Being spiritual and aligning to higher frequencies while still loving extremely heavy metal, dark lyrics, and the primal raw power of deep booming drums is still possible. Not just ‘possible’ in fact, but damn powerful and something this metalhead learned she just can’t shut off from, though I tried, read on for that bit. Like anything, it’s not about what is socially perceived as acceptable but instead doing what truly resonates with you.

If you’re like me and that means being both stimulated and soothed by the all mighty roar of a force to be reckoned with like Otep, loosing yourself amongst the ritualistic chants of Wardruna or Satyr’s voice and the double-kicking drum skills of Frost from Satyricon, then you’re doing an injustice to yourself and the world if you deny that! Like anything else, authenticity is key to fine tuning the specific spiritual gifts you’ve been put here to share, and that includes your music choice. Music is a tool to raise energy after all, and your inner wisdom knows what frequencies you need, but it goes beyond emotion matching on a surface level eg. happy songs for a happy mood.

Being that it is something almost everybody connects with, it surprises me at times that this isn’t more common knowledge. Lyrics are only a tiny part of the picture, the magick happens in the background. Sacred transmissions are shared and spiritual intimacy found amongst some of the most brutal, intense beats – so rock on and honour the light within all, even if it seems dark to some. Remember – there is power in chaos too, and you are not wrong for tuning into what you’re drawn to from the deepest recesses of your being!

When people think of spirituality, they often think of peaceful meditation, chanting, and yoga. However, spirituality is a much broader concept that can encompass many different practices and beliefs. For most people, spirituality is about connecting with a higher power or purpose but that can’t be a one-size-fits-all box, dressed in a white robe with a ‘good vibes only‘ disclaimer.

Most people forget everything is spiritual and a chance for spiritual growth. When you’re ‘consciously on the path’ you learn to use everything, without exception, for your spiritual growth. As it is said “you are a spiritual being having a human existence”, not the other way around! I’m going to be blunt and straight up offensive to some by quoting someone I both love and respect deeply, Sadhguru “even shitting is spiritual” and if you are not at a point on your inner journey that you instantly went “OMG yes!” and understand how even that can be a chance for spiritual growth then you probably need these words the most, so congratulations you found the right post and read on for more enlightening wisdom you can work with immediately.

Heavy metal music is often associated with darkness, violence, and rebellion – from non metalheads of course. However, heavy metal can also be a powerful form of spiritual expression. Many heavy metal songs deal with themes of pain, suffering, loss, transmutation and reclaiming personal power. They also offer hope, resilience, and strength. I can understand how someone who has never had an urge to find peace within the depths of some righteous deathmetal, might think that it’s designed to summons an unholy darkness into the realms of mankind. As someone who has walked unexpectedly through one side of their own dark night and out the other, seeing this system/world from a whole new perspective – I can assure you, it’s some of the more ‘lighter’, top-of-the-charts hits that play freely across public radio, malls, tv and other chances of mass subliminal programming that people should worry about the most. I cringe at times, doing the shopping and hearing the subliminal messages being pumped out, now that’s scary – and I say that because I’ve seen how effective it is!

Songs that have the heaviest tones and heart wrenching roars are often those subtly (if anything about that even hints at subtle!) sharing the deepest truths you will find. Some of my favourite bands are right onto this formula, Slipknot, Satyricon, Devilment, Zeal & Adore and Dimmu Borgir all share some deeply profound messages and stories of the journey within that deal with topics like the dark night, the true threats to society (mostly unconsciousness in all it’s ugly forms), ancient mystery school teachings and honouring primal energies and deities that have worked with humankind since our conception. And that is often how such ‘hidden truths’ are preserved throughout the ages, amongst currents that are seen as taboo, heretical, even forbidden. In fact, it’s likely not the first incarnation you’ve been drawn to these currents, they resonate with you so deeply for a reason!

Heavy metal has always had my heart. Even musicians that are not really heavy but still conjure darker judgments by some, such as my forever love affair with Marilyn Manson or Maria Brink from In This Moment – consistently drop truth bombs that make you wonder ‘how they get away with it’. But the point of this post isn’t really about the content these type of songs share (though that goes far to compliment my point), it’s about how they make you feel. I could listen to the gravelly, haunting voice, of Mr Manson – literally forever. More importantly, listening to it can transcend me instantly into an altered state of energy raising that is purposeful and involves being both fully present and ‘here’ but completely zoned out, now that is an experience to aim for – in however you are taken there! There was a tiny window of time I did however, try to deny this pleasure and immense generator of personal power.

Flash back to floundering in the midst of my own spiritual awakening, when my head is still spinning and the world is like a horror show. I was in total system shock trying to make sense of everything again and even worse than that, I was seeing things as they really were – including a darker side of reality that most people will gloss over because 1. programming 2. cognitive dissonance and 3. just wanting to see better. I was genuinely struggling to find my balance and what was ‘right’ any more. There is a level of this which is common in most people’s awakening journeys, overcoming social and generational fear based programming.

From my experiences and learning from others, a big part of that is being presented with things you normally find joy in as being evil. This has a lot to do with chakra seals and safeguards of stored fear to stop this exact process. Not just fun things, it’s a total system shakeup. Core beliefs are challenged, things that you held as the most sacred will seem entirely sinister. There is a purpose to this part of your awakening journey too though, this fear fest gives you the opportunity is to rediscover, consciously what you will stand (or fall) for – unwaveringly. Unfortunately, something that’s not easy to prepare people for – this often includes even seeing these darker undertones in the people you love. I’ll get into that another time but on the receiving end it can suck a bit watching others succumb to that and knowing you’ve fallen into the evil category too. Deep understandings like this will always drive me to push forward with Awakened Power, to help as many people as possible navigate these diversions and choice points – without having to ‘lose their shit’ – speaking from experience of course.

There have been times in my life where I basically lived in my headphones, I wanted music to sleep, study, do everything really whilst being in my protective bubble of familiar metal muses. Music has always been there for me, a constant, one of the biggest aspects of my life. To me it is a sacred art of expression, so of course that was challenged and at first I started to worry if I’d swayed to a darker side I wasn’t anticipating. When I was in a stage of opening up to a level of conscious awareness to the interconnectedness with world around me, the collective fears based around Artists I loved started to creep in too. I was even worried about my level of receptivity to some of the hidden truths in those lyrics and what that meant for my own safety. It was truly a crazy time. Music was only an aspect of that though of course, think of the can of worms being an Occultist could uncover in this process. Needless to say, it got dark but without delving too deep into this because we’d be here for hours – it was easier to shut off from all of this whilst I was in overload mode and get back to nature, rather than remaining stuck on the fear wheel.

So yes, for a while that included not taking in any external influences. It made sense to me at that time why people would go live in an Ashram and get away from it all or become devoted to the renunciation life. All I wanted to do was meditate, be barefoot in my garden, not speak to anyone or even touch a phone or computer – for months. When I did have to go inside and pass the TV some family members were watching – it was with blinders on as much as possible because that was a whole new level of yuck! For a tech-head, this was beyond a system shakeup. However, I knew I needed to face my guilt and concerns about my musical and life choices, regardless of the outcomes.

When I took that conscious step with ownership regardless, I reignited my love for all the old favourites with a renewed passion. Lyrics were hitting deeper than ever and I realised I had been disconnecting from how much power I knew I could create by embracing the rhythms and roars of my metal muses. With pride I could once again declare SS4L! That’s not to say there weren’t songs that made to to my ‘never again’ list but surprisingly, I can’t say any of them were the heavy ones!

Shamans use drums for a reason, everything is energy, never forget that. How much energy do you think songs that are insanely full-on, heavy and system shaking raise, compared to the repetitive, dull and all too familiar feeling chart toppers that you’ll be sick of hearing in a few months? Have you ever felt the power and comradery of a metal concert? Have you been to a drumming Circle? Have you ramped up your spell-work by energetically amping up with some prep tunes? If you haven’t experienced at least one of those then I hope this article might have made you ponder the potency of those acts. If you are someone who is spiritual and enjoys heavy tunes, there is no need to feel guilty or ashamed. In fact, many people find that their spirituality is enhanced by their love of metal music.

If you need to – here are a few ways to reconcile your spirituality with your love of heavy metal music:

  • Listen to music that has positive or meaningful lyrics. Many heavy metal songs deal with themes of love, loss, redemption, and overcoming adversity. These songs can be a powerful source of inspiration and support. Find a song that resonates with the ‘part’ of your spiritual journey of themes you are processing. If you aren’t a proud knot-head then you might be surprised to ponder how spiritual some Slipknot songs are, however if you’ve newly ‘awakened’ listen to some of them afresh, you may be even more surprised!
  • Use heavy metal music to help you meditate. Obviously, meditation is a great way to connect with your inner self and higher power. You can also use heavy metal music to create a meditative atmosphere. Close your eyes and listen to the music, focusing on the rhythm and the lyrics, then allow yourself to get lost amongst them. I probably don’t need to tell you how you can be carried away by the beats and create space but consider how that process could help your spiritual practises.
  • Use heavy metal music to express your emotions. Heavy metal music can be a cathartic way to express your anger, sadness, and frustration. When you are feeling overwhelmed, put on your favorite heavy metal album and let loose, find acknowledgment and a safe place to validate and free emotions or energy blockages.
  • Find a community of other spiritual people who love heavy metal music. There are many online and offline communities where you can connect with other people who share your interests. These communities can be a great source of support and friendship. Maybe they were a band tee and not mala beads, that might be just as meaningful to them!

The most important thing is to find a path that works for you. If you love heavy metal music, don’t be afraid to incorporate it into your spiritual or occult practices. Here are a few additional tips for aligning to higher frequencies, finding balance and focusing your energy:

  • Be mindful of the energy you are consuming and exuding. When you are listening to heavy metal, pay attention to how the music makes you feel. If the music makes you feel angry, depressed, or anxious, it is important to take a break – or embracing this as a learning opportunity and even discover how to channel that into something useful rather than being used by it.
  • Use your intention to transform the energy of the music. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the dark or negative energy of a heavy metal song, try to use your intention to transform it into something positive. Imagine that the music is helping you to release negative energy or to channel your anger into something productive like I said…these are actually some of the most powerful energies so don’t waste them, particularly important tip for my fellow occultists.
  • Balance out the dark energy of heavy metal with lighter, more positive music. Listen to a variety of music, including genres that are more uplifting and inspiring. This may help to balance out the energy of the heavy music and prevent you from feeling too negative. Lighter is subjective though, just like ‘dark’ so for me that might take the shape of some viking metal, you can’t go past some Wardruna or Heilung or perhaps something a little more ‘normie’ friendly like Highly Suspect, Placebo or *drool* Nick Cave.
  • Understand your spiritual gifts and responsibilities. Ok, that statement is intentionally vague and probably something worth exploring deeper in a later post BUT I have found that those who are drawn to the music that probably makes your parents or neighbours pretty nervous, are the ones who are powerful energy generators. I know for occult purposes, these are exactly the types of people I like to work with – essentially because stuff gets done, fast and effectively. Energy can be directed intensely, intentionally and in a very focused manner – do you know how hard en masse that is to achieve?! Why do you think there is a very tangible ‘high’ at concerts?

This is a spiritual gift and whether you use it to fast track your own spiritual growth or to contribute to projects to help others and the earth (I have a few in the planning – let’s connect!) then just know you are one powerful being and with that you have a responsibility to use this gift consciously.

Ultimately, the best way to align to higher frequencies while still loving heavy metal music is to find a way to do both and honour what feels good to you. Do take time to evaluate what it is you resonate with every now and then and if that seems to be darker, why – what part of you is feeling understood and acknowledged? Do it without guilt or self judgement. It can be a very insightful and healing process. Perhaps that song you listened to a decade ago when you were in a really negative place is still a go-to fave but holds a completely different meaning to you now, maybe it’s just the feel not the lyrics and that’s ok too. I literally couldn’t count how many of these are in my playlist!

Remember, there is no wrong way to do your journey other than forcing what you know is not truly resonating with you and bringing out your most authentic self. Stay true to that and know it is all for a reason – and if you’re musical inclinations swing more to ‘that’ side of the spectrum but your still spiritual AF – we should be friends, stat!

Blessed Be xo