8-Circuit Ascension: A Guide to Metaprogramming the Multidimensional Self

"Refreshing... fascinating, in-depth and accessible"
Michael Mithoefer, MD
MDMA-assisted Therapy Researcher, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS)

"This refreshing book revisits an influential model of consciousness developed by renegade psychologist turned psychedelic guru, Timothy Leary, a figure whose work has always stirred both intrigue and controversy. Leary’s 8-circuit model offers a framework that not only charts typical human development across the lifespan, but also provides an explanation for a range of transpersonal and altered states of consciousness. What’s remarkable about this book is how it updates and aligns Leary’s model with contemporary advances in neuroscience and psychology. As interest in psychedelics and non-ordinary states of consciousness resurges in the academic world—particularly for their therapeutic potential—this model offers a valuable lens through which to examine these experiences. More than just a theoretical framework, it presents an evidence-based approach that has the potential to unlock new pathways for exploring and expanding our understanding of consciousness. For anyone invested in the science of the mind and the vast complexities of human consciousness, this is a must-read."
-Heather Berlin, PhD, MPH
Neuroscientist, Clinical Psychologist, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Host of Nova's "Your Brain"

“A thorough and fascinating review of the theory and application of the 8-Circuit model, with many new insights drawn from recent trends in research and practice. A must-read for anyone interested in the promise of psychedelic-assisted therapy and the inner journey in all its forms. Recommended!"
-David Shoemaker, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist, teacher, author

"I appreciate how Timothy Leary’s 8-Circuit Model of Consciousness has been resurrected and made accessible for a new generation. It’s amazing how applicable this framework is, especially in making sense of mind-body medicine and its many other potential applications. This model offers a unique lens to explore the layers of human consciousness and has proven to be a powerful tool for deeper insight and integration."
-Stefan Kasian, ND, PhD
Co-Chair, Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, American Psychological Association (APA)
 

"Often obscured by his notoriety, Timothy Leary’s contributions to our understanding of human consciousness were and remain immense and urgently relevant, as this engrossing, encyclopedic overview proves beyond a doubt.
Douglas S. Wingate and Rachel Turetzky PhD unpack Leary’s ideas to bring us as thorough and authoritative a sourcebook as any intrigued seeker, scholar or researcher could hope for.  
Imagine a Haynes manual for the human conscious experience, an elegant 8-circuit model of mind that accounts not only for individual experience but the expansion of cultures and civilizations and the evolution of life and intelligence itself.
Incorporating updated research, insight and commentary that casts fresh light on Leary's influential work '8-Circuit Ascension' offers an invaluable and timely guide to understanding ourselves and why we do the things we do, complete with practical information on how to reprogramme and debug our systems. 
A must read that will change how you think about your own life, those around you and existence in general!'
-Grant Morrison
Author, producer, musician, counter-culture icon

"Timothy Leary’s work on the eight-circuit model of consciousness didn’t just change my life—it gave me a framework for understanding human potential in ways I never thought possible. This book takes Leary’s groundbreaking concepts and modernizes them, offering a comprehensive guide that could very well be the most important thing you ever read.
As a psychedelic concierge, I’ve used this model to guide people through their most profound transformations. The idea that each circuit governs a distinct area of consciousness is a master key for unlocking the mind. Knowing which circuit is activated allows me to determine the ideal psychedelic compound to support someone’s growth or healing, whether they’re working through trauma, seeking peak performance, or simply searching for a deeper understanding of themselves.
What excites me most about this book is the exploration of the eighth circuit. At this level, people consistently report encounters with interdimensional beings, sometimes described as versions of their future selves offering guidance to their present-day lives. The implications of this are staggering. Imagine being able to tap into the wisdom of your future self during moments of crisis or growth. This isn’t science fiction—it’s a phenomenon being witnessed in therapeutic and mystical experiences across the world.
This book isn’t just an academic discussion of consciousness—it’s a playbook for transformation. It provides a clear structure for how we might navigate and expand our inner worlds. For those of us on the frontier of mental health, personal growth, and psychedelic exploration, this book is an essential guide. Whether you’re a seeker, healer, or adventurer, this is the map you’ve been waiting for."
-Zappy Zapolin
Psychedelic Concierge, Filmmaker 

"In my early 20’s, the ideas and exercises in Wilson’s Prometheus Rising changed the trajectory of how I engaged with the mind and reality. I shared this work with my counter-culture-futurist dad, who in turn handed me his well-loved, underlined copy of Leary’s Exo-Psychology. In that moment, we bridged generations of ideas about consciousness which sparked my life long exploration of neurospiritual practices and self actualization.
Now, with 8-Circuit Ascension, Douglas S. Wingate and Rachel Turetzky, PhD bring the foundational concepts from these past works into the present, synthesizing Leary and Wilson’s groundbreaking concepts with updated frameworks rooted in contemporary research and psychology.
This book doesn’t just explore the 8-circuit model - it is a powerful and vital resource for those seeking healing, transformation, and the evolution of human consciousness, and for the therapists, facilitators, and guides who support them in this process."
-Michael Patterson
Grammy nominated record producer, mixer, and cultural curator

"I am floored by the balance struck by Turetzky and Wingate in their brilliant model designed from pioneers Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson’s 8-Circuit Model — a topic so otherwise complex has become both grounded and in-the-world whilst simultaneously transpersonal and true to its’ magickal form.
In a time where the burgeoning field of psychedelic medicines and therapies begs for structures and language towards the deepening of true integration and transformation, comes Wingate and Turetzky’s model. A treasure trove of applications from a wide range of multidisciplinary modalities (an expansive range from mystical to neurobiological) — the authors offer a revival of work by Leary and Wilson that was awaiting application into the Now. And honor it they did — reanimating and expanding upon the lower circuits, the higher dimensions, and the scientific and mythopoetic navigation of this landscape.
Here, Turetzky and Wingate bring answers to the question — How do we understand the psychedelic mind state? And, how can we expand upon current, inadequate models to better explain and aid in traversing the higher circuits of experiences?
Relevant, applicable, and evolving — it is clear to me after reading 8-Circuit Ascension that it be wise for all practitioners and students in the fields of psychonautic/ psychospiritual/ psychedelic therapies and guidance to be well aware of this text."
- Danielle M. Herrera, LMFT
Psychedelic psychotherapist and supervisor