John C. Lilly: The Man Who Opened the Door to the Universe

When most people think about floating, they picture a modern float room—a warm, salt-infused sanctuary designed to melt away stress and help the body heal. But the roots of floatation therapy go back to the 1950s, when a brilliant and controversial scientist named John C. Lilly set out to answer one of the deepest questions in neuroscience:

Does the brain need constant stimulation from the outside world to stay awake, or can it generate consciousness on its own?

At the time there were two competing schools of thought...

In Lilly’s time, scientists were divided:

John C. Lilly the founding father of floating. His studies paved the way for what we now know as sensory deprivation floatation therapy.

• Lagoon at UCLA believed the brain needed constant input from the outside environment in order to remain awake and alert.

• Brumaire in Brussels argued the opposite—that the brain contained self-sustaining oscillator circuits capable of keeping it awake without external stimulation.

Lilly wanted to find out for himself.

Building the First Isolation Tank

At the National Institute of Arthritis and Metabolic Diseases, Lilly discovered an old tank originally built during World War II naval research. It was designed to measure the metabolism of underwater swimmers, but Lilly saw a new possibility.

The tank was massive—18 feet long and 4 feet wide, built of wood, and housed inside a double soundproof chamber. He created a breathing apparatus that resembled a stocking with two tubes, allowing him to stay submerged while maintaining a steady flow of air.

To erase the body’s boundaries, he carefully regulated the water temperature so that his skin couldn’t distinguish where the water ended and his body began. Then, he slipped into silence.

For the next ten years, Lilly immersed himself in this environment, exploring the depths of the human mind.

Beyond Science: A Doorway to the Universe

What started as a neuroscience experiment quickly became something much more profound. Lilly realized this was not merely an “isolation tank.” To him, it was a doorway to the universe.

Inside, he believed the soul could step outside the body, cleanse itself of karmic weight, and even communicate with God. These ideas made Lilly a controversial figure, but they also helped shape the unique, spiritual side of floating that many people still experience today.

Early Experiments and Enthusiasts

Lilly invited psychiatrists to try the tank for themselves. One psychiatrist dismissed it after having tried it. He walked away saying he felt "nothing". Another embraced the experience so fully that he built his own version. His enthusiasm drove him to stay submerged for 18 hours straight, breaking records and proving just how captivating the experience could be.

Lilly’s Legacy

Today, floating is celebrated for its many benefits—relaxation, pain relief, improved sleep, and enhanced mental clarity. But it’s impossible to tell the story of floating without acknowledging John C. Lilly’s daring curiosity.

By questioning whether the brain required outside input to stay conscious, he unlocked something far greater: a practice that allows us to disconnect from the noise of the world and reconnect with ourselves on the deepest level.

When you step into a float room today, you’re continuing a legacy that began with Lilly’s bold question and a wooden tank tucked away in a government lab.