Waking Up Weekend / ISA - anyone done it?

[earlydoors42]

Just curious if anyone has done, or knows anyone who has done, the "Waking Up Weekend"?

The group used to be called the Institute for Self Actualization (ISA).

A friend is involved with them but they won't say what goes on at the weekend. I have read a lot of reviews on websites about cults and it doesn't sound good at all. But none of the reviews are from the last couple of years.

Anyone know anything about it?

Anybody?

I went on one of their weekends about 5 years ago and to be honest I found it a good experience - people were open and friendly - and I did get some benefit from it - they are not a cult as they don't brainwash you and I found nearly all of them pleasant likeable people - I haven't been back since but as a one off I'd give it a go - you're friend doesn't want to divulge details since the process is more effective if people haven't preplanned - hope that's helpful!

I did the Waking Up Weekend some years ago, when it was still called "The isa Experience".
I definitely recommend it.
Thanks to isa, I dropped a whole load of self-limiting beliefs. I gained self-worth. I stopped looking at people, I admired and thinking "I'd love to do that, but I'm not that kind of person". And, instead moved towards taking the place in the world I really wanted.

I was involved in isa for 18 months, during which I did the full range of programmes they offered at the time, including assisting on the Young Persons' Experience (a 10-day camp for age 5 to 13 year olds). It was definitely one of the best things I've ever done.

A key insight I got during my isa days was that I thrived in that environment. Whereas in my job, I could feel part of my heart and soul withering away. I realised I needed to create a career for myself, in that field - supporting people to live the life they wanted.

And now, around 13 years later that's what I am doing. Yes, it's been a long journey, AND it's been a really long way.

My husband went to this when it was the ISA experience, a friend gifted him the weekend. While he did get some benefit the overall experience was disturbing. The group he went with kept pulling him into weekly meetings trying to get him to financially commit to the next "experience" and they forbade him from telling me anything. They invited me to an informational meeting to explain/recruit people for the ISA experience and when I told them I'd already attended a self actualization seminar in prior years so I felt their dictate that my husband not share with me was unnecessary as I was already aware and their would be no ruining of the experience for me, things got ugly. My husband and I were already in disagreement as I did not support the secrecy ISA was encouraging between a husband and wife but things got ugly when he went to a meeting and they told him I was no longer invited to the meet/greet and they needed him to talk to me about not attending as they were afraid of the affect I'd have on the others at the meeting (of course they worded it different to him). He told them he would talk to me but they didn't even let him get home and try. While he was on the way home a woman from his ISA group called me at home and started trying to counsel me on my marriage and how I should trust my husband and the group just wanted what was best for him and said she'd love to talk to me one on one but not at the meet and greet. when I called her out she preceded to tell me how she really knew my husband and felt she could help me understand him better and communicate with him more effectively. I hung up on her. Prior to the ISA experience my husband and I had no issues but they definitely tried to distance him from me once they knew I was uninterested in ISA for myself. Luckily the phone call to me was the true "Wake up" for my husband and he broke away from ISA. We were together for 10 years before ISA and we've been together for 11 years since. I'm not saying all involved are bad, most just want a better life but the overall organization is about making money not helping people and the people involved have become a part of the machine. My overall answer to your question is YES the initial weekend could be helpful to you (if someone else gives it to you as a gift) you do learn skills, but don't get sucked in. The overall goal of ISA is to get you to keep paying them money to attend more workshops and seminars. One question to ask yourself is why has much of the ISA internet presence disappeared and now they are repackaged as "WuW- Wake up Weekend"? Why would they need to change the face of the organization, to distance from the moniker of ISA experience? Getting to know yourself is a wonderful thing but that takes time spent w/yourself, not a weekend w/strangers being guided by people trained by an organization that simply wants your money.

I went on the ISA experience a long time ago. It was a very positive experience for me, I did learn a lot about myself and it helped me to make a good career choice. Some of the things I learned there are still with me years later, and make me a better person than I was. I'm very glad I went when I did, but I'm also glad, I think, that I just went as a one-off and didn't do the further experiences (it was called the GIT back then)

I was involved for years (and still am to a certain extent) and persuaded loads of people over that time to do the weekend/s on the basis that for me it was an extraordinarily powerful programme to be in on multiple levels, - family, parents, friends, career, health, spirituality, fun, happiness and more. I think most of those people got a great deal from it.

I understand how some people may have a very negative reaction to it. When I first went I hated it. Left intending never to have anything to do with it ever again . - too many weirdos from that old point of view. But something had been awoken in me and I had to return to take a closer look! Everyone should do it! The chances are you will discover a dimension to yourself that has been obscured by habit, socialisation, fear, ego, etc etc - hugely exciting and enlivening

I did the isa experience the first time literally 25 years ago (I’m now almost 50) Then I got involved & participated in advanced workshops. Got to know Ole quite well too, stayed at their gites at his home in France/assisted at the cooking schools etc. Now I am an independent empowerment mentor for women and young adults.
I believe strongly in the core value the isa experience offers us, it’s powerfully transformative for some people, so I absolutely and wholeheartedly recommend embracing support where its needed to advance personal growth, awareness & personal responsibility essentially. And I truly believe the support they offer at ISA is coming from absolutely a place of genuine care and betterment of the human race.
I certainly have wonderful memories of my time spent learning and growing within their programs and this mention of not being able to share the process’/exercises and the intention/purpose of the days and exercises: of course they cannot disclose details! No one can truly understand or comment on their value (judgement-free) without experiencing them!… this is why it is named ‘experience’ (or was!) ~ The Isa Experience. Personal growth, awareness, empowerment and wisdom is ONLY possible through experiencing change. It’s not something that can be intellectualized… like reading a book. It’s a process… AND their environment wholeheartedly supports this, they ‘hold people high’ and encourage responsibility, forgiveness, healing and empower change 😉
If only more people could step-up and be more responsible for their thoughts and actions, experience and practice more compassion for each other (AND for themselves), quit judging and be more honest and kind… then this world wouldn’t be so divided ~ I 100% recommend their support & we need FAR more teachings and organizations like ISA to be created in fact!
I am deeply appreciative and will forever be grateful for all that I learned in within the ISA experience environment, my mother also… she came with me one weekend.
There is ZERO to intellectually defend or understand about the support they offer… what they offer is an opportunity to become a whole person, who feels fully worthy of an abundant life. They teach us how to live again, to experience heart and mind coherence.
How on earth can that be a cult?!
Life without attention, being the zombies that we are each day… addicts to the news and social media/electrical devices/outside Influences on the whole ~ THAT is the ‘cult/slave-like existence’ everyone should pay great attention to!

@AliAbomnes why do you say "Of course they cannot disclose details!" - you haven't explained why that is. Not even a summary of the type of thing you do on the weekend?

I was surprised to stumble over this old thread today, it's so long since I asked the question i had forgotten all about it.

Hi @earlydoors42
The reason why someone goes to a personal growth seminar/experience like this is because they’re perhaps feeling stuck or disconnected from knowing their next steps in life, knowing who they are or perhaps what they want. They’re likely wanting to be live congruently (with their diet, health, fitness/relationships they may wish to make improvements) and they’re not able to be accountable to themselves. And ALL of the above are normal day-to-day issues we face.
The seminar/experience is not ‘doing anything’ or ‘changing’ someone who attends, no one has the power to do that, only WE (as an individual) can choose to make healthier, congruent choices.
The exercises and everything that’s spoken about is purely to do with peeling-back beliefs of the ‘ego’. It’s exactly the same teachings and exercises you’d experience in any coaching/personal growth or leadership seminar/business leadership training (I’ve done many).
There is certainly nothing strange or mysterious about what they cover, I am now a qualified coach and have seen this material presented in numerous ways over the past 25 years.
I personally cannot explain to you the exercises because it would be totally out of ‘concept’ to do so, as I mentioned; you have to be there to understand, as each session/each day builds upon the next, and what anyone experiences is personal to them. Perhaps your friend could explain what their experience was…
The bottom-line is, the seminar is about empowering people, to trust THEMSELVES and know they have choice in every area of their life.
It has absolutely nothing to do with religion.
Couldn’t be further from it.. or a cult & not at all brainwashing either, quite the opposite in fact.
it is very much about empowering people with the truth to KNOW they’re good enough and that they can make their own choices about their life. This work empowers people :-)

forum.culteducation.com/read.php?12,3585,page=2

Is none of the stuff on this forum correct? It's just that these people actually do explain what goes on there whereas you don't. There does seem to be a lot of trying to recruit everyone you know, spending loads of money on it etc from what I've personally seen.

Again… I think it’s better if you speak open and honestly with the friend who’s spoken with you about going.
All I know is ISA (as it was named, when Ole Larsen and Louis Cordoba were facilitators) is not a cult. This as I say is absolutely not brainwashing and it has zero to do with any kind of religion or rituals. It is about health and wellness, empowering people to live their best life. Quite simply that. The only reason I believe people judge is because they ‘fear’ what is happening, they fear change in life.
It is purely life coaching - life coaching being the operative word - meaning it’s to support people with making their own decisions in life. It’s about becoming an empowered individual NOT being part of a group, or ‘cult’ as that forum seems to be all about. I personally cannot comment on that, so I’ll leave it here.
I simply saw a question about The ISA Experience (or ‘Waking Up Weekend’ as it seems to now be called) and I commented on that and the true value of the work they’re doing.
Finally (and you really should speak with your friend who’s attended this weekend) what I can say about the leadership training and coaching/personal growth seminars I have attended since; it truly transforms people’s lives, and when someone is permanently changed, when they feel there’s been great value from looking at their life, when they feel just totally content and begin living congruently… they naturally want the people in their life to understand and share the same experience. Nothing is more beautiful than a friend or family member who is happy, who’s feeling free from judgement of others, free from feelings of shame even (depends as I say on the individual, and where they’re at)… for a person who’s ‘on track’ and truly happy and emotionally healthy it is frustrating when everyone around them doesn’t understand them, or want to better their own life. They are encouraged to share this gift absolutely with everyone in their life. No pressure I’m sure, there certainly was nothing to ‘sell’ or gain when I supported their good work. Exactly like the trainings I’ve participated in since: it is ip to those of us who are conscious and who’ve ‘woken up’ from the day to day life most most people lead, who ‘follow the heard’ in life so to speak, live in fear and don’t set themselves healthy boundaries.
MORE than ever, there are SO many life coaching courses and groups out there & I can 100% say, their intentions are all the same… to support people with their personal empowerment :-)
I’ll leave it at that now :-)

I'm glad you like it and it helped you.

My friend has been involved with them for many years and given them an awful lot of money.

The way you talk is a bit odd. I will choose to stay asleep and following the herd as I'm quite happy with my life as it is. Thank you for answering though, it's very interesting.

I spent some time with the ISA group in the 80's. Here is my experience:
In the 80's I was involved with a personal-growth, encounter group called ISA (Institute for Self Actualization). Thirty some-odd years later I have this to say about it.
I was a participant with this group from the time it arrived in Nashville until it moved away (maybe a 5 or 6-year period), During this time I attended numerous ISA trainings.

The lead trainer for ISA, Ole Larsen, was previously a trainer for EST, which was the first big name in the personal-growth-group movement in the USA, and has a reputation for restrictive (deemed by some as "harsh") regimentation of the attendees of their training. ISA groups were not so restrictive nor "harsh". ISA had several different training courses and support offerings to assist continued interest and involvement in personal growth for their graduates. At that time no books were available regarding the ISA training or in support of the ISA mission. I recently looked up Ole Larsen and ISA on the internet to see what I could find. Contrary to the Cult-fixated mis-informed naysayers the ISA group was strictly secular. The trainer offered various points of view, not to be robotically believed, but rather to be considered, to provide additional perspective, in order for the attendees to gain a broader understanding of the topics being discussed and perhaps lessen the control of entrenched prejudices and thinking patterns. The ISA trainings facilitated good transformative release work, taught valuable life lessons, helped attendees see inside themselves and see that they have more control and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY (all caps for a reason) for their thinking, actions, behaviors, live-situations and outcomes than they knew, and as a result ISA developed a loyal following and continued involvement and support from its graduates. I personally feel so very grateful for what I learned and experienced with ISA. I am a better person for having been involved with the group and I have witnessed amazing positive transformations in myself and other attendees. For many, including me, it was a valuable positive turning point in our lives. Thank you Ole Larsen for making ISA available to us, and special thanks to Donna Larsen in your role as trainer for demonstrating your incredible intuitive and heart-felt gifts and using them to transform lives.

I'm kinda addressing this comment to Hermidancer. The benefits available for one to receive from the training so far exceeds the cost of admission, it isn't even close. I hope Ole makes a billion dollars doing his trainings that would mean he helped millions of people to have happier, more satisfying and productive lives.

Sounds like something to avoid people.

Hi. I've been going to isa/experience/WUW on and off since 1989 and am thinking of going to the next one. My daughter's been going since she was 11. Over the years, I've brought many people with me. It's the best present you could give yourself!
It's not about secrecy - it's about allowing you to have your own 'experience' during the weekend - without expectations or preconceived notions of what to expect. I could tell you every second of my weekends and yours would still be completely different.
What I love about it is I can become enlightened while still living in the real world AND have fun doing it! The facilitator is very, very funny.
I teach writing and improv workshops. I designed them after the weekend. Basically, during the weekend, we're given some information then we break off into groups of 2, 4, 6 or 8 people (depending on the exercise) to 'practice' what we learned. Then, we come back as a group and talk about how we felt about it. There are no right or wrong answers. One person may have an epiphany, another might get nothing out of it. That same person might have their mind blown in another exercise later on. It's personal growth and we all learn differently. I don't want to give away too much, just wanted you to see it's probably not as scary as you might think.
I'm still friends with many of the people I met at my first weekend and those since. I think of them as my 'family of friends.' Loving, fun and supportive people.
I hope you decide to do it. You can thank me later. 😉

That's a great way to put it

Thanks, deuan! Have you done it, as well?

Did the ISA experience 30 years ago now. The so called information is easily available, elsewhere and cheaper. It offers people who enjoy joining groups a big group of new people to befriend, and activities. . It also costs a fortune. Has people doing a lot of voluntary / free work, it's heirachical. Relationships are formed, dissolved, marriages break up

I believe it has many characteristics of a cult, many people remain enmeshed for many years. I know people who still think it's great, I wouldn't recommend personally.

Just came across this thread. My DH did it 10 years ago - a weekend course. Its a cult. Designed to be oppressive and pressuring despite what supporters say.

D3pends on who led it I was lucky first time olie and Ernie. And 5hen some 20 years later some strange man. Put me off I'd never do it again

I believe in the isa I did in 1990 in UK. Dad I ever went back to some grusum one led by a strange man. Put me off that way.

it’s too bad that so many of us are so scared that we are more comfortable tearing down something we don’t understand VS taking the time to learn or explore an idea or a lesson.
ISA was never EST.
Ole Lawson started ISA, The Institute of Self Actualization.
ISA was then grown to Waking Up Weekend.
And now is planning to end by the end of 2023.
It is very sad to know the incredible and very important life lessons will no longer be actively taught.
THANK YOU Luis Cardova!!
You teachings forever changed my life and the course of the many lives of countless others.

Shoot the messenger - that’s not a wise strategy when the information is invaluable

I need to talk to you please about your experience of the YPE. Did you have kids that were doing it? Or were you just a helper. Sorry to be so direct, but I think they only ran it a few times, I was in Devon UK. When Oli was the founder and before they changed their name. I did the weeks of YPE, while my brother was a volunteer. Mostly it was guys from the states with ex military backgrounds. I’d be so grateful if you contacted me.
wishing you the best and a happy new year