The Esalen Journal

Building a relationship with the Esselen tribe — recognized as aboriginal inhabitants of the Big Sur region, and among the first peoples to reside on the sacred land that the Esalen Institute sits on today — starts with receiving the Esselen story directly from members of the tribe, not relying on colonial and mission documentation and revisionist history that has been amplified by academia.

As the year comes to a close, we invited a few of our Esalen faculty to share the gratitude practices that help them stay centered, open, and connected — and to reflect on what they’re most thankful for right now.

Music has long been part of Esalen’s heartbeat — a bridge between body and spirit, rhythm and revelation. In the early days, seekers and iconic musicians gathered for impromptu jams around the grounds, shaping a cultural moment that echoed far beyond Big Sur. This December, Laraaji, East Forest, and Shahzad Ismaily carry that lineage forward, offering their artistry to all who are ready for creativity, connection, and an awakened spirit.

Systemic coach Zita Tulyahikayo has trust and faith these days: "There is so much potential ripening beneath what some might see as terrible times." As an experienced transgenerational healing, hypnotherapy, and storytelling facilitator, she draws exercises from Systemic Constellations and the Orders of Love to lead her workshops. Here, Zita shares her heroes ("my parents"), her joys, and a perfect image of bliss: "Heart openings under a clear lavender blue sky."

From the Esalen Kitchen, some recipes feel like old friends. These classic dishes — a side and a dessert — will lure family and friends to the table and keep them there to savor some of what has been grown, offered, and shared.

This season, share the spirit of Esalen and contribute to the ripple effect of generosity and connection. Our 2025 Holiday Gift Guide presents offerings that awaken curiosity, inspire healing, and invite transformation — for yourself and those you cherish.

Winter at Esalen invites you inward. It is the season of reflection, of wrapping yourself in a robe after the Baths, of journaling by moonlight, of long conversations that feel like they could last forever. Take a look at our upcoming winter workshops, designed for renewal and deep exploration, and plan your next visit.

For our fall reads, we are leafing through words of our upcoming workshop leaders — voices that inspire reflection, renewal, and wonder, who are joining us in November and December to close out 2025. Autumn’s golden turn invites us to realign body, mind, heart, and soul, to listen for what’s ready to change. These books invite us into personal stories of artistic discovery and spiritual insight — guides for contemplation and creativity. There is no better time than now to imagine the impossible, wander through the land of dreams, awaken with the wisdom of the Buddha, and embrace new beginnings.

Licensed clinical psychologist and mind-body medicine researcher Cassandra Vieten explains her love of languages, shares a couple of wise mottos, and lists a few of her inspirations — including Princess Leia and other women who "tell it like it is and then do something about it."

Though he’s one of our most beloved teachers, “perpetual student” is the title Master Huang prefers. “I don't want to be the guru…I am always evolving.” The Tai Chi master and teacher honors us with memories of Esalen’s earliest days — almost 60 years back! — alongside the institute’s founders and legends.

There’s a rhythm here at Esalen that can’t be scheduled, a pulse you feel with the symphonic crash of the Pacific, in the warmth of the sun on the lawn, tucked away with the quiet of the Garden. Many seekers arrive ready to follow a workshop schedule, but for some seeking more spaciousness and freedom, there are profound moments that unfold when opting to follow your own path of curiosity.

Michael Murphy and George Leonard envisioned a daily discipline that could help people carry the spark of transformation away from Big Sur and into their homes, offices, and relationships. They would design a practice that engaged the whole person — body, mind, heart, and soul all together. From that spark of creative realization, Integral Transformative Practice (ITP) was born.

Even with over 25 years of experience in health and wellness, Deva Munay still gets butterflies before taking new students on sound journeys: “The first days of workshops are so powerful to me … I learn from the participants and grow just as much as they do.” Munay, the founder of Sacred Sound & Wonder, shares her thoughts on staying strong, acceptance, and how playing hundreds of alchemy crystal singing bowls helped her understand “the complexity of frequency and how we can use sound for healing.”

When you think of a weekend or week-long retreat, you likely picture a quiet room to yourself, a view of the ocean, and long hours of solitude. And yes, we offer that. But sometimes the real magic at Esalen happens when you open your door and your heart to someone new. Shared accommodations offer a unique chance to stretch, connect, and grow. Here’s why choosing to room with a random, unknown bunkmate might be one of the best decisions you make when registering for your workshop.

Books have always been companions on the human journey. They are mirrors of who we are and maps of who we might become. These works from Esalen faculty blend the personal and the universal, the intimate and the archetypal. They guide us to see what’s been hidden and reimagine old stories — and always remind us that the search for meaning unfolds not only on the cliffs of Big Sur but also in the quiet turning of a page.

What if our differences are not deficits but actually portals? What if quirks aren’t problems to be fixed, but pathways into creativity, insight, and resilience? Mindfulness teacher Mark Coleman provides tools to navigate ADHD while cultivating its powers of curiosity, creativity, and presence: “With mindfulness and compassion, we can meet our struggles with greater kindness, and discover the gifts that lie within our challenges.”

At age 96, this beloved Gazebo/Park School teacher remembers her big adventures during Esalen’s earliest years: “I may not have been a leader, but I was always me, accepted for who I was, and that, in its own way, saved my life.” True original Penny Vieregge recalls the early ’60s with tales of Dick Price, Michael Murphy, John Lilly, Gregory Bateson, dirty nursery rhymes, and how she became the “community's wise Oracle.”

Michael Murphy turned 95 on September 3rd, 2025, and to celebrate a lifetime of creative contributions, we’re enjoying a few of his literary works. Whether you're inspired to read Michael’s mystical novels or dig into some rigorous analytic nonfiction, his visionary writing is fueled by the same joyful curiosity that helped shape Esalen.

“Among all our native edible plants, the nut of the bay laurel tree is one of the most delicious,” says Esselen Tribe medicine woman Cari Herthel. Historically enjoyed by California’s Indigenous communities, bay nuts are typically used as a condiment, digestive aid, and stimulant.

“Right now, our world is in a deep need of reconnection — to the land, to each other, and to the wisdom that has sustained human beings for thousands of years,” says Tom “Little Bear” Nason, who returns to Esalen in November to teach Healing Waters: Return to One alongside Douglas Drummond, Guest Musicians Sanga of the Valley and Nick Ayers, and guest faculty Mac Murphy. The Tribal Chairman of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County invites us to learn the old ways of caring for the Earth “and feel her caring for you in return.”

When you stand at the edge of the world, everything shifts. Sadia Bruce shares about her teacher origin story in this essay delving into the need to support individuals who teach and facilitate find their own authentic voice beyond their training.

Some places you stay in have a way of staying with you. At Esalen, a handful of remarkable spaces offer a chance to live inside the history of this place, and the human potential movement itself. Built on bluffs, tucked into cypress groves, and shaped by the hands of artists, visionaries, and craftspeople, these living artifacts are available as accommodation options — each with its own story, spirit, and quirks.

As a lifelong student of natural history, co-founder of Wildtender Fletcher Tucker lists some heroes (both human and “other-than-human”), shares his love for this sacred land that is Esalen, and speaks with perfect poetic clarity on the healing power of nature: “It really is as simple as walking into the wild, which is patiently waiting for our return.”

Our life unfolds within relationships — our connections with family, friends, colleagues, community, the world. For most of us, our relationships are where the rubber meets the road. Faculty member Caverly Morgan shares how practice on our cushions can seem quite peaceful — at least until we get off our cushions and into the relationships of our lives!

Guests are often surprised to discover a carnivorous option among the buffet items prepared by the Esalen Kitchen. The thrice-daily delicious offerings nearly always include meat or fish options alongside the de rigueur vegetarian and vegan fare. (Save for Meatless Mondays.) And our talented kitchen crew frequently creates culinary choices that tempt, if not convert, meat-eaters to dig into some leafier items. While our tuna poke is without a doubt to die for, the vegan beet poke is a remarkable standout.

Three world-class artists from last year’s annual Seasonal Series are returning to Esalen in the fall as workshop leaders. This September, holistic dance educator Amy Secada, interdisciplinary vocalist and composer Odeya Nini, and Guillermo Martinez, a master craftsman of Mesoamerican instruments, will help us go deeper and reconnect to the source through body, breath, and sound.

We are enthusiastically sharing some visioning for innovative programming coming to you in this second half of 2025 and beyond — from new workshops, new faculty, and immersive experiences through our expanding Self-Guided Explorations to the deeper cultural pulse shaping Esalen’s next chapter.

Steven Harper is a longtime Esalen faculty member who helped found the Esalen Farm in the early 1980s. He has spent decades leading workshops that blend hiking in the Big Sur wilderness with embodied Gestalt practice. His oldest son, Kai Harper, has deep roots at Esalen, having worked in the Grounds department, the Farm & Garden, and the Programs department, where he became the youngest person to lead the month-long residential program. Steven’s younger son, Kes Harper, continues to assist his father in workshops, carrying forward the family's connection to Esalen's transformative work. One memorable offering the Harpers created together was a Fathers and Sons workshop at Esalen.

This month, our track list includes memoirs and biographies of musical geniuses who have impacted culture here at Esalen over the years: Babatunde Olatunji, “Queen of Folk” Joan Baez, "Lady of the Canyon” Joni Mitchell, all four members of folk-rock supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and pop superstar and recent workshop leader Kesha!

Esalen elder Pam Portugal Walatka takes us back to the Summer of Love in 1967. The Institute’s very first yoga teacher talks about studying with some of the greats — including Ed Maupin, Charlotte Selver, Bernie Gunther, Jim Fadiman, Claudio Naranjo, Michael Murphy, Gia-Fu Feng, Virginia Satir, Fritz Perls, Ida Rolf, Alan Watts, and John Pierrakos — and takes credit for some our favorite Esalen traditions: “Hardly anyone from then is alive to refute me.”

Acclaimed journalist and author Melissa Petro, who is also a former sex worker and survivor of sexual exploitation and media humiliation, investigates the modern epidemic of shame in our society — and helps others through the transformative truth-telling process of embracing their concealable stigmatized identities: “Authenticity, in all its messy, imperfect glory, is what allows us to fully step into our lives.”

Time is a luxury, and we know that a lot of Esalen magic can unfold in only a single weekend. But if you have the chance to extend your stay for a longer journey, here are six great reasons to sign up for our weeklong faculty-led workshops and/or weeklong self-guided experiences.

Both boys and girls are frequently conditioned to behave in specific ways, and traditionally, young girls are often taught to be selfless — to want for others instead of themselves. Psychotherapist, author, and interfaith minister Nancy Colier tells us about showing up with your truth and letting your real self out.

Shared ideas create community, and this June, we are presenting four extraordinary evenings with thinkers and artists working at the cutting edge of consciousness and culture. This month, the Esalen tradition of Wednesday Evening Programs (WEP), an open format to present new insights, features Voices of Esalen’s Sam Stern, professors Ramzi Fawaz and Charles Stang, and ceremonial leader Erika Gagnon.

Contemporary dance artist and actor Janelle Hacault tells us about valuing the “creative essence of the body” and her greatest love, Minou (her black cat). She also reveals her greatest fear, happiness, and favorite qualities in humans: “Empathy, loving-kindness, generosity.”

This is the time for rebirth and growth! To embrace the growing season, here are five titles from faculty and upcoming workshop leaders to bring us closer to our partners, ourselves, the world around us, and the world we hope to create.

Among the families who have emerged from Esalen’s six decade-strong history, the Horans stand out. Peggy and her daughters, Lucia and Jasmine (who are leading workshops this summer), have lived and learned here for decades. Currently, all three Horan women are leading and conducting experiences here. (Husband and father Dick Horan worked in the Farm & Garden and Art Barn in Esalen’s early years as well.) This family innately understands the healing, community, and self-expression the land can rattle out of us. In honor of Mother’s Day, we spoke with the Horan matriarchy about their family history — firmly rooted and still blooming within Esalen.

In the Esalen kitchen, Megan Patterson pays loving homage to her mother with her “cottage porridge” recipe, sharing the healing and joy it has brought to many mornings. “Adopting techniques to make vital nutrients within the oats and seeds more readily available, it has become part of my morning contributions to the community with a simple, comforting, and nourishing start to their days of healing work.”

From the Serpent Bench overlooking the sea, Director of Product Sadia Bruce is conceptualizing new artistic and cultural offerings and planning transformative original programming that can translate “complex ideas into embodied, actionable experience, offering guests pathways for praxis, integration, and belonging.”

“The ’70s at Esalen were a good time,” says Rick Tarnas. The cultural historian, astrologer, and author remembers heading out west with all his possessions — “a suitcase, a typewriter, and a guitar” — and raising his son in the deep pluralism of a growing community.

The Esalen Massage & Bodywork Association (EMBA) brings a profound tool for healing to far reaches of our planet. “Given our current growth and the growing interest in practicing and teaching Esalen Massage, I would love to see Esalen Massage in every country of the world,” says EMBA coordinator and practitioner Robin Fann Costanzo.

Warren Farrell, leader of the popular "Role Mate to Soul Mate: The Art and Discipline of Love" workshop, shares the biological reasons behind conflict, the evolutionary shift of his “Caring and Sharing” practice, and how he has transformed relationships for over 30 years. “Over time, couples tell me that what once provoked anxiety becomes a cherished opportunity for intimacy,” says Farrell.

The power of love, the sentiment that love heals, the notion that love can conquer all, and that love saves the day, all resonate when they are with people with whom we make deep soul connections. Here, relationship expert Amy Chan shares how by accessing and embracing the parts of us that we often keep hidden, we can create the foundation for a connection that goes beyond surface-level interaction.

Esalen-born author and educator Jasmine Star Horan shares her thoughts on Gestalt, the Gazebo Learning Project, looking past the good guy/bad guy model, and following the words of Baba Hari Das: “Work honestly, meditate every day, meet people without fear, and play.”

Tom “Little Bear” Nason, Tribal Chairman of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, takes us back to a moment in time when arriving at Esalen was like entering a tribal village.

Janne Larsen guides fellow seekers in cultivating intimate bonds with the diverse flora thriving across the Esalen campus — and honors them through art. “Communing with plants, finding those elusive pigments and seeing what gifts they have gives me so much joy,” says Janne. “Finding that joy is so essential to living life as an artist.”

Born and raised at Esalen, Lucia Horan received lifelong direct training with Gabrielle Roth in the 5Rhythms® moving meditation practice. With mastery in the fields of somatic meditation and dance, she teaches skills and strategies that help her students become better emotional and physical athletes of life. Here, she shares her thoughts on authenticity, love, and the ever-evolving, holy nature of the dance: “It never gets old. It is always inspirational.”

Kimberly Lee wants to help you harness the magic of images, imagination, and intuition using clippings, scissors, and glue: “One of my favorite ways to decompress is to turn on some chill music and sit with a stack of magazines to tear striking images for use in collages.” The writer and creativity coach tells us about starting her mornings with a “glow up,” why this is a time for resilience, and how she’d conduct her orchestra — “while wearing a great dress!” 

Esalen has always been a place where unlikely things come together — where boundaries blur, where ancient wisdom meets modern inquiry, where the edges of what we think we know dissolve into something richer, wilder, and more alive. It’s a place built for experimentation, for transformation, for the kind of creative collisions that leave you altered. And that’s exactly what’s happening here: a pop icon and a Carnatic virtuoso, two seemingly divergent worlds, fusing into something unexpected. It’s music as medicine, music as reinvention. It’s also a story about homecoming — the way Esalen has a way of calling people back to themselves.

Gather your family and loved ones around the dining room table for the delicious flavors of Esalen made right in your own home! We asked sous chef D3 for step-by-step instructions to make an Esalen favorite that happens to be the ultimate comfort food.

Perry and Johanna Holloman, intimate partners and friends for over three decades, open up about their current state of being and what it’s like to teach at "the most beautiful retreat center on earth."

Our first female general manager on her friendship with Fritz Perls and ushering in her brand of equality: “I realized how much power men seemed to have. Or, more accurately, how much of my own power I had been giving away. I learned to tap into my own power and speak up without hesitation.” Beverly Silverman takes us back to Esalen’s early days for a story of personal discovery and growth.

Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. In anticipation of her spring workshop, Embracing the Divine Feminine, Elizabeth Philipose shares thoughts on how to awaken the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity.

Our March slate of workshops is packed with brilliant opportunities for growth, resolution, self-reflection, and emotional connection. Since we can’t partake in them all, we’re enjoying recommended reads by (and suggested by) workshop leaders to absorb some knowledge from the page as the next best thing.

There’s a new feature recently installed on campus designed for you to engage with nature under a canopy of redwood branches. Next time you’re with us, climb on and gaze up at the world above.

Daniel Gloyd shares his thoughts on fatherhood, Andy Warhol, and how Mr. Fred Rogers incorporated belonging and trust into his beloved neighborhood. The designer and research expert talks about the causal relationship between inspiration and creativity, along with the concept of warmth as an essential principle of connection: “We need it now more than ever.”

Hawah Kasat on why nature is his greatest love and what makes witnessing transformation “pure joy.” The celebrated teacher, author, and documentary filmmaker imagines the mind of a jellyfish, considers the language of music, and explains that returning to ritual and community during challenging times is more than a solitary act: “[It’s] something woven into the people and spaces that support me.”