Resources

From The Secret Chief  by Myron Stolaroff  Updated October 1998 by Sylvia Thyssen, MAPS, with the assistance of Jon Hanna, Pyschedelic Resource List

Books

Pursuit of Ecstasy: The MDMA Experience.
Jerome Beck, Ph.D. and Marsha Rosenbaum, Ph.D. SUNY Press; 1994.
Expanding on a study sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the authors present a thorough and trustworthy review of the emergence and spread of MDMA use, the path toward illegalization, the diverse social worlds and scenes evolved around the use of MDMA and how they result in different experiences, why people use MDMA and what if anything makes them stop, long term benefits and therapeutic potential, adverse reactions and abuse, and recommendations for harm reduction and continuing research of the therapeutic potential.

Exploring Inner Space: Personal Experiences Under LSD-25.
Jane Dunlap. Victor Gollancz Ltd.; 1961.
Written by a well known scientific authority whose books were so popular the publisher refused to let her use her correct name. Jane Dunlop describes in detail five outstanding experiences under the influence of LSD. There probably does not exist more beautifully written and profound descriptions of remarkable LSD experiences.

Ecstasy: The MDMA Story.
Bruce Eisner. Ronin Publishing; 1994 (2nd edition).
A widely read summary of the history, usage and effects of MDMA.

Psychedelic Drugs Reconsidered.
Lester Grinspoon and James B. Bakalar. The Lindesmith Center; 1997 (3rd edition).
Two of the world's leading experts on drug use provide the general reader with a comprehensive survey of psychedelic drugs and the scientific and intellectual issues they raise. The authors review the chemistry of psychedelics, their effects, and the history of human experience with them as well as assessing the potential value of the drugs. Excellent bibliography.

Entheogens and the Future of Religion.
Robert Forte, ed. Council on Spiritual Practices; 1997.
Entheogens is the currently designated name for psychedelics used for spiritual realization, and according to Jonathan Ott, is derived from an obsolete Greek word meaning realizing the divine within. Dr. Huston Smith says, "collectively, these essays constitute the best single inquiry into the religious significance of chemically occasioned mystical experiences that has yet appeared."

Realms of the Human Unconscious: Observations from LSD Research.
Stanislav Grof, M.D. E.P. Dutton; 1976.
A systematic and comprehensive discussion of the transpersonal model of the human unconscious. A uniquely valuable contribution to the field of psychology.

The Human Encounter with Death.
Stanislav Grof, M.D., Joan Halifax, Ph.D. E.P. Dutton; 1977.
A remarkable portrait of the experiment in which patients dying of cancer at the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center in Baltimore, Maryland were treated with psychedelic therapy.

LSD Psychotherapy: Exploring the Frontiers of the Hidden Mind.
Stanislav Grof, M.D. Hunter House; 1980.
Considered the most complete book on psychedelic therapy, this is a treasure house of all aspects of the work: history, procedures, client preparation, qualifications of the therapist, and more.

LSD, My Problem Child: Reflections on Sacred Drugs,
Mysticism, and Science. Albert Hofmann. J.P. Tarcher, Inc.; 1983.
This book traces how LSD originated, the discovery of its psychic effects, its applications to therapy, and the crushing developments that ensued from the widespread use of LSD as an
inebrient. The book describes a number of valuable individual experiences, as well as visits with key figures like Aldous Huxley, Timothy Leary, and others.

Insight Outlook.
Albert Hofmann. Humanics New Age; 1989.
A personal review of Dr. Hofmann's world view. He describes the early childhood mystical experiences that established his basic understanding. It was his desire to more completely understand the mystery of matter and the miracle of the plant world that led him to chemistry. He chose to work at Sandoz because their chemical explorations involved plant materials, thus leading him more directly to the understanding of nature. The book sets forth the major tenets of his philosophy, which was reinforced by the openings provided by appropriate use of LSD.

Doors of Perception / Heaven and Hell.
Aldous Huxley. Harper Collins; 1954 / 1956.
A demonstration of what a refined, prepared mind can do with the opportunity afforded by a psychedelic in observing nature, art, colors, and forms in their full glory, with a profound appreciation of the transpersonal and numinous aspects of life. These books more than any other in their time period encouraged many to investigate the psychedelic experience.

This Timeless Moment.
Laura Huxley. Mercury House; 1991.
A personal account of Aldous Huxley's last years by Laura, his wife, including details of the outcome of his request to be administered LSD while dying. Profoundly inspirational.

Shivitti: A Vision.
Ka-Tzetnik 135633. Gateways Books; 1998 (2nd American edition).
An autobiographical account of a concentration camp survivor's experiences with LSD psychotherapy, conducted in Holland by Professor Bastiaans. Very moving and illustrative of the processes of LSD psychotherapy. Shivitti was first published in Israel in 1987, and then translated into English and published in the United States by Harper & Row in 1989.

The Psychedelic Reader: Classic Selections from the Psychedelic Review.
Timothy Leary, Ralph Metzner & Gunther M. Weil. (Eds.) Citadel Press; 1993.
Selections about the therapeutic, religious and legal aspects of psychedelic drugs from the first four issues of the Psychedelic Review (1963-1964), the journal edited by the Harvard psychedelic research team.

The Varieties of Psychedelic Experience.
R.E.L. Masters and Jean Houston, Ph.D. Delta; 1966.
A research-based comprehensive review of the effects of LSD on human personality, along with a section on the role and training of the guide.

The Healing Journey: New Approaches to Consciousness.
Claudio Naranjo. Pantheon Books. Random House; 1973.
Incisive case reports about the therapeutic use of MMDA, MDA, ibogaine and harmaline. A classic in the field of psychedelic psychotherapy.

Pharmacotheon: Entheogenic drugs, their plant sources and history.
Jonathan Ott. Natural Products; 1996. (2nd edition, densified).
The introductory section PROEMIUM is a must read for those wishing to understand the current political, social, and scientific dilemmas of psychedelic drugs.

50 Years of LSD: State of the Art and Perspectives on Hallucinogens.
A. Pletsher (Ed.). Parthenon Publishing; 1994.
A series of papers on the historical, pharmacological, psychopathological, transcultural and clinical aspects of LSD, presented at a conference sponsored by the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences on the 50th anniversary of the discovery of LSD.

Gateway to Inner Space: Sacred Plants, Mysticism and Psychotherapy.
Christian Rätsch (Ed.). Prism/Avery Publishing; 1989.
A collection of essays by many leading researchers in the field of altered states of consciousness. Issues addressed include the medical use of psychedelics, molecular mysticism, death and rebirth themes in shamanism, comparisons between meditative and psychedelic experiences, and states of tryptamine consciousness.

The Ibogaine Story: Report on the Staten Island Project.
Paul de Rienzo, Dana Beal & Members of the Project. Autonomedia; 1997.
An account of the discovery and development of ibogaine as treatment for drug addiction, with a special focus on the political aspects of ibogaine research

PIHKAL: A Chemical Love Story.
Alexander Shulgin and Ann Shulgin. Transform Press; 1991.
Comprehensive, definitive guide to the phenethylamine psychedelics, such as mescaline and MDMA, and a great love story. Two parts: first the human story of the search for active mind compounds within a marriage of two active minds. Next, detailed catalog of the chemistry, characteristics of action and synthesis of 179 compounds and results of human assay at varying dosages.

TIHKAL:  The Cointinuation.
Alexander and Ann Shulgin.  Transform Press, 1997.
Book I:  The Story Continues--This is the continuation of the love story from Pihkal with a blend of travel, botanical facts, scientific speculation, psychological and political commentary.
Book II:  The Chemistry Continues—Describes in detail a wealth of tryptamines, plus appendices presenting topics such as cactus alkaloids, natural beta-carbolines, current drug law, and all known tryptamines (from the literature) that might be psychedelic.

Psychedelics Encyclopedia.
Peter Stafford. Ronin Publishing; 1992 (3rd edition). Highly readable book on history, background, preparation, chemistry, methods of use, results, and social implications of the known psychedelic drugs.

Storming Heaven: LSD and the American Dream.
Jay Stevens. Harper Collins; 1987.
A thorough, well written, intensively researched history of the advent of psychedelics on the American scene. With each new aspect introduced, the author traces back to the roots of that development, and shows how it progresses to intertwine with the overall picture.

Thanatos to Eros: Thirty-five Years of Psychedelic Exploration.
Myron J. Stolaroff. VWB-Verlag fŸr Wissenschaft und Bildung; 1994.
"Thanatos to Eros is an inspiration for any spiritually committed person.  Stolaroff's International Foundation for Advanced Study in the early '60's helped birth the Transpersonal Psychology movement, and this book shows why.  The intermingling of deep psychotherapy and spiritual process is a must read for any transpersonal psychotherapist.  The stories and methods of confronting and healing human suffering at any level can be used by everyone, whether Christian, Buddhist, Jew, Pagan or anything else, with or without psychedelic assistance.  -- George Greer, M.D.  MDMA researcher/psychotherapist, Co-Founder of Heffter Research Institute.
 

The Secret Chief:  Conversations with a Pioneer of the
Underground Psychedelic Therapy Movement.  Myron Stolaroff.  MAPS.  1997.
"Jacob painfully weighed the pros and cons and made the decision to challenge the law, continue his work with psychedelics, and assume personal responsibility for his activity. He has already passed the judgment of his "family," the clients whose lives he has profoundly changed. They remember him with great love and gratitude. It remains to be seen how he will be judged by history." -- Stanislav Grof, M.D., author of LSD Psychotheraply.

The Road to Eleusis: Unveiling the Secret of the Mysteries.
R. Gordon Wasson, Carl A. Ruck, Albert Hofmann. Harvest/HBJ; 1978.
Three scholar-scientists document their theory of the LSD-like component of the religious rites at Eleusis, celebrated for 2,000 years.

Drugs, Set and Setting: The Basis for Controlled Intoxicant Use.
Norman Zinberg. Yale University Press; 1984.
A pioneering book that illuminated the factors that permit some people to use illegal drugs, including psychedelics, in a controlled fashion.



 
 

Online

(Partial list, see each website for additional links.)
Council on Spiritual Practices  www.csp.org
Heffter Research Institute www.heffter.org
Island Group www.island.org
Lycaeum http://www.lycaeum.org
Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) http://www.maps.org
The Psychedelic Library http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/lsd/lsdmenu.htm
Myron J. Stolaroff's WEB Site Myron J. Stolaroff, Editor, AHF


Publications


The Entheogen Law Reporter, P.O. Box 73481, Dept. SC,  Davis, CA 95617-3481, website: http://www.specmind.com/telrinfo.htm Important legal advice regarding the use and possession of entheogens by attorney Richard Glen Boire. $25.00 for four issueshttp://www.specmind.com/telrinfo.htm.

The Entheogen Review, 564 Mission St., Box 808, Dept. SC, San Francisco, CA 4105-2918.
A clearinghouse for current data about the unauthorized use of visionary plants and drugs, edited by David Aardvark and K. Trout, founded in 1992 by Jim DeKorne. $25.00 (USA), $35.00 (foreign) for four issues.

FS Book Company, P.O. Box 417457, Dept. SC, Sacramento, CA 95841-7457.
(800) 635-8883.   email: fs@fsbookco.com   website: http://www.fsbooko.com
A large selection of books related to Cannabis, mushrooms, and psychedelics. Catalog: $2.00.

Mind Books, Dept. SC, 321 S. Main St., Suite 543, Sebastopol, CA 95472.
phone: (800) 829-8127 or (707) 829-8127; fax: (707) 829-8100.
email:  books@promind.com  website: http://www.promind.com
Mind Books carries nearly every book mentioned above. Free catalog.

Peyote Foundation Journal, P.O. Box 778,  Dept. SC, Kearny, AZ 85237.
Published by the Peyote Foundation: provides information about the peyote cactus and its religions and develops conservation programs for the species. $25.00 per year USA/$35 elsewhere.

Psychedelic Resource List, Second Edition (October 1998).
Descriptions of over 400 organizations related to psychedelics. 150 pages. $19.95 plus $3.00 S/H (USA), $5.00 (foreign), CA residents add $1.55 sales tax to: Soma  Graphics, P.O. Box 19820, Dept. SC, Sacramento, CA 95819-0820.

Rosetta, P.O. Box 4611, Dept. SC, Berkeley, CA 94704-0611.
Rosetta offers quality books, art, and obscure out-of-print research relating to ethnobotany and pharmacology. Catalog $2.00. They also publish the Psychedelic Sourcebook, a 72 page compendium of over 100 businesses related to psychedelics; $12.95 postpaid.
 
 


http://www.promind.com/Bibliographies


World Wide Web Psychedelic Bibliography
www.maps.org/wwwpb/index.html

This bibliography is designed to systematically digitize and protect the body of valuable psychedelic research papers for posterity, a project that is important to the three organizational sponsors: Multidisciplinary Assocation for Psychedelic Studies, Heffter Research Institute and Albert Hofmann Foundation.  It mainly has annotated and non-annotated bibliographical listings but has some full-text listings. Bibliographies that it includes: Psychedelics and the Dying; Psychedelics in Western Culture; Sandoz Pharmaceuticals collection of research on LSD and psilocybin; Sasha Shulgins MDMA bibliography; Howard Lotsof’s ibogaine bibliography; the Janiger and Paltin bibliography of LSD. This site is constantly being revised and updated. It is free of charge and searchable via a form-type interface.

Psycholytic and Psychedelic Research 1931-1995: A Complete International Bibliography; Torsten Passie, M.D., M.A., with preface by Hanscarl Leuner, M.D.; Laurentius Publishers, Hannover, 1997; ISBN 3-931614-84-0 (paperback); 102 pages. To order contact MAPS or contact Laurentius Publishers, fax: 0049-511-532-3346; e-mail: dehmlow@bib.mh-hannover.de.
As the definitive bibliography on the use of psychedelics in psychotherapy, this work is a valuable guide for students and researchers. A meticulous worldwide search by the author has revealed 687 pertinent scientific publications for further study. Research and therapeutic work with psychedelics remains controversial. The presentation of correct information helps overcome irrational projections, conclusions and prohibitions. Scientific research shows these catalysts can be used effectively and safely in medical psychotherapy.  This bibliography includes a precise subject index organized by substances, settings, methods, treatment results and more. The preface by Professor Hanscarl Leuner (Göttingen University, Germany), the leading European authority on research with psychedelics, provides an expert view. The introduction gives an overview of psycholytic and psychedelic therapy. For information about access to the electronic version of this document, check the MAPS website at ttp://www.maps.org.

Religion and Psychoactive Sacraments: A Bibliographic Guide; spiral-bound, 329 pp., Eds. Thomas B. Roberts, Ph.D. and Paula Jo Hruby, Ed.D.: $28.00 plus shipping & handling ($3.00 US/Canada, or $5.00 surface/foreign, or $15.00 air mail/foreign. Illinois residents add $1.96 tax), Psychedelia Books, P.O. Box 354, Dept. SC, DeKalb, IL 60115.
Contains 223 annotated references to books and dissertations which address the topic of entheogens, psychoactive plants, and chemicals used within a religious context. In the view of editor Thomas Roberts, the Guide firmly establishes that theologians, clergy, scholars and laypersons see the topic of psychoactive sacraments as important and worthy of discussion and that disagreement, discussion, and debate exist over the questions: Is there legitimate religious use for psychoactive sacraments, and if so, what is appropriate? The index greatly enhances the usefulness of this booklet. Notes and Excerpts for each book range from half a page to three pages. The books described are almost exclusively in the English language and the emphasis is on North America. The editors note that the vast research in world-wide anthropology is under-represented and deserves a guide of its own. Future editions are planned. For information about access to the electronic version of this document, check the website of the Council on Spiritual Practices at http://www.csp.org. Look under The Entheogen Project.



 
 


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