The Uneven Origins of Eco-Consciousness in the First Psychedelic Revolution

This essay focuses on the writings and trip reports of several key figures of the first psychedelic revolution from an eco-critical perspective. Although the Earth Movement can be said to have emerged from the countercultural ethos of activists heavily influenced by the psychedelic revolution, the relationship of these earliest psychedelic advocates – such as Ken Kesey and Timothy Leary – to nature and to ecology has never been carefully examined. The larger issue of psychedelic biophilia comes into play in this investigation: to what extent is it accurate to say that LSD and other psychedelic experiences promote a love of nature and an ecological consciousness? In addition to the writings of Kesey and Leary, this essay examines the contributions and insights of Jane Dunlap (a.k.a. the well-known nutritionist Adelle Davis) and an incident from the 2011 film The Magic Trip, based on footage filmed by the Merry Pranksters in 1964.