As human consciousness continues to evolve we are beginning to see a larger acceptance of natural remedies to mankind’s own problems. The legalization of medicinal and recreational cannabis has been at the forefront of the advancement of drugs once deemed illegal now gaining acceptance as possible treatment for a wide variety of humanities ailments. More states have legalized cannabis and its active compound THC, and congress is close to drafting a bill decriminalizing THC. Even party drugs MDMA and ketamine are now being researched to treat psychological ailments, depression, and PTSD

Another drug has come up recently as a natural cure to mental health disorders. Whether you call them magic mushrooms, shrooms, alice, or caps, psilocybe cubensis is now being considered for its therapeutic benefits. What gives these mushrooms their “magic” effect is the psychedelic compound psilocybin. Much like cannabis we are seeing municipalities, cities, and some states move to decriminalize the drug. This has led to an advancement into the research on potential therapeutic benefits of psilocybin. Most recent research has found that even one dose of psilocybin can boost the growth of nerve connections in the brain once lost to depression.

One of the institutions studying the effects of psilocybin is John Hopkins Medicine. In 2019 a group of donors helped create the Center for Psychedelic and Conscious Research, the first of its kind in the US and the largest in the world. Since that time Hopkins Medicine has published reports showing the efficacy of psilocybin treatment for Alzheimer’s, smoking cessation, anorexia, and depression, PTSD and anxiety. This is an exciting time for anyone interested in a more natural approach to the treatment of these ailments.

As part of their research Hopkins Medicine would guide their patients through their trip and utilize a playlist filled with classical music to enhance the experience for their patients. If science is doing it then I feel justified for doing the same thing with music for years. A friend of mine sent over the playlist and I’ve given it a listen. The playlist is long, clocking in at over 6 hours. If I were to ever get some mushrooms, and if I ever were to eat them, and if I ever were to go on a trip, I don’t know that it would last longer than 6 hours. Hypothetically of course. But the music in the playlist is beautiful and arranged in such a way that one might think the music acts more as an emotional inducer than a guide.

The playlist begins with a selection of string heavy arrangements inducing an almost dream-like state. What follows is a selection of generally soft sounds, primarily from flautist Paul Horne. Of particular note is the track “Sean Jahan” which invokes thoughts of curiosity and exploration and serves as a great segue into what’s to come, because we are now 25 minutes post ingestion of mushrooms and closing in on the onset of our trip. Hypothetically. I don’t know if this was a good idea or not, but the next hour and a half are filled with Bach and Brahm. Not anything against those dudes and their music, but the swell and rise of sound might be a bit unsettling in the middle of a psychedelic trip. Then again, at this point I’d be halfway through the track “Third Eye” by TOOL on my trip. Hypothetically.

A majority of the playlist consists of classical music from Bach, Brahms, Beethoven, and Mozart though there are a few interesting deviations. “Om Namah Shivayaa” from the album “Shakti: Tantric Embrace” utilizes tantric chants meant to arouse our chakras and the title “Om Namah Shivayaa” loosely translates to “I bow to supreme consciousness” which is supremely relevant given the effects of psilocybin mushrooms. One of the supposed effects of psilocybin is the connection to our human consciousness, and with that comes the realization that we are all love and light meant to bring life to the world. When used as a treatment for depression and PTSD psilocybin can allow the user to take a deeper look into their spirit and consciousness and under the right circumstances can heal the effects of past traumas. With the use of this drug, users can come to the realization that everything is ok, or will be ok.

This is further evidenced by the closing tracks of the playlist. “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” uses the Christian heaven to remind the listener that though life may be filled with trials and tribulations, your glory awaits for you in heaven. “Here Comes The Sun” by the Beatles is filled with exclamations that dark, dreary times are always followed by the rising sun. It’s all right. “Gracias A La Vida” by Mercedes Sosa has its meaning in the title and contains its most poignant line:

“Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.

Me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto.

Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto,

Los dos materiales que forman mi canto,

Y el canto de ustedes que es mi mismo canto,

Y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto.

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto.”

Which translates to…..

“Thanks to life, which has given me so much.

It has made me laugh and it has made me cry.

Thus I distinguish happiness from brokenness,

The two materials that make up my song,

And your song that is my own song,

And everyone's song that is my own song.

Thanks to life, which has given me so much.”

And that’s the point. Naturally occurring substances such as psilocybin can be used as a tool to help people heal. Part of healing from a traumatic past or traumatic experiences is moving past the belief that life isn’t worth living. Or that every outcome in life is going to be a negative, traumatic one. Aside from the drugs and the music, true healing occurs when we take the bad and good in life and realize that life is a blessing. A collection of learning experiences and a journey through human consciousness meant to bring out the best in humanity. Even it involves the use of naturally occurring, yet still illegal substances.