Psychedelic Prayers

Timothy Leary's only book of poetry and meditations is now being published in its first new edition in 25 years. Features six of Timothy Leary's poems not found in other editions and unpublished since 1969

Written while Timothy Leary was visiting India in 1965 and finished at his celebrated commune in Millbrook, New York, the following year, Psychedelic Prayers is an adaptation of Book I of the Tao Te Ching. Leary said he was drawn to the "psychedelic" quality of the ancient work and believed it could be a guide to transcendental experiences.

"My objective", he later wrote, "was to find this seed idea in each sutra and rewrite it in the lingua franca of psychedelia". He succeeded in his aim - Psychedelic Prayers occupies a unique place in 1960s literature and is one of Leary's most beloved books.

Bibliographer Michael Horowitz provides an account of the fascinating publishing history of Psychedelic Prayers, which has been available only in a few very limited editions and translations.

Illustrations include a never-before-published photograph of the author, taken when he was in India writing the book, as well as drawings from the manuscript and rare early printings.