Background: So I'm taking this class about creativity and consciousness that basically integrates consciousness with music.
Today we had a lady come in to play the harp and it was amazing. I think I have heard the harp before in movies and CD's, but it's a totally different experience in person. It's soft sounds were so soothing and somewhat mystical and they made me feel as though I was in a different place altogether. I felt like I was in the rainforest and was listening to steady drops of blissful rain and it was so peaceful. Amazing that an instrument can do that for you.
The other really interesting point about the harp that the lady was telling us about was how her playing of the harp strongly (& negatively) correlated with her blood pressure. The more she played, the lower her BP was. She even told us that she would often play in the hospice and family members could literally see the patient (their relative) get a serene or peaceful look upon their face (they were usually in like a coma or sleeping). She even told us about a research place somewhere (I forget where) in which they would play the harp for patients that medical doctors had given up on and these patients could regain functionality for at least some time. Amazing. Simply amazing.