Float Tank Project: Getting a Floatation Tank

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Getting a Floatation Tank

I had a floatation tank in Seattle and didn't make good use of it (probably due to the gloomy weather, which didn't make me want to get into a very dark tank, so I sold it off. I had been thinking of getting another now that I'm in sunny California, but a new one seemed like a bit of a commitment. By some stroke of luck, it turns out that John, from my meditation class, bought one from a local spa that was getting rid of their's a few years ago and had it sitting in storage ever since. He doesn't know much about it, other than "it looks like a white spaceship," so I don't know what the model is. It sounds like it will be a bit of a project. Some of the fiberglass needs repair and I will probably need a new pump/filtration/heating system. Nevertheless, I am quite excited about this project!

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This blog is dedicated to the art of floating or "sensory deprivation," invented by John C. Lilly, M.D. and dramatized (or overdramatized) in the movie "Altered States." Floating was a bit of a craze in the 1970's and 80's, but has not been as popular in recent years. I have had some limited experience with float tanks in the past and, due to some recent experiences with meditation that seem to simulate the float tank experience, I wanted to get back in the tank! I will share my experiences with the floatation tank here. Hopefully, I can encourage curious friends to try floating and share their experiences as well. It should be noted that there is a history of the use of psychedelic drugs associated with floatation tanks. I take no position on this, but I intend to explore only those experiences that can be obtained through natural means.

About Floatations Tanks

Modern floataion tanks are generally constructed of fiberglass. They contain less than a foot of water, which a person is able to float in due to a large quantity of Epsom salt added to the water. The tanks are kept at approximately 94 degrees farenheit, which is the approximate temperature of the peripheral body (a few degrees lower than core body temperature). They are enclosed for complete darkness, to eliminate visual stimuli. Thus they simulate a womb-like environment, where there is minimal distraction by the external senses. This allows a person to focus on the inner sensations of the body, including bodily sensations such as the heart beat, emotions and feelings, inner stress and tension and, perhaps, a few things beyond...