The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience

by Robert E.L. Masters, Jean Houston

One of the most important books written on the effects of LSD on the human psyche.

• Its authoritative research has great relevance to the current debate on drug legalization.

• Prolific authors Robert Masters and Jean Houston are pioneer figures in the field of transpersonal psychology and founders of the Human Potentials Movement.

The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience was published in 1966, just as the first legal restrictions on the use of psychedelic substances were being enacted. Unfortunately, the authors' pioneering work on the effects of LSD on the human psyche, which was viewed by its participants as possibly heralding a revolution in the study of the mind, was among the casualties of this interdiction. As a result, the promising results to which their studies attested were never fully explored. Nevertheless, their 15 years of research represents a sober and authoritative appraisal of what remains one of the most controversial developments in the study of the human psyche. Avoiding the wild excesses taken by both sides on this issue, this book is unique for the light it sheds on the possibilities and the limitations of psychedelic drugs, as well as on the techniques for working with them. With drug legalization an increasingly important issue, The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience provides a welcome and much needed contrast to the current hysteria that surrounds this topic.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Philosophy, Science, Drugs

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1966

About the author

A biography from a 1962 copy of Forbidden Sexual Behavior and Morality: "R. E. L. Masters, former director of the Library of Sex Research, is a world-famous sexologist and experimental psychologist who, in the course of his work, has also pioneered in the investigation of psychedelic drugs. He is the author or co-author of fourteen books on various areas of sexology. His earlier work on sexual behavior includes THE CRADLE OF EROTICA, EROS AND EVIL, PROSTITUTION AND MORALITY, and SEX CRIMES IN HISTORY. He is co-author of THE VARIETIES OF PSYCHEDELIC EXPERIENCE, the first comprehensive study of the effects of LSD upon human personality, and PSYCHEDELIC ART."

Reviews

[Erik Graff]

After a hiatus of a couple of decades, after losing my wife and career, I started taking psychedelics again. The first time was during the summer with a very close high school friend up at the Michigan cottage. The two disasters had recently occurred and I was reluctant. He, a companion on previous trips long before, had the acid at hand and was gently encouraging. In the morning, upon awakening, on empty stomachs, we took the stuff and headed for the woods and the beach.

I had expected utter misery because I'd been miserable myself for many months. As it was, although the sad, so-familiar-as-to-be-tedious thoughts came to mind, they passed and instead what I did was to marvel and give thanks for this clement world, my healthy body and my companion's enduring friendship. Compared to such grace, my fears and disappointments seemed to count for little. It was a beautiful day and remains ever close in memory.

Since that time I've continued experimenting on about an annual basis and reading up on the various psychoactives available. Houston and Masters' book had been on the shelves since I'd given up reading much on the subject years before. Basically, a phenomenological study of the range of psychedelic experiences reported to or experienced by the authors, I found the book rather boring. Houston and Masters don't write as well as their model, William James, and they don't do the work he did in relating contemporary phenomenology to historical precedents.

[Gregory]

An enlightening account of fifties and early sixties psychiatry performed with L.S.D. With the help of this infamous hallucinogen, psychiatrists were able to uncover the very deepest feelings and motivations of their patients and to enact behavioral modification with seemingly incredible ease. This book makes one wonder if L.S.D. could have indeed revolutionized psychiatry had it not been outlawed. The drug is presented as a useful tool with untapped potential and this book presents an interesting account of the results that had been obtained in clinical use under controlled circumstances. There is ample warning of the dangers of psychedelics as well and the book fully acknowledges that illegal use of L.S.D. can more often than not produce harmfull alterations of the psyche if not outright madness under uncontrolled circumstances. In fact even under controlled circumstances L.S.D. does more harm than good to some of the subjects whose stories are told in detail. This book could be taken either as an argument for clinical studies of hallucinogen or as a warning that their power may be too fearsome to ever use them safely under any circumstances, but the real strength of this book is that it is one of the few books about psychedelics that is written in a completely clinical tone and is free of pro and anti drug rhetoric, which makes it very, very rare.

[Phil]

Hmmm.....

Man tries to cure high blood pressure - discovers Viagra - advertisements galore!!

Man tries to cure PMS - discovers LSD - experiments behind closed doors.

Just imagine the Super Bowl commercials if things were a little different.

[Jan Němec]

Vzhledem k tématu vcelku uměřená a empiricky dobře uzemněná studie, jejíž autoři netrpí mesiášským komplexem. Obsahuje kategorizaci psychedelické zkušenosti, založenou na rozsáhlém kvalitativním výzkumu, která postupuje od povrchových smyslových halucinací hlouběji přes emocionální úroveň až ke zkušenostem, které lze s přiměřenou dávkou opatrnosti označit za mystické. Pro každého, kdo experimentuje s psychoaktivními látkami, může být mimořádně cenný popis toho, jak by se během sezení měl chovat průvodce člověka, který požil peyotl, LSD apod., aby se minimalizovalo riziko špatného tripu a subjekt zkušenost využil co možná nejlépe. Samy o sobě zajímavé jsou obsáhle citované záznamy subjektů. Obecně vzato je s podivem, že na tak fascinující brány, jaké se tu otevírají, buší tak málo lidí.

[Nick Black]

Doesn't begin to compare with Stanislav Grof's LSD Psychotherapy; they might not have been aimed at the same audience, but in that sense Masters's book must be mercilessly judged as aimed at the incorrect audience. A pretension of rigor fills this volume, but is exposed as the vainglorious ramblings of a pseudo-scientist who read too much William James and clearly thinks far, far too much of himself. A disservice to psychonauts everywhere.

[Jeff Roberts]

blah

[Spencer]

The original (1966) big study (800pgs) on the therapeutic uses of psychedelics before psychedelics were made illegal. The tone is very skeptical of woo woo new age nonsense and solipsistic gurus that were quickly exploding onto the scene. Completely Amazeballs.

Reread Chapter 8 psyche and symbol!


States or types of consciousness in the psychedelic state:

Guardian - monitors, stands sentinel, acts as link between both worlds and is the means by which the self is aware of both being distinct from the inner theatre and that it is brought on by the psychedelic. The guardian can radically disrupt the psychedelic state (esp if events require this to be the case in the external world

Imagistic - perceives the images. The perceiver

Dramatic- the creator of events, the part that “feels” truth, the part that analyzes

Somatic- the part that perceives sensory input, real or imagined

Somatic/kinesthetic- the part that perceives the body in real space

Affective- the part that responds emotionally

Spiritual- the part responsible for the sense of belonging non spatially and non temporally



The impossible assessment of the mystical experience by psychologist eggheads in labcoats.....nonetheless-

Will James in his “varieties of religious experience” says the most important religious experience (to the believer) involves being touched or confronting on the most profound level of an individuals being with the Depth of Being”. It would appear as if the temporary interior mystical state achieved by only a few percentage of participants in the study (and only those who were older, and had experience trying to connect with God through meditation and/or religious practice) was indiscernible to religious experience.
It involved ego dissolution, the dissolving of all boundaries, a sense of being filled with light, timelessness, and no diff between the knower and the known.

[Edgar Cintron]

Must read if you're interested in psychedelics and history

[Jeremie Richard]

Experiences of over 200 people taking LSD in the 1960s. Numerous details on what could explain the transformative power of these substances from a more psychodynamic and symbolic standpoint.

[Nick Mather]

It is a shame that the US government has banned nearly all research on psychedelics. "The Varieties of Psychedlic Experience" chronicles the findings of doctor's Masters and Houston in how psychedelics were sucessfully used to treat a number of psychological disorders. The chapter of Psyche and Symbol is fascinating in terms of the imagery of the collective unconscious (though admittedly I'm reading Jung into this). The final chaper on religious and mystical experiences is also a classic in the field. More people should read this book than forming their opinions about psychedelics on government propoganda and hysteria. These are powerful tools that can in expensively help a great number of people, if it weren't for ignorance and fear.

[Brian Gee]

Some really interesting and useful information, but also some out-dated perspectives. I'm not sure if I agree with their conclusions regarding religious experiences during a psychedelic trip.

[Mike Kirakossian]

Great case on page 266

[will]

Very informative and engaging overview of the effects of LSD and the types of experiences, including many case studies.

[Rediheem]

This book are really fantastic

[LemontreeLime]

skimmed this, totally flabbergasting.

[Alenka]

Hmm. This is a struggle - on one hand it can be considered as a great insight into psychedellic research of the sixties and will leave you wonder what it could have caused had LSD not been forbidden, the parts about wonderland and enchanted love forests were entertaining and the practical empirical information considering the guide and subjects was very well described. I enjoyed how they included many examples of the experience and made it accessible to a person untouched by drugs. On the other hand, when you spend over 15 years of your life dwelled into this research woth your family, it must consume you and at parts the book seems perhaps too pressurey and revolutionary than scientific and empirical, meaning it simply feels as if the drug is being advertised. Of course its effects could be considered somehow beneficial for the field of psychology and it was written in the sixties, but I still consider this a flaw in the 21st century. Anyway, you should read this book of you want to find out more about LSD and peyotl and wonder where are the very limits of human perception and imagination.