This multimedia lecture explores the earlier history of the Esalen Institute, specifically 1970's through the 1980s, as American culture underwent tumultuous social and political changes.
During the pivotal period of the 1960's, Esalen emerged as a hub for the pursuit of human potential and the exploration of the self. Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, the rise of hippie counterculture, and the subsequent shifts into the 1970s and the Reagan-era 80's, Esalen remained proudly unique and wide-ranging in its focus. From parapsychology to Rolfing to Gestalt Therapy for Dentists, no topic was left unexamined. Marathon encounter groups, The Zen of Tennis, and Creative Divorce all had their place alongside more traditional inquiries into psychology, spiritual practice, and self-development. Central to this exploration was Esalen's "No One Captures the Flag" ethos, ensuring that no single ideology or belief system would dominate the discourse, allowing a diversity of thought to flourish.
Through Esalen’s storied archival photos and video, we’ll examine how Esalen navigated a changing social landscape, fostering a vibrant community that embraced the strange and the unconventional while still reflecting the institute's commitment to exploring the frontiers of human experience. We will analyze how Esalen's pursuit of the "Future of the Body" and its exploration of feminism, California culture, and geopolitical conflict resolution contributed to its enduring legacy.
Sam Stern is a Senior Content Creator at Esalen Institute and the host of the "Voices of Esalen" podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential with over 1 million downloads to date. The unofficial historian of all things Esalen, Sam is fascinated by the future, and teaches weekly about AI and Creativity at Esalen. He is a cum laude graduate of Brown University, '99, and received his MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts, '05.
Where does Esalen fit in, and how can we serve a world that welcomes all? When we share our aspirations for connection and growth, our differences become less daunting. Watch this trailer on Esalen’s significance and potential in the world. We are hard at work toward a feature on the Big Story of Esalen — its history, present, and hopes for the future.
Meet four women integral to Esalen’s six-decade-strong legacy as they share some memories and aspirations for Esalen in the coming years.
Photos: Calvin Gaskin, Scott Jones, Q Stern, Paul Herbert, Esalen archival collection, Pam Walatka, Joyce Rogers, Kathy Carr, Sam Stern, Shira Levine, Eddy Vicken, Track II collection, Dulce Murphy collection, Nancy Lunney-Wheeler collection, Mary Ellen Klee collection, Anisa Medhi collection, Tristan Kolkhorst. All AI images produced by Sam Stern using Midjourney and Ideogram.
Discover the pivotal role of Esalen Institute in the exploration and dissemination of altered states of consciousness through this engaging lecture from Voices of Esalen host, Sam Stern, given live at The Alembic in Berkeley, California in July, 2024.
As a sanctuary for spiritual awakening and personal transformation since its founding in 1962, Esalen Institute diligently pushed the boundaries of conventional modes of being, thought, and action to expand the frontiers of human potential. Through archival documentary footage and photographs, participants will examine how Esalen’s offerings — including psychedelic exploration, humanistic psychology, and inventive somatic practices — were instrumental in the development of the human potential movement, in turn influencing wider culture.
Our journey will also highlight the contributions of pivotal figures associated with Esalen, including Myron Stolaroff, Leo Zeff, Timothy Leary, Richard Alpert, Stan Grof, John C. Lilly, Terence McKenna, and Rick Doblin, offering insights into their philosophies and the legacy of their work in today’s resurgent interest in psychedelic psychotherapy and holistic well-being.
During the latter part of the event, Sam will engage in dialogue with Alembic co-founder and Esalen faculty Erik Davis for further exploration of these topics.
Sam Stern is a content creator at Esalen Institute and the host of the Voices of Esalen podcast, a deep-dive interview program focused on Human Potential, with over 1 million downloads to date. He teaches at Esalen about the history of the Human Potential Movement, the history of altered states, and AI and Creativity. He is a graduate of Brown University and received an MFA in Critical Studies and Integrated Media from CalArts.
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