Listening to Ecstasy: The Transformative Power of MDMA

by Charles Wininger

A personal narrative and guide to the safe, responsible use of MDMA for personal healing and social transformation

• Details the author’s 50 years of responsible experimentation with mind-altering substances and how Ecstasy has helped him become a better therapist

• Explains how he and his wife found Ecstasy to be the key to renewing and enriching their lives and marriage as they entered their senior years

• Describes what the experience actually feels like and provides protocols for the safe, responsible, recreational, and celebrational use of MDMA for individuals and groups

In a world that keeps us separate from each other, MDMA is the chemical of connection. Aptly known in popular culture as “Ecstasy,” MDMA helps us rediscover our own true loving nature, often obscured by the traumas of life. On its way to becoming a prescription medication due to groundbreaking research on its use to treat PTSD, Ecstasy can offer benefits for all adult life stages, from 20-somethings to seniors.

In this memoir and guide to safe use, Charles Wininger, a licensed psychoanalyst and mental health counselor, details the countless ways that Ecstasy has helped him become a better therapist and husband. He recounts his coming of age in the 1960s counterculture, his 50 years of responsible experimentation with mind-altering substances, and his immersion in the new psychedelic renaissance. He explains how he and his wife found Ecstasy to be the key to renewing and enriching their lives as they entered their senior years. It also strengthened the bonds of their marriage.

Countering the fearful propaganda that surrounds this drug, Wininger describes what the experience actually feels like and explores the value of Ecstasy and similar substances for helping psychologically healthy individuals live a more “optimal” life. He provides protocols for the responsible, recreational, and celebrational use of MDMA, including how to perfect the experience, maximize the benefits and minimize the risks, and how it may not be for everyone. He reveals how MDMA has revitalized his marriage, both erotically and emotionally, and describes how pleasure, fun, and joy can be profound bonding and transformative experiences.

Revealing MDMA’s versatility when it comes to bringing lasting renewal, pleasure, and inspiration to one’s life, Wininger shows that recognizing the transformative power of happiness-inducing experiences can be the first step on the path to healing.

Genres: Psychology, Science

256 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2020

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles and his wife Shelley are a senior couple, who have discovered how to ‘roll’ and have become ‘roll models’ or ‘psychonauts’ themselves.
He has written this book to ‘show others the promised land’ as well as expressing his ideas about the therapeutical benefits of MDMA. Researched from his viewpoint as a psychoanalyst and mental health counsellor.
He describes himself as a 25 year old man trapped in a 65 year old body, and discusses how taking MDMA brings him to ‘Youthlandia’ a place of youth, joy, playfulness and a happy space of a second childhood.
He sees himself as a Utopian:
‘because I have visited heaven and glimpsed the glorious, and I just haven’t been the same since. It’s the politics of experience.’
Charles writes an honest and candid account of his experiences past and present.
The main theme being: taking MDMA ‘the medicine’ as he refers to it in various scenarios with his tribe of ‘psychedelarati’ friends and acquaintances, in a form of group therapy.
There are many fun moments in this book when he writes of festivals and parties he has attended with Shelley.
It is written with warmth and a touch of humour, and oodles of home-grown jargon.
There is also plenty of solid advice, and many important points to consider for anyone experimenting with ecstasy
It was certainly an interesting, insightful and generally understandable read, although a little long for me.
A must read for anyone trying to understand the uses and abuses of MDMA from either side of the fence.

Thanks to NetGalley and Park Street Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
#netgalley #ParkStreetPress

[Christie Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an interesting read.

Some concerns/critiques:
- he uses the word "tribe" a lot in an inappropriate way that is disrespectful to indigenous and maybe cultures
- he makes a few comments about trans folks that seem well intentioned but miss the mark
- he has numerous comments about attention from young women, and focuses a lot on beautiful young women in a way that gave me the ick

I do think this author is well intentioned, but perhaps still has some unlearning to do.

[Derek Frasure · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're expecting this book to be like Listening to Ayahuasca, prepare to be disappointed. This book could have been condensed to approximately thirty pages of valuable info, all of which is expressed better on the MDMA subreddit or Erowid. This book is mainly a memoir about the author's experience growing up in the 50s, being a young man during the counterculture of the 60s, then falling into the perpetual Boomer naval-gazing. It's not that his story of radicalism in the 60s is uninteresting, but it isn't unique. In fact, white male Jews dominate the genre, so Winger would really have to stand out. And he's an average radical. So, you're better off spending your time reading Allen Ginsberg, Bill Ayers, or Abbie Hoffman, who are far more interesting characters.

The useful info is in the chapter eight "A Guide to the Responsible Recreational Use of MDMA." You'll find the same, and more detailed info on the subreddit for this drug. The author disavows the responsibility of telling you if there's any scientific reason to follow his supplementation regime, simply stating it feels right for him and the people he knows. I don't think it's a bad regime, but I do think it's lazy writing not to try to determine the validity (the man supposedly has tons of academic friends and yet he can't just ask somebody to ask a friend?). They may be wrong, I have no scientific basis to assess, but at least the Reddit anon will try to explain the science to you. I expect that in a monograph.

Worse, Winger's drug elitism is pervasive and passes without any second guessing. He divides the world into good drugs (drugs he likes: MDMA, cannabis, psychedelics, alcohol in moderation) and bad drugs (drugs he doesn't like: amphetamine, there's a general anti-ketamine vibe, all opioids in all but the most dire circumstances, and especially cocaine, which he had an unhealthy relationship with and still struggles to avoid). Winger acts like the last A in MDMA doesn't stand for amphetamine. He encourages people who realize they've aged that they can learn self-management strategies to come back to MDMA from earlier problematic use, but yet he can't apply that logic to his own former problematic substances.

This book succeeds in being unique as the story of a man and his wife getting into rave culture late in life. If you're looking for that, and plenty of reassurance you can get horny, do drugs, and dance well into your 70s, then you've come to the right place. I was not looking for this, but I did find his reflection on his changing subjective experience of drug use and sexuality in older age as a philosophy of generally seizing life to be inspiring. It was wrapped in so much self-indulgence, though, that I have a hard time feeling like this is a book to recommend. Winger labors the same points over and over and even retreads parts of the same anecdotes. He's like my charming psychedelic grandpa retelling the same stories over and over; but I came to hear an expert's tightly delivered lecture.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has definitely a lot to teach about good ways to use MDMA and harm reduction.

On the down sides, i thought the beginning where the authors spends a lot of time about his youth is quite long and not so relevant to the theme of the book.

I wish this book would say more about the therapeutic use of MDMA but i also understand that the author has voluntarily chosen to go into details on this point and talks primarily about recreational use.

It was difficult for me to keep going after he mentioned Joe Dispenza as a center of interest of his fellow psychonauts because I see this man as the king of toxic positivity and have seen first hand adepts of Joe Dispenza hurting others who went through difficult experiences.

Still the author's experience is valuable and this book is full of interesting reflections written in a beautiful lyric way.

[Rob Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding read. As the author states early in the book, this is a love story written to, and about MDMA. It is precise and eloquently written in a way that is both beautiful and engaging. He outlines all the ways in which MDMA has bettered his life, and his relationships with his clients, friends, family, nature and himself.

[David Hone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad Charles!

I really appreciated this book for the insights that have been provided. Though I feel sad you weren’t able to enjoy the beauty of kitty flipping I’m glad we both share a love for the psychedelic community and MDMA.

[Walter Woodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charley is an absolutely excellent first dose of the world of MDMA. I loved stories how he transformed from New York kid to neurotic psychonaut.

This is a great first dose to give to a parent, loved one if they are curious to explore. Highly suggest the audiobook.

[Kellycoklan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful, informative and very fun read. I found it well written and candid as well as a valuable tool for information regarding all things MDMA. Highly recommend for anyone interested in its medicinal benefits or otherwise!

[Mariah Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author seems like a good guy and certainly means well but I had a hard time getting past his ego. However, that said, it was an easy read and the information was thorough, helpful and thought provoking.

[Merle Blom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like a good roll, an entertaining and funny read. Like a pleasant trip. Reading it sober, young, hurried and individualistic by society, it also gets a high (pun intended) 'get-to-the-point' score from me.

[Richelle McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I was enthralled with this book for many reasons.

First of all, I love how this narrative is a guide on the responsible use of MDMA & it’s healing opportunities. I wish I & my peers had read this book 10 years ago. It sheds a new perspective on MDMA & how transformative it can be when used mindfully.

I also absolutely LOVED that this is a personal narrative by a 70 something year old therapist. He shares so much wisdom and also highlights how responsible recreational MDMA use can aid people in the aging process.

Such a phenomenal read