The Anthroposophical Approach to Music and Movement Therapy
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Presenters: Virinia Efta, Shelia Phelps Johns, Miriam Karnow, Channa Andriesse Seidenberg, Elizabeth Usher
Moderator: Christine Murphy
Session: Su6: June 13, 1999I. Abstract
Anthroposophical therapies find their roots in the turn of the century work of Rudolf Steiner. His theories are the basis for techniques such as eurhythmy. In this workshop, participants experienced how sound and movement are used therapeutically in the anthroposophical healing. Participants played lyres, moved to the music of lyres, and watched demonstrations of eurhythmy. These techniques from Europe seemed foreign to most people in the workshop.
II. The Cancer-Related Issue Addressed
Eurhythmy is used as a means for cancer patients to improve their health and to enrich their spirituality. This workshop focused on living issues that are relevant to people with and without cancer. Through music, sound, and movement, patients enter another level of spiritual awareness.
The Program
A. Philosophical Background
In the early 1900s, Rudolf Steiner developed anthroposophy, which he described as a way of schooling oneself and gaining knowledge. It "seeks to unite the spiritual element in the human being with the spiritual element in the universe." From the modern medical perspective, the human being is viewed as a machine, the components of which can be technically manipulated like the components in a test tube.
From the anthroposophical point of view, the human being must be regarded from four aspects--the physical body, the life body, the sentient body, and the spirit body. The physical body is essentially what we see when a dead body. The life body is what we see when a system of forces are active that prevent decomposition. The ensouled, sentient body is described as those bodies that show characteristics such as drives, pain, and pleasure. Therefore, animals are ensouled bodies, whereas plants are not. Humans differ from animals in that they have self-awareness. This self-awareness allows humans to be described as spirit bodies. Anthroposophical therapies involve concentrating on these four aspects of the human being and bringing them into balance with themselves and with the universe.
Throughout human culture, music has been recognized as a healing agent. In a lecture on music, Rudolf Steiner described humans in relationship to tone: "All objects in the physical world have a spiritual tone at the foundation of their being and, in their deepest nature each human being is such a spiritual tone." In using music to heal, tones remind the patient of the tonal world out of which humans are formed. Steiner asserted that through music, people can reconnect with the essence of being.
Therapeutic eurhythmy was also developed by Steiner out of the art of movement. Through specific speech and movement, people can increase their awareness of their bodies and of underlying unconscious thoughts and processes. Eurhythmy brings the dynamics of speech and song to expression through movement. This allows patients to actively take part in the care of their bodies. Patients describe the therapies as uplifting and inspiring.
B. Details
We first listened to lyre music played by two women. I could smell lavender and eucalyptus scents in the air. The tones, especially the harmonies, did register in different spaces in my body. Just like a cello can make the gut shake with its tones, the lyres in duet had localized effects, depending on the harmonies and movement of the piece.
The facilitator then asked for five volunteers. Five slightly nervous people approached and took lyres into their arms. After watching the proper technique for strumming and breathing, they formed a circle and had a lyre jam in which they passed an imaginary ball of lyre energy around the circle. The breathing reminded me of other techniques such as yoga where people are asked to bring their awareness to their breath. After playing, the five participants were affected by the instruments and the noticeable fun of playing them together.
A demonstration of tone eurhythmy was then performed. During this offering, one of the therapists danced while the lyre was played. She stated that cancer occurs when a person has become lost and cannot hear their own melody. Tone therapy is one way in which a person may become reconnected with that melody.
The group of participants did an exercise in tone euthythmy where the lyre sounded major and minor chords. With the major chords, we were told to move our arms up above our heads, "towards the stars." With the minor chord, we moved our arms down and folded our hands at the center of our chests, "into ourselves." With each motion, breathing was matched. After several cycles of moving in and out, of increasing our awareness of ourselves (minor chord) and of the universe (major chord) and the relationship between the two, we heard a heavily dissonant chord. The facilitator asked us to throw our limbs randomly, as if we were "torn apart." The sound was chaotic and the bodily motion matched it perfectly. From this torn apart position, the major chord sounded and we moved again to a balanced posture.
This matching of sound and movement provides a tonal and physical metaphor for what people with illness experience. Even though moments exist that appear chaotic and dissonant, the stable harmonious relationships of our selves and the universe are still present.
After this experience with tone eurhythmy, we were presented with a demonstration of speech eurhythmy in which consonants and vowels are articulated along with a specific movement. The therapist stated that the stars give rise to humans and that out of the stars comes the ability to make sounds. We humans take these sounds and shape them into speech. She informed us that patients undergoing this therapy will be given a list of vowels and consonants to do for whatever their disorder may be. A physician works in conjunction with the therapist and prescribes the particular sounds for the patient to produce.
C. Mechanisms of Action
The mechanisms of action were not elucidated.
D. Research
Research was not mentioned, although these contacts that may provide relevant information:
The Association for the Anthroposophical Renewal of Healing (734) 761-5172
Anthroposophical Therapy and Hygiene Association (ANTHA) (914) 356-8494