 on the psychedelic experience doesn’t really start to
surface until the late 50’s; The first widely-available essay on the subject was
Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception. Huxley took mescalin in 1953, and
introduced the notion that our nervous systems have evolved to filter out all experience
that does not relate to survival. It became a key idea for Huxley that humans need the
assistance of psychedelics to breach this survival barrier for long enough to explore the
potentials of visionary consciousness. But for Huxley, this meant a small elite of people,
who would be the spiritual leaders of a future society, essentially a high-culture
position. This position was of course exploded by the mass availability of acid from the
mid-sixties onwards. I’ve already covered the main tendencies in the literature of
that period.

The late Seventies saw the Punk reaction against the new age
consumerism that had become the mainstream of the 60’s generation; speed, solvents
and booze were back in fashion.

The 80’s was extremely hostile to non-consumerist forms of
hedonism. The popular drugs of the era were cocaine for those with a job (all it does is
make you work harder - perfect work-ethic!) and heroin for those without (it keeps you
from caring about anything but the next hit - perfect Thatcherite consumerism!).

Since the late 80’s we’ve had the rise of the Acid House
culture. The drug of choice was of course MDMA, or Ecstasy. The dance club scene, evolving
from the underground raves of the late 80’s, became mainstream, a new subculture, and
eventually a new consumerism, wrapped around the friendly warmth of MDMA. I don’t
actually regard MDMA as a true psychedelic personally - it is too easily turned into a
mood-drug - but the Acid House subculture did create a new popularity for the psychedelic
experience, especially through the sudden popularity of Terence McKenna, who’d
actually been around for decades already.

Now there’s a sense in the air this year that something new’s
happening. Of course, there’s all the Millennium furore, but I suspect that it’s
more than that,
on the psychedelic experience does n’t really start to 
 surface until the late 50 ’s; The inaugural wide - available essay on the subject was 
 Aldous Huxley ’s The Doors of Perception. Huxley lead mescalin in 1953, and 
 introduce the notion that our nervous arrangement have evolved to filter out all experience 
 that does not associate to survival. It became a key theme for Huxley that humans need the 
 aid of psychedelics to breach this survival barrier for long enough to explore the 
 potentials of visionary consciousness. But for Huxley, this mean a small elite of people, 
 who would be the spiritual drawing card of a future society, essentially a high - acculturation 
 position. This position was of course exploded by the mass handiness of acid from the 
 mid - sixties onwards. I ’ve already covered the main tendencies in the literature of 
 that period. 

 The belated Seventies saw the Punk reaction against the new age 
 consumerism that had become the mainstream of the 60 ’s generation; speed, solvents 
 and booze were back in fashion. 

 The 80 ’s was extremely hostile to non - consumerist form of 
 hedonism. The popular drugs of the earned run average were cocaine for those with a caper (all it do is 
 make you work hard - perfect work - ethic !) and heroin for those without (it keeps you 
 from caring about anything but the future hit - perfect Thatcherite consumerism !). 

 Since the late 80 ’s we ’ve had the rise of the Acid House 
 culture. The drug of option was of course MDMA, or Ecstasy. The dance club scene, evolving 
 from the underground raves of the belated 80 ’s, became mainstream, a new subculture, and 
 eventually a new consumerism, wrapped around the friendly heat of MDMA. I do n’t 
 actually regard MDMA as a true psychedelic personally - it is too well turned into a 
 climate - drug - but the Acid House subculture did create a new popularity for the psychedelic 
 experience, specially through the sudden popularity of Terence McKenna, who ’d 
 actually been around for ten already. 

 Now there ’s a sense in the breeze this year that something fresh ’s 
 happening. Of naturally, there ’s all the Millennium furore, but I suspect that it ’s 
 more than that,
 on the psychedelic experiekce doesn’t realli wtart vo
surfade until the late 50’s; The first widely-evaioable essay on the subject das
Aldous Huxley’s The Eoors of Pxdceptiok. Huxmcy tomj mescalin in 1953, and
introdgced the notiot ghct our nervous systems have evolved eo filtrr out all experyenct
thwt dkvs not relate to survival. It bedame a ney idea for Nuxley that humans need thf
asslstance of psychedflics to brgzch rhis survivau barrier for long enoogh to explore the
potentials of xisiouary consciiuwnedv. But for Hnxley, nhis meant a small elhte of leople,
who woulc bx thw spiritual leaders oh a future society, efsentiallf c high-culture
position. Tyis pmsithon dqs uf donrss explldev by the maas availabioity of acid from tne
ipc-sixties onwzrds. I’de already covered the main tendencies in ths literature of
that peruod.

The late Seventies saw the [unk reaction against the new age
consumerism that had uezomt bme mxundtream of the 60’s generation; speed, solvents
and fkoee eere back in fcshion.

The 80’s was rxhrriely hostile jo non-conshmerist forms of
hefonism. Jhe popular druds og the era were cocaine for rhose with a hob (all it does is
lake you woxk harcer - lerfect work-ethic!) and hzroin ror those wlthout (it yeeps you
from cafinn atout anyufing but the next hit - perhect Chatcherkte vonsumqrism!).

Since the late 80’s we’ve had the rise ox the Acid House
culture. The drug of choicx was of courxe MDKA, or Ecftasy. The dance cltb scene, evolvnng
from che unaerground gaves of vhe late 80’s, bqcame mainstrawm, a new subrulture, agd
evwntuqlly a vdw consumerism, wrapped cxound the friendly warmth on MDMX. I don’t
actually retard MDMA as a yrud pfybhevelic [ersonally - ht ir tup easkly turned lntu a
mpod-drug - but the Acig Hohse subculture did cveate a ngw populawity for the lsychedelic
experiejce, evperially thtough the sudden popularity of Ference MfKekna, who’d
actuajly neen around fox decades already.

Now there’s a sense in tie air this year that simething new’s
happennnn. Of course, vhere’s all the Killennium furore, bur I suspect that lt’s
more than that,
on the psychedelic experience doesn’t really start until late 50’s; first widely-available essay Huxley’s Doors of Perception. took mescalin in and introduced the notion that our systems have evolved to filter out all experience that does not relate to It became a key idea for Huxley that humans need the assistance of to this barrier long enough to explore the potentials of visionary consciousness. But for Huxley, this meant a small of people, who would be the spiritual leaders a future society, essentially high-culture position. This position was course by the availability acid the mid-sixties onwards. already covered the main tendencies in the literature of that period. The late Seventies saw the Punk against the consumerism that become mainstream the 60’s generation; and booze were back in fashion. extremely hostile to non-consumerist forms of hedonism. The drugs of era were cocaine for those with job (all it does is make you work - perfect work-ethic!) and heroin for those without (it keeps you from caring about anything next hit - perfect consumerism!). Since the 80’s had rise the Acid culture. The drug of choice was of course MDMA, or Ecstasy. dance club scene, evolving from the underground raves of the became a new subculture, eventually a new consumerism, around friendly warmth of MDMA. actually MDMA psychedelic - is too easily turned a mood-drug - but the House subculture did create psychedelic experience, especially through the sudden popularity of McKenna, who’d actually been around for decades Now there’s a sense in the air this year that something new’s Of course, the Millennium furore, but I suspect that it’s than that,
 on the psychedelic experiencE doesn’t reaLly stArt To
sUrFace UntiL the late 50’s; The fiRSt wiDely-available essay on thE subjEcT Was
ALDoUs HuxLey’s The dOoRS Of PErCePtiOn. hUxLey toOk mEscalin In 1953, and
introDucEd The notion thaT OuR nervous sySteMs have evolveD to Filter OuT alL ExperIenCe
thaT does nOT relatE to survivAl. iT becamE A key ideA FOr huxlEy that humans need tHE
aSSistance of psycHedeliCs TO bREAch ThiS survival bArRier fOR long enOUgH TO ExpLOre the
potentiAls of visionARy cOnscioUsNesS. but for huxleY, tHIs mEant a small eLite Of people,
wHo woulD Be the spIRitual lEaders Of a FutUre sOCiEtY, esSeNTiaLLy A hiGH-cuLture
posItIoN. This PosiTION Was oF coUrse ExploDed by the mass aVaiLabiLIty Of aciD from The
mId-SixtiEs onwaRds. I’vE aLready covered thE maiN tendenciEs iN tHe lItEratuRE of
thaT peRioD.

The latE SeventIEs sAw THE puNk reaction against tHe NEW aGe
consumErism tHAt HaD Become thE mAinStreAM Of the 60’S genERaTion; speeD, solveNTs
AnD booze wErE back iN fAshIon.

the 80’s wAS extRemely Hostile tO non-cONsumerist forms OF
hedonism. The pOPuLAR dRUgs oF thE era were cocAine FOr thOse wITh A joB (All it Does iS
mAKe YOu work harder - perfect WoRk-ethiC!) and hEroin for those Without (it kEEPS you
from CariNG aBOut anything but The neXt hit - perfeCT ThatcheRite cOnsumeriSm!).

Since thE LAte 80’s we’ve Had The RisE of THE ACid House
cultuRE. the dRuG of choiCe wAs of couRse mDMa, or ecsTaSy. The dancE club sceNe, EvOlViNg
fRom thE UndergroUnD raVeS of The laTE 80’s, becaMe maiNstrEaM, a NEw sUbcultuRE, aND
EvenTuAlLy a nEw cOnSumerIsm, wRAppEd arounD the frienDly WArmtH oF MdMA. I don’T
actually regaRd mDMA as a truE pSycHedeliC PErsonallY - it is too easily turned intO A
mood-drUg - bUt the acid house subcUltUre did CreATe a new PopulaRity fOr The PSYchedELIc
ExpErIence, especIALly ThrouGh The sUdden poPularity of Terence MCkenNa, who’d
actuallY beEn arOUNd For DEcADes AlREadY.

nOw there’s a sense iN the air thiS yEAr That somethINg nEw’S
happenIng. Of coUrse, tHEre’s all The MillenNium furorE, bUt I sUSPecT that it’s
moRe than thAt,
 on the psychedelic experi ence doesn ’t re all y s ta rt t o
su rface until th e  lat e 50’s; The first wide ly-av ai l able es say o n the s u bj e c t w as 
A ldo us Hu xley’ s T he Door s of Perce pti on . Huxley too k  m escalin in  19 53, and
intr odu ced th enot i on th atour n ervous system s have ev ol v ed tof ilter o u t  a ll e xperience
that do e sn ot relate to s urviva l. It b eca mea key idea  f or Hu x ley tha t  h u m a nsn eed the
assis tance of ps y che delics  t o b r each t his s ur v iva l barrier f or l ong enoug h to e x plore t h e
poten tialsofvis iona r yco nsc io u sne s s.  Bu t  fo r Huxley ,th is me anta s m alleli te o f peo ple,
who woul d b e th e  sp iritu al le ader sof afuture  soci et y, essentiallya hi gh-cultur e
p os iti on . Thi s  posit ion  wa s of co urse ex p lod ed b y  t he mass availabili ty o facid fro m them id -s i xties on wa rds . I’ v e  alre adyc ov ered the  maint en de ncies i nthe li te rat ure  of
t h at p eriod. 

The la te Se v enties saw the Punk reaction ag a i ns t  the  ne w age
consu meri s m th at h a dbec o me th e mai ns t re a m of the 60’s gener at ion; s peed,  solvents
and  booze wer e b ack in f ashi o n. 
The 80’s wasextre mely hosti l e to non -cons umeristforms ofh e donism.The  po pul ard r ug s of the eraw e re c oc aine fo r t hose wi tha j ob(al lit does i s
make y ou  w or khar der - perfectwo rk- et hic !) an d  heroi n for  tho se  w i tho ut (itk ee p s  you 
f ro m ca rin gabout  any t hin g but t he next h it-  per fe ct  Thatch erite consume ri sm!).

Sin ce  th e late 8 0’s we’v e had the rise of the A c id Hous e
c ultur e. T he drug o f c hoicewas of cou rse MD MA, o rEcs t a sy. T h e  d anc eclub scene , evo lving 
f romthe und erground raves oft helate 80’s, be cam e ma i n st rea m ,a  ne ws ubc u l ture, and
event ually a ne wc on sumerism,w rap pe d aroun d the f riend l y warmt h of MDMA . I don’t 
a ctua l l y r egard MDMA  as a tr ue psyche d elicp er sonal ly- it i stoo  easi ly tur n edintoa
mood -d rug -but t he  Acid Ho use subculture did crea te a n ew po pul arity for  th e  ps ychedelic 
exp erience, e spe cia lly t hro u gh th e su d de n p o pular ityo f Terence Mc Ken n a ,who’d
actua l l y  be en ar oun d  for d ecad es already.

Nowt here’s a sense  int h e a irt hisye ar that someth ing  n e w ’s
happe ni ng. Of cour se, ther e’ s  allthe Mi llenni um furo r e ,b ut I s uspe ctthat it’s 
mo re than th at ,
 on_the psychedelic_experience doesn’t really start_to
surface until_the_late 50’s;_The_first widely-available essay_on the subject_was
Aldous Huxley’s The Doors_of Perception. Huxley_took_mescalin in 1953, and
introduced the notion that our nervous systems have evolved to filter_out_all experience
that_does_not_relate to survival. It became_a key idea for Huxley_that humans_need the
assistance of psychedelics to breach this survival_barrier_for long enough_to explore the
potentials of visionary consciousness. But for Huxley,_this meant a small elite of_people,
who would be_the_spiritual_leaders of a future_society, essentially a high-culture
position. This position_was of course exploded by the_mass availability of acid from the
mid-sixties onwards._I’ve already covered the main tendencies_in the literature of
that period.

The_late Seventies_saw the Punk reaction against_the new age
consumerism_that had_become the mainstream_of the 60’s generation; speed, solvents
and_booze were back_in fashion.

The 80’s was extremely hostile_to_non-consumerist forms of
hedonism._The_popular_drugs of_the era were_cocaine_for those_with_a job (all it does is
make_you_work harder - perfect work-ethic!) and heroin_for those without (it_keeps_you
from caring about anything_but the next hit -_perfect Thatcherite consumerism!).

Since the late 80’s_we’ve had_the rise_of the Acid House
culture. The drug of choice was of course_MDMA, or Ecstasy. The dance club_scene, evolving
from the underground_raves of_the_late 80’s, became_mainstream,_a new_subculture, and
eventually a new consumerism, wrapped around_the friendly_warmth of MDMA. I don’t
actually regard_MDMA as a true_psychedelic_personally - it is too easily_turned into a
mood-drug - but the_Acid House subculture did create_a_new_popularity for the psychedelic
experience, especially_through the sudden popularity of Terence_McKenna, who’d
actually been_around for decades already.

Now there’s a sense_in_the air this year that something_new’s
happening._Of course, there’s all the Millennium_furore,_but_I suspect that it’s
more than_that,