The Esalen Journal

“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.

Esalen’s first online retreat was a free community offering entitled “Building Bridges of Belonging: The Inner Work of Healing from Racism and Moving Towards Positive Social Transformation.” More than 60 participants attended the online retreat in early June, which was facilitated by Jessica Hartzell and Lacy Shannon of Esalen's Community and Advancement team, and Programs Specialist Tanja Roos, and led by two Esalen faculty: University of San Francisco law professor Rhonda V. Magee, an expert on mindful teaching and learning, race and law; and Kamilah Majied, a social justice leader and mental health therapist.

As we gracefully attempt to ease our way back out into the world during uncertain times, several Esalen faculty and trusted partners continue to invite us online for connection as a new normal emerges. "I think this time is giving all of us an opportunity to value togetherness,” says Esalen faculty and singer/songwriter Glen Phillips. “Initially, I wanted to start doing online offerings during the pandemic to create a sense of purpose and what I’ve seen is how important a regular check-in like this with others actually is."

For nearly 60 years, we at Esalen have committed ourselves to the exploration and actualization of human potential, a future humanity envisioned in ways at once deeply individual, radically interpersonal, politically active, plurally embodied and genuinely global. The recent national events and protests around the murder of George Floyd on May 25 and the still unrealized dream of a truly inclusive American society have shown us in too familiar and yet fundamentally new ways that we have not lived up to our own legacy.

Esalen faculty and award-winning author of channeled texts Paul Selig has repeatedly been asked: “What comes next during these challenging times?”‍“I don't know what will come next during the pandemic, but I think what has begun will be going on for some time,” says Paul, who leads I Am the Word: The Energetics of Consciousness July 31 through August 2, and in a campus-wide workshop August 2-7 at Esalen.

The late Maya Angelou said: “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.” Those sentiments are particularly apt during the first half of 2020. As we experience waves of uncertainty—from the pandemic to social unrest—opportunities to turn inward abound. From this place, we can ask important questions, such as: “what really matters now?” and “what can I learn from this historic time?”

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.As lead singer/songwriter for Toad the Wet Sprocket, Glen Phillips appreciates the creative process and recognizes the passion that goes behind creating compelling works.

One phrase emerged strongly this spring: “stay at home.” By now, many of us have had time to reflect on our lives, where we have been placing our attention and how we have been directing our life force. These insights are like jewels shining in the shadows of COVID-19.

“There is a great deal of talk about gardens right now and the importance of creating our own self-sufficient food source during these uncertain times,” says Esalen Farm Supervisor Chris Omer. “Gardens can be a cathartic place for healing and reflection. They can open up spaces for personal creativity, curiosity about the natural world around us, collaboration with others and play.”

“One of the teachings of Relational Mindfulness is turning towards rather than away,” says Esalen faculty, dharma teacher and author Deborah Eden Tull. “That principle really addresses the conditioned tendency in our world to turn away from all forms of difficulty, pain, discomfort and challenging emotion because we may not feel adequate to meet it. Instead, we can learn how to turn towards it, welcome it and everything that arises.”

Esalen faculty, author and artist Day Schildkret believes connecting more with nature can be one of the most valuable opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Internationally known for his morning altars, a stunning array of sublime mandalas he creates daily from natural materials, as well as his of book, Morning Altars: A 7-Step Practice to Nourish Your Spirit through Nature, Art and Ritual, Day has inspired people across the globe to be awed with impermanent earth art.

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.

"The most under-utilized technology out there today is the human body,” says Esalen faculty Susan Fisher. “I discovered this when I learned there are nine physiologically different kinds of people and each of them have what we call a ‘Natural Energy’ system. The amount of confusion that comes from not knowing about this is vast. If we don’t have the same natural energy as somebody else, then we each have no clue how the experiences life. It’s fundamentally important to know and so vital now when we’re all experiencing a global crisis because it helps us become more aware of ourselves and understanding of others.”

Russell Delman has dedicated his life to the study of human transformation and is deeply indebted to his more than 40 years of both Zen meditation and marriage. He has helped train more than 2,500 Feldenkrais® practitioners, founded The Embodied Life School and leads The Embodied Life™: Meditation, Guided Inquiry and the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais September 25-27 at Esalen with his wife, Linda.

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.

For more than 30 years Esalen faculty Lisa G. Littlebird has been on a mission to restore community singing and bring it back into the daily lives of others. Her passion has helped many people discover new pathways to what she calls, “communion and release” and to cultivate wellness, mindfulness, empathy and joy.

Esalen faculty and author-musician-speaker Justin Michael Williams wants to help people wake up to their own brilliance. By working diligently at the intersections of social justice, mindfulness and personal growth, Justin’s passion to help others is undeniably strong. Especially now, when a global pandemic has allowed him to look more closely at how we can strengthen our connections with each other.

The current pandemic has created a heightened awareness of the sacrifices made by nurses, doctors, first responders and other caregivers in the face of unprecedented circumstances. Apart from the threat of physical harm, many in the healthcare profession as well as social change professions such as activists and teachers face mental and emotional challenges as well.

Spring is normally a time for optimism in the Esalen Farm & Garden, and despite the current uncertainty in our world, Farm & Garden Supervisor Chris Omer prepares soil beds with the trust that seeds will take root. “In farming, we’re always faced with uncertainty beyond our control based on weather, pests, access to water, disease and more,” Chris says. “But with COVID-19, we still are determined to grow as much food for our community as possible while adjusting our plans when needed according to this ever-changing world.”

This divinely sweet “grown-up” orange juice is packed with minerals, nutrients and enzymes to keep your immune system healthy.

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.

This month marks what would have been Joseph Campbell’s 116th birthday. A revered mythologist who spent many of his birthdays teaching at Esalen, he once said, “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”

Longtime Esalen faculty Jean Houston, PhD, is a philosopher mentored by Margaret Mead and one of the principal founders of the human potential movement. She has written 26 books and is known for her human potential workshops. What inspiring read lies on Jean’s nightstand?

In 1962, Esalen Co-founders Michael Murphy and Dick Price planted the seeds for a remarkable new endeavor. The creation of Esalen Institute was a rare kind of kismet, one that attracted thinkers such as Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Abraham Maslow, Joseph Campbell and Paul Tillich as well as men and women from around the world who wanted to explore new worldviews and ways of growth. The human potential movement was born.

Springtime arrived early this year in the Farm & Garden with warmer weather in February. And while staff hold out for March rains, the landscape offers a surprisingly colorful story to savor.

The Seventh Annual Esalen Inspirational Film Festival (EIFF) comes to life May 3–8 at Esalen, attracting acclaimed filmmakers and film enthusiasts to explore thought-provoking cinema in an interactive environment. This year the festival also welcomes a new artistic director, Trina Wyatt, who was founding director of Tribeca Film Festival and currently serves as founder and CEO of Conscious Good, a community-driven media platform dedicated to raising consciousness.

Esalen faculty Peter Bregman got into leadership coaching in a serendipitous way. He attended a college camping trip “by mistake” and became so intrigued with the concept of outdoor leadership that he went on to form his own company. Culling from some of the wisdom he learned outdoors, Peter is now a coach, teacher and best-selling author, assisting successful people to become better leaders and build more effective teams.

“Dying is the most important thing you do in your life; it’s the great frontier and love is the art of living as a preparation for dying,” says Mirabai Bush, who was a frequent collaborator with the late Ram Dass and is founder and senior fellow at the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society. “Ram Dass taught me that allowing ourselves to dissolve into the ocean of love is not just about leaving this body, it is also the route to Oneness and unity with our own inner being while we are still here. If you know how to live and to love, you know how to die.”

More than a year ago Esalen General Manager and CEO Terence Gilbey embarked on a listening tour to gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs and interests of Esalen seminarians, faculty and friends. “We received positive feedback and great ideas from our community,” says Terence, who also used the opportunity to share updates on Esalen’s progress since the 2017 closure.

Former Esalen trustee and faculty member Chip Conley, whose moniker adorns the Conley Bookstore at Esalen, offers our first book recommendation. Chip is also a bestselling author and a hospitality entrepreneur who at 52 joined Airbnb, embracing the role of a new kind of elder.

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.

Ron Frederick and Timothy J. Beyer are on a mission to enhance the lives of gay men who find it challenging to feel present in their lives and closer to the people they love. In their upcoming workshop, Emotional Mindfulness, Connection and Healing for Gay Men, Ron (pictured right) and Timothy (below) explore the origins of certain fears inherent in gay men, how those fears create a sense of detachment from the wisdom and power within and present guideposts toward empowerment.

On average, human beings take 23,040 breaths a day. Esalen faculty Paul Denniston and Shiva Rea, who have devoted their lives to teaching yoga and helping others uncover deeper truths, see this fact as a golden opportunity to become more present to the inherent wisdom yoga offers and how it allows us to become more connected with ourselves and our community. Paul and Shiva plan to uncover these truths in their upcoming workshops at Esalen—Paul during Grief Yoga™ Teacher Training: Level One, March 1–6, and Shiva (along with Demetri Velisarius) in The Practical Art of Living Flow Spring Regeneration Retreat, April 5-10.

“As a sculptor uses their hands to create out of clay, the masterful Esalen Massage® practitioner sculpts the human body and uses the long stroke for connection, integration, and making contact through the skin, the largest organ in the body,” says Ellen Watson, who has been practicing Esalen Massage for nearly 35 years. This May, Ellen along with other longstanding Esalen practitioners, will be training anew generation of Esalen teachers at the first Indo Asia Pacific Esalen Massage and Bodywork Teacher Training.

In conversation, Marianne Williamson sparks a mix of intrigue and inspiration, often honing in on such deeper questions as: how do we become our best selves? The longtime activist, former 2020 presidential hopeful and bestselling author of A Return To Love and A Politics of Love, joins leaders in business, mindfulness and social change at this year’s Wisdom 2.0.

As a longtime Persian sacred dance artist and teacher who communicates the universal message of Sufi mysticism, Banafsheh Sayyad has witnessed first-hand the power and wisdom that emerge from having a body-based practice. She believes it nourishes our inner flame and creates coherence between our heart, mind and body, especially during chaotic times.

If mindfulness is being in love with the present moment, then play is the most fun access point to that state. In their upcoming workshop, The Power of Play and Human Connection in the Digital Age, Adam Smiley Poswolsky (pictured right) and Brady Gill (below) create a tech-free “playshop” designed to awaken our creative potential and illuminate the wisdom and grace available when we intentionally bring play and playfulness into our lives and our work. Adam, a millennial workplace expert and the best-selling author of The Quarter-Life Breakthrough and Brady, a writer/performer and camp director of Camp Anywhere, a summer camp for grown-ups, share more with Esalen News.

More than 40 years ago, Wes Jackson saw all too clearly that modern agriculture was destroying native soils and was compelled to take action. He co-founded The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, in 1976 to raise awareness on how the ecosphere is self-regulating, that a more sustainable agriculture model needed to be developed and that one of the solutions to the dilemma lied in developing a perennial grain.

George Leonard, president emeritus of Esalen Institute, co-founder of Integral Transformative Practice and a leading voice of the human potential movement, passed away a decade ago this month. As George often would say "... every idea, every intention, every new thought is a new generative form in the universe," and that as human creators, we are tapping and manifesting only a small part of an unlimited potential for imagination, transformation and social progress. In appreciation of George and his continuing legacy, Esalen’s leadership shares their memories and experiences of this remarkable “poet-philosopher.”

Three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Scilla Elworthy is a vibrant example of what we are capable of doing when we see clearly — and take action. When Scilla was just 11 years old, her four older brothers were teaching her how to fire a shotgun at their home in Galashiels, England. In one quick moment, young Scilla did something that forever changed her life path.

David Kessler has spent much of his life assisting others cope and move through grief and his breadth of knowledge has made him one of the world’s foremost experts on healing and loss. In his latest book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, David adds another stage (meaning) to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five grief stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance), which he believes is vital after the loss of a relationship.

As Esalen Institute embarks on a new decade, it does so with a renewed sense of purpose and priorities. Over the last year, General Manager and CEO Terence Gilbey and other members of Esalen’s leadership team have been engaging in a listening tour to help determine how best to increase the Institute’s mission impact in the decades to come. The outcome of these discussions with community members — including Esalen staff, faculty, donors and friends — has resulted in a set of strategic priorities that will drive new changes in 2020.

A new month, a new year and a new decade all converge in January. Collectively, the human race enters brand new territory (a more soul-filled Roaring Twenties, perhaps?) and many people may be seeking ways to invigorate their spirit and experience their true human potential. Questions abound: What new practices can I implement? What new actions can I take? Culling from Esalen’s lineage of teachers, we reveal five ways to truly let the spirit shine even brighter.

When spinach, fennel, apple and cucumber cavort with mint, basil and culinary sage, the result is GayaTree Green, a new fresh juice offering recently introduced at the Esalen Espresso and Juice Bar.“This juice is very special to me and its creation is an intuitive and meditative practice,” says Yzzy Demmon, who has facilitated weekly art and yoga classes on the Experiential Program at Esalen and works in Guest Services.

Throughout the ages, wisdom teachers near and far have invited humanity to pay attention to thoughts and thought patterns that populate the mind. Buddha said, “When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow.” To help us find ways in which we can experience that “purity,” this month we turn to Esalen faculty Ramesh Srinivasan, Chris Murchison and Eve Ekman, all of whom have upcoming workshops at Esalen: Ramesh in Conversations on the Edge: Beyond the Valley – How Innovators Around the World Are Overcoming Inequality and Creating the Technologies of Tomorrow; and Chris and Eve in The Science and Practice of a Meaningful Life: Fostering Purpose through Connections and Dedication to the Greater Good.

Mark Nicolson, an executive coach specializing in leadership and team development for visionary entrepreneurs and catalysts for social change, made it his mission to help people and systems large and small discover the concept of renewal and become re-enchanted with their place and calling in the world. As the co-founder of T12N, an innovative program for realigning self and career, he also helped create pathways for sustaining the changes individuals truly wanted to create. Mark sheds light on this rich topic in his upcoming workshop, Designing the Life We Want: Self-Renewal in the New Year, where he creates a space for us to be vulnerable, undistracted and present.

Davida Taurek has been practicing dance for more than 33 years. During that time, she has witnessed first-hand the powerful impact it can offer, and invites us to create significant shifts in our lives by transforming the physical body and strengthening the body-mind-spirit connection.

The quest to live an awakened life is filled with numerous discoveries that allow us to become present, mindful of our mental activity and more deeply in touch with our physical being. After reaching that initial state of awakening, another desire may emerge: sustaining it. Leaning in that direction is a lovely goal, but understanding what awakening is also vital.

Gabrielle Roth, the passionate creator of the famed 5Rhythms® dance and movement method, once said: “If you just set people in motion, they’ll heal themselves.”And the environment and the people around them, one could add. To be sure, there’s an undeniable uprising of energy that takes place when individuals come together in dance.

Sometime just before the Fall Equinox this year, a soulful group, curious about communal singing in the oral tradition, came together at Esalen for a weeklong workshop that uplifted their spirits and heightened their sense of belonging. But Singing on the Edge, spearheaded by Esalen faculty Lisa G. Littlebird, also managed to illuminate something deeper: That something transformational occurs when we gather together, especially through song.

How do people gather today when they are not tied to a specific religion or belief system? Esalen faculty Jeff Kripal and Dana Sawyer have long been intrigued by this subject and will explore it at length in Conversations on the Edge: America, Spiritual But Not Religious, during the weekend of December 6-8 at Esalen.

For decades, Esalen has been a leader in the application of the Gestalt psychology model to lifelong personal growth, integral education and community life. In August of this year, Esalen’s Staff Education Committee brought to life a Gestalt course for staff led by longtime Esalen faculty Steven Harper, whose work on Gestalt, mindfulness, somatic practices and wild nature as a pathway for awakening, have produced significant ripple effects for individuals near and far.

Three times a week, just after breakfast, as the sunbeams begin to brighten Esalen’s Farm & Garden, and the butterflies, honey bees, and hummingbirds engage in a cosmic dance of life, the Farm & Garden staff meets in another symbiotic process. It’s known as Relational Agriculture and it’s a rich and vibrant example of the powerful ripple effects that can occur when we “come together” with intention.

During the fall months, nature becomes a stellar metaphor for our own self-care. As daylight hours diminish, we’re given more opportunities to invite stillness into our lives, reflect on the events that took place during the months that passed, and consider the ripe, internal harvests that can be collected.

Byron Katie created The Work, a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches us to identify and question the thoughts that can cause suffering, as an opportunity to sink into our vast inner world, notice what we discover there and emerge from it with insights that create personal freedom.

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.

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.

Elissa Epel, Ph.D. is such a passionate expert on stress, she’ll be the first to tell you to not immediately make a mad dash away from it, avoiding it. Rather, by taking a mindful look at our reactions during stressful situations, we can, in fact, “stress” in a good way. And if we have unwanted stressful circumstances, we can use these situations to live even more fully and deeply.

The juice itself is called Farm & Garden Green and it's a garden lover's dream, according to Food and Beverage Supervisor Lisa Hudson. “This ‘un-recipe’ features seasonal ingredients growing in Esalen's Farm & Garden and, of course, that's constantly changing, as is the recipe!,” says Lisa. “The consistent thread you'll find is that it's packed with the freshest, most vibrant greens, veggies and herbs of the season, with just a kiss of sweetness that comes from Meyer Lemons that have grown around the Esalen property for many years.”

This hearty, European style rye bread is a signature offering at Esalen. If you've visited us you've seen it at the bread bar, and likely you've enjoyed a slice of it — toasted or untoasted — perhaps topped with butter, jam or a nut or seed butter.