Music Is Directive: Rethinking Non-Directive Psychedelic Practice
Music is never a neutral backdrop in psychedelic therapy. Even the quietest drone or softest harmony can shape the body’s sense of movement, safety, and emotional direction. For neurodivergent listeners, who often perceive sound in sharper detail, those shifts can feel like guidance or intrusion. This article explores why music acts as a directive force in psychedelic sessions, how that influence intersects with autonomy and consent, and what facilitators can do to create soundscapes that support rather than steer the inner journey.
Journey Music for Psychedelic Playlists: James Murray — Weeds (2024)
Weeds turns patience into art—six quiet studies in resilience and renewal. James Murray’s understated ambient compositions unfold like breath, inviting presence and introspection. This series explores albums that function as companions for inner work—soundtracks that hold, mirror, and move with the listener through altered states.
Journey Music for Psychedelic Playlists: Helios — Veriditas (2018)
Helio’s Veriditas invites the listener into dreamlike, emotional terrain—music that feels both intimate and expansive. Its textures cradle the nervous system, supporting integration and reflection after the peak of a journey. This series explores albums that function as companions for inner work—soundtracks that hold, mirror, and move with the listener through altered states.