The flute is medicine. It is better than prescription, opiates or spirit liquor. When you finish playing there is a great feeling of well being. Even when sick, playing makes one feel physically better.

Why does the flute have these healing properties?

It is believed that the flute vibrations themselves are health-giving on the physical, psychological and spiritual levels. Those who hear the flute tend to float away on it's sound. It carries them off and when they return they are happier, more at peace with themselves and healthier.

Often they are healed of sicknesses. The musician benefits from better breathing. As he feels the vibrations from the flute and absorbs them into his body, he becomes one with the flute, the earth and the people.

All flutes, from the simplest to the most complex, have these properties. The simpler, less mechanized flutes, seem to be used more frequently this way. This is probably due to their uses by primitive societies that are more closely attuned to nature's surroundings and remedies.

It is not known how important hole placement is for healing flutes. Certainly all forms have been used, i.e. diatonic, pentatonic, tetratonic, quartertone, etc. Some ancients have spoken of certain hole placements and bore sizes as being more conducive to specific medicinal applications than others.

All agree that by nature the flute sound is the medicine.

Its skillful use by the musician (priest/healer) determines its effectiveness. It is true that when a skillful artist plays, there is magic and mystery. I have heard this mystical sound from the desert, forest, mountain ridge as well as the concert hall.

Finally, many medicine flutes are highly decorated with various talisman, amulets, significant charms or decorative baubles. These add to the aesthetic appearance of a ceremonial flute, but do not add to its powers. The power and magic are in its sound. While a talisman hung from a flute (or anywhere for that matter) has a cultural significance and may enrich the visual performance of a ceremony, it is the flute sound alone that transcends and rises above any cultural barriers imposed by the tribes of mankind. It is flute sounds woven into melodic tapestries that soothe and heal the body, soul, the spirit.

From the letters of Jonathan C. Styles, Sergeant Major, US Cavly (1839-1928).

You may reach, Buzz at:

(623) 935-5736 Home Day and Night (623) 535-5936
fax (602) 919-0096 E-mail:Flutes-etc@juno.com
Musikbuzz@cs.com

For information about our many types of hand-crafted flutes, music books, concerts or lectures please write to:

Harmony Music Ranch and Studio
c/o B. Strandberg
17719 W. Peoria Ave
Waddell, Arizona 85355

N0TE:The above article has been reprinted for entertainment purposes only. it should be considered as flute lore and legend. No attempt has been made to verify the factual basis of the article.
(C) Copyright 1992, Buzz Strandberg, All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission, ©, Musicstaff.com, 1999

Native American Flutes

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