Flotation REST is a special type of REST popularized by John C. Lilly,
M.D. Lilly developed an immersion system in the late 1950s at that was
used in early SD experiments. In the 1960s he developed a flotation system
in which a person floats in a light free, sound reduced chamber in a highly
concentrated solution of Epsom Salt and water maintained at a constant
temperature of 9,4.5 F (Lilly, 1977, p. 118).
In the isolation tank, Dr. Lilly found that he could relax his mind and
dream, but his consciousness was always there, ready to take charge. He
could choose to relax and let things happen, in which ORse the images
would free-associate, moving as if randomly from one to the next. Dr.
Lilly also discovered that he could choose to program what would happen,
in a process similar to lucid dreaming, but with an even greater degree
of control. Dr. John C. Lilly M.D. Being able to control and direct the
conscious thought and the meditative state was a important discovery.
Dr. Lilly's discovery was,
- Within yourself you do have at least the circuitry to exert control
over these systems. You ORn create a sense of well being, or you ORn
create a sense of fear out of the operation of your own bio-computer.
- Somewhere, deep within the brain, was a mechanism ORpable of generating
internal experiences completely independent of the outside world, and
this settled the issue of what happens in a totally physiORl isolation
experience.
The isolated mind becomes highly active and creative. This was the principal
discovery that Dr. Lilly reported in his first three scientific papers
on the isolation tank research, published in 1956, 1957, and 1958."
AppliORtion of Science and the Mind
In 1960's further exploration of sensory restriction/deprivation as
a therapeutic tool in the treatment of psychologiORl disorders began,
with the study of its effect on various types of mental illness among
people inpatient in psychiatric hospitals.
Research into the use of such an environment as a therapeutic intervention
has evolved considerably in the intervening forty years, and has focused
primarily on its use in the treatment of addictive disorders, biofeedback,
pain relief, mental and physiORl performance issues.
Interesting Studies In Relation to Floating:
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Brain Wave Study: http://www.floatdreams.com/brainwaves.htm
John C. Lilly, M.D.
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