The Doors of Perception
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A very interesting book about how peyote/mescaline affect perception and consciousness. Mescaline is the active property occurring naturally in peyote and some other breeds of cactus. It was particularly interesting to me in light of the meditation and mindfulness books I've read this year. Huxley takes mescaline, records it, and have friends observe him and ask him questions while he's on it. It's a very interesting format.
The Doors of Perception, initially published in 1954, is a day in the life memoir of Aldous Huxley recounting his first experience with a psychodelic drug, mescaline, aka peyote.
"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite."
- William Blake
Heavily influenced by Blake, Huxley borrows the phrase 'doors of perception' for the title of his book.
I laughed along with Huxley during certain parts of his trip as memories of my own experiences on psychedelics were brought to mind. What's impressive is that those memories are as vivid today as 40 years ago. Since I am familiar with psychedelics, I thought Huxley's initial encounter with mescaline gives the reader a decent impression of what it is like to have a psychedelic experience.
He reflects on his experience recognizing that "for the moment the interfering neurotic who, in waking hours, tries to run the show, was blessedly out of the way." His observations into his experiences on that day gave him a different perspective of the intimate world around him, the everyday objects such as a vase of flowers or the folds in his trousers.
Humankind's search for enlightenment or transcendence to some spiritual awakening has been entwined with our beings for centuries. H.G Well's called this The Door In the Wall, which Huxley refers to many times in the text.
I found this to be an interesting book and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Huxley's or psychedelic fiction or anyone curious to experience what someone could be experiencing under a psychedelic drug.
I listened to the Audible version narrated by Rudolph Schirmer and was a quick listen at 2 hours, 16 minutes.
"If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite."
- William Blake
Heavily influenced by Blake, Huxley borrows the phrase 'doors of perception' for the title of his book.
I laughed along with Huxley during certain parts of his trip as memories of my own experiences on psychedelics were brought to mind. What's impressive is that those memories are as vivid today as 40 years ago. Since I am familiar with psychedelics, I thought Huxley's initial encounter with mescaline gives the reader a decent impression of what it is like to have a psychedelic experience.
He reflects on his experience recognizing that "for the moment the interfering neurotic who, in waking hours, tries to run the show, was blessedly out of the way." His observations into his experiences on that day gave him a different perspective of the intimate world around him, the everyday objects such as a vase of flowers or the folds in his trousers.
Humankind's search for enlightenment or transcendence to some spiritual awakening has been entwined with our beings for centuries. H.G Well's called this The Door In the Wall, which Huxley refers to many times in the text.
I found this to be an interesting book and recommend it to anyone who is a fan of Huxley's or psychedelic fiction or anyone curious to experience what someone could be experiencing under a psychedelic drug.
I listened to the Audible version narrated by Rudolph Schirmer and was a quick listen at 2 hours, 16 minutes.
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