The Eight-Circuit Model Of Human Consciousness
1. The Biosurvival Circuit (the Breath of Consciousness)
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.
2. The Emotional–Territorial Circuit (Freud’s Ego)
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.
3. The Symbolic or Neurosemantic–Dexterity Circuit (the Rational Mind)
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.
4. The Domestic or Sociosexual Circuit (the “Adult” Personality)
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.
5. The Neurosomatic Circuit (Zen–Yoga Mind–body Connection)
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.
6. The Neuroelectric or Metaprogramming Circuit (Psionic Electronic-Interface Earth Grid Mind)
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.
7. The Neurogenetic or Morphogenetic Circuit (Buddha–Monad “Mind”)
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.
8. The Psychoatomic or Quantum Non-local Circuit (Overmind)
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, high doses of ketamine (see “K-hole”), and high doses of LSD (1,000+ mcg).
The “Eight-Circuit Model Of Consciousness” 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 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.
(via neo-psychedelia)
