13 September 2024
From the Desk of Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
Music and Psychedelics
MAPS Bulletin: Volume XXXIV Number 1 • 2024
Throughout human history, psychedelic substances have been used for healing, and music has been a constant thread woven into and supporting these experiences. There is a profound synergy between these substances and the universal language of music.Psychedelics and music serve as emotional catalysts, triggering waves of feelings and conjuring memories and powerful experiences. They both can inscribe deep imprints in our minds and create wellsprings of emotion. A few initial notes of a melody can instantly transport us back to a moment in time, vivid and clear. This mnemonic potency is a testament to their impact on our consciousness.Music plays a central role in psychedelic-assisted therapy. It acts as a nonverbal guide, providing a narrative that shapes the therapeutic journey. The choice of music is deliberate; often, we opt for instrumental pieces, allowing the mind to wander without the influence of words. The absence of lyrics prevents the implantation of specific ideas, leaving the psyche free to explore and heal. On rare occasions, we may introduce songs with words, but only when they serve a purpose and resonate with a moment in the experience that benefits from a simple set of lyrics.
There are also moments within the therapeutic process when silence is important. Sometimes, the absence of music is most therapeutic, a quiet space for introspection and the emergence of inner wisdom. In these silent interludes, the ego’s voice may disappear within the stillness.
Music potentiates the healing power of psychedelic medicine. Together, they facilitate self-discovery and emotional release, leading to profound transformations. As we continue to research and embrace these ancient tools, we unlock new possibilities for healing and growth. Honoring the practice of healing with music, whether inspired by Indigenous customs, the Western classical canon, or modern digitally created songs, we recognize the wisdom of connecting to the beats and melodies that percolate in the subconscious to motivate change and healing.
At MAPS, it’s been a special respite to read about psychedelics and music while we’ve been intensely focused on refining our strategy. As recent events have highlighted, our work to educate the public, reform drug policies, and advance psychedelic research is needed now as much as ever, as is our work to globalize research into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in places with high burdens of trauma and inadequate access to resources, couples therapy research, and more.
In the coming weeks, you’ll be seeing more from MAPS about how we are building these programs and some of the success stories we’ve already seen.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D.
Rick Doblin, Ph.D., is the Founder and President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and puppy, with three empty rooms from his children who have all graduated college and begun their life journeys. Learn more about Rick by listening to his Origin Story and watching his TED Talk.
