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. And for those ready to deep dive into the ethos of the Institute, we have a bookstore gift bundle offer with three powerful and foundational Esalen texts — the perfect holiday gift.
Christina Grote and Pamela Kramer
Kramer, president of ITP International, the non-profit organization that fosters Integral Transformative Practice® (ITP) in America and abroad, will be leading a workshop this fall to help seekers discover the ever-evolving living platform founded and created by Michael Murphy and George Leonard for growth, well-being, and evolution. Those who cannot attend can still follow the practical path for personal transformation with this easy-to-follow, inspiring guide. The holistic method is presented in three parts — Vision, Practice, and Further Reaches — with a final section devoted to personal practical resources so readers can explore their own capacity for transformation, ”both ordinary and extraordinary,” from anywhere. “This is the first book that provides a comprehensive overview of our past, present and future activities and it gives the fullest account yet of experiments ITP has made to foster supernormal functioning,” writes Michael in the forward.
Pamela Kramer will lead Awaken Your Extraordinary Potential with Integral Transformative Practice® (ITP) with Max Gaenslen, November 14–16, 2025.
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche
“All of us dream whether we remember dreaming or not. We dream as infants and continue dreaming until we die. Every night we enter an unknown world.” Acclaimed dream yoga teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche draws from his own groundbreaking guide to dreaming for his workshop this November. With visualization exercises and practical instructions within a theoretical framework, this is the foundational text for best practices for both lucid dreaming and dream work. “We spend a third of our life sleeping. No matter what we do, however virtuous or non-virtuous our activities, whether we are murderers or saints, monks or libertines, every day ends the same. We shut our eyes and dissolve into darkness.” With the enlightenment provided by Rinpoche, readers can access the deep spiritual potential within sleep that creates deep rest of the body, openness of the heart, and luminous nature of the mind.
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s Sleep Yoga: The Sleep of Clear Light will take place November 3–7, 2025.
Dan Zigmond
Dan Zigmond, a Zen priest, writer, tech veteran, data scientist, and guiding teacher at Jikoji Zen Center reminds us that the Buddha worried we had become too distracted nearly 2,500 years ago — “and that was before paper, let alone smartphones.” He’ll lead Meditation and Modern Life: A Zen Meditation Retreat this month to help seekers start, revive, or deepen their daily meditation practices. Those who can use the Buddha's ageless wisdom to endure the slog of a long workday, difficult bosses, or coworkers — anyone who has to interact with other humans, really — should grab this title. “In the end, happiness and fulfillment at work depend on many of the same things that bring us happiness and fulfillment elsewhere. Like anything worth doing, there are no shortcuts,” writes Dan.
Dan Zigmond will lead Meditation and Modern Life: A Zen Meditation Retreat on November 14–16, 2025 and again January 16–19, 2026.
Jeffrey J. Kripal
Precognitive dreams, telepathic visions, near-death experiences, UFO encounters, and other extraordinary events happen all the time. Jeff Kripal, an intrepid explorer of psychic and spiritual research who co-directs the Center for Theory and Research at Esalen Institute, sees the paranormal experiences dismissed and sneered at by mainstream science. “They’re happening for reasons that we don’t know, but we’re being called to interpret them and tell stories out of them. That’s the deeper argument of the book,” he explained in an interview with The Theosophical Society in America last year. With this title, Kripal invites us to think about these experiences as “an essential part of being human,” As his upcoming workshop listing phrases it: “What happens when we refuse to dismiss mystical, metaphysical, and anomalous experiences as mere fantasy, pathology, or accident? What if these moments — often brushed aside by mainstream discourse—actually reveal deeper structures of consciousness and reality?”
Jeffrey J. Kripal will lead The Soul is a UFO: Understanding and Embracing Transcendence with Kevin Cann on December 5–7, 2025.
Erin Lee Gafill
Fifth-generation California artist Gafill, who has taught arts, crafts, and creative writing programs to children and adults up and down the state’s central coast, will lead a five-day journey of artistic discovery alongside her husband, Tom, titled Awaken The Artist Within: Evolution in December. This immersive multimedia experience will explore an array of mediums, including torn paper collage, color field painting, observational sketching, acrylic and watercolor painting, and free writing. In her delightful memoir, Erin shares stories that have shaped her own personal journey in her inimitable style. From the opening chapter: “This morning after everyone left the house I lit a candle and noticed for the first time the sound the wax makes when ignited. I lit another candle and noticed it again. Have I never noticed this before? I wondered.” Brimming with delight and whimsy, Erin’s inspirational tales will help alight your own creative process.
Erin Gafill will lead Awaken The Artist Within: Evolution with Tom Birmingham on December 8–12, 2025.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
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. And for those ready to deep dive into the ethos of the Institute, we have a bookstore gift bundle offer with three powerful and foundational Esalen texts — the perfect holiday gift.
Kramer, president of ITP International, the non-profit organization that fosters Integral Transformative Practice® (ITP) in America and abroad, will be leading a workshop this fall to help seekers discover the ever-evolving living platform founded and created by Michael Murphy and George Leonard for growth, well-being, and evolution. Those who cannot attend can still follow the practical path for personal transformation with this easy-to-follow, inspiring guide. The holistic method is presented in three parts — Vision, Practice, and Further Reaches — with a final section devoted to personal practical resources so readers can explore their own capacity for transformation, ”both ordinary and extraordinary,” from anywhere. “This is the first book that provides a comprehensive overview of our past, present and future activities and it gives the fullest account yet of experiments ITP has made to foster supernormal functioning,” writes Michael in the forward.
Pamela Kramer will lead Awaken Your Extraordinary Potential with Integral Transformative Practice® (ITP) with Max Gaenslen, November 14–16, 2025.
“All of us dream whether we remember dreaming or not. We dream as infants and continue dreaming until we die. Every night we enter an unknown world.” Acclaimed dream yoga teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche draws from his own groundbreaking guide to dreaming for his workshop this November. With visualization exercises and practical instructions within a theoretical framework, this is the foundational text for best practices for both lucid dreaming and dream work. “We spend a third of our life sleeping. No matter what we do, however virtuous or non-virtuous our activities, whether we are murderers or saints, monks or libertines, every day ends the same. We shut our eyes and dissolve into darkness.” With the enlightenment provided by Rinpoche, readers can access the deep spiritual potential within sleep that creates deep rest of the body, openness of the heart, and luminous nature of the mind.
Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche’s Sleep Yoga: The Sleep of Clear Light will take place November 3–7, 2025.
Dan Zigmond, a Zen priest, writer, tech veteran, data scientist, and guiding teacher at Jikoji Zen Center reminds us that the Buddha worried we had become too distracted nearly 2,500 years ago — “and that was before paper, let alone smartphones.” He’ll lead Meditation and Modern Life: A Zen Meditation Retreat this month to help seekers start, revive, or deepen their daily meditation practices. Those who can use the Buddha's ageless wisdom to endure the slog of a long workday, difficult bosses, or coworkers — anyone who has to interact with other humans, really — should grab this title. “In the end, happiness and fulfillment at work depend on many of the same things that bring us happiness and fulfillment elsewhere. Like anything worth doing, there are no shortcuts,” writes Dan.
Dan Zigmond will lead Meditation and Modern Life: A Zen Meditation Retreat on November 14–16, 2025 and again January 16–19, 2026.
Precognitive dreams, telepathic visions, near-death experiences, UFO encounters, and other extraordinary events happen all the time. Jeff Kripal, an intrepid explorer of psychic and spiritual research who co-directs the Center for Theory and Research at Esalen Institute, sees the paranormal experiences dismissed and sneered at by mainstream science. “They’re happening for reasons that we don’t know, but we’re being called to interpret them and tell stories out of them. That’s the deeper argument of the book,” he explained in an interview with The Theosophical Society in America last year. With this title, Kripal invites us to think about these experiences as “an essential part of being human,” As his upcoming workshop listing phrases it: “What happens when we refuse to dismiss mystical, metaphysical, and anomalous experiences as mere fantasy, pathology, or accident? What if these moments — often brushed aside by mainstream discourse—actually reveal deeper structures of consciousness and reality?”
Jeffrey J. Kripal will lead The Soul is a UFO: Understanding and Embracing Transcendence with Kevin Cann on December 5–7, 2025.
Fifth-generation California artist Gafill, who has taught arts, crafts, and creative writing programs to children and adults up and down the state’s central coast, will lead a five-day journey of artistic discovery alongside her husband, Tom, titled Awaken The Artist Within: Evolution in December. This immersive multimedia experience will explore an array of mediums, including torn paper collage, color field painting, observational sketching, acrylic and watercolor painting, and free writing. In her delightful memoir, Erin shares stories that have shaped her own personal journey in her inimitable style. From the opening chapter: “This morning after everyone left the house I lit a candle and noticed for the first time the sound the wax makes when ignited. I lit another candle and noticed it again. Have I never noticed this before? I wondered.” Brimming with delight and whimsy, Erin’s inspirational tales will help alight your own creative process.
Erin Gafill will lead Awaken The Artist Within: Evolution with Tom Birmingham on December 8–12, 2025.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
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. And for those ready to deep dive into the ethos of the Institute, we have a bookstore gift bundle offer with three powerful and foundational Esalen texts — the perfect holiday gift.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
