Rock And Roll Paganism

[Donal2018]

So I have seen other threads about music and Paganism. I thought I would specifically reference Rock Music and its relation to Paganism. I get a certain "paganish" vibe from some Bands, particularly Led Zeppelin, whom I listen to regularly. There are some Metal Bands that use some Occult tropes, like Black Sabbath. I do prefer Zeppelin though.

Anyway, I was also inspired a bit by Eastling's apotheosis of Freddie Mercury, and I wondered if a similar thing could be done in regards to Zeppelin. This even though three of the original band members are still alive at the time of this writing. So, Rock and Roll Apotheosis. Interesting topic to me. Also, Zeppelin just gets me into a good headspace. I wonder if this sort of music can be used in trancework. So, just a few thoughts.

[Donal2018]

So I have seen other threads about music and Paganism. I thought I would specifically reference Rock Music and its relation to Paganism. I get a certain "paganish" vibe from some Bands, particularly Led Zeppelin, whom I listen to regularly. There are some Metal Bands that use some Occult tropes, like Black Sabbath. I do prefer Zeppelin though.

Anyway, I was also inspired a bit by Eastling's apotheosis of Freddie Mercury, and I wondered if a similar thing could be done in regards to Zeppelin. This even though three of the original band members are still alive at the time of this writing. So, Rock and Roll Apotheosis. Interesting topic to me. Also, Zeppelin just gets me into a good headspace. I wonder if this sort of music can be used in trancework. So, just a few thoughts.

I thought that I might ask what other people's experiences are with Rock Music and Paganism, if any? I think that some music can be used in Trancework, as I mentioned. I have not really done that with Rock music, but I might try it. Any responses would be welcomed.

[Eastling]

So I have seen other threads about music and Paganism. I thought I would specifically reference Rock Music and its relation to Paganism. I get a certain "paganish" vibe from some Bands, particularly Led Zeppelin, whom I listen to regularly. There are some Metal Bands that use some Occult tropes, like Black Sabbath. I do prefer Zeppelin though.

Anyway, I was also inspired a bit by Eastling's apotheosis of Freddie Mercury, and I wondered if a similar thing could be done in regards to Zeppelin. This even though three of the original band members are still alive at the time of this writing. So, Rock and Roll Apotheosis. Interesting topic to me.

I am of the opinion that twentieth-century (and onwards) rock and roll can be seen as a rediscovery of ancient mystery religion.

My research on Minoan religion leads me to suggest that it predicated upon a calendar of festivals where a priest-like class performed song and dance for (and with) the community to evoke ecstatic communion with each other and with the world and the gods around them; I believe this was, in large part, the basis for the later mystery religions in that area of the world.

Flash forward three or four millennia, and you've got a bunch of people on stage in front of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of people, bringing them into an ecstatic state using song and dance...and all the while these people scream worship at the performers on stage.

So this is a tried-and-true method of both communal catharsis and individual apotheosis. Then again, "individual" apotheosis may not be the right word for it, as it relies to a great extent on the star's ability to share themself with the audience. The most powerful rock gods are those that abide by that paradox, expressed by Freddie Mercury in his earliest hit, "Seven Seas of Rhye," as follows: Sister--I live and lie for you. Mister--do and I'll die. You are mine, I possess you, I belong to you forever.

I suspect part of the reason Freddie Mercury apotheosized so readily using this method is his devotion to and engagement with his fans.

Also, Zeppelin just gets me into a good headspace. I wonder if this sort of music can be used in trancework. So, just a few thoughts.

I think using your favorite rock'n'roll in trancework is potentially an excellent idea, but I might also suggest using it for discursive meditation as well--that is, when you sit quietly and think long and hard about nothing but one particular song or even one particular lyric for a set time, picking apart all its meaning in your head.

[Donal2018]

I am of the opinion that twentieth-century (and onwards) rock and roll can be seen as a rediscovery of ancient mystery religion.

My research on Minoan religion leads me to suggest that it predicated upon a calendar of festivals where a priest-like class performed song and dance for (and with) the community to evoke ecstatic communion with each other and with the world and the gods around them; I believe this was, in large part, the basis for the later mystery religions in that area of the world.

Flash forward three or four millennia, and you've got a bunch of people on stage in front of hundreds to hundreds of thousands of people, bringing them into an ecstatic state using song and dance...and all the while these people scream worship at the performers on stage.

So this is a tried-and-true method of both communal catharsis and individual apotheosis. Then again, "individual" apotheosis may not be the right word for it, as it relies to a great extent on the star's ability to share themself with the audience. The most powerful rock gods are those that abide by that paradox, expressed by Freddie Mercury in his earliest hit, "Seven Seas of Rhye," as follows: Sister--I live and lie for you. Mister--do and I'll die. You are mine, I possess you, I belong to you forever.

I suspect part of the reason Freddie Mercury apotheosized so readily using this method is his devotion to and engagement with his fans.

I think using your favorite rock'n'roll in trancework is potentially an excellent idea, but I might also suggest using it for discursive meditation as well--that is, when you sit quietly and think long and hard about nothing but one particular song or even one particular lyric for a set time, picking apart all its meaning in your head.

That is really fascinating. Rock and Roll as a rediscovery of ancient mystery religion. It makes sense, sort of the Dionysian ecstatic festival reborn in the modern era. "Communal catharsis and individual apotheosis", good terms. That discursive meditation makes sense. I sometimes have a hard time getting into trance states, altered states, but I can do meditation and contemplation. So, I will take your suggestion and try to meditate on specific songs.

I was wondering what you thought of Adam Lambert now singing in Queen in place of Freddie? It is clear to me that this great music will continue on long after the performers and we the audience are gone. Just as Mozart is still performed today, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and the rest will continue.

I particularly enjoy the Australian Pink Floyd show which was recently on my PBS station. They also showed a Led Zeppelin tribute band as well a few months ago, but I forget what it was called exactly. It was good, though. Anyway, it is clear that this music will last and be a monument to the artists and their audiences for a long time.

I also have a particular affinity for Blue Oyster Cult. They are from Long Island New York (like me), and were the first band I ever saw in concert (High School years, high on weed and blackberry brandy, an ecstatic musical experience, like a good religious ceremony). I have since seen them several times, and last saw them about a year ago at a free festival in my City's Downtown.

Anyway, I think this is a good topic. Thanks for responding to my comments. I respect what you write about your religious views and Freddie Mercury. Thanks for the conversation.

[Ashmire]

I thought that I might ask what other people's experiences are with Rock Music and Paganism, if any? I think that some music can be used in Trancework, as I mentioned. I have not really done that with Rock music, but I might try it. Any responses would be welcomed.

I think it would work.  Whether I have any experience or not with it depends on how strict your category definitions are.  Some people see most newer modern classifications of music as under the umbrella of rock, others would say the term should only be applied to classic rock and metal.   

I recently posted where my own apotheothized patron, not himself a musician but with a reputation for enjoying and appreciating the music of his own era, apparently requested Die Warzau( definitely not of his era!), a band adjacent to my tastes but to which I had never paid any particular heed previously.   Since he has previously encouraged me dancing and listening to music both because it seems to enhance my spiritual awareness and because physical fitness is decidedly a domain of his, it sort of makes sense but was a bit surprising.

[EclecticWheel]

So I have seen other threads about music and Paganism. I thought I would specifically reference Rock Music and its relation to Paganism. I get a certain "paganish" vibe from some Bands, particularly Led Zeppelin, whom I listen to regularly. There are some Metal Bands that use some Occult tropes, like Black Sabbath. I do prefer Zeppelin though.

Anyway, I was also inspired a bit by Eastling's apotheosis of Freddie Mercury, and I wondered if a similar thing could be done in regards to Zeppelin. This even though three of the original band members are still alive at the time of this writing. So, Rock and Roll Apotheosis. Interesting topic to me. Also, Zeppelin just gets me into a good headspace. I wonder if this sort of music can be used in trancework. So, just a few thoughts.

I have no direct experience, but as a child I remember watching a show about Elvis, and it depicted a concert and one fan in particular weeping copiously.  I was struck by it and remember commenting to my uncle that she was having a religious experience.

The connection I was making there was with my dad's Pentecostal religion in which people become worked up into these emotional and even ecstatic states largely through music.  Come to find out, Elvis had a Pentecostal background that influenced his style.

Even Pentecostals in my life have made this connection.  It was once pointed out to me in Sunday school, although those people tended to think of the matter in a negative light.

[EclecticWheel]

I have no direct experience, but as a child I remember watching a show about Elvis, and it depicted a concert and one fan in particular weeping copiously.  I was struck by it and remember commenting to my uncle that she was having a religious experience.

The connection I was making there was with my dad's Pentecostal religion in which people become worked up into these emotional and even ecstatic states largely through music.  Come to find out, Elvis had a Pentecostal background that influenced his style.

Even Pentecostals in my life have made this connection.  It was once pointed out to me in Sunday school, although those people tended to think of the matter in a negative light.

Here is an article making connections between rock n roll and the ecstatic Pentecostal spiritual backgrounds of some important artists.

I find the description of Pentecostal spirituality in accord with what I remember and experienced in childhood.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popmatters.com/170062-holy-rollers-rock-n-rollers-and-the-birth-of-rock-music-2495766464.amp.html

[Donal2018]

Here is an article making connections between rock n roll and the ecstatic Pentecostal spiritual backgrounds of some important artists.

I find the description of Pentecostal spirituality in accord with what I remember and experienced in childhood.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.popmatters.com/170062-holy-rollers-rock-n-rollers-and-the-birth-of-rock-music-2495766464.amp.html

Good article, thanks for posting it. I am an Irish Catholic from the Northeast, so I was not so familiar with Pentecostalism. I do love music, and I grew up a big fan of Elvis Presley. My friend from down the block and I were both Elvis fans and we watched his movies on TV. We thought Elvis was cool and we wanted to be like him. That kid went on to become a musician and professional guitarist, so it had a real impact on him.

One thing that was clear about Elvis was that he came out of a particular Southern culture which seemed a bit exotic to a Catholic kid from Long Island. The connection to Pentecostalism is interesting though. Rock is sort of a secular religion anyway, so it makes sense it arose out of a religious culture. Interesting stuff.

[Quill]

So I have seen other threads about music and Paganism. I thought I would specifically reference Rock Music and its relation to Paganism. I get a certain "paganish" vibe from some Bands, particularly Led Zeppelin, whom I listen to regularly. There are some Metal Bands that use some Occult tropes, like Black Sabbath. I do prefer Zeppelin though.

Anyway, I was also inspired a bit by Eastling's apotheosis of Freddie Mercury, and I wondered if a similar thing could be done in regards to Zeppelin. This even though three of the original band members are still alive at the time of this writing. So, Rock and Roll Apotheosis. Interesting topic to me. Also, Zeppelin just gets me into a good headspace. I wonder if this sort of music can be used in trancework. So, just a few thoughts.

I don't see why any music would be excluded from use in trancework, particularly if it gets you in the right headspace for it. Granted, I'm new and learning so I may be wrong.

The first band that came to mind when I read your post is Tool. Their music always puts me in a certain frame of mind. As someone who is questioning their belief system and doing some soul searching, I could see myself using "Forty Six and Two" as meditative music.