Psychedelics, Death, and Sonic Induction: Insights from Dr. Jude Higgins
- Andrea Hanson
- Mar 17
- 4 min read
This article is not legal or medical advice
The intersection of psychedelics, death, and spiritual transformation is an area of growing interest in both therapeutic and ceremonial contexts. At the Psychedelic Society of Utah Conference, Dr. Jude Higgins, a Death Doula, Spiritual Care Provider, and Psychedelic Clinical Behavioral Health Chaplain, shared her expertise on how psychedelic death experiences and sonic induction can facilitate healing, ego dissolution, and a deeper understanding of mortality. With a background in anthropology, shamanic practices, and psychedelic therapy, Dr. Higgins brings a holistic and culturally informed approach to end-of-life and transformative care.
A Personal Journey into Altered States
Dr. Higgins’ introduction to altered states was unconventional—her first psychedelic-like experience occurred in an MRI machine following a car accident. “The drumming started, and suddenly, I was in Africa,” she recalled. “There was a fire, stars above, and I was walking with a jaguar. It was the coolest thing that had ever happened to me.”
This experience introduced her to theta brainwave states, which are associated with deep relaxation, subconscious insights, and heightened creativity. As she later discovered, sonic induction through rhythmic drumming can reliably induce similar states, offering a powerful tool for those seeking non-chemical psychedelic experiences.
The Power of Sonic Induction as a Psychedelic Tool
Dr. Higgins emphasized that psychedelic experiences do not always require medicine. “With the growing interest in psychedelics, we also need to recognize that healing and transformation can happen through non-pharmacological means,” she stated. She identified various methods that can induce psychedelic-like states, including:
Holotropic breathwork
Trance dancing
Extended fasting
Float tanks
Guided visualization and meditation
Sonic induction through rhythmic drumming
Drumming, she explained, is particularly effective because it synchronizes brainwaves to theta frequencies, a process called brainwave entrainment. “It takes about nine minutes to enter the theta state with drumming, and from there, profound insights and emotional healing can emerge.”
Sonic Induction vs. Traditional Shamanic Practices
One of Dr. Higgins’ key points was the ethical and cultural distinctions between Western sonic induction and traditional indigenous shamanic practices. “Shamanic journeying is deeply rooted in community, lineage, and spiritual service,” she explained. “In contrast, Western sonic induction is often individualistic and lacks these cultural ties.”
Key Differences Between Shamanic and Sonic Induction Practices
Aspect | Indigenous Shamanism | Western Sonic Induction |
Purpose | Community healing, ancestral guidance | Personal growth, psychological healing |
Training | Years of initiation, spiritual calling | No formal lineage required |
Spirituality | Connection with spirits, nature | Open-ended, may involve personal guides |
Tools | Rituals, plant medicines, sacred objects | Drumming, breathwork, visualization |
By acknowledging these differences, practitioners can avoid cultural appropriation while still integrating sonic induction into modern therapy. “We must be mindful and respectful when incorporating indigenous traditions into psychedelic work,” Dr. Higgins stressed.
Psychedelics, Death, and Ego Dissolution
A central theme of Dr. Higgins’ presentation was how psychedelics and sonic induction facilitate encounters with death—both literal and symbolic. “When you die before you die, you won’t fear death when it comes,” she noted, referencing a well-known mystical teaching.
Both psychedelic experiences and death journeying involve:
Ego dissolution – A loss of personal identity, merging with the greater whole.
Symbolic death and rebirth – Letting go of old constructs to emerge transformed.
“In our death-phobic and grief-illiterate culture, we act as if death is something that happens to other people,” she stated. “But engaging with symbolic death—whether through psychedelics or sonic journeys—helps us integrate loss, change, and the transient nature of existence.”
The Role of Death and Dismemberment Journeys
A death and dismemberment journey is a specific form of intentional ego dissolution that can occur in both psychedelic and sonic experiences. Dr. Higgins described how these experiences often unfold:
The journeyer experiences symbolic death, sometimes through visions of their body disintegrating.
They may encounter guides, ancestors, or spirits that assist in the process.
They are “put back together” in a new form, symbolizing transformation and rebirth.
“In traditional practices, the drum is the medicine,” she explained. “It facilitates entry into the altered state where this deep work occurs.”
Practical Applications for Therapists and Practitioners
Dr. Higgins encouraged therapists, death doulas, and spiritual care providers to consider sonic induction as a complementary tool in psychedelic therapy.
How to Integrate Sonic Induction into Practice
Use rhythmic drumming or music to help clients access theta states before or after psychedelic sessions.
Guide clients through death and rebirth visualizations to process grief, trauma, and existential fears.
Offer non-medicine alternatives for clients who are hesitant about psychedelics.
Provide structured integration sessions for clients emerging from profound psychedelic or sonic journeys.
“The more we can integrate these experiences in a safe, intentional, and ethically grounded way, the more they can contribute to healing,” she concluded.
For those interested in death doula services, psychedelic integration, or guided sonic journeys, Dr. Higgins offers sessions through My Death Doula and The Lotus Center where she facilitates community discussions on death and transformation.
Apply to become a Psych Society expert contributor here.
Apply to be part of an upcoming psych society conference here.
