Divine: The Golden Room

Description

DIVINE

Despite having existed and been used for thousands of years, the golden ratio, or ”the golden section,” has been an unknown concept to most people. When they learn that nature and the human body are largely built around the ratio of 1 to 1.618, most people initially believe that it cannot be true. After seeing a large number of convincing examples, their doubt is replaced by strong surprise and fascination. It is also worth mentioning that L. Fibonacci, who lived and worked during the Middle Ages, discovered a simple number sequence that forms the basis of a fascinating mathematical connection with the golden ratio.

Background

In 1990, I started a project with a Russian research team to investigate ”mental training” (”Mental Training for Sport and Life”). In addition to investigating the effects of mental training on various areas of life, the project also included investigating how the brain functioned in the alternative state of consciousness or self-hypnotic state that arises when an ”Inner Mental Room” (IMR) is created in basic mental training. We found that the mental room brought about a radical change in the brain's functioning, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The quantitative changes were reflected in changes in the relationships between different EEG stages. When we examined these relationships in the IMR more closely, we were surprised to find that the ratios between the different EEG frequencies reflected the golden ratio (Delta/Theta 13.1/8.2, Theta/Alpha 8.2/5.2, Alpha/Beta 1 5.2/3.2 and Beta 1/Beta 2 3.2/2.0). Qualitatively, we found that the brain began to function as a whole by distributing activity evenly to different parts of the brain (B). However, there were two exceptions: a central point (A) with higher activity and two small areas on the sides with lower activity (C). When the relationships between these were calculated, the golden ratio was once again evident.

The harmonious brain

Since this ”divine ratio” has throughout history represented beauty and harmony in existence, we have begun to refer to the ”IMR brain” as the ”harmonious brain,” a state in which information pathways and mental processes (thoughts, inner images, feelings) change character in a positive direction.

”Section divine” in music

Among the artists who have used the Golden Ratio (according to the bestseller ”The Da Vinci Code”) are also musicians (Mozart, Bach, Bartok, etc.). However, the books that mention this do not explain how the ratio is reflected in music. I therefore asked two musicians, Tommy Kaså and Tommy Gunnarsson, to compose a ”section divine” piece of music that would reflect this ratio in terms of tempo, form and content. We are delighted to present a year's work of analysis, mathematical calculations and musical creativity on this CD. The music is available both separately and as background to the introduction to the mental space that I have included.