I took DC probably around 1981 - I was sixteen. I still can't believe my parents gave permission as they definitely did not investigate it.
One of the EST people we knew wanted me to do DC. My whole family had done EST and I was very active in the group in NJ. It was pretty much the only activity I was doing - I was doing logistics for their large events and being exposed to a lot of inappropriate stuff from the adults around me.
In any case, DC - what a mess.
I showed up in Philly to do this, the center itself looked like a cult lair. People were living upstairs, it was cold and everything had a very un-est-like, unprofessional, thrown-together look to it.
I was housed in the apartment where several DC cultists lived. I think the host's name was Joe. The first night we were treated to a very loud, public act of sex right on the floor with us NJ people sleeping right nearby. Joe had brought a very pretty cult member home with him and lying there, a virgin, I was terrified to move. In the morning, other grownups 'shared' how they felt witnessing the public sex. I had the impression that this was done on purpose, but I have no idea why.
To break us down or make us feel vulnerable?
In any case, DC was baffling.
You stood on a stage and were picked on by DC members. Gavin first asked me what my fears were and then told me I was all of those things. I think the point was to elicit a reaction. Those who stood on stage and eyeballed the audience intensely or cried were met with approval. Those, like me, who stood there not getting it, were broken down. Several female DC members stood and tapped me on the head with a plastic hammer until I got enraged and started kicking and hitting them. They laughed as I beat them up.
I was broken down enough then to call my mother and tell her I loved her. I didn't really feel like I loved her but mission accomplished, I was broken down enough to do whatever I was told by then.
I found Gavin intensely creepy and going back to EST after this I felt much less interested in any kind of group therapy. ever.
One of the EST people we knew wanted me to do DC. My whole family had done EST and I was very active in the group in NJ. It was pretty much the only activity I was doing - I was doing logistics for their large events and being exposed to a lot of inappropriate stuff from the adults around me.
In any case, DC - what a mess.
I showed up in Philly to do this, the center itself looked like a cult lair. People were living upstairs, it was cold and everything had a very un-est-like, unprofessional, thrown-together look to it.
I was housed in the apartment where several DC cultists lived. I think the host's name was Joe. The first night we were treated to a very loud, public act of sex right on the floor with us NJ people sleeping right nearby. Joe had brought a very pretty cult member home with him and lying there, a virgin, I was terrified to move. In the morning, other grownups 'shared' how they felt witnessing the public sex. I had the impression that this was done on purpose, but I have no idea why.
To break us down or make us feel vulnerable?
In any case, DC was baffling.
You stood on a stage and were picked on by DC members. Gavin first asked me what my fears were and then told me I was all of those things. I think the point was to elicit a reaction. Those who stood on stage and eyeballed the audience intensely or cried were met with approval. Those, like me, who stood there not getting it, were broken down. Several female DC members stood and tapped me on the head with a plastic hammer until I got enraged and started kicking and hitting them. They laughed as I beat them up.
I was broken down enough then to call my mother and tell her I loved her. I didn't really feel like I loved her but mission accomplished, I was broken down enough to do whatever I was told by then.
I found Gavin intensely creepy and going back to EST after this I felt much less interested in any kind of group therapy. ever.