The eight-circuit model of consciousness (sometimes capitalized) is a theory in psychology, first proposed by Timothy Leary. It consists of several quantum psychological systems that unify the various interpretations of the main altered states of consciousness into one coherent meta-theory. The most basic part describes, in a simple outline, eight circuits of information (colloquially "brains") that operate within the human nervous system. Leary, Robert Anton Wilson and Antero Alli have all written about each circuit in depth and how each operates in the lives of human beings, both individually and collectively. The eight-circuit model provides a conglomerate model of several preceding and interconnecting models within some of the human and medical sciences such as psychology, neurology, sociology, anthropology (etc.) and other more "hard sciences" such as physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, co-mingled with spirituality (especially from Freemasonry and Eastern religio-philosophies).
Although Leary propounded the basic premise of eight "brains" or brain circuits, he was inspired by sources such as the Hindu chakra system. However, his most direct inspiration was received in the form of a document from a student of yoga, a pamphlet containing 24 different pages, with three-page subdivisions each corresponding to a particular yogic "energy".. Leary then translated this and expanded it into a 24-stage model of evolution, and eventually streamlined it into the eight-circuit model of consciousness. With this, Leary created his umbrella model which others have expanded and philosophized on.
Eight different neurological circuits (each one pertaining to a specific state of consciousness) exist, at least in latent form, in each human being, according to the model. The later fifth through eighth circuits are thought to have only recently evolved, with consequently just a moderate number of human beings using any of them, decreasing progressively with each step to a very small minority using all of them.
Leary presumed the first four to reside in the left lobe or hemisphere of the brain or the cerebrum, and described them as basic survival functions needed for existence on a terrestrial planet: subsistence, emotion, communication, sexuality, politics, morality and the like. The later four were said to reside in the right hemisphere, and are more cerebral, focusing on aesthetics, ecstasy, self-analysis, philosophy, psychotropic drug-taking, spirituality and oneness with the universe (even including reincarnation). Leary proposed that the later four exist primarily for future use by humans who might someday migrate to outer space and live extraterrestrially. Although Wilson also wrote about the distinction between terrestrial and post-terrestrial life, he gave each circuit a much more specific location in various regions of the brain.
The term "circuits" came from the first wave of cybernetics research and development in the United States in the 1970s. (Others have proposed that the term "systems" should be substituted for "circuits" to reflect both a systems theory approach and also the changing anatomy of an entity as it goes through a neurological change).
According to discussions and documentation by Robert Anton Wilson, Antero Alli, Christopher S. Hyatt, and Timothy Leary, each circuit available to an individual represents a more complex phase of evolution. The circuits activate in ascending order, providing an evolutionary link between the evolution of an individual human, a species' genetic history, and an entire gene pool (see: "Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny"). In other words, each neurological circuit, as it is activated, provides an additional cognitive function within the entity that has activated it (whether or not the entity has awareness of the circumstances that led to its activation).
Leary theorized that until recently in human development these higher circuits have remained dormant within the brain. However, he believed that one could activate and experience the higher circuits with the use of some brain-changing technologies and techniques. Some of these include psychedelic and psychoactive drugs, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), or mind machines, Crowleyan magick, meditation, and yoga.
The eight-circuit model of consciousness proposed by psychologist Timothy Leary describes eight levels of function of human consciousness. The lower four, the larval circuits, deal with normal psychology, while the upper four, the stellar circuits, deal with “psychic", “mystical”, “enlightened” states of mind, and with psychedelics. Association of this model with drug use has earned it some notoriety.
As one grows from infancy, the various circuits are activated and begin to function, as described by Jean Piaget. The eight levels are associated with eight basic loser/winner scripts prepared by John C. Lilly.
In this model, the eight levels of consciousness are held to exist in every individual. What distinguishes one individual from another is the degree of expression or latency of these circuits. Some thinkers have also criticized the hierarchical arrangement of these circuits as being indicative of religious indoctrination, suggesting the superiority of one circuit over the other. Supporters argue that the circuits represent the simultaneous existing states of consciousness that work together as a dynamic whole. It is evident that an under-utilized “lower” circuit hinders the complete expression of a “higher” circuit. It would thus become necessary for a person to fully experience, integrate, and embody the survival circuits, in order to withstand the shock that accompanies the activation of the post-survival circuits.
One observation based on this model is about “entities” such as angels, extraterrestrials, deities, etc. According to one school of thought, these entities reported by eight-circuit visionaries are members of races already evolved to this level.
Leary claimed that among other things this model explained the social conflict in the 1960s, where the mainstream was said to be those with four circuits active and characterized by Leary as tribal moralists and clashed with the counter-culturists, who were then said to be those with five circuits active and characterized as individualists and hedonists.
Leary's first book on the subject, Neurologic, only included seven circuits when it was published in 1973. Exo-Psychology, published in 1977, expanded the number of circuits to eight and clarified the subject; it was re-published as revised by Timothy Leary with additional material in 1989 under the title Info-Psychology (New Falcon Publishing).
The names for the circuits used by Timothy Leary [1][2][3] are shown first and the names for the circuits used by Robert Anton Wilson are shown in parentheses [4](they both used the same names for the first, second, and fifth circuits). After the name of the circuit, the name that was used by Timothy Leary to describe the level of consciousness that is activated by that circuit is shown in parentheses.[2]
This circuit is imprinted in infancy, concerned with suckling, nourishment, cuddling, bio-security, etc. The imprinting of this circuit sets up the basic attitude of trust or suspicion which will last for life. First activated when a human being is born, and programs perception onto an either-or grid, divided into nurturing-helpful and noxious-dangerous (approach/accept vs. flight/flee). This circuit is activated in adults by opioids such as heroin. This circuit is said to have appeared in the earliest evolution of the invertebrate brain. This circuit begins with 1 spatial dimension, forward/back.
The Emotional Circuit is imprinted in the toddling stage, concerned with emotions, domination and submission strategies, territory, etc. The first imprint on this circuit identifies the stimuli which will automatically trigger dominant, aggressive behavior or submissive, co-operative behavior. This circuit is activated by large quantities of alcohol (inebriation). This circuit appeared first in territorial vertebrate animals. This circuit introduces a 2nd dimension; up/down.
This circuit is imprinted by human artifacts and symbol systems. It is concerned with handling the environment, invention, calculation, prediction, building a "map" of the universe, etc. It is associated with physical dexterity. This circuit is activated by stimulant drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine. This circuit supposedly appeared first when hominids started differentiating from the rest of the primates.
This fourth circuit is imprinted by the first orgasm-mating experiences and tribal "morals". It is concerned with sexual pleasure (instead of sexual reproduction), local definitions of "moral" and "immoral", reproduction, nurture of the young, etc. It is basically concerned with operating within social networks and the transmission of culture across time. This circuit is said to have first appeared with the development of tribes. Leary never associated a drug with it, but some have pointed out that entactogens such as MDMA seem to meet some of the requirements needed to activate this circuit.
This is concerned with neurological-somatic feedbacks, feeling high, somatic reprogramming, etc. The fifth circuit, according to Leary, is consciousness of the body. There is a marked shift from linear visual space to an all-encompassing aesthetic sensory space. A hedonistic turn-on occurs, a rapturous amusement, a detachment from the previously compulsive mechanism of the first four circuits. This circuit is activated by ecstatic experiences via physiological effects of cannabis, Hatha Yoga, tantra, Zen meditation, and free fall. Leary describes that this circuit first appeared in the upper classes, with the development of leisure-class civilizations around 2000 BC.
This circuit is concerned with re-imprinting and re-programming all earlier circuits, relativity of “realities” perceived, cybernetic consciousness, so-called PSI/magical powers, etc. The sixth circuit consists of the nervous system becoming aware of itself. Leary says this circuit enables telepathic communication and is activated by moderate doses of Peyote and psilocybin mushrooms. This circuit is traced by Leary back to 500 BC, and he associates it with the Silk Road.
This part is concerned with evolutionary consciousness (past and future), DNA-RNA-brain feedbacks (ancestral, societal and scientific). The first to achieve this mutation spoke of "memories of past lives", "reincarnation", "immortality" etc. This circuit is activated by regular doses of LSD, higher doses of Peyote, higher doses of psilocybin mushrooms, Raja Yoga, and years of dedicated meditative practice in general. The circuit first appeared among the Hindus in the early first millennium and later reappeared among the Sufi sects.
The eighth circuit is concerned with quantum consciousness, non-local awareness (information from beyond ordinary space-time awareness which is limited by the speed of light), illumination, out-of-body experiences, astral projection, contact with alien entities (which does not necessarily specifically refer to only materially based creatures from outer space, but rather all beings, including e.g. angels) or with a galactic overmind, etc. Some of the ways this circuit can get activated are: the awakening of kundalini, shock, a near-death experience, etc. This circuit has even been compared to the Buddhist concept of Indra's net from the Avatamsaka Sutra. This circuit is activated by DMT and high doses of ketamine (see "K-hole").
Leary's ideas heavily influenced the work of Robert Anton Wilson. Wilson's book Prometheus Rising is an in-depth work documenting Leary's eight-circuit model of consciousness. Wilson, like Leary, uses an amalgam of various approaches such as the eight-circuit model itself, quantum mechanics, relativity, Gurdjieff's self-observation exercises, Alfred Korzybski's general semantics, etc. Wilson's published screenplay Reality Is What You Can Get Away With also uses and explains the model.
The model is also fairly prominent in chaos magic, where the eight circuits are understood to be related to the eight rays of the symbol of chaos. This concept has been detailed in "Chaotopia!" by Dave Lee, a leading member of the magic society Illuminates of Thanateros. Although both Leary and Wilson were members in this group near the end of their lives, the circuit design clearly predates this organization.
Another book, Angel Tech by Antero Alli, is structured around the eight-circuit model. The book includes many collages by the author to illustrate various points. In the book, the first four circuits are associated with robotic ("tech") aspects of humanity, and the final four are related to the "angelic" nature. It includes suggested activities such as meditations and construction of tarot-card collages associated with each circuit.
Rolf Von Eckartsberg also appears to have been influenced by the model.[5][6]
The circuit model of Leary and Wilson has been correlated with astrology by Bruce Scofield. Resonances between planetary cycles and the birthday are suggested to be triggers that open temporary windows of imprint vulnerbility. The Moon is correlated with the biosurvival period, Mars with the emotional-territorial stage, Mercury with the rational mind and Venus with the socio-sexual stage. These are initiated respectively at birth, at the second birthday, at age 3.5 and age 8 at which times the Moon, Mars, Mercury and Venus return to their birth positions, or are in phase with it. The other four circuits are considered octaves of the first four. [7]