Lecture
The Leary-Wilson eight-circuit model of consciousness, originally presented by Timothy Leary in his works "Neurologic" (1973) and "Exo-Psychology" (1977), and later developed by Robert Anton Wilson in "Cosmic Trigger" (1977) and "Prometheus Rising" (1983), as well as by Antero Alli in "Angel Tech" (1985) and "The Eight-Circuit Brain" (2009), is an integral model combining aspects of psychology and philosophy. The model is often associated with the term "psy-phi" (short for "psy-phi"). This model posits the existence of eight circuits, or systems, that function within the human nervous system, each corresponding to its own perception of reality. It also posits three stages of development for each circuit, describing in detail the evolutionary points of consciousness. It is important to note that this model has no scientific support and is largely disregarded by academic researchers.
The Leary-Wilson model identifies 8 circuits:
Within the eight-circuit model of consciousness proposed by Timothy Leary and developed by other authors, human consciousness is divided into eight circuits, each with its own distinctive dynamics and role in the life of the individual and of humanity.
The first four circuits in this model are associated with the basic aspects of life on Earth and the survival of the human species. They are described as "larval circuits," necessary for adaptation and functioning in contemporary earthly society. The first four circuits encompass biological instincts, emotional reactions, the interpretation of information, and the sociocultural aspects of consciousness.
The last four circuits, called "post-terrestrial," are associated with the evolution of human consciousness and represent altered states of consciousness. These circuits include enlightenment, mystical experiences, psychedelic states of mind, and extrasensory abilities. They are posited as possible aspects of consciousness that can be recognized and explored, but that are as yet little used in ordinary life.
This model implies that these altered states of consciousness may be valuable for the future of humanity, particularly for those who seek to explore space and life beyond Earth. These circuits are a metaphor for different aspects of consciousness, and the model suggests they may be useful both for the development of the individual personality and for the evolution of human civilization.
The term "circuit" is associated with the metaphor of the brain viewed as computer hardware, with brain wiring likened to an electrical circuit, which makes it easier to understand the functional structure of consciousness within this model. Leary used this model together with the theory of recapitulation to explain the evolution of the human species, the personal development of the individual, and the biological evolution of all living things.
The biological survival level is closely tied to primitive instincts aimed at ensuring the organism's survival and distinguishing dangerous from safe objects in the environment. This level is believed to have arisen during the evolutionary development of the invertebrate brain and is one of the first to become active in the developing brain of a human child.
It has been noted that activation of the biological survival level can occur under the influence of opioid drugs and low doses of alcohol. This perceptual scheme includes a one-dimensional understanding of the environment, which can be described in terms of two directions: moving forward (toward food, shelter, and other necessary resources) and retreating from threats and dangers (representing potential predators and other threatening factors).
The emotional level is thought to be associated with the expression of raw emotions and the differentiation of behavior into submissive and dominant. This scheme is believed to have first arisen in vertebrate animals. In humans, this level begins to function with the acquisition of walking in early childhood.
Leary links the activation of this scheme to the consumption of significant doses of alcohol. The emotional level introduces a second dimension, related to the vertical aspect (up and down), which correlates with territorial behavior and power games within communities. In this interpretation, "up" represents a position of power and dominance, while "down" represents symbolic submission, expressed, for example, through the "tail between the legs" posture as a sign of yielding.
The symbolic level pertains to the domain of logic and symbolism in human thought. According to Leary, this level of human evolution manifested itself at the moment when humans began to clearly distinguish themselves from other primates. Leary suggested that activation of this scheme could be stimulated by various substances, such as caffeine, cocaine, and stimulants, including protein preparations.
The symbolic level introduces a third dimension into human consciousness, represented as right and left directions. This dimension is linked to the development of dexterous movements and the use of "artifacts" or tools. Leary also described this level as the "level of mastery-symbolism," while Robert Anton Wilson called it the "semantic level."
The domestic level relates to the process of evolution through social networks and the transmission of culture and knowledge over time. According to Leary, this level would have been activated with the development of tribal communities. Leary himself did not link it to psychoactive substances, though later authors have argued that activation of this scheme can be associated with the effects of MDMA.
This fourth level is associated with the development of moral, sexual, and tribal norms and codes that are passed down from generation to generation. It introduces a fourth dimension into our understanding - time - since it involves the transmission and accumulation of knowledge and cultural practices over time. Leary and Wilson also called this level the socio-sexual level, emphasizing its connection to the moral and sexual aspects of society.
The neurosomatic circuit represents the first of the "higher" levels of consciousness and is activated in the right hemisphere of the brain. In most people this circuit remains inactive, but its activation would allow one to perceive the world in a multidimensional space rather than only within the four dimensions of Euclidean space-time. This circuit is thought to potentially have significance for future space exploration and the expansion of consciousness.
Activation of the neurosomatic circuit is associated with hedonism and eroticism. Some researchers link it to experiences that can be achieved through the use of cannabis or the practice of tantric yoga, as well as the experience of free fall at the right moment.
The neuroelectric level is related to the mind's self-awareness, independent of the schemes created by the previous five circuits. It is also called "metaprogramming" or "awareness of abstractions." Leary believed that this level provides the possibility of telepathic communication and that it cannot be fully described by those limited to the experience of only the first four circuits. Moreover, understanding it may be difficult for those in whom the fifth level is active.
It is reported that this level began to manifest around 500 BCE along the Great Silk Road. Leary linked the activation of this scheme to peyote and psilocybin, pointing to the role of psychedelic substances in expanding consciousness and reaching this level. Robert Anton Wilson called this level the "metaprogramming level," emphasizing its capacity for the conscious alteration of psychological programs and abstractions.
The neurogenetic level presupposes access to genetic memory contained within the structure of DNA. This level is associated with memories of past lives, the concept of the Akashic records, and the collective unconscious. It is suggested that activation of this scheme may provide the possibility of immortality for humans. Historically, this level has been linked to Hindu and Sufi sects, where it is said to have first arisen at the beginning of the first millennium.
It is believed that the neurogenetic level can be activated using various methods, including the effects of LSD and the practice of Raja yoga. Robert Anton Wilson called this scheme the morphogenetic scheme, emphasizing the idea of the formation of images and information in consciousness on a genetic basis.
The psychoatomic scheme represents a theoretical concept that, in Leary's view, could provide access to intergalactic consciousness, which supposedly governs life throughout the universe and is often described as god, a mother goddess, or even extraterrestrials. This scheme, according to Leary, would allow a person to act outside the framework of space-time and the constraints described by the theory of relativity.
Leary linked the activation of this scheme to substances such as ketamine and dimethyltryptamine (DMT). He also called this level the "neuroatomic scheme" or the "metaphysiological scheme." Robert Anton Wilson, in turn, referred to this level as the "nonlocal quantum scheme," emphasizing its connection to concepts of nonlocality and quantum physics.
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