The Language of the Soul: Exploring Our Relationship to Music in Psychedelic Healing
The Language of the Soul: Exploring Our Relationship to Music in Psychedelic Healing
Before I was born, music was already shaping me. My mother played the harp throughout her pregnancy, and to this day, the sound of the harp stirs something deep inside— it soothes my soul while simultaneously calling it into the world. That early connection to music has never left me. It’s shaped how I feel, how I process, and how I guide others in their own healing journeys.
I’ve always turned to music in times of transition, in moments of joy, in heartbreak, in creativity. Whether it’s the sweeping strings of a symphony at the Aspen Music Festival or the driving beat that pushes me harder on the rowing machine, music moves me—literally and emotionally. It helps me access parts of myself that words can’t reach. It allows me to feel alive, complex, and connected.
Since working with psychedelics, my relationship with music has evolved even further. I now listen with a different kind of ear—attuned to how a certain track might support a client through a peak emotional moment or offer grounding during an overwhelming wave of sensation. Music, in this work, becomes more than just a soundtrack; it becomes a co-therapist, a guide, a safe space.
When I work with clients to curate music for their psychedelic journeys, I ask questions like:
What is your intention for this journey?
What are you hoping for?
What emotions do you find difficult to access or express?
What music helps you feel calm, inspired, or grounded?
Are there any songs, genres, or instruments that you deeply resonate with—or can’t stand?
Do you have a memory of a song that feels like a portal to another time in your life?
These questions open a doorway to the inner world. They help us tune in to the emotional landscape the client might traverse—and choose music that can hold, guide, and reflect that experience.
Because music, like the psychedelic experience itself, bypasses the analytical mind. It speaks in metaphor, memory, and feeling. It intensifies, soothes, directs, and reveals. And when chosen with care, it can become a powerful ally in healing—bringing us closer to ourselves, to each other, and to something greater.
If you’re curious about exploring this kind of work, I invite you to begin simply: reflect on your own relationship with music. What songs have shaped you? What sounds make you feel safe, wild, nostalgic, or brave? You may be surprised at how much your answers reveal.
More questions to get you thinking about music:
🌱 Intention & Inner Landscape
What is your intention for this journey?
What are you hoping for or seeking?
Is there anything you feel you may need to face, process, or overcome?
What emotional or energetic states do you long to access more often?
Are there emotions or inner states you tend to avoid or struggle to be with?
🎶 Personal Relationship with Music
What is your relationship with music?
What memories come to mind when you think about music throughout your life?
How did music show up in your childhood or family environment?
What was the last song you listened to? What drew you to it?
🌀 Somatic & Emotional Resonance
What kind of music helps you feel calm, grounded, or centered?
What music makes you feel inspired, uplifted, or expanded?
Are there particular songs or genres that bring up sadness, longing, or other deep emotions?
Are there types of music or specific songs that really irritate you or make you feel uncomfortable?
🧭 Musical Preferences & Sensitivities
Are there specific instruments or sounds that you feel especially attuned to or comforted by?
Are there any that are activating or aversive?
Do you feel drawn to music from specific cultures, traditions, or places in the world?
Are you open to wordless or ambient music, or do you prefer lyrics and a clear narrative?
Do you find rhythm, melody, or harmony more impactful?
🔮 Therapeutic Utility
What kinds of music help you feel safe and supported?
Is there a song you return to when you need comfort, clarity, or motivation?
Have you ever used music to move through grief, joy, love, or change?
How would you like music to support you in this journey—emotionally, spiritually, somatically?
🚀Exploring Intensification Through Music
How do you typically respond to music that brings up strong emotions? Do you tend to lean into those feelings, or pull away?
Can you think of a time when music made you feel something very deeply? What was that like for you?
Are there particular songs or types of music that tend to open emotional floodgates for you?
When you imagine music amplifying your emotional or sensory experience, how does that feel—inviting or intimidating?
Do you feel ready to allow music to guide you into emotional depth or catharsis during your journey?
Is there anything you’d want me to be aware of if you were moving through a very intense emotional moment with music?
These questions help you gauge the client’s tolerance for emotional depth and whether intensification through music would feel healing, overwhelming, or both—so you can craft a playlist with the appropriate pacing and emotional arc
🎼 Exploring Music as a Guide
Have you ever felt like music was “taking you somewhere” emotionally or imaginatively? What was that like?
Do you find comfort in being guided by something non-verbal, or do you prefer more structure and control?
How do you feel about the idea of letting music lead you through your inner experience?
Do you trust music to support you through emotional or psychological shifts?
Are there particular genres, rhythms, or instruments that make you feel safe or “held”?
What kind of musical journey feels right for you—gentle and spacious, or dynamic and transformative?
How do you respond to music that subtly changes tone or tempo—do you find that kind of shift grounding, confusing, exciting?
Is there a type of inner landscape or emotion you’d like the music to help you explore?
These questions invite your client to reflect on how open they are to being emotionally or energetically moved by music and what kind of guidance they might need during the session
🌿 Exploring Music as a Source of Calm and Grounding
When you’re feeling anxious or overwhelmed, is there a certain kind of music that helps you settle?
What sounds, tones, or instruments feel calming or comforting to you?
Have you ever used music to help yourself come back to center? What worked best?
If things feel emotionally intense during the journey, what kind of musical qualities do you imagine would help soothe or ground you?
Do you prefer music that’s soft and slow during tender moments, or do you find comfort in more steady rhythms?
Are there any songs or types of music that make you feel safe or held?
What does safety feel like in your body—and can you think of music that helps you get there?
Are there natural sounds (like water, birdsong, wind) or ambient textures that you find calming?
These questions invite you to tune into your nervous system and begin identifying auditory anchors that could support emotional regulation during the journey
🌸 Exploring Music and Emotional or Cognitive Openness
Can you think of a piece of music that helps you feel more open or emotionally available?
Are there certain sounds or musical styles that help you soften or let your guard down?
Have you ever felt like music helped you access something deep inside that you didn’t have words for?
What kind of music helps you connect to parts of yourself that are often hidden or quiet?
Is there music that stirs a sense of wonder, awe, or spaciousness in you?
When you think about letting go or opening up during a journey, what kind of music might support that?
Are there any memories where music helped you feel more vulnerable, receptive, or connected?
What emotional states do you hope to explore, and what kind of music might help you open into them?
These questions help you begin identifying music that gently invites emotional exploration, inner connection, and surrender—essential elements of therapeutic openness in psychedelic work.
🔥 Intensification (Unwelcome)
Music may become overwhelming and amplify discomfort or distress beyond a tolerable level.
Have you ever listened to music that felt too intense or overwhelming? What was that like for you?
Are there certain types of music, instruments, or sounds that you find overstimulating or anxiety-provoking?
What does “too much” feel like for you when it comes to music or sound during emotional moments?
Is there a style or tempo that you find difficult to tolerate when you're feeling vulnerable?
🧱 Resistance
Music can evoke defensiveness or disconnection if it clashes with the listener’s inner experience or feels imposed.
Are there any types of music that make you want to tune out or disconnect emotionally?
What kind of music feels inauthentic or “off” to you, especially when you're in a sensitive or open state?
Have you ever had an experience where music created distance rather than connection?
When you’re going through something hard, what kinds of music don’t feel helpful or relevant to you?
🚫 Misguidance
Music might lead the experience in a direction that feels artificial or confusing, disrupting the organic unfolding.
Have you ever felt like music was taking you somewhere you didn’t want to go?
Is there a kind of music that feels like it pulls you out of yourself rather than deeper in?
What does “misalignment” feel like to you when it comes to music and emotion?
During vulnerable or emotional times, have you ever felt confused or disoriented by what you were listening to?
These questions can help us co-create a playlist that avoids potential pitfalls and centers the client’s emotional safety, clarity, and agency in the experience.