Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations with Terence McKenna, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy Leary, John Lilly, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Laura Huxley, Robert Anton Wilson, and others… Read online

  Praise for Mavericks of the Mind

  “When it was first published, Mavericks of the Mind was more than a breath of fresh air—it was a hurricane of ideas and visions perfectly tuned to the time. This 21st century expansion pack will ensure that these maverick spirits—many of whom have now passed on—will continue to channel the mindscape beyond the bend.”

  —Erik Davis, author of Nomad Codes: Adventures in Modern Esoterica

  “People who ask great questions and listen well are my heroes. And when they pose great questions and listen well to the greatest geniuses on the planet, and those geniuses respond with extravagant brilliance, they’re heroes who make my brain ecstatic. David Jay Brown and Rebecca McClen Novick are heroes like that.”

  —Rob Brezsny, Free Will Astrology columnist, and author of The Televisionary Oracle

  “Speaking as a professional interviewer myself, I can tell you that whenever you are lucky enough to have access to a really fine mind, you want to make sure that you’re on your ‘A game.’ David Jay Brown and Rebecca McClen Novick are uniquely well-suited to draw out the very best from their subjects, and Mavericks of the Mind represents the finest collection

  of difficult thoughts and brilliant thinkers you can find between two covers. It’s a modern classic.”

  —Richard Metzger, DangerousMinds.net

  “…a provocative collection of interviews with some of the most challenging thinkers in the Western world. Their statements may cajole you, infuriate you, or inspire you, but they will never bore you! Together, these interviews give the reader an uncanny glimpse as to the way that our reality may be heading.”

  —Stanley Krippner, Ph.D., co-author of Dream Telepathy and Spiritual Dimensions of Healing

  “This is a fine collection of original thinkers, an important national resource. Everyone who wants to stay current with information from the outer perimeters of consciousness exploration should read it.”

  —Jerry Garcia of The Grateful Dead

  “Some of the most important thinkers of our time speak in their own words to two brilliant interviewers. Anyone aspiring to understand the new millenium we are entering will have to read this book. Every page explodes like an intellectual firecracker. A first rate job!”

  —Robert Anton Wilson, author of Cosmic Trigger and The Illuminatus! trilogy

  “What distinguishes these ‘voices from the edge’ is their passionate self-actualization and their profound and strange contributions to our culture. Give a listen.”

  —Alex Grey, artist and author of Sacred Mirrors and Transfigurations

  “Depending on how one chooses to view it, this aptly named book is either a potpourri of strange and wonderful ideas or a collection of far-fetched suppositions. …there will certainly be readers interested in this volume’s unique subject matter.”

  —Library Journal

  “David Jay Brown is the most compelling interviewer on this planet.”

  —Clifford Pickover, author of Sex, Drugs, Einstein & Elves

  “…a winner. It’s got punch, rhythm, verve ...brilliantly conceived and executed, forming perhaps the best possible connection of the past thirty-five years of cultural transformation. It opens the road to the starmakers—to all who intelligently dare.”

  —John Allen, Inventor of Biosphere 2 and author of Me and the Biospheres

  “Wow! A one-stop shop of the greatest minds in cyberspace, or any other space for that matter. I could spend days in here, gaining insights from my favorite thought warriors, or

  discovering others I really should have known about all along.”

  —Douglas Rushkoff, author of Media Virus and Life Inc.

  “The great test of youthful ideas must be in how well they age and regenerate for future generations. In this volume two young people interview many of the outrageous luminaries of the 20th century Western ecstatic mystic community. This book provides evidence that a new flavor of spiritual tradition, completely compatible with science and technology, is being passed from one generation to the next. I feel this is a most vital project, and that it has been beautifully executed.”

  —Jaron Lanier, Virtual Reality pioneer and author of You Are Not a Gadget

  “A provocative collection indeed!”

  —Marilyn Ferguson, author of The Aquarian Conspiracy and editor of Brain/Mind Bulletin

  “In print or on the web, David Jay Brown supplies the right combination of thought and information. Frequently useful, always interesting…”

  —R.U. Sirius, editor Mondo 2000 and author of Counterculture Through the Ages

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  Mavericks of the Mind:

  Conversations with:

  Terence McKenna

  Allen Ginsberg

  Timothy Leary

  John Lilly

  Carolyn Mary Kleefeld

  Laura Huxley

  Robert Anton Wilson

  and others…

  Interviews by

  David Jay Brown & Rebecca McClen Novick

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  Copyright © 1993, 2010, David Jay Brown & Rebecca McClen Novick

  Mavericks of the Mind: Conversations with Terence McKenna, Allen Ginsberg, Timothy

  Leary, John Lilly, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Laura Huxley, Robert Anton Wilson, Rupert

  Sheldrake, Colin Wilson, Oscar Janiger, Nina Graboi, Laura Huxley, Stephen LaBerge

  and Others… By David Jay Brown & Rebecca McClen Novick

  ISBN: 0-89594-603-5; ISBN: 0-89594-601-7 First Edition;

  ISBN: 978-0-9798622-5-0 Second Edition.

  1. Consciousness, 2. Mind & Body,

  I. Brown, David Jay, II. Novick, Rebecca McClen

  Cover painting: “Dimensional Horizons” by Carolyn Mary Kleefeld

  Book & cover design by Mark Plummer

  100% of the profits from the sale

  of this book will be devoted to

  psychedelic psychotherapy research.

  All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted

  in any form by any means electronic or mechanical except as expressly

  permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in writing by the publisher.

  Requests for such permission shall be addressed to:

  MAPS, 309 Cedar Street, #2323, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

  Voice: (831) 429-MDMA (6362) • Fax: (831) 429-6370

  email: [email protected]

  www.maps.org

  Printed in the United States of America by McNaughton & Gunn, Saline, MI

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  To Our Mothers

  Arleen

  &

  Noreen

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  Contents

  Acknowledgments ix

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  Introduction to 2010 Edition

  David Jay Brown 1

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  Preface

  Rebecca McClen Novick 9

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  Introduction

  David Jay Brown 11

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  Mushrooms, Elves and Magic

  Terence K. McKenna 18

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  Raising the Chalice

  Riane Eisler & David Loye 36

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  Replicating Genes

  Robert Trivers 68

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  Faster than Faster than Light

  Nick Herbert 84

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  Chaos and Erodynamics

  Ralph Abraham 108

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  Firing the Cosmic Trigger

  Robert Anton Wilson 132

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  Cybernautics & Neuro-antics

  Timothy Leary 152

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  In the Presence of the Past

  Rupert Sheldrake 178

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  Singing Songs of Ecstasy

  Carolyn Mary Kleefeld 198

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  Outside the Outsider

  Colin Wilson 218

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  Psychiatric Alchemy

  Oscar Janiger 230

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  From Here to Alternity and Beyond

  John C. Lilly 254

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  Stepping into the Future

  Nina Graboi 274

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  Bridging Heaven and Earth

  Laura Huxley 292

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  Politics, Poetry and Inspiration

  Allen Ginsberg 316

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  Waking the Dreamer

  Stephen LaBerge 330

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  Introduction to the Roundtable Discussions

  David Jay Brown 361

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  Mavericks of the Mind Live!

  Robert Anton Wilson, Stephen LaBerge,

  Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, Nina Graboi,

  Nick Herbert, Ralph Abraham,

  David Jay Brown, Rebecca McClen Novick 361

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  Techno & Psyche

  Timothy Leary, John Lilly, Laura Huxley,

  Oscar Janiger, Carolyn Mary Kleefeld,

  Nina Graboi, David Jay Brown,

  Rebecca McClen Novick 379

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  Glossary 402

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  About the Authors 408

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  Acknowledgments

  Acknowledgments for the second edition:

  The second edition of this book emerged out of a late-night discussion that I had with my dear friend Carolyn Mary Kleefeld, who was instrumental in having the new edition of this book published. So first and foremost, I would like to thank Carolyn, from the bottom of my heart, for her most generous help with this book, and for her continued support of my work over the years. Secondly, I would like to thank Mark Plummer, who did the graphic design and layout for this book. I began working with Mark several years ago on the MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) Bulletins, and greatly appreciate his excellent work.

  The Mavericks of the Mind Web site (www.mavericksofthemind.com) owes its existence to the far-sighted vision of Joseph Wouk, who not only conceived of the project, but made it possible through his enthusiastic dedication and unwavering commitment. To Joseph--who scanned in each page of the book by hand, one page at a time--we extend our deepest gratitude. We would also like to thank Suzie Wouk, Mimi Hill, Robin Atwood, and Duri Pór for their invaluable assistance with creating the site.

  For this edition of the book, we would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the following individuals: Patricia Holt, Linda Parker, Erika Leigh Malboeuf, Robert “Rio” Hahn, Philip Bailey, Denis Berry, Zach Leary, Geoff Ward, Patricia Keelin, Peter Hale, David Loye, Ralph Abraham, Rupert Sheldrake, Dennis Wyszynski, Sara Huntley, Shawna Miller and Tianna Croghan, Willow Aryn Dellinger, Jessi Daichman, Serena Watman, Amanda Rose Loveland, Lily Ross, Jesse Ray Houts, Selina Reddan, Louise Reitman, Sammie and Tudie, Rob Brezsny, Rick Doblin, Amy Barnes Excolere, Sherry Hall, Suzie Wouk, Sherri Paris, Robert Forte, Valerie Leveroni Corral, David Wayne Dunn, Robin Rae & Brummbaer, Deed DeBruno, Randy Baker, Richard Goldberg, Arleen Margulis, Steven Ray Brown, B’anna Federico, Anna Damoth, Sandy Oppenheim, Lorey Capelli, Dana Peleg, Mimi Hill, Bethan Carter, Al Brown, Cheryle and Gene Goldstein, Bernadette Wilson, Nick Herbert, Erin Jarvis, Jody Lombardo, Erica Ansberry, Taylor Burns, Maria Ramirez, and Paula Rae Mellard.

  --David Jay Brown

  Acknowledgments for the first edition:

  An important lesson that we learned from doing this book is that cooperation, patience, tolerance, and communication are the keys to solving most of the world's problems. We really worked as a team to put this book together, and it was a balancing act that required much delicate coordination. It took about four years to complete, and although there was a great deal of work involved we did have a lot of fun. The collaboration of many others made it possible. We would like to extend special thanks to Carolyn Kleefeld and Nina Graboi who both helped tremendously in arranging many of the interviews. We would also like to thank our favorite magazine editor Judy McGuire at High Times for her support, and Jeanne St. Peter, who helped conduct the interview with Oscar Janiger while Rebecca was in England.

  In addition, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to Gabrielle Alberici, Randy Baker, Bob Banner, Debra Berger, Steven Brown, Allyn Brodsky, Brummbaer, Linda Capetillo-Cunliffe, Barbara Clarke-Lilly, Robin Christianson-Day, Elizabeth Gips, Deborah Harlow, Betsy Herbert, Larry Hughes, Dan Joy, Jeff Labno, Lisa Lyon-Lilly, Joe & Nina Matheny, Ronny Novick, Andrew Shachat, Douglas Trainer, Silvia Utiger, Victoria Vaughn, Nur Wesley, Arlen Wilson, and wonderful friends too numerous to mention, for their contribution
s and support during the development of this project. We would also like to express our deepest appreciation to all the people we interviewed for their invaluable time and energy.

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  Introduction to the 2010 Edition

  By David Jay Brown

  It’s been eighteen years since the first edition of Mavericks of the Mind was published, and a lot has happened since then. During the past few decades human progress has been accelerating at a rate which almost defies comprehension, and it appears to be going faster and faster all the time. The past few years have seen incredible developments that truly boggle the mind, and the interviews in this book are more relevant today than they were at they time that they were first published.