Albert Hofmann turned 102 years old one week ago today. From The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (maps.org) - “Albert Hofmann–the Swiss chemist who discovered LSD and psilocybin–turned 102 on January 11th. There to celebrate his birthday with him were Rick Doblin, Peter Gasser, Vanja Palmers, Dieter Hagenbach, and others. The gathering was particularly poignant, and there was sadness due to Anita’s recent death at the age of 94 on December 20, 2007. However, Albert was glad that he has lived to see the day when LSD medical research has finally been renewed.
Albert and Anita were together for almost 75 years. On that historic day in 1943, when Albert bicycled home from his Sandoz lab in Basel after ingesting 250 micrograms of LSD, it was Anita who cared for him and was by his side. Many people in the psychedelic community like to attribute Albert’s long life to his LSD experiences. However, Rick Doblin suspects, “It’s probably more likely due to his lifelong love affair with Anita and to good genes.” Anita herself had one unpleasant experience with LSD and didn’t repeat it.
As Rick reported, “To be able to celebrate the renewal of LSD psychotherapy research for the first time in more than 35 years with Albert on his 102nd birthday was an exceptionally meaningful moment in my life. I felt that all the work of MAPS for the last 21 years culminated in that moment, and that the fewer than five thousand total MAPS’ members over the years, who had made the moment possible, were paying their respects to Albert on behalf of the millions of people who have benefited from LSD.
Albert Hofmann’s birthday synchronistically falls on the same day–January 11th–that the late writer, prankster-philosopher, and psychedelic explorer Robert Anton Wilson died. Wilson was another big influence for many us in the psychedelic community, and he passed away a year ago. Thank the stars that he left behind so much of himself–thirty-six books–for us to learn from and enjoy for many years to come.”
On a side note, Laura Huxley also passed away in December of 2007. Also from maps.org - “Writer and psychedelic investigator Laura Huxley died of cancer at the age of 96 on December 13th. She is best known for her memoir, This Timeless Moment, about Aldous’s final struggles with cancer, and how she assisted him during his dying process by administering LSD at his request. In addition to authoring five books, Laura was also a concert violinist, a filmmaker, a psychotherapist, and the founder of a charity—Children: Our Ultimate Investment. Laura lectured on the human potential movement, and was, in her words, “a restrained investigator of LSD.” When I interviewed Laura, and asked her what kind of advice she would give to young people, she replied, “I would tell them: Respect your body. Focus your mind. Love your heart. Support and cooperate with anyone who wants to do the same.” Laura ‘s work was a big inspiration to many of us in the psychedelic community and we will miss her wise, noble, and graceful spirit. We wish her a peaceful journey.”
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