I did Direct Centering in the early 80s, when I was only 16. It was a pretty traumatic experience for me.
I got involved through est - I had done est when I was 13 with my parent's blessing ( I was the last holdout in my family - my mother, father, and sisters had all done it).
My mom and dad were rarely home - my dad away teaching or lecturing, my mom volunteering for est. So I found that though I could not get a ride or get funded to take dance classes or anything normal, I could get funds and rides if I wanted to participate in est.
I'll describe my est experiences on the appropriate thread, but suffice to say, it was a lot milder than DC. DC was f-ing insane. First of all, I travel to Philadelphia by train and am met by "Joe". Joe takes me to an apartment he shares with several members of the group. Day one of the event, I was really confused by what it was I was supposed to be 'getting'. You stood on stage and were supposed to be present, and cry and freak out and I don't know what. The assistants held on to a bit of info I had revealed that I didnt' want to be like my mom and started trying to convince me I was exactly like her. One of them came up on stage and started tapping me on the head with a plastic hammer, to annoy me to the breaking point.
I freaked out and beat her up - pushing her into the stairs, while everyone laughed at me.
That night, I went with my other est friends to stay at Joe's apartment. He came in late when we were all sleeping, with an attractive female assistant, and the two of them proceeded to loudly make love in the middle of the room. I was a virgin and was really embarrassed and freaked out by this display.
Day two was more of the same.
I can't believe my parents allowed me to do this workshop, and I stayed far away from est, DC and any other group after that.
I got involved through est - I had done est when I was 13 with my parent's blessing ( I was the last holdout in my family - my mother, father, and sisters had all done it).
My mom and dad were rarely home - my dad away teaching or lecturing, my mom volunteering for est. So I found that though I could not get a ride or get funded to take dance classes or anything normal, I could get funds and rides if I wanted to participate in est.
I'll describe my est experiences on the appropriate thread, but suffice to say, it was a lot milder than DC. DC was f-ing insane. First of all, I travel to Philadelphia by train and am met by "Joe". Joe takes me to an apartment he shares with several members of the group. Day one of the event, I was really confused by what it was I was supposed to be 'getting'. You stood on stage and were supposed to be present, and cry and freak out and I don't know what. The assistants held on to a bit of info I had revealed that I didnt' want to be like my mom and started trying to convince me I was exactly like her. One of them came up on stage and started tapping me on the head with a plastic hammer, to annoy me to the breaking point.
I freaked out and beat her up - pushing her into the stairs, while everyone laughed at me.
That night, I went with my other est friends to stay at Joe's apartment. He came in late when we were all sleeping, with an attractive female assistant, and the two of them proceeded to loudly make love in the middle of the room. I was a virgin and was really embarrassed and freaked out by this display.
Day two was more of the same.
I can't believe my parents allowed me to do this workshop, and I stayed far away from est, DC and any other group after that.