Sam Stern

The Human Potential Movement, born in the early 1960s, drew its power from explorations within the realm of somatics, psychedelics, Humanistic Psychology (including Encounter Groups and Gestalt Psychology), dance, art, and theater. We explore them all in this informative, irreverent talk, rich in primary material.

This talk endeavors to chart the exploration of non-ordinary states in American culture and within the Human Potential Movement. Topics explored include Psychedelics, Shamanism, Holotropic Breathwork, Meditation, Sensory Awareness, Trance work, Unconventional Bodywork, with a deep dive into relevant teachers such as Terence McKenna, Gabrielle Roth, John Lilly, Babatunde Olutanji, and more. We conclude with a detailed look at psychedelics psychotherapy and diversity within the field of Altered States.