The Class of '76, Walla Walla High School will return to it's old stomping ground this week to celebrate it's 30 year reunion. This memory was not from my senior year, but my sophomore year. My cousin Burl had left KOL radio and had decided that for the time being, he would go out on some independant ventures. He struck up a partnership with Alex Merklingar on a project known as Mind Development Inc. Burl would tour the Northwest holding seminars. He came to Walla Walla I believe in the spring of '74 to teach a seminar at what was then the Black Angus-Marcus Whitman Hotel--the town's premier venue.Burl was also able to hold a lecture at our school where he had graduated in '65. Burl's incredible talent was getting a group of restless high school students to give him their undivided attention.
Burl cut an interesting figure, his hair was shoulder length, he had on jeans and a denim jacket with a rose on the chest. Of course in a couple of years everyone would dress like that or similar.
He had us sit on the floor, we had to uncross our legs and arms and then put our thumb against our first two fingers. We would close our eyes and then count backwards from 10 to 1. We would visualize a bouquet of roses in a vase. The vase would change sizes and shapes, Burl said that was because we where getting interference from other's thoughts. The theory behind that is in a certain mental state your mind can do much more than you can perceive.
I remember Burl's 1974 visit. It was an optimum time for his lecture series, since national interest in ESP and self-help was burgeoning. I didn't see his lecture, but the family went to dinner with him, and I heard him interviewed -- naturally, on the radio.
ReplyDeleteBurl had hid his shoulder length hair under a wig when he atended my wedding in 1971 in St Paul, MN. Interesting post.
ReplyDeleteGlad the advertising is coming. I understand Plymouth is interested in making a 7 figure purchase. Or was thate DeSoto?
ReplyDeletesuch a cool time...
ReplyDeleteTo this day, when someone asks me "How are you?", my reply is (what Burl had inspired): "Better and better!" Those visits with Burl marked the early beginnings of The Search, later including est with Werner Erhard in the 80's and Taoist ideals in the 90's. I credit Burl with showing the importance of seperating the wheat from the chaff.
Awesome comments Jeff, I took the class and even helped Burl teach it at the prison.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember it as if it were only the 1970's.
ReplyDeleteAs for Jeff Reynolds, I have used his name with great success - he wasnt using it at the time.
As for that wig - it was too tight and gave me a splitting headache! It was a brilliant idea, however, courtesy of Dave Zarkin's sister, Claudia, and her hubby, Louie.
Regarding: Burl, he had on a denim jacket with a rose on the chest.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great memory for detail. There were actually two roses. These were sewn on, and a gift from actress Joy Bang. Yes, that was her name.
Seems like your memory is even better. This was a fun one to write.
ReplyDelete