Prometheus Rising

[Beltane]

Prometheus Rising
by Robert Anton Wilson

I can't get enough of Robert Anton Wilson (RAW) anyway, but the reason I originally read this book was because of something someone once told me that Leary, and later this book, said about Ketamine.

The book is an expansion/eludication on Leary's 8 neorological circuit model of the human brain/mind. Though not specifically about drugs, I think it fits nicey into a category such as "Drug Culture."

Using Leary's theory, Wilson gives his thoughts on patriotism, morality (both shared and learned) as well as some fascinating information on brainwashing. He even goes so far as to explain, point by point, how one would go about brainwashing another person. Even if this isn't something you're trying to accomplish :), it provides invaluable insights into the indoctrination methods of many groups and even more subtle methods used by society in general.

There's exercises at the end of each chapter. The few of which I did were very interesting and I plan to do many more as I plan to re-read the entire book when I get it back from my friend who took it off my shelf when I'd finished it:)

My favorite part about the book is RAW's contagious sense of optimism that not ony is a widespread and profound change for the better possible for humanity, but that it is both imminent and coming very soon.

I found the book enlightening, illuminating and, to say the least, entertaining.

BTW, the thing RAW says about K is that, paraphrasing Leary, Ketamine is the only 8th circuit drug known to man. That's what I was looking for when I picked up the book, and what I found was so much more.

- Beltane

[Alfa]

Review by blade:

Where do you begin? This book is, in essence, an examination of Timothy Leary's eight-circuit model of consciousness. However, along the way of exploration, it also calls into question many other different ways of looking at the world. It contains a series of exercises designed to help you understand the import of the eight circuit model, with each set of exercises building on the last. It would make sense to read this book through once, and then re-read it at each stage, stopping to perform each set of exercises.
If you're looking for a detailed examination of the model, it's a decent book, but it's also well worth looking up Leary's own thoughts on the subject because Wilson is essentially concentrating on getting you to apply the model more so than explain it in detail or trying to prove it to you. The book is an entertaining read in itself, and should open your eyes a little along the way too. At the very least, it could widen your reality tunnels a little further, and at best could turn your understanding of the world around you inside out and upside down.

[enquirewithin]

BTW, the thing RAW says about K is that, paraphrasing Leary, Ketamine is the only 8th circuit drug known to man. That's what I was looking for when I picked up the book, and what I found was so much more.

Other sources also menton DMT and high does of LSD possibly triggering this circuit.

I read this book a long tiome ago, but I did really enjoy it. Perhaps it is time to read it again. It might be a good antidote to the likes of Robert Greenfield who think that the later pahese of Leary's writing is of little interest.

[donkey rhubarb]

This is a great book. RAW does differ with Leary on the 6th and 7th circuits.

If you enjoy this book check out Antero Alli's book "Angel Tech" He takes all of it a big step further. He even teaches a class on the subject (following Leary's version not Wilson's) at RAW's Maybe Logic Academy. I took the first version of the class and it was good. More exercises, discourse with Alli, etc.

Really I'm not trying to plug it...just had good experiences. :cool:

Also check out this link:

http://web.archive.org/web/20010301174817/www.netside.net/~szot/Leary11.html (http://web.archive.org/web/20010301174817/www.netside.net/%7Eszot/Leary11.html)

Talks about the Hindu Tantric origins to Leary's model

The most interesting drug aspect to these books is the idea of being able to re-imprint using psychedelic drugs. This seems like a great possibility especially with someone who knows what they are doing...

Here is an article Alli wrote about drugs and the eight circuit brain model:

http://www.paratheatrical.com/pages/talkingraven/INTOXICATION.html

[Lethargy]

I must say something about this book that thus far seems to have gotten overlooked...

You can easily use this book to supplement and/or replace any "self help" book in existence. Anyone with a decent amount of willpower and ability to take an honest look at their own behavior can use the techniques in this book to break out of negative patterns permanently. (In addition with even a bit of creativity you can use the information to create your own exercises to elaborate on the ones RAW gives.)

More than an interesting read; treat it as a manual or user's guide on the topic of using your mind and body for fun and profit.