It’s now widely accepted that the trauma of our ancestors is stored in our DNA, with a myriad of scientific studies demonstrating that ancestors of traumatized populations experience greater physical and mental health challenges. While the scientific language around the phenomenon remains largely undeveloped, there is growing evidence that ayahuasca can heal trauma embedded into one’s epigenetics, getting to the root of deep and lingering issues often resistant to more traditional therapies. This neuroplasticity engendered by ayahuasca presents incredible potential for healing individuals and populations burdened with the collective traumas of history, a group that of course includes LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide. Music in particular can heal, especially when intentionally shared and directed in a psychedelic, ceremonial, and/or therapeutic context. In this musically-enhanced presentation, I will share and explore the science and spirit of music used as a traditional and contemporary healing modality, with an emphasis on music in consort with ayahuasca, and how it informed my study and understanding of the intersections of epigenetics, neuroplasticity, and Eastern mysticism. I will share how confronting my own ancestral and identity-related trauma resulted in a journey of transformation that challenged and “healed” all notions of cultural and sexual identity. Supported by fellow medicine musicians, Ksenia Luki and Shireen Jarrahian, the presentation will segue into a medicine music “prayerformance” celebration.
Presentation by Tony Moss, Shireen Jarrahian, Ksenia Luki at Queering Psychedelics II (San Francisco, April 22nd 2023)