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Greek mythology the arts were under the direction of the nine
daughters of Zeus by Mnemosyne. These nymphs, or lower deities, also
known as muses, inspired writers and artists. The Muse Euterpe was the
inspirer of lyric poetry; the Muse Terpsichore inspired music and
dancing. Johannes Brahms felt that at times when composing he was
"in tune with the Infinite." Although he believed that his
inspiration came from God, the fact that he admitted having to be
"in a semitrance condition... [with] the conscious mind... in
temporary abeyance,"16 as with a spirit medium, betrays
another source. God does not inspire trance mediums. Tchaikovsky
confessed that under similar inspiration he "behaved like a
madman."17
Richard Strauss was sure that at least
some of the music he wrote was "dictated" to him by
"Omnipotent Entities" not of this earth.18 The great opera Madame
Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini was convinced, was dictated to him
"by God."19 Gustav Mahler claimed that he was compelled by
other powers to compose what he hadn’t chosen to write. George
Gershwin testified that Rhapsody in Blue came to him suddenly,
that he heard and saw as though on paper "the complete
construction of the Rhapsody, from beginning to end." Of
his hit song "The Blizzard," country-western composer Harlan
Howard said his pencil just kept on writing, surprising him as it
went, and he wondered, "Did some great songwriter in the sky use
me as a medium?"20 Operetta composer Rudolf Friml said: "I
sit down at the piano, and I put my hands on the piano. And I let the
spirit guide me! No, I never do the music. I never compose it; oh no,
no! I am a tool. I am nothing. I am being used. It comes from someone,
a spirit perhaps, using me."21
We can only conclude that, just as they all
believed, some entity or entities not of this world have guided these
composers. But who are these entities? And what about Benny Hinn,
Kenneth Copeland and other charismatic leaders who claim that the Holy
Spirit inspires them to speak forth some prophecy that proves to be
false? And what of the claims that Christ has even appeared to some of
them?
Would Jesus really appear to Yonggi Cho in a red
fireman’s uniform, or to Oral Roberts in a form 900 feet tall, as
these men claim? And could the countless apparitions around the world
really be the Mary who gave birth to Jesus, when they speak forth so
many lies and continually contradict Scripture? Who or what are these
beings? What is their purpose? The question of the identity and
purpose of these entities requires a careful answer.
Identifying the Modern "Muse"
Music has had a key role in the occult as far back
as history records. The pulse-beat of drums and rattles is vital in
voodoo and most shamanism, to which rock music is closely related. Ray
Manzarek, keyboard player for the rock group The Doors, explains
the relationship between shamanism and modern rock:
When the Siberian shaman gets ready to
go into his trance, all the villagers get together... and play
whatever instruments they have to send him off [into trance and
possession]….
It was the same way with The Doors when
we played in concert…. I think that our drug experience let us get
into it... [the trance state] quicker....
It was like Jim [Morrison] was an
electric shaman and we were the electric shaman’s band, pounding
away behind him... pounding and pounding, and little by little it
would take him over....
Sometimes he was just incredible. Just
amazing. And the audience felt it, too!22
Many rock stars have been involved in
the occult and admit to a mysterious source of inspiration. John
Lennon told of mystical experiences as a young teenager: "I used
to literally trance out into alpha... seeing these hallucinatory
images of my face changing, becoming cosmic and complete."23 Of
his songwriting Lennon said, "It’s like being possessed: like a
psychic or a medium."24 Much credit for fomenting rebellion and
turning millions of youth against God and the Bible belongs to the
many rock stars beginning with Elvis Presley. The Beatles’ own press
agent, Derek Taylor, confessed; "They’re completely
anti-Christ. I mean, I am anti-Christ as well, but they’re so
anti-Christ they shock me.…"25
According to Keith Richards of the
Rolling Stones, "The Stones’ songs came spontaneously like an
inspiration at a séance. The tunes arrived ‘en masse’ as if the
Stones as songwriters were only a willing and open medium."26 Of
the Beatles Yoko Ono has said, "They were like mediums. They
weren’t conscious of all they were saying, but it was coming through
them."27 Of the inspiration process Marc Storace, vocalist with
the heavy-metal band Krokus, told Circus magazine: "You
can’t describe it except to say it’s like a mysterious energy that
comes from the metaphysical plane and into my body. It’s almost like
being a medium.…"28
"Little Richard" said,
"I was directed and commanded by another power. The power of
darkness... that a lot of people don’t believe exists. The power of
the Devil. Satan."29 Jim Morrison called the spirits that at
times possessed him "The Lords," and wrote a book of poetry
about them.30 Folk rock artist Joni Mitchell’s creativity came from
her spirit guide, "Art." Nothing could detain her when he
"called."31
Contemporary musicians offer the same
consistent testimony regarding inspiration by otherworldly entities
that we find among the most famous composers from the past. Today’s
musicians, however, admit that much of their inspiration comes from an
evil source. Why should we doubt their testimony? David Lee Roth, who
wrote "Running with the Devil" and called himself
"toastmaster for the immoral majority," admitted that
the goal in the world of rock was to conjure up evil spirits and
surrender to them: "I’m gonna abandon my spirit to them, which
is actually what I attempt to do. You work yourself into that state
and you fall in supplication of the demon gods.…"32
Superstar Jimi Hendrix was not so eager
to be possessed but seemed rather to have been a victim. Called
"rock’s greatest guitarist" and known as the Voodoo
Chile of the Aquarian Age, Hendrix "believed he was
possessed by some spirit," according to Alan Douglas. His former
girlfriend, Fayne Pridgon, has said; "He used to always talk
about some devil or something was in him, you know, and he didn’t
have any control over it, he didn’t know what made him act
the way he acted... and songs… just came out of him…. He was so
tormented and just torn apart... and he used to talk about...
having... somebody... drive this demon out of him."33
Steven Halpern, one of the best-known
New Age composers, testifies, "I started recording what I
received in trance or altered states…. I ended up being
guided."34
This type of spirit guidance is
widespread. Chester Carlson, inventor of the Xerox photocopying
process, received guidance for his invention from the spirit world.35
Medical scientist Andrija Puharich, holder of more than 50 patents,
gave his opinion about these strange inspirations: "I am
personally convinced that superior beings from other spaces and other
times have initiated a renewed dialogue with humanity.... While I do
not doubt [their existence]... I do not know... what their goals are
with respect to humankind.36
Notes:
16. Willis Harman and Howard Rheingold, Higher
Creativity, (Jeremy P. Tarcher, 1984), pp. 46-47; cited in Klimo, Channeling,
p. 314.
17. P. E. Vernon, ed., Creative Selected Readings
(Penguin Books, 1970), p. 57.
18. Harman and Rheingold, Higher Creativity, p.
46.
19. Ibid.
20. Klimo, Channeling, pp. 314-15.
21. Ibid.
22. Jerry Hopkins and Daniel Sugerman, No One
Here Gets Out Alive (Warner Books, 1980), pp. 158-60.
23. The Playboy Interviews with John Lennon and
Yoko Ono (Berkeley, 1982), p. 169.
24. Ibid., p. 203.
25. Saturday Evening Post, August 6, 1964,
26. Rolling Stone, May 5, 1977, p. 55.
27. Playboy Interviews, p. 106.
28. Circus, January 31, 1984, p. 70.
29. Charles White, The Life and Times of Little
Richard (Harmony Books, 1984), p. 206.
30. James Douglas Morrison, The Lords and New
Creatures (Simon & Schuster, 1970).
31. Time, December 16, 1974, p. 39.
32. Rock, April 1984, p. 30.
33. Sound track from film Jimi Hendrix,
interview with Fayne Pridgon (side 4).
34. Ibid.
35. Chester Carlson, New Frontiers Center
Newsletter, Fall/Winter 1986, p. 9.
36. Andrija Puharich, Uri: A Journal of the
Mystery of Uri Geller (New York, 1975), p. 213.
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