Brain Health: Music
Today we’re continuing our interviews with men who have an interesting self-care practice that specifically benefits the brain. I met Marco in October at a men’s convergence outside of San Diego. Marco is the first Reiki practitioner with whom I’ve experienced any sensation with Reiki. He plays music as part of his self-care routine.
Dr. Kirk: Hi Marco, let’s jump right into it. So how did you find Reiki?
Marco: When I was in college I did a bunch of mushrooms and tripped out pretty hard. I liked getting high, but I wasn’t actually in a very spiritual place then. I wasn’t healthy. I quit going to class, I focused all my attention on reading conspiracy theories, I was really into 911. I stopped going to school, I wasn’t really eating.
My mom took me to see this Reiki practitioner. She sat with me, and she was able to tell me stuff. It was just enough for me to be intrigued, but not enough for me to be like this is a bunch of crap.
Dr. Kirk: Can you talk a little more about the kinds of things that she was able to tell you about?
Marco: She told me all about myself, things nobody would have known. I asked her if my mother had told her anything about me, she told me that my spirit has clued her in.
Dr. Kirk: Super cool. So what is Reiki exactly?
Marco: Reiki is life force. It’s a Japanese word and practice that involves tuning into your own life force for self healing and then revolves into the ability to hold space for other people’s healing. Similar to how we do our work in sacred sons. Reiki is all about making peace with your body, mind, emotions by meeting them exactly where they’re at. This helps to dissolve the barriers between yourself and spirit in a way that brings a harmony with the inner and outer world.
Reiki is a lot about feeling yourself with your hands. Feeling and recognizing tension that exists in your body. It’s a lot about your third eye, and shutting down your other 5 senses. Building up your life energy so that it can spill onto others.
I got really into Reiki. I thought that there must be something to all this. And I undertook a mentorship with that woman my mother had taken me to. I learned a lot, and I began practicing on myself and others.
Dr. Kirk: So is Reiki your self-care practice?
Marco: In one instance. It’s also my job. It definitely helps to ground me and keep me in my spirit. But it’s not everything. A while ago, I noticed I was missing something. I didn’t have a creative outlet. I really like music. So I started playing around. I’ve always been really close to music, I vibe with its healing aspects. Lately I’ve been playing the guitar. This week I’ve been noticing myself making judgments while playing. Thinking to myself that the music I’m making isn’t complex enough. But then I had this realization that music doesn’t have to be complex. That you can make perfectly good music that isn’t complex. That music can be healing. Healing can happen with just some simple notes. So I’m working on being non-judgmental while I’m playing music and really allowing it to flow.
Dr. Kirk: Yes, there are so many elements that make music powerful. I’ve written about how music can be medicine. Really soul healing. I love listening to music, but I haven’t played in years.
Marco: You play music? Can you jam? We should jam!
Dr. Kirk: Haha, I’m not sure I’m advanced enough to jam, but I’ll give it a shot! Music is an excellent practice for brain health. The muscle movement and muscle memory combines with sound, and sight (if you’re reading music). Touch, and feeling. Both hemispheres of the brain are integrating. It’s really integrating a lot of the brain all at once.
Marco: Yeah, I really dig music. Besides music, I have some personal mantras that help me. Every morning, my daily practice involves saying to myself, “Just for today, I will let go of anger. Just for today, I will let go of worry. Just for today, I will give thanks for many blessings. Just for today, I will do my work honestly. Just for today, I will be kind to my neighbor and every living thing.” Saying that everyday helps me to remember what’s important. To help calm my mind, and to remember to be grateful for what I have.
Going back to my health journey in college, it took a while for me to really get healthy again. I hadn’t been eating, and when I was eating, it was low quality foods. I eat really clean now. I feel the effects of a bad meal a lot clearer. So eating good is important to me now.
Dr. Kirk: Sounds like you’re on a really good path! Do you have any advice for our readers who are looking to find a spiritual practice?
Marco: My advice would be to pick up a practice, whether that’s reiki, yoga, meditation, sound, anything at all really. It helps to find someone you resonate with to learn from but when it comes down to it, the spiritual path is a personal journey. You will receive reflections in the world around you, but there is a wealth of wisdom and experience within that is revealed simply by going there. Within I mean. For anyone interested In exploring reiki I’d be happy and honored to take you on as a student.
Dr. Kirk: Thanks for taking the time to meet with me today!
