38 Myron SharafFury On Earth
moved to Rangeley and we resumed our marriage. Once again the triangular, competitive
aspects of my relationship with Reich were ignited, though admittedly in less acute form
than when I had been in treatment. I gradually became more hidden and “poker-faced,” as
Reich termed it. The open, free-wheeling exchanges of the summer and fall of 1950 became
rarer. Reich in turn reacted to my evasiveness with outbursts of bitter anger, thereby creat-
ing a vicious circle.
In May 1952, Grethe and I left Orgonon. My explanation at the time for leaving
was that I wanted to continue graduate work in psychology and that my lack of scientific
training hindered my usefulness now that the Oranur experiment (involving Reich’s work on
the poisoning of the atmosphere, to be discussed in detail in Chapter 27) was so much the
center of the work at Orgonon. These reasons obtained, but of far greater importance was
the deterioration of my relationship with Reich. I felt self-critical about this, but with much
less of the anguish experienced when I left in 1949. Also Reich’s rages, not only toward me
but toward others, were now far more severe. All these factors taken together led me to
become emotionally “numb.” I left with relief.
But only part of me left. Although I had given up a close working relationship with
Reich, I still viewed myself as historian of orgonomy. An essential part of me kept wonder-
ing about this phenomenon:How had he become what he was, how much of what he did
touched on the truth?
After leaving, I continued finding out about Reich, studying his work and interview-
ing people about him. And I remained on sufficiently amicable terms that I could attend
conferences at Orgonon, correspond with him, and be consulted by him about one thing or
another.
However, orgonomy was no longer the sole focus in my life. In 1953 I enrolled in
an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program at Harvard University, specializing in psychology and
education. My most important experience during this period was working with Daniel J.
Levinson on a research project at a small teaching psychiatric hospital affiliated with
Harvard, the Massachusetts Mental Health Center. My research was on the personal and
professional development ofpsychiatric residents and, for my doctoral dissertation, the fac-
tors leading to “psychological-mindedness” as a personality attribute.^1
In the course ofthis work I had the opportunity to study “adult development,” in
other words, the biographies of young psychiatrists, in a way that utilized both qualitative
and quantitative assessments. Like Reich, Levinson also focused on social and intrapsychic
determinants of human functioning. My work during those years was to provide a valuable
background for the task of writing Reich’s biography. However, since the core themes of
Reich’s work vegetative currents, orgastic potency, orgone energy—were in ill repute in the
academia of the 19505, I tended to devalue what I was learning in the “establishment.” My
passion was reserved for my extracurricular life—pursuing the role of orgonomic historian.
Nor did I appreciate that I was treated by such mentors as Levinson and the research direc-
tor ofthe hospital,Milton Greenblatt, with far more respect for my autonomy and creativ-
ity than I had often been by Reich.