Thanks for restoring Esalen as a place other than New Age-preoccupied.
The LA Times article reminds me of the case study the Emory folks wrote about where the "patient"--a woman with no past psychiatric history had a horrible harm experience in a psilocybin training and underwent ECT which actually helped her. And I like your definition of harm and its relevance to any healing or liberation practice-this includes psychotherapy for sure. I admire your combination of honesty and equanimity.
Alan Trist eh? Ever looked into him and the Grateful Dead? I appreciated your comment on the Wonder Junkie podcast few weeks ago, "Gotta hand it to Robert Forte who has been right all along." figured out 9/11 yet? until you do that good mind of yours is still lagging far behind.
Long time trauma therapist and PAT Guide here, student of psychosis, witness to the ravages it can create for those that suffer it and their families/friends communities. Seems like so much depends on how it is held. I've been witness to those rare and privileged beings who had networks of support that held and contained them through falling apart without stigmatization, etc and held them through reassembly. More often, folks are traumatized by terrified families and systems of care...
So many interesting things here I could write a book about them. I was there in the 1980s, first as Stan's assistant and coordinator of SEN, and later deputized by Dick Price to provide psychedelics to the community. I was on the special guest list, which meant I could show up anytime and stay for three days. Until Rick Doblin snitched on us to the Feds, naming Esalen as the center of trade for the new legal "love drug" that therapists were using in Northern California... which caused Esalen to strengthen their no drugs policy to not even talking about drugs. This was probably the start of his long service to the Fed's. That's when he wrote to Claudio Naranjo about him working with the CIA....
Thanks for restoring Esalen as a place other than New Age-preoccupied.
The LA Times article reminds me of the case study the Emory folks wrote about where the "patient"--a woman with no past psychiatric history had a horrible harm experience in a psilocybin training and underwent ECT which actually helped her. And I like your definition of harm and its relevance to any healing or liberation practice-this includes psychotherapy for sure. I admire your combination of honesty and equanimity.
Great closing graf. And Elaine is amazing.
Alan Trist eh? Ever looked into him and the Grateful Dead? I appreciated your comment on the Wonder Junkie podcast few weeks ago, "Gotta hand it to Robert Forte who has been right all along." figured out 9/11 yet? until you do that good mind of yours is still lagging far behind.
Mr. Forte! Hope you are well. Write that book!
Long time trauma therapist and PAT Guide here, student of psychosis, witness to the ravages it can create for those that suffer it and their families/friends communities. Seems like so much depends on how it is held. I've been witness to those rare and privileged beings who had networks of support that held and contained them through falling apart without stigmatization, etc and held them through reassembly. More often, folks are traumatized by terrified families and systems of care...
So many interesting things here I could write a book about them. I was there in the 1980s, first as Stan's assistant and coordinator of SEN, and later deputized by Dick Price to provide psychedelics to the community. I was on the special guest list, which meant I could show up anytime and stay for three days. Until Rick Doblin snitched on us to the Feds, naming Esalen as the center of trade for the new legal "love drug" that therapists were using in Northern California... which caused Esalen to strengthen their no drugs policy to not even talking about drugs. This was probably the start of his long service to the Fed's. That's when he wrote to Claudio Naranjo about him working with the CIA....
Oh man, I’ve wanted to visit for so long 😊
Thought you’d been, for some reason had the idea you met your wife here! You’d love it.
That would be an amazing story! And more exciting than Battersea…
Great read, Jules! Thanks.