Music in Psychedelic Research: The Continuing Legacy of Helen Bonny
Journal of the Association for Music and Imagery January 1, 2021 DOI: 10.59451/jami.11706 via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractMusic serves as a dynamic presence during psychedelic psychotherapy sessions, enhancing the therapeutic experience. Drawing from the book Sacred Knowledge, this lecture traces the early history of combining music with psychedelic drugs for psychotherapeutic purposes, a lineage shared with Guided Imagery and Music (GIM). It describes playlists designed for 7-hour psychedelic sessions and the specific qualities of music selected for them, illustrating how music can guide and deepen the psychedelic journey.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Keynote lecture Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Psychology Visual arts Music therapy Music history Psychoanalysis |
| Key finding | Music is a dynamic presence that enhances psychedelic psychotherapy sessions, with playlists designed for 7-hour experiences. |
Abstract
This invited keynote lecture was presented to the attendees of the 2021 conference of the Association for Music and Imagery. Based on his critically acclaimed book, Sacred Knowledge, this lecture explored the science and art of using music as a dynamic presence during psychedelic psychotherapy sessions. It described some of the early history of explorations of the use of music and psychedelic drug experiences for psychotherapeutic purposes, a history which GIM shares. It also described playlists developed for the 7-hour psychedelic experience and the qualities of music chosen for them.