Dancing the Wild Divine: Drums, Drugs, and Individuation

Carl Jung was wary of ecstatic rites involving dance and drumming, as well as the use of psychedelics like LSD and mescaline, warning they could expose people to overwhelming unconscious energies. This paper challenges Jung's caution by drawing on recent shamanic studies and psychedelic research. D. J. Moores argues that ecstatic rites have value in depth psychological work, countering Jung's apprehensions and highlighting the therapeutic and transformative potential of such practices.

Study at a glance

Abstract

For complex reasons, Carl Jung was apprehensive of ecstatic rites in which participants dance to hypnotic drumming and transcend normal states of ego. He was also strongly opposed to the use of LSD, mescaline, and other psychotropic agents often used in such rites, cautioning that psychedelics facilitate access to unconscious energies one is ill-equipped to absorb. This paper represents a challenge to Jung's thinking on both issues. Drawing upon recent research in shamanic studies and the once-again blossoming field of psychedelic research, D. J. Moores demonstrates the limitations of Jung's caution and argues for the value of ecstatic rites in depth work.