Eva Pierrakos was an amazing woman with a single-focused commitment to bring the Pathwork Guide Lectures to the world.

For over twenty years, every other week, she would deliver these most profound lectures on the nature of reality and the human personality without a trace of ego aggrandizement. The message that came through her attracted people from all over the world. They were searchers who sensed an inner longing, and who had a feeling that another, more fulfilling state of consciousness and a larger capacity to experience life must exist.

Eva was born in Vienna, Austria where her father Jacob Wasserman gained fame as a novelist. She grew up in the milieu of some of the great writers of the time dropping in for dinner – Herman Hesse, Thomas Mann, and Rudolf Steiner. Eva, herself, rebelled against the intellectual life. In fact, she wanted to be a dancer. Of her young adulthood, Eva often described herself as “superficial.” She loved to dance, ski, read pulp novels, eat chocolate and sun herself until she was golden brown. Her sensuality and spirit sparkled. She was strong-willed, clear about what she wanted, and unabashedly asked for what she needed.

In her late 30s, on a beautiful moonlit night while sitting in her room thinking, Eva experienced the phenomena called “automatic writing.” She chose to understand this phenomena, and with the help of a friend, devoted considerable time in training. The writing became more and more the manifestation of a particular guide. It was then she was told that her guidance would manifest in a much more adequate way through a state of trance. A year and a half later while meditating, when she least expected it, it happened! After the second time she went into a trance, the already familiar guidance manifested as speaking. The Guide, as this voice had later come to be called, helped and advised. He said one of the most important things was to always express the thought and intent to use this channel exclusively for the good, for helping people according to the will of God and to always keep her motives clear of any impurities.

In the late 1950s, Eva came to the United States. Here the ballet benefactor Rebekah Harkness set her up in a beautiful penthouse apartment on East 74th Street in New York City and became her patron. A small group of seekers came and sat in her living room to hear the Guide’s words. This group grew larger and larger. Never did she advertise these trance sessions. People, as the Guide said, would be guided to these meetings. Eva had complete trust in the Guide. Eva also gave private sessions and began to lead groups.

In the late 60s, she met John Pierrakos, the well-known psychiatrist, co-founder of Bioenergetics, and the creator of Core Energetics. They fell in love and married. Their union created a partnership in establishing the Pathwork worldwide. Surrounding Eva and John was a formidable group of pioneering individuals who dedicated themselves to expanding her work.

Eventually this group trained other “helpers,” and the work began to expand exponentially. In 1972, land was bought in Phoenicia, NY, and a Center was born. For the next seven years of Eva’s life, she led the community that grew up around the lectures. Eva Pierrakos was tireless in her efforts to bring forth the Guide’s teachings.

There’s an old adage that applies to Eva’s life – a teacher affects eternity.

Judith Garten
50/50 helper and teacher
Executive Director of the NY Pathwork Region, Inc. 1985 - 1990