Special Issue 11 (1) 2019 “Exploring the spiritual in music: Interdisciplinary dialogues in music, wellbeing and education” – Article (first published on 24 November 2019)
Sacred moments in Guided Imagery and Music
Bolette Daniels Beck
Aalborg University, Denmark
ABSTRACT
This theoretical article reviews a range of current views on spiritual experiences in Guided Imagery and Music (GIM) and includes my personal assessment of the theme with a range of case vignettes illustrating the concept of ‘sacred moments’. Sacred moments occurring in psychotherapy have been described as specific life-changing moments of trust and boundlessness that can be remembered years after, and that positively influence health and the effectiveness of therapy. Deep listening to music in music therapy seems to provide an opportunity to create and embrace spirituality. This article explores the phenomenology of sacred moments as they appear in GIM seen in the light of case examples: how does the client experience a sacred moment, how can it be understood and integrated, and what impact does it have in the life of the client? It is also discussed whether practices of Music and Imagery can be applied in education and pedagogics.
KEYWORDS
music therapy, Guided Imagery and Music (GIM), spirituality, sacred moments
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Bolette Daniels Beck, PhD, GIM trainer, Associate Professor at the music therapy programme and graduate programme at Aalborg University, Denmark. Her research areas focus on GIM, stress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), refugees, biomarkers, and spirituality. [bolette@hum.aau.dk]