Aldous Huxley Appreciation Thread

[Pandy]

Aldous Huxley is one of the twentieth centuries most under recognized literary figures and philosophers. He penned 'The Doors Of Perception' and 'Heaven and Hell' and was the first true psychedelic traveler, well before the likes of Timothy Leary.

Aside from his own psychedelic experiences he offers a psychedelic experience that this quote captures so well.

"Elsewhere I have said that a powerful psychedelic event, which does not have the side effects of marijuana or LSD, is an encounter with a perspective, a consciousness more evolved than one's own. The experience of a more fully grown person, if effectively disclosed to a receptive person, will enliven and expand the world of the recipient."


"If we could sniff or swallow something that would, for five or six hours each day, abolish our solitude as individuals, atone us with our fellows in a glowing exaltation of affection and make life in all it's aspects seem not only worth living, but divinely beautiful and significant, and if this heavenly world-transfiguring drug were of such a kind that we could wake up the next morning with a clear head and an undamaged constitution - then, it seems to me all our problems (and not merely the one small problem of discovering a novel pleasure) would be wholly solved and earth would become paradise"
Aldous Huxley

[Mona Lisa]

He went to the best school there is: He was an Old Etonian :)

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/21/EtonCollege_wideweb__470x306,0.jpg
http://www.nagoya-high-school.com/images/etoncollege.jpg

[Pandy]

here are some Youtube links... listen to his forecasts of the future...

Mike Wallace interview 1958 part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGaYXahbcL4)
Mike Wallace interview 1958 part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUTEOY1hre4&feature=related)
Mike Wallace interview 1958 part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iDPnwkU9DA&feature=related)

Aldous huxley speech at UC Santa Barbara 1962 Part 1/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g1k5rK7bWI&feature=related)
Aldous huxley speech at UC Santa Barbara 1962 Part 2/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Ubvb76QcI&feature=related)
Aldous huxley speech at UC Santa Barbara 1962 Part 3/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a41f0eLe9kY&feature=related)
Aldous huxley speech at UC Santa Barbara 1962 Part 4/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyZOI6bqBPE&feature=related)
Aldous huxley speech at UC Santa Barbara 1962 Part 5/5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwdGabKpDc8&feature=related)

Aldous Huxley died tripping' his balls off as requested, but his death was overshadowed by the assassination of JFK.

[Mona Lisa]

This is just it. Eton didn't and doesn't just produce annoying toffs (though it does admittedly produce a few). ;)

[Pandy]

This is just it. Eton didn't and doesn't just produce annoying toffs (though it does admittedly produce a few). ;)

He'd probably be the first and the last Etonian to suggest that psychedelic drug use can be a good thing.

[Mona Lisa]

He'd probably be the first and the last Etonian to suggest that psychedelic drug use can be a good thing.

You'd be surprised.;)

But I'd agree that as such people are at the top of the tree, they don't generally perceive life as such a struggle as we ordinary plebes do. They thus feel less of an urgency to escape. When they do take drugs, it's more likely the likes of coke or H, and rather intriguingly, ketamine (in more recent times).

[Bassbloke]

I picked up a copy of the Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell while out in Australia a while back - at the time I've got to say I was underwhelmed - baffled by some of the art references he gives (at length :p) and didn't think I'd get far into it.
Luckily for me a 20 hour greyhound bus ensured I had plenty of time to kill so I gave it another chance, and to suprise became totally drawn into it, I loved it once I stopped being lazy. :o

[Pandy]

Huxley is a hard read. The language he uses can make for hard going. My first Huxley was Brave New World... had to re-read page after page just to get it sometimes. Found it much easier to listen to him, watch his interviews and audio tapes.

[wildguy6969]

this guy sounds amazing ! i think i might like his books :D


another good read is helter skelter ........i think some might like that book !
i did also read it on a greyhound :) it also has pictures for all of drop outs :D

[GOA]

This guy is basically the modern grandfather of psychedelics... before Albert Hoffman or Timothy Leary even.

Aleister Crowley holds #1 however, as he documented and experimented with the effects and influence of magic mushrooms and mescaline before most other Europeans during the time. Huxley actually was influenced by Aleister Crowley for most of his early psychedelic experiences.

Nice little tidbit of info I thought you may like you know. :)

[wildguy6969]

This guy is basically the modern grandfather of psychedelics... before Albert Hoffman or Timothy Leary even.

Aleister Crowley holds #1 however, as he documented and experimented with the effects and influence of magic mushrooms and mescaline before most other Europeans during the time. Huxley actually was influenced by Aleister Crowley for most of his early psychedelic experiences.

Nice little tidbit of info I thought you may like you know. :)



well i have study the works of the great albert hoffman and of course timothy leary and of course alester crowley ........so iam verry intersested !!!
nostradamas seem kewl to ..........can u recamend me a book from Aldous Huxley ?

[GOA]

well i have study the works of the great albert hoffman and of course timothy leary and of course alester crowley ........so iam verry intersested !!!
nostradamas seem kewl to ..........can u recamend me a book from Aldous Huxley ?

The Doors of Perception & Heaven And Hell

or

Brave New World



Both are most excellent.

[wildguy6969]

thanx will check those out GOA:cool:

[Bassbloke]

Howdoo - if you do decide to check out the doors of perception then I'd reccomed Heaven and Hell - purely beause I read it straight after and it flows as one book. If you PM me I'll happily send you my copy if you have trouble finding it online,. As far as Huxley non-fiction goes it's a very interesting read.

[Pandy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WenHppq6iHI&mode=related&search=

[thirdeyelasik]

I have been a massive fan of Brave new world and the Island for years. Once I read Heaven and Hell and his descriptions of a trip in the Doors of Perception I was hooked. Classic writer with some unique thoughts(for his time) on what a psychedelic experience can be.

Does anyone know if it is true that he took a large dose of a psychedelic just before time of death?

[GOA]

I have been a massive fan of Brave new world and the Island for years. Once I read Heaven and Hell and his descriptions of a trip in the Doors of Perception I was hooked. Classic writer with some unique thoughts(for his time) on what a psychedelic experience can be.

Does anyone know if it is true that he took a large dose of a psychedelic just before time of death?

Yes, he was administered two separate 100 microgram doses of LSD just prior to the time of his death... intravenously. Apparently he died very peacefully.

[The_One_and_Only_E]

A great man deserving of appreciation, thus I contribute to the thread! I wish there were more thinkers of his kind around today.

[GOA]

The late Terence McKenna is another psychedelic and consciousness pioneer that I greatly recognize.

[Dr. X]

BNW had a profound effect upon my young mind and Huxley will always be high on my list of favorite writers because of it. He also was influential on one of his students named Orwell. :o

[swtorcredits]

this man seems amazing !! i think i may like his publications

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