Kathleen James

I went to a two day seminar in San Jose, California in the 80″s. I was expanded with thought that I never thought capable of. Then it wore off. I am now in my sixties and can think back with fondness and excitement. I still “got it”. Life goes on and I am grateful, to est. I now want the opportunity to talk to my grand children and share with them what I feel. I wonder if this is wise?

Robin Dezember

I was in the January 1972 EST training in San Francisco. I can clearly recall the significant shift in my way of being in the world that resulted from this training, especially in respect to my marriage, children and work. I did then and do now continue to look for “opportunities for greatness” in daily life, an approach planted in my psyche lo these many years ago by Werner, and for which I am entirely grateful. Daily I recall something from my experience with EST that energizes my present-day actions and experience. There is much, much more, of course, enough to fill a book, which I note some of you actually have written! Suffice to say here, that I took these watchwords, or triggers from Werner that I still use today that continue to inspire and invigorate the way I live. Overall I try to “remain true to my own experience” and my gratitude for what Werner created in EST prevails. And, of course, everyone “let the good times roll!”

David Hallmark
http://davidhallmark.blogspot.com/

Although it has been 32 years since I completed my own est Training in July 1977, I still very much carry in me the experience of “aliveness” which I describe as “a condition or state of being alive, such that I am fully present and participating in any given moment of life without the patterns of judgment, emotion or other blocks to that state of being exactly whom I am and exactly who I am not.”
Being awake to my “aliveness” requires that I look within to discover my “shadow”, described by the late Swiss psychologist, C. G. Jung, as “everything in us that is unconscious, repressed, undeveloped and denied.” Out of my experience of “aliveness” and “shadow”, I am now publishing a Blog “AWAKENING to ALIVENESS” at the website listed above which acknowledges Werner and the Training as a profound contribution to my life and more importantly, to my experience of being alive.

Michael R Schneider

My Father H Michael Schneider told me he had been to an EST seminar in the mid 1970s and said it was life changing and asked me if I would like to go.
I went to the course held at the Claremont Hotel. Our seminar was led by a Navy SEAL and I do not remember his name?
Being in touch with what I learned there for over 30 years has been amazing to say the least. So many things that have happened in my life perfect timings.
Billy was crushed by a 10 ton forklift and blue lip dead. The energy awareness was automatic. Bending Time and Light.
I get a kick out of his Christmas cards with his two boys. Yes that was a biggie but this constantly is here.
I live a very special existence
My thanks to Werner our Instructor and my Dad. EST is one of the best things in my life.
Michael

Druanne Cushman

In September 1976 (with Ron Browning and Stewart Esposito leading), the est Training woke me up. It wasn’t like anything I imagined, was told, or read. Words to express what happened became inadequate—which gave me a new word, “experience.” I experienced my own power, ruthless compassion, and love. Suddenly, there were all these people, human beings. They were all around me, my parents, siblings, friends. At twenty-four years old I was a child; relating was new. The Universe was new. I put myself in Werner’s office to assist and that further opened the door—assisting was an experience—and one like none other. I got it about “being complete,” “cause in the matter,” “being of service” and the art of climbing mountains and moving stars. I got forgiveness. The process is ongoing. I keep participating to keep reminded. I got my life. I got a life to accomplish things “never-been-done-before” and be with people I never would have foreseen. People tell me “you can’t do that; it’s impossible” and I hold it before them, saying, “it’s done.” There’s one part I’d like to give back, however: I always know when I am being a jerk. I didn’t know that before the est Training. It serves me well, a cosmic joke. I can “get off it.” In this day and time, the level of “noticing” is a good thing to re-experience as is “life is meaningless” and “this is a game.” I miss you, Werner. Thank you.

Werner Erhard