The use of intonation in magic and ritual is very important. You’re not going to want to invoke your gods or direct magical energies with you’re everyday voice (unless you’re a classically trained singer).
Most of the time, especially when we’re speaking, we breath very shallowly and nasally. This is perfectly normal, but it does not harnass the full power of vibration, sound, and intention.
A great example of the difference is when saying the word ‘ohm’. Try saying it in your regular speaking voice. Then try saying it the way you would for meditation. Notice the difference not only in the sound but also the way that it feels.
If you’re like most people, with the second ohm you breathed into your belly and allowed your voice to vibrate up through your diaphram, through your chest, into your throat and out your mouth. Normally, you draw your breath from the top of your chest, into your throat and out your mouth AND nose.
Many people accomplish this extra vibration through raising their voice, but this is not necessary. You can see examples of it, though, among passionate preachers – some of them, when preaching, have voices that just ring through you almost like a gong or a very large bell. But James Earl Jones also has this quality when he speaks and it is still effective when he speaks softly. So, too, can you harness intonation without raising your voice.
And then there’s intention. When you intone what you say, you tend to focus more on why you’re saying it, whereas half the time when you are talking conversationally, your mind has already moved on to another topic.
This combination of fully engaging your breath, voice, and mind when doing magic creates stronger and more effective results. Experiment with it and see how it goes.
