The Secret Chief Revealed [Paperback]

Myron J. Stolaroff (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2005

Conversations with Leo Zeff, pioneer in the underground psychedelic therapy movement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: MAPS; Revised edition (January 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966001966
• ISBN-13: 978-0966001969
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #794,909 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars conversations with a true human and an intro to the major players in psychededlic reasearch, January 22, 2006

By 

Timothy J. Mcallister "dogbreth" (black river falls, wi, usa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Chief Revealed (Paperback)

The Secret Chief Revealed: conversations with Leo Zeff, pioneer in the underground psychedelic therapy movement, Strolaroff, Myron, MAPS Sarasota, FL, 2004
Reviewed by dogbreth (willing to accept comments) [e-mail]
A quick read loaded with insights, The Secret Chief Revealed serves multiple purposes effectively. The actual "text" of the conversations is under 100 pages, but the introductions, forward, prologue, tribute, epilogue, appendixes, additional tributes and section devoted to resources introduce the reader to some of the main personalities involved in psychedelic research and extend the book to close to double the length of the text.
Leo Zeff, now deceased, is revealed as former Jungian therapist who tried LSD originally around 1961, when it was still a legal chemical. He found insights that he had been looking for and believed that it was possible that some of his therapy clients could also benefit as well. He worked out a protocol, which changed over the years for providing a responsible safe self exploratory trip using LSD for psychotherapy. When the federal government outlawed LSD Zeff made the difficult decision to continue to treat people using psychedelics (Zeff had been a Lieutenant Colonel in the Army, he respected the government and was very spiritual). It was most likely Zeffs spirituality that kept him treating people with psychedelics after they were made illegal as the chemical could bring about spiritual experiences and enhanced his clients' lives.
Zeff did not like to refer to psychedelics as "drugs" rather "medicine". It could be used properly or improperly, just as morphine or antibiotics. Working as a Jungian therapist Zeff believed he was there to basically assist his clients in finding their own solutions, more of less waiting it out. With LSD the solutions came much quicker, often with a single trip. In therapeutic use of LSD Zeff had his clients agree to a basic set of rules: 1. they would not leave the house or place where the trip was taking place without his permission, 2. they agreed that there would be no physical harm or violence to them, him or anyplace they were, 3. reiterate the security agreement - they must agree that they will never reveal to anybody else where and with whom they had the experience without his prior approval, 4. there would be no sex during the experience, 5. the client had to agree to follow Zeffs directions no matter what, the client had to agree to follow his commands without question and have faith in him. Prior to taking the medicine they would then read a prayer aloud. The clients were asked to bring in photographs of family and important people and places in their lives as well as personal articles which would stimulate a therapeutic conversation which would take place prior to the effects of the medicine. Once the medicine took effect the client would lie down, put a cover over their eyes and headphones on so that they could listen to music.
Music was played the entire time during the experience. Zeff believed this to be very important. This is one area in which I wish the conversation/text had delved deeper. The music which was considered so important is barely discussed other than to say that it was always on. It is mentioned that the music would very based upon the clients tastes, the impression I get is that classical or jazz were the main genres.
The conversational tone of the book provides wonderful insights into Leo Zeff as a person. He obviously had a good sense of humor and was living life to its fullest. His language is full of colloquialisms which enhance the readers' ability to "see" him as he speaks.
In working with clients the initial tripping experience was always with LSD, this was to establish the clients base-level dose. Initial dose level would be 250 micrograms, if the client did not turn on with this amount a booster of 125micrograms would be given after about an hour. Additional boosters might be given if the client did not appear to be affected by the medicine. Zeff makes the comment that some clients would claim that it wasn't having an effect so he would tell them any additional amount wouldn't benefit them so they weren't going to get any "and you know, when they find out they can't have a booster they lay down and the sons of bitches they turn on! (Much laughter)." (p. 91).
Over the years medicines other than LSD were used, primarily psilocybin, MDA, harmaline, Ibogaine, and MDMA (which Zeff states is a "beautiful trip"). The initial dosage and follow ups would establish the base-line dosage levels for other medicines, Zeff states that three grams of dried psilocybin mushrooms was the equivalent to 250 micrograms of LSD).
The text of the book is informative and entertaining. Other sections provide the reader with excellent introductions to some of the main personalities in the psychedelic therapy and creation movement, but Appendix III is what I found to be of phenomenal value. It is the "Resources" area, and has an extensive list of books, internet sites and other areas of interest for the reader. Published by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) 100% of the profits of this very reasonably priced book go toward psychedelic psychotherapy research.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychedelic Exploration - Theory & Practice, December 18, 2006

By 

call me The Avi ("In my dreams I live in California......") - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Secret Chief Revealed (Paperback)

The Secret Chief of the title is Leo Zeff. Mr. Zeff was a therapist who specialized in the use of psychedelic substances (LSD, MDMA, etc.,) as adjuncts to therapy. The book is Mr. Zeff's collected experience and wisdom on the subject, as told to Myron Stolaroff (the interviewer and author). At under 170 pages the book is a short, quick read. Because it's a collection of transcribed interviews, the overall tone of the book is informal and conversational. At the same time, it's very informative, and loaded with practical information on conducting psychedelic sessions. Mr. Zeff lays out guidelines for screening people, proper set & setting, dosages, and qualitative differences between the different substances he worked with. The rules he set down for his sessions are simple and practical - it's obvious he wanted to achieve optimum results with minimal difficulties.

The Secret Chief Reveled differs from the original Secret Chief in that there's an additional 25 pages of text (Appendix II,) and also some photos. In the appendix, we get to hear from 7 people who knew Mr. Zeff (including his son and daughter), and they describe how the sessions went, and what impact Mr. Zeff's work had on them. After reading Mr. Zeff's first-person account in the main part of the book, it was nice to read this part and get some additional perspective. It made the whole read a little fuller.

All in all, I found this to be an interesting, entertaining, and surprisingly practical book. Mr. Zeff spent a long time conducting these sessions and increasing his knowledge; Myron Stolaroff did a great thing by interviewing Mr. Zeff and preserving his wisdom for posterity. If you like this book and are still interested in practical information on hallucinogenic psychological work, I recommend Stanislav Grof's book "LSD Psychotherapy." It's a much longer read and geared more to the professional clinician, but Grof also goes into much greater detail.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and Motivational, October 9, 2006

By 

Jarrid R. Stacy (Hot Springs, Arkansas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Secret Chief Revealed (Paperback)

I had heard nothing of this man before or these kind of studies, and I was very eager to read this book. Not only did I find the book interesting on many levels, but I also found many of the stories quite motivational. I, myself, have tried out many spiritual and mind-opening paths with psychoactives before such as LSD, Psilocybin, and MDMA, so I could somewhat relate to what Leo and many of his friend's stories were talking about. For people that have not even taken a step into this kind of field, I still recommend everyone semi-interested enough in fixing problems in life or just psychology in general to read this book. It had a very profound effect on me after I read it, and I truly thank Leo Zeff and the many others that carried on with the illegal experiments to gain further knowledge about these mystical drugs. If it were not for them, then the world would truly be blinded by the brain-washed lies of many activists against drugs that could actually help somebody like myself.