Psychedelics in the 21st Century Ft. Zach Leary

A Front Row Seat to the Psychedelic Counterculture Revolution

Even though his father was most well-known for his connection and proliferation of LSD, by the time Zach Leary was born, his father Timothy Leary had moved on to other things like the personal computer movement and the internet revolution.

That didn’t stop psychedelic lumineers like Terence Mckenna and Albert Hoffman from being common fixtures in his household as Zach grew up. This meant that he understood what psychedelic compounds were and how to use them safely and intentionally at a young age.

Leary recalls being influenced by Ram Dass early on in his life, reading Be Here Now in the back of a volkswagen bus following the Grateful Dead around as a young adult, but not having the discipline for spiritual practice until later in life. 

As destiny would have it, Ram Dass, still Richard Alpert at this time, and Timothy Leary met early on in their careers as psychologists at Harvard University, creating an unstoppable force, shaking the academic understanding of psychology as well as psychedelics forever. 

Ram Dass survived Timothy Leary by 23 years, with Zach being only 23 at the time of his father’s death, it seemed almost as much destiny for Ram Dass and Zach Leary to reconnect as it was for Ram Dass and Timothy Leary to meet. 

Ram Dass became his biggest influence in his search to find his place in the world and move through his dharmic evolution.

What is Dharma?

Dharma is an Eastern philosophical concept found in eastern religions like buddhism and hinduism, and many psychedelic lumineers of the 60’s adopted it as it shared similarities with the insights gained from psychedelics. 

It’s a multifaceted concept that may take on slightly different meanings depending on the context, but Leary describes it as representing harmonious living with your beliefs, and being in full alignment with yourself and the world around you.

Like many eastern philosophies, once they hit American soil, they become “westernized,” often getting simplified in translation. 

A perfect example of the oversimplification of eastern philosophies in western cultures is yoga. 9 out of 10 Americans think of yoga as exercise, they might not realize that in India, it’s a way of life that encompasses so much more than just your body and movement. It’s brimming with tradition and a rich history similar to that of a religion.

Even Ram Dass acknowledges the complexity of “dharma,” and the last thing we want to do is simplify it as westerners tend to do, but we’ll do our best to introduce dharma in the context of psychedelics.

“Dharma is finding, you know, your life path and your purpose and like you said, your seat of service. But I think it’s also kind of the path that kind of sees you align yourself energetically and in equanimity with your surroundings, feeling harmonious with your relationships, with how you spend your time and energy, with your hobbies, with the people in your life, with the people you love and the things you eat, the things, all of these things and just what equanimity really looks like for you.” — Zach Leary

Interestingly, dharma represents a lot of the things that people are seeking through psychedelics: the idea of living life harmoniously. 

As we explore the concept, you may find similarities between dharma and optimum psychedelic integration techniques because done successfully, they permeate all aspects of one’s life. 

Keeping the First Psychedelic Revolution Alive

After taking a break from being an active member of the psychedelic community, Zach Leary came back to it again in his 30’s, returning to find an absence of awareness of the history of psychedelics.

Being more mature and in touch with his spirituality when meeting Ram Dass, the man who influenced him so much in his early spiritual journey, he noticed he viewed him in a different light now.

As a second psychedelic revolution gains traction in America, Zach Leary wants to ensure that we do not forget where we came from, and the major influencers of the first psychedelic revolution are still discussed within the community. 

Indigenous Psychedelic Use: The Gold Standard of Integration

One result of indigenous cultures integrating psychedelic use into their culture is that it creates a built-in support system that has the support of an entire culture and ancestral lineage behind it. 

The interconnectedness of psychedelics, community, and culture allows for those who are entering back into society after a psychedelic experience to have a much more seamless return. 

Instead of going on a macrodose journey on Sunday only to go back to an office job on Monday, they return to a society that lives and breathes the harmonious way of life that psychedelics perpetuate. 

“This is why preparation and integration seem to be these finite, well-defined modules, because our society doesn’t actually have the framework to hold people in real community as they go through stuff.” — Jimmy Nguyen

Yes, there have been various integration methodologies created in order to combat the disconnect in western culture, these attempts still don’t match up to the way indigenous cultures have intertwined spiritual wellness into their lifestyle.

From Counterculture to Healing Modality: The Evolving Identity of Psychedelics

In a way, Zach Leary’s relationship with psychedelics has mirrored how our western society has interacted with them. 

First they were a symbol of counterculture, of rebellion against corporate greed and governmental control, and now we see them shining as novel therapeutic modalities that are changing lives from the inside out.

“The relationship with psychedelics will continue to evolve. It’ll continue to change and evolve and turn into something new when you least expect it or when you most need it, it’s definitely non-linear in that way.” — Zach Leary

It’s not just our relationship with psychedelics that is in flux, their identity is constantly being put into question as well. As they enter mainstream media, there’s a societal need to “find their place;” “Where do they belong? What category should we put them into?”

As Zach reminisces on how western society has interacted with psychedelics the last 50 years, he sees how far we have come.

In the early days of the psychedelic revolution, set and setting was as far as the discussion would go about preparing for a psychedelic experience. Integration on the other hand, was also almost unheard of. 

Leary recognizes that the counterculture movement of the 60’s happened nearly overnight, “lightning in a bottle” as he put it, and was in stark contrast to the “American dream” of the 50’s, which had a very narrow mindset.

No one was to tell anyone how to engage in psychedelics while a counterculture revolution that was directly against control of any kind was underway.

As the 1950’s pulled in one direction — a very narrow minded American dream, the 1960’s pulled in the opposite direction — putting emphasis on personal freedom, cognitive liberty, and a rebellion against the conventionality that the 50’s stood for. 

As time went on and research interest was sparked again, psychedelic use broke away from the counterculture movement to find their own voice, which is where the modern psychedelic movement comes into play. 

The modern psychedelic movement’s major achievement is putting emphasis on the multi-layered, all-encompassing process of preparation, the journey, and integration. 

Set, Setting & Sustainability

Zach Leary discusses many things in his book, Your Extraordinary Mind, from a contextual history lesson to commentary on where psychedelics are headed.

But he also includes a field manual of sorts, a companion piece that asks substance specific prompts and questions for journeyers to gain clearer insights into their mind and thought processes. 

Leary’s unique perspective shines through the pages, but there’s one idea that truly exemplifies how he has grown with the psychedelic movement, propelling forward. 

The idea of set and setting being coined by his father, Zach felt a sense of poetic license to add to the idea in a way that reflects the modern paradigm of psychedelic use. 

He introduces his own addition to his fathers idea of set and setting: sustainability. It’s meant to build upon his father’s concept by incorporating integration into the idea that your state of mind and environment matter for the outcome of your psychedelic experience. 

Sustainability in the context of psychedelic use means how to prolong the impact of psychedelic experiences on everyday life so that growth, reflection and awareness are part of everyday existence. 

“You are combating your brain’s default mode network, you are combating your nervous system, and you’re allowing your heart and your brain and the neuroplasticity, all of it, to stay open and malleable to the changes that you just experienced.” — Zach Leary

Because of the flighty nature of lasting change, turning integration into a lifestyle is the only way to ensure the changes you want to see in your life are long lasting.

Even so, don’t feel bad if you have trouble getting changes to stick, like Leary said, you’re meeting a lot of resistance along the way, and the course to lasting change is never as linear as we expect. 

The Intersection of Psychedelics and Technology

The techno-utopia that the future promised in the internet boom of the 80’s has recently been overshadowed by the darker corners of its existence, but that doesn’t change the power of information that technology gives us. 

Leary urges newcomers to psychedelics to utilize the tremendous amount of resources available online from harm reduction and advocacy groups.

Even Google Scholar has a comprehensive database of psychedelic research for your perusal if you want to look at the data for yourself.

Psychedelics and Mental Health 

Oftentimes, newcomers look to psychedelics to seek relief for mental health reasons. If this resonates with you, it may be fruitful to take time to understand the implications and where psychedelics fit into your holistic healing paradigm. 

There is much more to psychedelic healing than “popping a pill” for symptom relief. It’s a lifelong process that highlights places that need healing instead of hiding them behind a prescription.

Psychedelics and Misinformation

The psychedelic rebirth that we are seeing in the 21st century can be seen as a reaction to decades of misinformation, the Nixon Era “War on Drugs” being one of the many tactics deployed by the government to shut psychedelics out completely. 

The negative narratives about psychedelics that have penetrated generations are slowly unravelling, replaced with a powerful movement seen in almost every major city in America. 

As we move into this new era, we are left to think about the future: where will it go from here?

Psychedelics and the Future

Right now, Zach Leary is hopeful for the future of psychedelics in our modern society. However, seeing an over commercialization of psychedelics, he is weary of the collision of capitalism and psychedelics turning them into “products.”

Will there be a future where celebrities start endorsing their own microdose gummies? Most likely. But, psychedelics have survived everything humanity could throw at them for thousands of years. 

As Terence McKenna would say, psychedelics are going to laugh in the face of trying to be controlled or overly regulated, and we will just have to wait to see how capitalism and psychedelics interact in the long run. 

Immerse into the Depths of Information

What have we been saying this entire article? Healing is a lifestyle! Plunge into the waters of scientific research and anecdotal data to learn more about psychedelics for healing. 

• Understanding the Psychedelic Transformation: From recreational exploration to therapeutic healing, examine the evolving nature of psychedelic experiences and their impact on internal narratives about personal growth. 
  
  
• Being In Tune With Your Own Needs: The relationship to psychedelic medicine is much different than popping a pill, review why psychedelics are different from daily medication.
  
  
• Find The Value in Anecdotes: Still not sure what you’re getting yourself into? Check out other’s stories to get a better idea on how magic mushrooms make you feel.
  
  
• Have A Passion For Cultivation? Learn where to find the best spore vendors and how to grow your very own magic mushrooms. 
  
  
• Legality & Research: Unfortunately legality can determine whether or not we get to research and grow these magical substances, use our guide to find out where magic mushrooms are legal.
  
  
• Back To The Basics: Start with the basics to gain a comprehensive understanding of the psychedelic medicine known as psilocybin mushrooms.
  
  
• Fight, Flight or Fawn: Our nervous system plays a big role in intentional psychedelic use, discover how it works so you can use it to your advantage.
  
  
• Get A More In Depth Look at Intergenerational Trauma: Come with us as we delve into the transformative journey of Sutton King in addressing the trauma in her Indigenous communities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What role did Zach Leary’s upbringing play in his understanding of psychedelics?

Zach Leary grew up surrounded by influential figures in the psychedelic community, including his father, Timothy Leary, and mentor, Ram Dass. 

This environment facilitated his early exposure to psychedelic concepts and practices, allowing him to learn about their intentional and safe use at a young age.

It also allowed him to build upon the concepts of the 60’s as well as see the evolution of psychedelics in western society.

2. How is the concept of Dharma relevant to modern psychedelic experiences?

Dharma encompasses a lot, but in the context of psychedelics we can think of it as living in harmony with one’s beliefs and aligning oneself energetically with their surroundings. 

In the psychedelic context, many individuals seek experiences that resonate with the ideals of harmony and purpose, making Dharma a fitting framework to understand the integration and intended outcomes of psychedelic journeys.

3. What distinguishes indigenous practices of psychedelic use from current Western approaches?

Indigenous cultures often integrate psychedelics into their social and spiritual practices, creating a supportive community that facilitates seamless reintegration after experiences. 

In contrast, modern Western practices tend to lack this cultural framework, which can lead to feelings of isolation for individuals returning from psychedelic journeys.

4. How has the societal perception of psychedelics evolved over time, according to Zach Leary?

Psychedelics have transitioned from symbols of counterculture and rebellion in the 1960s to being seen as valuable therapeutic tools today. 

This evolution reflects a broader acceptance and interest in mental health applications, alongside a desire for personal freedom and cognitive liberty that continues to influence current narratives.

5. What is the significance of “set, setting, and sustainability” in psychedelic experiences?

Zach Leary builds upon his father’s concept of “set and setting” by introducing “sustainability,” which emphasizes the importance of maintaining the positive changes brought about by psychedelic experiences in everyday life. 

This integrated approach highlights the necessity of continued growth, reflection, and awareness beyond the immediate experience to ensure lasting impact.

6. What concerns does Zach Leary have about the commercialization of psychedelics?

While Leary is optimistic about the future of psychedelics in society, he expresses caution regarding their potential commercialization. 

He worries that the blending of capitalism with psychedelics could lead to them being treated as mere products, potentially distorting their profound therapeutic and spiritual significance. 

He stresses the importance of protecting the integrity of the psychedelic experience from superficial marketing and exploitation.

References

Karma Yoga. (2014, May 7). Ram Dass. https://www.ramdass.org/karma-yoga/

Philosophy of Yoga • Yoga Basics: Yoga Poses, Meditation, History, Philosophy & More. (n.d.). Yoga Basics. https://www.yogabasics.com/learn/philosophy-of-yoga/