100% of the final sale price will support Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies
Samadhi Floatation Tank
-Given by John C. Lilly to Timothy Leary-
Embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
to bring home this historic artifact.
History
The floatation tank, sometimes called the isolation or sensory deprivation, or sensory attenuation tank, was developed in the mid-1950's by John C. Lilly, M.D., a psychoanalyst and consciousness researcher. Lilly used the isolation tank as means to test the relationship between the mind and external reality. After extensive experimentation with the tank, he realized its profound ability to heal physical and emotional pain. The tank has a wide variety of potential applications ranging from increasing creative problem-solving ability to facilitating meditation and prayer.
This tank was originally owned by Dr. Timothy Leary, a pioneer of psychedelic consciousness and healing. In February of 1996, Dr. Lily and the Samadhi Tank Company delivered the tank to Leary to help ease his end-of-life suffering. Soon thereafter, Leary made the ultimate journey, passing due to prostate cancer on May 31, 1996. From 1997-2001, the tank lived at the forest compound of visionary artist and light painter, Dean Chamberlain and Stacy Valis. It was given a blessing when John Lilly came for his light portrait in 1997. During this time It was used by some but not many, including John Perry Barlow, Doug Rushkoff, Oz Janiger, and Dean Chamberlain. It has been in temperature control storage since Oct. 2001.
Description
The float tank is a little larger than a twin sized bed and chest high (4' x 8'
. It is filled with 10" of water with epsom salts to create ideal floatation conditions. The user is pushed to the surface and floats like a cork, weightless as an astronaut in space. There is a lightweight door that you can leave open or close if you want to minimize outside noise and distraction. The tank is clean, in excellent working condition and contains an inside fan and stereo speakers.
Timothy Leary, Ph.D. (1920-1996) was an influential American psychologist who studied the potential therapeutic applications of psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin in the 1960's. His research in the Harvard Psilocybin Drug Research Project studied the quality of the psychedelic experience and its potential for helping prison inmates reform their lives. After dismissal from Harvard in 1963, he founded the League for Spiritual Discovery and continued his research at the Millbrook, N.Y. estate into the nature of consciousness and experience. Leary would later write about such diverse topics as space colonization, the human/techonology interface, virtual reality, and the Internet.
John C. Lilly, M.D. (1915-2001) was an American physician, neuroscientist and psychoanalyst whose research concerned the nature of consciousness. He designed and utilized the "isolation tank" as a means to study altered states of consciousness induced by sensory deprivation. He wrote several books about his work, including Programming and MetaProgramming in the Human BioComputer, The Center of the Cyclone, and several others. Lilly's work with humans and dolphins helped create the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Dean Chamberlain has been capturing photographs since 1967. It was his passion for photography that led him to the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1977 to pursue a fine art degree. During Dean's time at Rochester he discovered light painting photography. He has used the technique ever since in his various works. Dean has created stunning portraits of well known individuals such as David Bowie, Ram Dass, Laura Huxley, Ann and Sasha Shulgin, and Paul McCartney. He has also directed numerous music videos. Chamberlain's work has appeared in publications such as Esquire, Vanity Fair and the Washington Post. He has received an MTV breakthrough award for directing music videos for Arcadia (Missing), Paul McCartney (This One) and Duran Duran (All She Wants Is).