Like any human being, the pianist is a complex, multifaceted entity. The mind is a labyrinthine application of our senses, and the pianist's body is not merely a physical vessel but one permeated by higher, more subtle energies. If we strip away these higher aspects, the pianist would be a body of flesh and bone—a mere instrument of physical matter. The true human essence lies in the connection between the physical and these higher realms, and it is in this interplay that our humanity flourishes. More profoundly, we could say, "Materially, my physical body is an impossible composition."
Like any instrument, the body is composed of various elements—each of these substances working together to create life. Much like the careful structure of a musical phrase, all the parts must come together in harmony. The body would dissolve if left without the sustenance of these higher dominions. The etheric body, the second layer of human existence, maintains the balance—fighting decay and ensuring the body remains intact, like the mind's ability to keep a melody alive and clear. A clairvoyant might perceive the etheric body as a subtle counterpart to the physical form, illuminated by light currents that mimic the flow of music. Its energetic composition appears as a shifting hue, ranging from a soft peach blossom to a deep red violet.
Realising that the etheric body has a distinct quality is essential for the pianist. The etheric body in a man tends to be female, while in a woman, it leans male, yet both are inherently directed inward. This may influence a musician's drive—where the male energy reflects ambition and urgency in performance; the female energy brings quiet dedication and attention to detail. Playing the piano is thus a physical action that resonates with these more profound energies.
The etheric body is a dynamic, living force that extends far beyond the body's physical boundaries. Just as a plant's etheric body extends well beyond its form, so does the pianist's energy extend beyond the hands and fingers, imbuing each note played with vitality and intention. The pianist taps into these realms, shaping sound much as the plant shapes its growth.
It is easy to dismiss the esoteric view of music and life as ungrounded, but through such lenses, we understand the fullness of what it means to be human and to make music. Materialists may deny these realms, focusing only on the physical aspects of life. However, as artists, we know that the highest creations come not from mechanical processes but from the subtle, spiritual forces that imbue us. Life is not merely a physical occurrence but a dynamic flow of forces and energy that the pianist can channel through the keyboard.
In creating music, we draw upon these higher energies, transforming them into sound and expression. The act must be sacred, much like a sacrament. In the laboratory of sound, the pianist is a servant of a higher force. We know that our playing is not just a physical act but a spiritual one—a bridge between worlds. When we touch the piano, we must do so with the highest reverence, offering our interpretation as a form of service, bringing the sacred into the everyday.
Like the etheric body's constant struggle against decay, the pianist must continually work against the disintegration of technique and expression, maintaining a balance between the physical and the ethereal. Just as the body and its higher components work in concert to keep the physical vessel alive, so must the pianist's technique work in harmony with their deeper spiritual essence, creating a sound full of life.
Much like the human experience, the pianist's journey is one of growth and refinement. It is not enough to merely exist within the material world; we must strive to transcend it. The ego must be our guide, our centre, and in music, it is the ego that must control the impulses of the fingers, heart, and soul. We must not let our lower instincts take the lead but rather let the music flow from a higher place of understanding.
Thus, the pianist exists within a matrix of four elements: the physical body, the etheric body, the astral body, and the I. Each must be balanced for the pianist to play with the highest expression. The physical body is our instrument, the etheric body sustains it, the astral body brings our emotions to life, and the I guides us towards our highest potential.
But the journey is not without its struggles. Like any artist, the pianist must fight against fatigue, the world's distractions, and the body's limitations. In the silence of sleep, as in the quiet of practice, the soul rejuvenates and re-aligns with its higher purpose. In the most profound moments of concentration, we become fully aware of the balance between the material and the spiritual, and it is here, in this sacred space, that we touch the heart of music itself.
The pianist's art is not merely an exercise in technique. It is a path to transcendence, a bridge between the earthly and the divine. Through conscious cultivation of our physical, etheric, and spiritual bodies, we can truly become masters of our craft, capable of playing with a deep, resonant sound that moves beyond the notes to touch the soul.
Ab uno disce omnes.
The connection between the self-mastery of the ego and the artist’s craft is a powerful reminder of the spiritual discipline required for true artistic expression.