The Role Of Sound

[HypnicJerk]

Wanted to share how sound has shaped my experiences on the Otherside and hear what kind of affect it has had for yourselves.

For me I begin each trip choosing two songs, one for travel and one for reintegration. I'll set a few more in queue just in case the return to self takes a while. I'll hit play as soon as the first breath is captured and then continue on with the experience.

I've noticed something strange and that's how much control they seem to have over the audio you bring with you. When its playing low on a speaker its background sound seeping through the glass walls on the Otherside, often comforting or emphasizing their points. However high volume headphones seems to give them a large range of edits to your sound.

Slow songs become intensely fast paced, lyrics and individual words change meaning, a single sound or beat of a drum can send a wave saturated with meaning and depth. Its almost as if they're cut and editing it to make their message almost in Bumblebee "Transformers" way.

Have you guys experienced anything similar? Love to hear about what song and how they changed it.

 

[Northerner]

I used to use trippy music to journey but found that sudden jolts or changes in the sound, crescendos, peaks and noisy bridges would create unwanted effects and detract from my experience.

I do like to use music still, but only chill music or something like vocal free prog. Upon entry I can no longer hear the music, but coming out there is a sudden moment I can hear it again. I find that really grounding.... whoa I'm back, I can hear again. It also sets the tone and often swirly or fractal visuals will pulse in time with the sounds. My favourite sounds for tripping has been friskyradio for some time.

I know people though who listen to metal and stuff like that when journeying. They have no fear, just jump in and throw the life line away. I suspect they'll be taught some humility in the long run though and won't be able to maintain that sort of thing. Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I have no place to judge really.

 

[HypnicJerk]

I do like to use music still, but only chill music or something like vocal free prog.

I know people though who listen to metal and stuff like that when journeying. They have no fear, just jump in and throw the life line away.

Yeah I started out with some minimal lyric LowFi music which seemed to be simple enough to have no effect other than to help maintain linear thought and not get lost.

I moved on to music with more lyrics but more relaxing some with higher energy too. I always stick with female artist because I find it more comforting and soothing and the reoccuring female enity is the only one who talks to me and needs a voice.

Metal would freak me out I have no idea how someone would stay sane I feel it would take one to a chaotic space.

 

[Lowtones]

Music is a large part of my life, and thus I am always using it when I journey. Especially when I journey with aya because of the length of the experience. I also calm myself and cleanse the space with music of my own making beforehand. Usually vocal as well as instrumental.

I actually quite like a good symphony because of the length and level of development, though there can be large dynamic changes and moments of tension. I usually know the music pretty well, though, so it doesn't particularly upset me.

Does anybody get "flashbacks" of journeys when you hear music that you used during a voyage? I do, not actual visual flashbacks, but I can remember how I felt and the messages clearly. On my most intense aya voyage I was listening to Peruvian psychedelic cumbia, and whenever I hear it I kind of go back there. Here ya go

 

[padawan]

I always listen to music. Tried silence but it's definitely lacking for me. Like the OP, I queue up a specifically chosen playlist. Usually begin with a trippy song (like Shpongle) that has the exact duration of my journey (about 6min 30 secs) followed by something with a good rolling beat for the afterglow (another 6 or so mins) then a comforting and uplifting reintegration song followed by sounds of the rainforest. It's like a guided journey Although, after a while the familiarity of the same songs lessens the effects. Yeah, hearing my fave trip songs from the past definitely brings back fond memories

In a deep journey, I find it fascinating how the music can slow down and almost stop, but not change. Perception of time is a weird thing. Kind of like how we can squeeze so many thoughts into such a short time in hyperspace - are we thinking hyperfast and it all becomes relative to our standard every-day reality?

 

[HypnicJerk]

Perception of time is a weird thing. Kind of like how we can squeeze so many thoughts into such a short time in hyperspace - are we thinking hyperfast and it all becomes relative to our standard every-day reality?

I totally agree with this. I think that by disconnecting the soul from the corporeal self you're no longer limited by the brain's hardwired perception of time. Looking back on myself from hyperspace any interactions with myself seemed slow.

Sometimes at the start I have to come back to lay myself down and it seems to take for ever so I leave once I'm falling back. Good thing I set a pile of pillows behind me beforehand lol.

 

[HypnicJerk]

I usually know the music pretty well, though, so it doesn't particularly upset me.

Does anybody get "flashbacks" of journeys when you hear music that you used during a voyage? I do, not actual visual flashbacks, but I can remember how I felt and the messages clearly. On my most intense aya voyage I was listening to Peruvian psychedelic cumbia, and whenever I hear it I kind of go back there. Here ya go

Thanks for that definitely some music I'd like to try on a travel some of it feels like it would definitely send me to meet some of the more lively entities. Mine tend to be serious.

And yeah the music I use is old favorites to new music I listen to on repeat a lot so it's all familiar also always great to be guided by a favorite track.

Hearing it again helps me remember during the reintegration sometimes I listen to same song on repeat the whole experience until the journal entry is finished.

Recently though I get flashbacks in reflective surfaces and tonight it happened during sex which I'm going to make a post about soon.