Jean Houston |
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| Born | (1937-05-10) May 10, 1937 (age 87)
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| Occupation | Author / Lecturer |
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| Spouse | Robert Masters (1965 - 2008; his death) |
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| Website | www.jeanhouston.org |
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Jean Houston (born 10 May 1937) is an American author involved in the "human potential movement."[1] Along with her husband, Robert Masters, she co-founded The Foundation for Mind Research.[citation needed]
Biography
Early life and education
Houston was born in New York City to Mary Todaro Houston who was of Sicilian descent, and Jack Houston who was related to Sam Houston of Texas.[2] Her father was a comedy writer who developed material for stage, television and the movies. His work required him, and the family, to move frequently. After the breakup of her parents' marriage, she spent her teen years in New York City.
Houston attended Barnard College in New York City.
She subsequently earned a Ph.D. in Psychology from Union Graduate School and a Ph.D. in Religion from Graduate Theological Foundation.[when?][3]
Career
While participating in a US Government sanctioned research project on the effects of LSD (before such research was banned), Houston became acquainted with Robert Masters, a writer and a researcher into the varieties of human behavior and potentials. The two married in 1965 and soon became known for their work in the Human Potential Movement. Together they founded The Foundation for Mind Research.[citation needed]
Houston taught at Marymount College, Tarrytown from 1965 to 1972.[4] She was a lecturer at Hunter College for less than a year in 1961.[4] Her interest in anthropology brought about a close association with Margaret Mead, who lived with Houston and Masters for several years before her death in 1978.
In 1982, Houston began teaching a seminar based on the concept of "the ancient mystery schools."[5]
Controversy
During the first term (1993–1997) of the Clinton administration, First Lady Hillary Clinton, while she was writing It Takes a Village (1996), invited Houston to work with her in the White House as an advisor. Houston suggested an imaginary meeting between Clinton and the deceased Eleanor Roosevelt. The First Lady duly submitted to the "visioning" and "role-playing" game. Bob Woodward's book The Choice revealed this exercise publicly in 1996. After both the New York Post and the Daily News labeled Houston "Hillary's Guru" and the Boston Herald dubbed her the "First Lady's Spiritual Adviser", People reported that Houston had "suddenly found herself the hapless butt of a thousand gags."[6] When the media subsequently "beat a path to her door," she was compelled to explain, "There was no séance! There were no spooks!"
