Hallucinogenic Music: An Analysis of the Role of Whistling in Peruvian Ayahuasca Healing Sessions

During ayahuasca healing sessions in the Peruvian Amazon, whistled melodies serve a specific function in guiding the patient's hallucinatory experience. Whistling, rather than singing or instrumental music, is used by the healer to structure and direct the visions induced by the psychedelic brew. The authors analyze how the acoustic properties of whistling—its piercing, continuous sound and lack of semantic content—allow it to cut through the auditory environment and anchor the patient's attention. This musical element helps shape the emotional and visual trajectory of the session, facilitating therapeutic outcomes by providing a sonic framework for the altered state of consciousness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Fred Katz, Marlene Dobkin de Rios, Hallucinogenic Music: An Analysis of the Role of Whistling in Peruvian Ayahuasca Healing Sessions, The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 84, No. 333 (Jul. - Sep., 1971), pp. 320-327