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Nine. That’s the magic number for the array of personality types that give you a clue about your deepest, authentic gifts. Each personality type indicates patterns of our own behavior based on our human psyche. Christin Chen interviews Russ Hudson, Enneagram Typologist and co-founder of the Enneagram Institute, to find out more.

October 30–November 1, 2026 Day Schildkret

As the weather cools and the kids settle back into in-person classes, September 15 marks National Hispanic American Heritage Month. To celebrate this confluence, we’re recommending some fantastic authors to enjoy with the clever teens and young adults in your life.

Access information about use of the Esalen website, third-party links, and more.

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."

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.”

A cross-country journey lands this chef where he’s meant to be — a place he can nourish both bodies and souls: "I always receive joy when I am able to help others."

Many of us have experienced the power of music to influence our mood; now new research points to the positive impact listening to music can have on reducing the level of the stress hormone cortisol. Many of us have experienced the power of music to influence our mood; now new research points to the positive impact listening to music can have on reducing the level of the stress hormone cortisol in our brain.

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.”

We’ve experimented a lot here at Esalen over 60 years. Check out our latest video that touches on some of the transformative theories and ideas that have sparked innovation and reshaped the fields of education, personal growth, psychology, psychedelics, and somatics over the decades.

Did you know that Friends of Esalen has a book club? This month, we’re reading Dr. Qing Li’s 2018 book, "Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness."

Discover the upcoming mind- and spirit-expanding evening events where boundaries dissolve, curiosity sparks, and new pathways are illuminated. Our spring/summer WEP and SEP schedule features genre-blending performances, literary journeys, collaborative creation, charismatic prayer, and more.

Approaching death, people see they need to heal in three areas, according to Dale Borglum, the founder and Executive Director of the Living/Dying Project. Understanding this concept now can illuminate each day while you’re here on earth.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re reminded of a sobering fact: While most women have a one-in-eight chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime, women with mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes may have as much as a four in five chance, and are more likely to develop cancer at an early age.

This podast episode aired on Jan 13, 2026. Listen to it now.

For April, we’re focused on the concept of healing and the myriad ways Esalen’s visitors can mend from life’s many wounds while here on campus. There are many paths to recovery and transformation — and multiple dimensions that require us to harness powerful forces to achieve some form of restoration. To this end, we’ve selected five books with varied themes, disparate concerns, and radically diverse forms of healing, though ultimately the peace and harmony they are reaching for are all part of a very unified whole.

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."

In anticipation of her upcoming workshop, Embodying Joy: Black Wisdom Traditions of Liberation and Healing, Buddhist mental health therapist, clinical educator, and professor of social work Kamilah Majied shares about her work, achievements, and current state of mind: “Joyfully determined to advance justice.” To that end, the author of Joyfully Just shares personal heroes (both in life and fiction), mantras, and more — including one inspiring quote from Sojourner Truth about “going home.”

John Vosler says he wants to “share everything he has to share” — and he proves that by opening up about his values, his inspirations, and the miraculous happiness he gets seeing his students grow and heal. The multi-lineage Yoga Nidra educator and energetic bodyworker talks about listening to his nervous system, his desire for a bird’s perspective, and the idea of living at Esalen for a full month: “I’m in!”

This podast episode aired on Sep 12, 2022. Listen to it now.

Esalen Institute has announced that Executive Director Ben Tauber will be shifting roles, stepping away from daily management of the nonprofit organization and returning to his role as a member of the Board of Trustees. This change will be made effective the end of this month. General Manager Terry Gilbey will oversee operations as well as workshop programming and fundraising moving forward.

Holistic therapist, ceremonial leader, and teacher Carlos Sauer shares his worries for the rainforest, the joys he receives from interacting with the spirit world, and his current wish: “that we can all learn from Native peoples how to be kind to one another.”

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.

Susan Hess Logeais’s thought-provoking new documentary 'The Way of the Psychonaut' explores the life and work of longtime Esalen scholar-in-residence Stanislav Grof, a Czech-born psychiatrist and psychedelic psychotherapy pioneer.

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.

Psychotherapist, researcher, poet, teacher, facilitator, and author Shannon Algeo talks about the poetic questions, curious minds, deep listeners, and great writers he admires and why he fears holding back most of all: “That something deep inside me would somehow fail to find its way forward into this wild and precious world.”

Certified nature therapy guide, mindfulness teacher, and Emmy-nominated filmmaker Sylvie Rokab speaks “four and a quarter” languages, dreams of life as a very pampered housecat, and calls the natural world her “greatest love.”

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Esalen co-founder Dick Price, who died in a hiking accident in Hot Springs Canyon. “Dick Price’s influence lives on at Esalen in countless ways, among them our emphasis upon psychophysical healing, intelligent risk taking, independence from cult, and regard for each person’s uniqueness,” said Michael Murphy, co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Esalen’s Board of Trustees. “He embodied a wondrous combination of strength and compassion, skepticism about extravagant claims, and freedom from dogma. He was a great partner when the going got tough. For me, he was a comrade for the ages.”

Expand your world and discover freedom with the strokes of your own paintbrush. Michele Cassou, founder of Point Zero Painting, explains how to let go of the rules and embrace all the layers of life.

eZine is devoted to one of the longest running series of meetings ever sponsored by Esalen's Center for Theory and Research.

Joining Esalen as the new Healing Arts & Somatics Director is a homecoming of sorts for Douglas Drummond. Raised in New Zealand, in a family he describes as composed of either lawyers or massage therapists, Doug experienced at an early age the spectrum between the logical and the creative.

We delve into books for so many different reasons: guidance, knowledge, curiosity and oftentimes to lose ourselves in a captivating tale that can take us to the farthest stretches of our imagination. Esalen faculty and author Steve Almond shares his insights on the book he found to be a true “page-turner.”

Acupuncturist Jiling Lin and yoga therapist Paula Wild, teachers of The Five Elements of Yoga & Chinese Medicine workshop coming this fall, reveal a desire to speak the language of music, to be resiliently playful, to re-embody mountains, come back as a blue whale, and more.

Several Esalen faculty chart new territory during COVID-19 with free online offerings designed to strengthen community and stimulate the heart, mind, body and spirit. "Although we need to socially isolate right now, I felt called to offer opportunities to breathe and move together, and to make these opportunities as accessible as possible by offering them for free," says Esalen faculty and yoga instructor Noah Mazé.

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.”

During challenging times, we can turn to the plant world to discover some of our greatest allies. Esalen faculty, herbalist and acupuncturist Darren Huckle knows this all too well and relishes the fact that herbal allies powerfully promote the health of our body, mind and physical energy.

Whether you’re forest bathing or taking a plunge into an ocean wave, more and more health professionals are recognizing the importance of nature to our sense of wellbeing. When Dr. Wallace J. Nichols began work on his groundbreaking book Blue Mind over a decade ago, the tie between wellness and the environment was just beginning to emerge. The marine biologist and avid traveler knew intuitively that being in, under, and around water created a positive impact on our emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing; his curiosity to learn more set him on a 10-year journey to document the science behind it.

“Consciousness is never static or complete but is an unending process of movement and unfoldment,” noted David Bohm, the late American scientist and theoretical physicist of the 20th century whose unorthodox ideas to quantum theory, neuropsychology and the philosophy of mind are given the spotlight in Infinite Potential: The Life and Ideas of David Bohm.Directed by Paul Howard, the compelling documentary was scheduled to be screened at the Esalen Inspirational Festival this year before the pandemic forced many events to be postponed. Now, the Fetzer Memorial Trust is offering a free online screening on June 20 to the Esalen community.

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.”

Cultural sociologist and Gomti River ceremonialist Roksana Badruddoja tells us about connecting to hir (pronoun of choice) ancestors through ritual, drawing strength from decolonial feminist teachings, and remembering that “spirituality is an act of resistance and reclamation.”

The author of the New York Times bestseller Thought Revolution spent a decade researching and developing a brain-enhancing methodology that tapped into his right brain, which he now refers to as his “better half.” This revolutionized his life, and for nearly three decades, he’s traveled the world sharing this creativity block hack.

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.”

We delve into books for so many different reasons: guidance, knowledge, curiosity and oftentimes to lose ourselves in a captivating tale that can take us to the farthest stretches of our imagination. Esalen News invites our faculty to share what’s on their nightstand and why.

We asked some of our upcoming workshop leaders to share their favorite spots on campus — where they feel Esalen’s mystique and beauty most acutely.

Inspired by the recordings of the acclaimed ethnobotanist, mystic, and psychonaut, Hunter Stroope drove his 1984 VW van to see “the space that held Terrance McKenna and his fringe esoteric thinking.”

eZine is devoted to one of the longest running series of meetings ever sponsored by Esalen's Center for Theory and Research.

One hundred episodes later, Voices of Esalen is still a deep and trusted platform for learning about the self and the soul. For International Podcast Day, host Sam Stern chose five episodes that moved him and inspired many others to dive even further into transformation.

Ask any organic farmer or gardener the key to growing healthy crops and they will reply with some variant of the phrase: “Start with the soil.” Abundant, healthy crops are truly an outgrowth of vibrant soil ecology; with the exception of oxygen and carbon (which plants absorb from the air), plants uptake all of the nutrients they need to build stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits from the soil through their root systems. In order for plants to thrive, it is essential that they have access to all the requisite building blocks for their development, such as nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and sodium. Trillions of microorganisms live in every handful of healthy soil, and these microorganisms effectively “store” nutrients in their bodies until they die, at which time those nutrients become available for the plants in their subterranean neighborhood.

Love and yoga are an alchemy that can turn wounds into wisdom, pain into love. Sianna Sherman kicks off our digital hybrid program with Phoenix Rising and lights up our hearts.

Throughout history, bridges have connected two points and often served as a symbolic marker. A journey from here to there; a time to reflect along the way. This month, as Esalen unveils a new bridge connecting the north and south side of campus, faculty and staff reflect upon what bridges mean to them, the transformational process of creating a new bridge and the positive ripple effects the new structure will create.

Esalen’s Director of Healing Arts, Douglas Drummond opens up about connecting with his indigenous roots, the life wisdom he finds in his family motto, and why he’d like to come back in his next life as a humpback whale.

Danny Angelo Fluker, Jr, the founder of Black Boys OM, talks on expansiveness, sadhana, and why participating with Black American culture “through the unique lens of mind-body-spirit health” brings him the most happiness. The meditation and yoga instructor reveals some personal heroes, reminds us that the divine is all there is, and shares the very best personal motto we’ve ever heard.

The Proust Esalenaire is inspired by a list of thoughts and feelings-inspired questions by the 20th century French writer Marcel Proust. Here at Esalen we have created our own version to dig a little deeper and differently into our incredible faculty and staff, starting with Sianna Sherman and Masood Ali Khan.

With this insightful and diverse assortment, we face the many tests before us and embrace them as a grand set of brilliant opportunities. Everything can be met with grace, and it can all become a chance for growth. And we can rise to any challenge — with support.

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.”

Just as humans benefit from taking time for rest and personal self-care, so do the land and plants at the Esalen Farm & Garden. This is vibrantly visible during the fall months, where cover crops act as a universal metaphor for healthy living.

One year ago, Esalen launched a redesigned month-long Residential Study program that synthesizes a new configuration of study, service, community building and inner growth. Steeped in Esalen’s mission to catalyze deep change in self and society, the program invites students to co-create an immersive experience that facilitates learning and inner transformation.