by Myron Stolaroff
GNOSIS, No. 26, Winter 1993
MY WIFE JEAN AND I had driven several miles up the mountain to an elevation
of 6000 feet a few miles south of Mount Whitney in California. We were about
to meet Franklin Merrell-Wolff, author of the book Pathways through to Space,
an impressively articulate and detailed description of a person entering a state
of enlightenment and savoring it over several months.
When we were ushered into his private office, we found ourselves before an outstanding
personage who radiated a marvelous glow. When we had talked for a few minutes
and I felt sufficiently at home, I spoke of our research work, telling him that
we had spent three and a half years administering LSD, sometimes in conjunction
with mescaline, to 350 research subjects and had published our findings in medical
journals.
"My oh my!" he said, looking at us with consternation. "I hope you haven't used
these drugs yourselves."
We admitted that we had. He continued, "According to X" (here he mentioned an
Indian sage whose name I do not remember), "it will take you seven incarnations
to recover from the damage of taking such substances!"
Naturally I was upset, but I didn't think of the appropriate reply until we
were driving back down the hill: "Never underestimate the grace of God!"
There is no question that psychedelic substances are remarkable graces. The
farther one can reach into the vastness to be explored, the more one realizes
how powerful these materials are. There seems to be no end to the levels of
awareness that can be realized by those who use them to explore their psyches
with integrity and courage.
The great value in these chemicals is that, in some way still not scientifically
explained, they dissolve the boundaries to the unconscious mind. They give us
access to our repressed and forgotten material, to the Shadow that C.G. Jung
so effectively dealt with, to the archetypes of humanity, to an enormous range
of levels of thought, and to the wellspring of creativity and mystical experience
that Jung called the collective unconscious.
At the heart of the unconscious is what many experience as the source of life
itself, and which some call God. Those who have experienced this describe it
as a wondrous, ineffable source of light and energy that infuses all of creation,
embracing all wisdom and radiating a vast, unending, and ever-constant love.
Immersion in this is the essence of the mystical experience and produces what
the great mystics have described as the state of unity or oneness. Such union
is the culmination of all seeking, all desire; it is the most cherished of all
experiences of which man is capable.
Not all who ingest these substances can count on such revelations. In fact,
psychedelics are powerful agents and can be misused. It must be remembered that
they help reveal the unconscious, and most of us have made its contents unconscious
for very specific reasons. We may not welcome the appearance of repressed, painful
feelings, or of evidence that our values and lifestyles might be considerably
improved. Nor is it always easy to accept the spaciousness of our being, our
immense potential, and the responsibility that these entail. We may also refuse
to believe that we are entitled to so much beauty and joy without paying any
price other than being ourselves!
To assure a rewarding outcome, let's look at some factors that should be taken
into consideration when using these materials. I must add here that in no way
am I encouraging the use of illegal substances. I do hope, however, that greater
understanding of these materials will help restore an intelligent policy that
will make further research possible. Here are some things that will help ensure
beneficial results:
SET AND SETTING
Set and setting have been widely recognized as the two most important factors
in undertaking a psychedelic experience. Of these, set has the greatest influence.
As the drug opens the door to the unconscious, huge spectrums of possibilities
of experience present themselves. Just how one steers through this vast maze
depends mostly upon set. Set includes the contents of the personal unconscious,
which is essentially the record of all one's life experience. It also includes
one's walls of conditioning, which determine the freedom with which one can
move through various vistas. Another important aspect of set consists of one's
values, attitudes, and aspirations. These will influence the direction of attention
and determine how one will deal with the psychic material encountered.
In fact, one can learn a great deal by accepting and reconciling oneself with
uncomfortable material. Resisting this discomfort, on the other hand, can greatly
intensify the level of pain, leading to disturbing, unsatisfactory experiences,
or even psychotic attempts at escape. This latter dynamic is largely responsible
for the medical profession's view of these materials as psychotomimetic. On
the other hand, surrender, acceptance, gratitude, and appreciation can result
in continual opening, expansion, and fulfillment.
Setting, or the environment in which the experience takes place, can also greatly
influence the experience, since subjects are often very suggestible under psychedelics.
Inspiring ritual, a beautiful natural setting, stimulating artwork, and interesting
objects to examine can focus one's attention on rewarding areas. Most important
of all is an experienced, compassionate guide who is very familiar with the
process. His mere presence establishes a stable energy field that helps the
subject remain centered. The guide can be very helpful should the subject get
stuck in uncomfortable places, and can ask intelligent questions that will help
resolve difficulties, as well as suggesting fruitful directions of exploration
that the subject might have otherwise overlooked. The user will also find that
simply sharing what is happening with an understanding listener will produce
greater clarity and comfort. Finally, a good companion knows that the best guide
is one's own inner being, which should not be interfered with unless help is
genuinely needed and sought.
MOTIVATION
This is extremely important. Those who earnestly seek knowledge and deeply appreciate
life in all its forms will do well. Yet certain characteristics of psychedelics
make them very popular for recreational use. The most attractive of these is
their great enhancement of sensual responses, which offer heightened perception,
amplification of beauty and meaning, and intensified sensual gratification.
Psychedelics can also generate a great sense of closeness among participants,
especially in a group setting. While I am convinced that one of the great cosmic
commands is "Enjoy," there are traps in using these substances purely for recreation.
The first is that a person seeking the delights of the senses may find himself
overwhelmed by the eruption of repressed unconscious material without knowing
how to deal with it. Another danger is that constant pleasure-seeking without
giving anything back to life can distort the personality and ultimately produce
more discomfort. The safe, sure way to rewarding outcomes with psychedelics
is through intelligent, well-informed use.
HONESTY
For the serious spiritual seeker, or for that matter anyone seeking knowledge,
the single most important characteristic is honesty. This means the courage
to look at whatever is presented by the deep mind, the ability to admit one's
shortcomings when they become apparent, and the determination to change one's
behavior in line with the truth one has experienced.
ONGOING DISCIPLINE
Experts in the field now generally agree that it is wise to conduct psychedelic
explorations within the framework of a spiritual discipline or growth program
that will continually call attention to fundamental values and goals. A good
discipline will outline a body of ethics for personal behavior that will support
the changes required. Good ethics will also help us stay clear about our objectives,
and will keep the door open to increasing depths of experience. Moreover, there
is evidence to suggest that the more we are prepared to pass on to others whatever
spiritual largess we have accumulated, the more we will be given.
For myself, I found training in Tibetan Buddhist meditation a potent adjunct
to psychedelic exploration. In learning to hold my mind empty, I became aware
that other levels of reality would more readily manifest. It was only in absolute
stillness, accompanied by a special, highly developed quality of listening,
that many subtle but extremely valuable nuances of reality appeared. While I
achieved this to some extent in ordinary practice, I found this effect to be
greatly amplified while under the influence of a psychedelic substance. This
in turn intensified my daily meditation practice.
PSYCHEDELICS AS WAY-SHOWERS
The role of psychedelics is often misunderstood. Many feel that having had wonderful
experiences, they now have the answers and are somehow changed. And no doubt
in many respects they are. But users often overlook the fact that there are
usually heavy walls of conditioning and ignorance separating the surface mind
from the core of our being. It is a blessing that psychedelics can set aside
these barriers and give access to our real Self. But unless one is committed
to the changes indicated, old habits of personality can rapidly reestablish
themselves.
At this point many feel that repeating the experience will maintain the exalted
state. It may, but most often real change requires hard work and dedicated effort.
Unfortunately this is not always clear during the experience itself; it has
merely pointed the way and shown what is possible. If we like what we see, it
is now up to us to bring about the changes indicated.
There is a grace period following profound psychedelic experiences when changes
can be rapidly made. At this time one is infused with the wonder and power of
the new information. Moreover—and this is an area where some valuable research
can be done—the drug experience releases a great deal of bodily and psychic
armoring that is tied to our neuroses. This rejuvenation is quite noticeable
after a good psychedelic experience, when, without the dragging weight of physical
habit patterns, behavior can be more readily changed.
On the other hand, if you make no effort to change, old habits rapidly reassert
themselves, and you find yourself sliding back into your previous state. In
fact, it can be worse than before, because now you know that things can be better
and are disappointed to find yourself mucking around in the same old garbage.
Another factor makes this process even more uncomfortable. A lot of the energy
formerly tied up in repressed material is now released. This energy may be used
quite fruitfully to expand the boundaries of your being to the new dimensions
you have experienced. But if you return to old patterns of behavior, you now
have more energy to reinforce them, making life more difficult. For this reason,
these experiences must not be taken lightly, but with serious intent.
DEALlNG WITH THE SHADOW
As Jung indicated, the Shadow holds all the material that we have pushed aside
so we can hide from ourselves. Unfortunately, it also contains much of our energy,
and as long as it is unconscious, it exerts a powerful influence on our behavior
without our knowing it. Furthermore, Shadow material is responsible for most
of the difficulties humans create in the world. We project our Shadow onto others,
believe those others to be the source of our difficulties, and seek refuge from
them rather than taking responsibility in our own hands. Consequently we must
resolve Shadow material if we are to develop. If this were accomplished on a
widespread basis, it would be a major benefit for the world.
Jung describes human development as the process of "making the unconscious conscious."
Psychedelics, particularly in low doses, can be an extremely effective tool
in this process. The bulk of my experience is with the phenethylamine compounds,
which remained legal longer than the standard psychedelics such as LSD, mescaline,
and psilocybin. Whereas a full dose of a phenethylamine like 2C-T-2 or 2C-T-7
might be 20 milligrams, a low dose would be ten or twelve milligrams, or roughly
equivalent to 25-50 micrograms of LSD.
The most infallible guide to Shadow material is our uncomfortable feelings.
Many do not like to use low doses because these feelings come to the surface.
Rather than experience them, they use larger doses to transcend them. But these
uncomfortable feelings are precisely what we must resolve to free ourselves
from the Shadow, gain strength and energy, and function more comfortably and
competently in the world. By using smaller amounts and being willing to focus
our full attention on whatever feelings arise and breathe through them, we find
that these feelings eventually dissolve, often with fresh insight and understanding
of our personal dynamics. The release of such material permits an expansion
of awareness and energy. If we work persistently to clear away repressed areas,
we can enter the same sublime states that are available with larger doses—with
an important additional gain. Having resolved our uncomfortable feelings, we
are in a much better position to maintain a high state of clarity and functioning
in day-to-day life.
I would also like to add a word about frequency: Individuals vary greatly in
their frequency of use of these materials. Some are satisfied with an overwhelming
experience which they feel is good for a lifetime. Others wish to renew their
acquaintance with these areas once or twice a year. Still others are interested
in frequent explorations to continually push their knowledge forward. Regardless
of the frequency, it is wise to make sure that the previous experience has been
well integrated before embarking on the next one. Early in one's contact with
these substances, where there is a wealth of new experience, this may take several
months. As one becomes more experienced, the integration time grows shorter,
and the interval between trials may be shortened.
Many stop the use of psychedelics when they feel they have learned what they
wished. But often it is likely that they halt because they have hit a deeply
repressed, painful area that is heavily defended. The issue goes beyond purely
personal material, however. One is unlikely to reach full realization without
awareness, not merely of one's own pain and suffering, but of that of all mankind.
This may help explain the Dark Night of the Soul, which is the final barrier
to mystical union described by Evelyn Underhill in her classic book Mysticism.
Since we are one, we must not only confront the personal Shadow, but the Shadow
of all humanity. We can do this more readily when we discover the ample love
that is available to dissolve all Shadow material.
FREElNG CONSTRlCTED AREAS
There is another way in which psychedelics can serve the serious seeker. It
often happens that those pursuing rigorous spiritual disciplines achieve elevated
states by pushing aside or walling off certain aspects of behavior. With honest
use, psychedelics will not permit such areas to remain hidden, but will insist
upon their surfacing. One then experiences the great relief of being in touch
with all aspects of one's being. The joy and thrill of being totally alive come
from having complete access to all of one's feelings.
THE TRAINED USER
There appears to be a cosmic law that says that giving our complete attention
to an object, image, or idea with constancy, patience, and acceptance will allow
its different attributes to unfold. Psychedelics greatly accelerate this process.
To operate most effectively, the observer must have developed the ability to
hold his mind steady so he can watch the process develop. Large doses can push
one so hard that it is most difficult to do this. Therefore the best results
are achieved by a "trained user"—a person who has learned to manage high
doses of psychedelics, or who has learned to hold his mind steady enough to
observe his inner process competently. As a user clears up his "inner stuff,"
he gains more freedom in directing his experience. At this stage, higher doses
can be profitably used to penetrate deeper into the nature of Reality.
Interestingly, this concept of the trained user does not appear in the literature.
But it is precisely the trained user who can best take advantage of the unfathomed
range of wisdom and understanding contained in the far reaches of the mind.
There seems to be no limit to the dimensions of understanding that can be experienced
by the explorer who has the courage, integrity, and skill to navigate them.
With integrity, and with the support of appropriate disciplines and friends,
one can bring back a great deal for the betterment of oneself and mankind.
Are psychedelics necessary? Can't these same explorations be conducted by those
who have mastered the skills of meditation? No doubt they can—with an enormous
investment of time and effort. But it is unlikely that many Westerners will
be willing to make such a commitment. For Western seekers, whose spiritual practice
must usually be integrated with making a living, the proper use of psychedelics
can considerably accelerate the process. However, it is not a path for everyone.
Choice should be based on full knowledge of the factors involved.
Psychedelics are not a shortcut, as it is of little value to sidetrack important
experiences. If enlightenment requires resolution of unconscious material (and
my personal experience indicates that it does), those who aspire to such achievement
must carefully consider the pace and intensity with which they are willing to
encounter this vast range of dynamics. The psychedelic path, while much more
intense than many other disciplines, is in a sense easier because it often provides
an earlier and more profound contact with the numinous. Such contact inspires
commitment and opens the door to more grace in surmounting uncomfortable material.
If our commitment is truly to the well-being and happiness of all sentient beings,
then it is reasonable to study all useful tools for accomplishing these ends.
Psychedelics, used with good motivation, skill, and integrity, can contribute
much toward easing the pain and suffering of the world while giving access to
wisdom and compassion for spiritual development.
The author has worked for many years in the field of psychedelic research. Between
1960 and 1970 he headed the International Foundation for Advanced Study, a research
group conducting clinical studies with LSD and mescaline.
SUGGESTED READING
Adamson, S. Through the Gateway
of the Heart. San Francisco: Four Trees Publications, 1985.
Blumenthal,Michael. "LSD at Mid-Life," in New Age Journal, May/June 1992, pp.
81-83, 142-47.
Eisner, Bruce. Ecstasy: The
MDMA Story. Berkeley, CA.: Ronin Publishing, 1989.
Grof, Stanislav. LSD Psychotherapy.
Pomona, Calif.: Hunter House, 1980.
Ratsch, C., ed. Gateway to lnner
Space. Bridport, Devonshire: Prism Press, 1989.
See especially the chapter "Purification, Death, and Rebirth" by Tom Pinkson.
Shulgin, Ann and Alexander. PIHKAL:
A Chemical Love Story. Berkeley, Calif.: Transform Press, 1991.
Underhill, Evelyn. Mysticism. New York: E.P Dutton, 1961.
Weil, Andrew. The Natural Mind.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1972.
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