From Cosmic Quest to New Age: Esalen in the 1970s & 1980s with Sam Stern

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.

Host or Publisher The Berkeley Alembic Foundation