Esaleaks stands not only for the right of people to speak anonymously, but for the particular power of anonymous speech to air marginalized voices and to enlarge the overall Esalen discourse.
The Nine’s collective stance, we have hoped to establish, is that subjective speech without names or faces has a unique power to challenge the status quo, as evidenced not only by some of the great political writings of the 20th Century, not only by many an Esalen séance, but by our own progress. Esaleaks has challenged the unilateralism of the Esalen directorial class, bringing discussions into a new context free from establishment spin and the peril of retribution.
On December 28th, a veteran Esalen contributor wrote to scorn us for the publication of “Super-hero mission” with a bevy of pejoratives, seeking to openly name the article’s author. We responded by inviting him (twice) to contribute his own different interpretation of Tricia McEntee’s much-criticized Staff Week presentation. He (twice) declined, deriding Esaleaks as “immature and shameful” and pronouncing that “a bystander who observes a beating must take action to stop it.” That conversation was only disappointing, but much to our shock it became the first domino to fall in a conflict — that culminated in the trashing of our Internet server, our site going missing for nearly two weeks, and some powerful realizations about conflicting agendas within our own ranks.
That people would sooner attack the very venue of Esaleaks for its imperfection, than contribute to its positive potential, is a commentary on the desperation of a whole cadre which is seeking consolidated power through controlling not only the discourse but also its container. Some would prefer us to behold an uncomplicated painting of Esalen (and indeed placate themselves by gazing upon it too) than to let be promulgated the complex and sometimes hideous picture of Esalen’s spiritual neglect and decline into superficiality. But we, the larger Community, and those of us who remain at Esaleaks, are not afraid to scrutinize, to articulate, to get messy, and to hopefully paint a new picture of Esalen together that is as rich as the human potential.
The whole story of Esaleaks may one day appear in a history book — but with our internal battles now past, and so much happening at Esalen, we wish now only to return to our focus. Our mission is clear as ever. We are back, at dear expense, stronger than before, to publish your words. It is not the goal of the editors to please or appease every reader — and whatever one might find lacking or disagreeable in one contribution, one is beckoned to improve or counteract with better words of new invention. Whether our editors might now be exposed or scandalized by those of conflicted values or shaky conscience, we can assure you that the identities of our many contributors will remain absolutely anonymous, and we will continue to discuss Esalen here. With wishes for personal empowerment, growth, and transformation in 2012, we await your contribution.
The Esaleaks Editors
Dear Esaleaks,
I’m glad you are back, providing a safe vehicle for analysis and critique of current organizational culture, practices, and policies at Esalen Institute. Even as a general supporter of your mission, I found your attack on Trisha McEntee more polemic than usual and in fairly poor taste. I would have preferred a less personally denigrating account of staff week
proceedings, and a re-posting/analysis of her video interview which, imo, largely speaks for itself.
I am interested in clearing up the issue of the who and how of the site going offline, with a message indicating Ken Dychtwald as the originator of the take-down, which he has categorically denied.
Thank you for your encouraging words. Like you we would be very happy to see other accounts of Staff Week proceedings published. We rely on our contributors to produce any such account, as “Super-hero mission” was. Calling that particular article “your attack on Trisha McEntee” is somewhat inaccurate, as we are only the editors. We hope to make this clearer in future publications.
Thank you for your persistence and professional production. I may not agree with everything that is published but I totally support and defend your mission. Many thanks for your quality work and dedication.
Welcome back! I support your attempt to maintain a forum for discussion. I regret that some of us feel the need to maintain anonymity, but anonymity is better than silence.
Smiling, hi to “the Nine” of the Twelve intergalactic beings! Am I happy to see you back!
Now, without revealing any compromising secrets, can you tell us “What Happened”? Particularly, how was Ken Dychtwald’s email address involved in the Esaleaks takedown?
Keep smiling Esaleaks, t’is a good thing!
Do you plan on addressing the outstanding question of how Ken Dychtwald’s name became linked to the take down of this site? If not, would you simply please say so, and explain why?
We regret that describing the saga in detail at this time would likely result in severe repercussions for our editors. However we can say that Ken’s involvement was extremely indirect. We do hope to be able to tell the whole story in the near future.
From it’s beginning with Hunter Thompson, Joan B, Dick and Michael, Esalen has meant growth and exploration. This site provides a venue for those changed for the better to speak and commune. Gratitude and peace to all of, the shadow side as well as the light- after all, we must experience both to truly find ourselves.