Myron J. Stolaroff - The Secret Chief Revealed

Myron J. Stolaroff

100% OF THE PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THIS BOOK WILL BE DEVOTED TO PSYCHEDELIC PSYCHOTHERAPY RESEARCH.

The Secret Chief Revealed: Conversations with a pioneer of the underground psychedelic therapy movement

ISBN 0-9660019-6-6 (paperback)

Copyright 2004, 1997 by Myron J. Stolaroff

Interested parties wishing to copy any portion of this publication are encouraged to do so and are kindly requested to credit MAPS including name and address.

Published by:

Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) 2105 Robinson Avenue

Sarasota, FL 34232 USA Voice: (941) 924-6277

Fax: (941) 924-6265

e-mail:

Project Editor: Rick Doblin

Manuscript Editors: Sylvia Thyssen and Brandy Doyle Additional editing help from Jon Hanna and Valerie Mojeiko Photos: Jack Coddington

Book & Cover Design: Mark Plummer

Cover: SolidNirvana image Hisashi Hoda, used by permission www.voyager.co.jp/

Printed in the United States of America Set in Adobe Sabon for the Macintosh

This book is dedicated to the memory of Leo, with the fervent hope that the revelation of his work will help bring understanding and sanity to a confused world.

May it pave the way for others to reap the benefits he worked so hard to establish.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to express my thanks to a number of persons who helped to make this book possible.

First, I wish to thank Leo, wherever he may be, for his devoted interest, skill and determination in carrying out this very important work under stressful conditions, guided by his faith and confidence in the value of what he was doing. My wife Jean and I are most grateful for the patience and care that he took to communicate to us his knowledge and experience.

I am also grateful to those who participated in Leos program, making this work possible, and particularly to those who shared in detail the experiences that they underwent and the results that followed. I also thank Leos family and supporters who aided him in carrying out his work.

I wish to thank Ann and Sasha Shulgin for pointing out to me the importance of getting Jacobs efforts recorded.

My thanks to Terence McKenna for permission to use his title for this book.

I am extremely indebted to Rick Doblin, Sylvia Thyssen, Brandy Doyle and MAPS for their assistance in the editing and completion of the manuscript, and for taking the steps to have the manuscript published.

I wish to thank my wife Jean for her assistance and loving support throughout all stages of this project, from the initial interviews to the completion of the final manuscript.

THE SECRET CHIEF was published seven years ago and has now been sold out. Reprinting a new edition provides the opportunity to make some fresh observations, as well as report new progress in the utilization of psychedelic substances. Moreover, the passage of time permits a new development: The Secret Chief no longer needs to be kept secret!

While doing his important work, which our government held to be illegal, Leo lived constantly under the possibility of being discovered and prosecuted as a criminal. Many of those close to Leo who supported his work also lived under the threat of exposure. Even family members feared harassment or investigation. Leo died over seventeen years ago, and the threat to his supporters and companions has evaporated. His family members no longer object to the revealing of his name and share in the belief that it is time for Leo to receive the acknowledgement he deserves. So, we are pleased to present Leo Zeff, Ph.D., the Secret Chief! In this edition, we include photographs of Leo and new accounts written by his son and daughter, as well as new reports taken from interviews with his clients.

Since the last edition, we have new reasons to hope that the healing techniques Leo pioneered may reach more people. Most promising is the action of the FDA in approving three projects investigating the efficacy of psychedelics as tools for therapy, the first such action in over thirty years. In addition, a number of new, informative books help clear up widespread misunderstanding of the nature and potential of psychedelics.

It has now been 24 years since my wife Jean and I interviewed Leo. What a marvelous experience this was for the both of us! Leo was a remarkable friend, full of life and wisdom and good cheer. It was a true joy to spend many hours with him as he reviewed his work with us. Turning my attention to once again consider his contribution, I feel a deep emptiness in his absence. And yet as I look over what he shared, I cannot help but be immensely grateful for his outstanding contribution.

Still, I am saddened at how a most priceless gift, the psychedelic substances, especially in the hands of Leo and others like him, has been completely denigrated by our government. The enormous potential for healing, for self-discovery, and for communion with the Divine has been prohibited. Those who would pursue such valuable goals can do so only by becoming criminals, as our current laws forbid possession of such substances.

But there is hope. There is a deepening spirituality growing in our nation, and spirituality is a powerful aid to healing. Many extremely worthwhile books are appearing. Some of these pertaining specifically to how psychedelics can help have been added to the Resources section at the end of this book. And as mentioned above, the FDA has approved three projects authorizing research with psychedelic substances to evaluate their effectiveness for therapy. One project involves the application of psilocybin in the treatment of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Another is employing MDMA in the treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and a third employs psilocybin administered to advanced cancer patients to relieve anxiety, pain and fear of death. These projects have evolved as a result of anecdotal evidence from underground therapists and users, as well as from previous psychedelic research from thirty years ago. Successful outcomes from these three projects could well open the door to more extensive research.

In the meantime, it would be most helpful if government officials and the public were better informed of the remarkable potential that psychedelics hold for healing, learning, self-development, and authentic spiritual understanding. In general, the DEA and government agencies have feared widespread abuse and damage from such substances. It is true that uninformed or misdirected use of psychedelics can be harmful. The government must certainly take some responsibility for this situation, as criminalizing these substances has prevented important knowledge for harm reduction and beneficial uses to be made available. However, for a realistic evaluation of the risks, a number of issues should be taken into account:

1. There are large numbers of users who have learned to use psychedelics properly for their own personal gain, encompassing the range from increased enjoyment or improved functioning to the heights of spiritual development. Many knowledgeable therapists are willing to break the law rather than withhold valuable treatments with these substances from their clients.
2. A minor percent of the population are at risk of developing unhealthy relationships with psychedelics due to personality disorders or other pre-existing psychological conditions. They are often incapable of comprehending the consequences of their actions, including abusing drugs. This minority will always be a problem until we devise better ways to care for them.