Music in ritual

What role does music play in your spells, rituals or meditations? Share lyrics or experiences when music "made or broke" the spell. Are there particular songs that you feel are "magical?"

When I first started doing ritual, I used to listen to the "new age" cable music channel. After I moved Witch Central upstairs, I used a boombox and some classical music. My favorite is a collection of cello music.

I don't think of music as a way to enhance spellwork per se. I think of it as a way to create space. It relaxes me. Using instrumental music also allows me to free my mind and focus on what I'm doing. It also eliminates oustide/background noise.

I find music, esp. songs w/ lyrics, more utilitarian when I'm writing. I can put one song on repeat while writing a scene and it helps me capture the song's mood in the scene (angry, regretful, mysterious, painful, etc.). It works very well when it's a mood I'm having trouble consciously capturing.

I've found that the power and intensity I bring to a spell or a ritual has more of an outcome on the effect than any other outside forces. I wouldn't be opposed to utilizing music to bring about a certain mood but I think that it's how I would filter the music that would have whatever effect on the work. In other words, it's not the music itself but how my body and mind interpret the music that has the ultimate power over the spell.

I've also gotten away from matching the incense I use to the spell. I found an incense I love that creates a wonderful mood for me, enhancing the environment. Maybe I just think of music in the same way. I generally use my ritual time for meditation, introspection, etc. But if I were casting a spell for a certain purpose, it's very likely that I would change my environment, including the incense and the music.