury, overwhelming rage and anger
Sleep deprivation, insomnia and mental exhaustion
Suppressions
ADHDHealing yourself
Listening to music
Manic depression
Singing spells