The Esalen Journal

For decades, Esalen's Farm and Garden has offered students a rich forum for experiential learning. This tradition continued recently when Farm and Garden Manager Thomas Leahy along with Chris Omer and Neil Howe welcomed high school students from Marin Academy for a day visit to Esalen.

One of the unique offerings at Esalen, for learners of all ages, has been the opportunity to extend the typical week-long or weekend workshop experience and engage in a more immersive month-long study experience. Previously known as Work Study, the Residential Study program was paused during Esalen’s temporary closure last year and recently re-emerged with a new focus on creating stronger connections, offering more study hours, and developing deeper awareness of Esalen practices.

Our earliest attachment experiences serve as models for relationships throughout our lives. Without realizing it, our attachment patterns influence our attractions, how we relate to partners, and even whether or not a relationship lasts. This helps explain why we keep winding up in the same relationships.

A scientist, educator, activist, and author of many bestsellers including The Tao of Physics, Fritjof Capra has helped to connect conceptual changes in science with broader changes in society. His most recent book, The Systems View of Life, integrates the biological, cognitive, social, and ecological dimensions of life into one unified vision.

In the middle of a career shift, WisdomWomen founder Michelle Stransky took a huge leap into the unknown. As she navigated the transition, she followed her curiosity and soon pinpointed her next endeavor: to create an experimental space for women to develop and share their gifts as leaders. WisdomWomen was born, and Esalen — with its long history as fertile soil for breakthrough ideas and social movements — was a natural place for it to emerge.

When Esalen Massage School Director Brita Ostrom arrived at Esalen in 1967, massage already was a part of the Institute’s culture. “It was blossoming out of collaborations among visionary faculty of the time including Charlotte Selver, Bernie Gunther, Molly Shackman, Ida Rolf, and Moshe Feldenkrais, to name a few,” recalls Brita.

Returning seminarians will be greeted by some new faces this winter, including new residential study students and a new Esalen kitchen chef. Meanwhile, workshops offer a mix of familiar names such as Byron Katie and Chungliang Al Huang – who celebrated 50 years of teaching at Esalen last month – and emerging voices such as Charles Eisenstein. While a recent article in the New York Times touched on new areas Esalen is exploring, there's much more to the story.

Esalen executive chef Nerina Perez has always been a bold adventurer in the realms of food. On Cape Cod at the age of seven, she dug her own clams, cracked them open herself, and slurped them down raw…and she hasn’t stopped since. After joining our staff during the tumultuous period of Esalen’s closure earlier this year, Nerina dived into the Esalen experience with the same enthusiasm and sense of adventure she brought to consuming mollusks.

Esalen faculty Paul Selig says he plays second fiddle in his courses, and he’s not just being humble. Paul is a channel; he receives teachings directly from sources he calls the Guides, and so far the Guides have a lot to say. Through Paul, they’ve produced six books of teachings, and Paul says that at least 100 pages of the two most recent books came through during Esalen courses. “Esalen has really become ground zero for the work that I do,” says Paul.

Note: During the height of the Cold War, Esalen launched the Soviet-American Exchange Program, and a series of Soviet-American citizen diplomacy gatherings, organized by Michael and Dulce Murphy and others. At these meetings held at Esalen, Joseph Montville coined the phrase "track-two diplomacy", which is now a well-recognized diplomatic method. This work led to the first spacebridges which enabled Soviet and American citizens to speak directly with one another via satellite communication, along with multiple other projects.

Anne Watts carries the human potential movement in her DNA. As the daughter of pioneering author and philosopher Alan Watts, she grew up with people like Aldous Huxley, Charlotte Selver, and Ram Dass discussing the nature of human consciousness around the dinner table. While deeply influenced by her father, Anne forged her own path to become an educator, mediator, and counselor devoted to helping people live life from a place of authenticity and love.

Traveling to Esalen for the first time? Or the 10th time? Be sure to take a look at Esalen’s revitalized Experiential Program schedule when you arrive to see what’s offered during your stay. Posted on the bulletin board in the Lodge, the Experiential (previously “Movement”) Program schedule offers diverse and unique ways that guests can experience Esalen beyond the workshop.

Do you remember the moment you experienced Esalen for the first time? We’ll be sharing occasional stories from our greater Esalen family on their journey to Esalen and how they bring Esalen into the world. Vaishali Chadha is a transformational coach, inspired in part by her work at Esalen.

Not long after Hurricane Harvey made landfall last month as a Category 4 hurricane, caregivers throughout the Houston-area were reaching out to support others in need – even when many of their own homes were flooded. Esalen faculty David Kessler, an expert in grief and healing, went to Texas to assist a number of these caregivers. What he experienced, including a stranger delivering pizza, surprised even him.

Tensions between the United States and Russia are running high. The current political landscape, government investigations, economic sanctions, and media portrayals of both countries keep U.S.-Russia relations divisive. Continuing Esalen’s long tradition of creating new dialogue where walls once stood, the Institute is taking an active role to initiate and strengthen a more positive cultural exchange between Russia and the U.S.

Dance connects us to our bodies and hearts, and drumming creates a primal link to the pulse of all life. Esalen faculty Cida Vieira has made it her life’s work to share Brazilian traditions of dance and percussion through performance, choreography, and experiential teaching.

Life these days can be busy, to say the least. Even when we have a couple of hours to relax, our bodies may remain in “flight or fight” mode anticipating stress to come. Only by giving ourselves an extended break from daily routines can the body and mind really reset. Why not give yourself the gift of time at Esalen to unwind old patterns and rejuvenate your whole self?

The Esalen Kitchen feels like home to new General Manager Terry Gilbey. “If the Lodge is the heart of Esalen, the kitchen is the heart of the Lodge,” he says. During the Institute’s extended closure, Terry had been asked to step in as the kitchen’s manager – a role he will keep as he finds his zone of genius to be cooking up both delicious food as well as ideas. ‍

These days, we seem to live in a time of unprecedented challenge. Climate change, social and economic inequality, political turmoil, and other headline news can illicit feelings of worry and frustration that deplete our capacity for positivity.

Esalen's sturdy roots have been essential as Ben Tauber, an entrepreneur with an interest in somatic practices, assumed leadership at Esalen during an unprecedented closure resulting from landslides and a bridge failure. As founding partner of Velocity, an executive coaching company based in Silicon Valley, Ben has both the passion and experience for helping individuals and organizations realize their highest potential.

In just a few weeks the new Esalen catalog will become available. This new season of workshops, held July through December, have been curated to provide a breadth of experiences to inspire your creativity, help you articulate your vision, deepen your relationships, connect you to nature, body, and soul, and much more.

Seeking a way to step more intentionally into this new year? Esalen’s Residential Education Coordinator Crystal Farmer shares her tips for celebrating the path ahead by acknowledging the many gifts you already have…

At the twilight of a year marked by cultural and political divisions, one of the great scholars of world religions Professor Huston Smith passed. He was 97. Author of The World’s Religions, which is widely credited for expanding society’s awareness and appreciation for various faith traditions, much of Professor Smith’s life work was dedicated to exploring faiths of different origins. He taught at Esalen for a number of years, most recently in 2010.

A new year naturally signals a fresh start for many of us, with a desire to leave behind those habits and behaviors that no longer serve us. Licensed psychotherapist, yoga practitioner, and frequent Esalen teacher Ira Israel is writing a new book, How To Survive Your Childhood Now That You’re An Adult: A Path to Authenticity and Awakening, that captures how we can choose a different way of being.

In February 1995, singer and songwriter Jewel emerged on the national scene with what would become one of the best-selling debut albums of all time. Twenty-two years later, she will lend her familiar voice in a new way as a featured speaker at the annual conference of Wisdom 2.0.

Many changes came to Esalen this year, some greatly anticipated such as the completion of the Lodge renovation, while others were unexpected and tested our greater Big Sur community. Here are just a few of the memorable events from 2016:

Just a year ago, former Wisdom 2.0 staffer Michelle Stransky was preparing to see her vision of a community of women leaders come to life at the first-ever gathering of WisdomWomen at Esalen. Many of those in attendance became WisdomWomen founding members and have helped to create a community seeking to build our world from a different paradigm.

In this season of troubling darkness and inspiring light, we lean into our gratefulness practice, remembering the blessings and joys of friends like you as you offer gifts of resources and support for Esalen and for all our great work together. Most precious of all is your companionship on the journey, as we walk together the paths of transformation in this challenging age.

This delicious take on a favorite winter squash combines beautifully with the earthy flavor of Shiitake mushrooms. Enjoy!

What exactly is the mind? Neuropsychiatrist, best-selling author, and Esalen teacher Daniel Siegel poses this question – and invites readers to join him on a personal and professional journey to discover possible answers – in his new book, MIND: A Journey to the Heart of Being Human.

As CEO of the Stand & Deliver Group, Peter Meyers consults with organizational and political leaders as well as artists and athletes. He and his team of 40 consultants foucs on developing leaders and their teams to inspire great performances. Oftentimes that ability is achieved through the power of storytelling – a talent Peter began to develop more than 30 years ago working as a Gazebo Park School teacher.

Against the backdrop of the Himalayan foothills, two great spiritual masters and good friends came together to celebrate a birthday. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Archbishop Emeritus of Southern Africa Desmond Tutu spent a week in friendship and conversation, culminating in what they now describe as a birthday gift to the world and an invitation to joy: The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World.

Every year, hundreds of volunteers come through the Farm & Garden to open their hearts and minds while getting their hands a little (or sometimes a lot) dirty in land that has been thoughtfully cultivated for more than 40 years. The volunteer program is a wonderful way to experience Esalen for a day by working closely with our Farm & Garden staff in the morning, and then having the afternoon free to walk the grounds, take a soak in the baths, and even stay for dinner in the newly restored Lodge.

Ken arrived at Esalen in 1970 and stayed until 1974, years that predate Esalen’s current Work Scholar program. During this time, Ken would write his first book, Bodymind, and ultimately credits Esalen as the place where he “…dreamed up 10 books while in the baths, looking up at the stars.” Ken would return to Esalen to lead workshops on the body and mind in addition to his work as a psychologist, gerontologist, and best-selling author. Maddy Dychtwald is a nationally recognized author and leading expert on the changing demographic trends shaping society today. She and Ken co-founded the company Age Wave in 1986 to pioneer the exploration of the impact of the longevity revolution.

Marion Hunt and her brother Terry Hunt will receive the Spirit of Esalen Award during Esalen’s Benefit Weekend next month. The Hunts will be recognized for the visionary philanthropic support they have given to Esalen over the years through the Roy A. Hunt Foundation, as well as for their long and deep involvement with the Institute.

At many preschools, the day begins inside. At Gazebo School Park, the day begins and ends on a one-acre outdoor meadow featuring reading nooks, art spaces, a children’s theater, and a farmhouse classroom for rainy days. Founded nearly 40 years ago, the early childhood center serves the families of seminarians and faculty as well as Esalen community members and local Big Sur residents.

Construction on the Lodge’s Huxley meeting room, built upon the foundation of the original Huxley and elevated to a new second floor, is completed this month in time for its namesake’s July birthday. Aldous Huxley was a seminal inspiration to Esalen co-founders Dick Price and Michael Murphy; his belief in “human potentialities” infused the very foundation of Esalen. The writer and philosopher, known for such works as A Brave New World and The Doors of Perception, passed away in 1963.

In early 2008, Cole Cottin and Dan Phelps were invited to visit Esalen’s Farm & Garden as part of a larger group of farm apprentices from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Eight years, and two children later, the UC Santa Cruz graduates left their home in Kansas to return to the West Coast to become the farming family in residence at Esalen.

Ingredients: 2 bunches of fresh asparagus, in season Lemon-Miso dressing Small handful of chives, thinly sliced Toasted sliced almonds (optional)

This Fall, Charles Eisenstein will be one of a number of featured speakers and artists participating in Esalen’s Benefit Weekend celebration. Charles is author of Sacred Economics and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible and has taught workshops at Esalen, including participating in an upcoming Conversations on the Edge in September. His work focuses on themes of civilization, consciousness, money, and human cultural evolution.

Cultivation of fresh, chemical-free produce is just one of many healing characteristics of the Farm and Garden at Esalen. Over the past four decades, Esalen has touched the lives of countless beginning farmers, and grown their abilities to nurture healthier relationships between others and the environment – starting with the soil. In April, Esalen welcomed its newest class of Farm and Garden Apprentices to participate in the newly expanded year-long program in Community Agriculture.

Many times those who are supporting and leading positive social change within their communities also may need support in their personal lives. Esalen is proud to be a co-creator of The Wellbeing Project, a program focused on helping social entrepreneurs lead healthier and more balanced lives. The catalyst of this project, Aaron Pereira, shares his story with us.

Connecticut native Julie Benefico travelled across the country to find her home...at Esalen. “I had heard about Esalen from my mom’s friend,” recalls Julie. “She had been going there for years. I had dropped out of college and I was trying to find myself. She suggested the Work Scholar program.”

This July, Dr. Francis Lu and Brother David Steindl-Rast will be hosting their annual seven-day seminar on mindful viewing of film, particularly those which feature Japanese and Western perspectives. Francis, the Luke & Grace Kim Endowed Professor in Cultural Psychiatry, Emeritus, in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis, and Brother David, noted author, psychologist, and Benedictine monk, have been co-leading these workshops at Esalen since 1990.

Summer Lall is a board certified music therapist who works at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services in Los Angeles. She is also the founder of the organization Rhythm & Truth Music Therapy which seeks to empower at-risk youth. We recently spoke to Summer about what her Esalen experience has meant to her and how scholarship made it possible for her to be at Esalen.

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.

Sierra Botanica founder Rachel Berry has a passion for both herbal medicine and empowering others to live a healthier life. This past month she celebrated her fourth year teaching at Esalen, returning to the Farm & Garden to guide others in identifying and harvesting plants to make into oils, creams, and salves for “do it yourself” organic skin and body care.

In 1995, I had just sold my first company and needed to recharge and renew myself. I decided to attend a workshop at Esalen with Dr. Joan Borysenko, the noted brain scientist. The first evening of her workshop, Joan asked each of us to state our intention for the weekend.

Years ago, visitors to the area where the Esalen Lodge now stands would have been greeted by a landscape of northern coastal scrub and sage scrub – much of it subsequently cleared for cattle grazing. What they wouldn’t have seen, according to Esalen Grounds Manager Christina Dauenhauer, were pine trees.

These are just some of the suggestions by Esalen staff who, as artists themselves, embrace Esalen’s natural beauty to foster and spark their creativity. Some, like longstanding community member Daniel Bianchetta and technology specialist Kyle Evans, express their creativity through photography. Their work can be seen in the latest Esalen catalog and is also available for purchase in the bookstore.

More than 20 years ago, Mary Anne Will came to Esalen as a work scholar and has remained a vibrant member of the community ever since. This month marks Mary Anne’s – or MAW as she is known to many – departure from Esalen, though she plans to continue to facilitate groups and open seats.

Regeneration, rebirth, resilience, revival, relationship… Elders and youngers of the farming persuasion circled round for a week of connecting and spinning yarns around these themes and more late January at Esalen. These agrarians, like anyone else involved in the burgeoning food movement, fuel their work with a passion for creating positive change that ripples outward and effects virtually every big issue we as a species currently grapple with: climate change, world peace, social justice, biodiversity, physical, spiritual, and mental health… the list goes on.

For years, renowned mythologist and lecturer Joseph Campbell would celebrate his March 26th birthday at Esalen. Known for his groundbreaking book The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the former Sarah Lawrence College professor’s research in mythology and comparative religions would inspire multiple generations as well serve as the creative catalyst behind such blockbusters as Star Wars and Watership Down.

This year’s Benefit Weekend will feature performances by a variety of artists including award-winning vocalist Geeta Novotny (http://www.geetanovotny.com). Geeta, which means song of life in Hindi, is a musician and classical singer who has performed at Carnegie Hall and The Metropolitan Opera House. Today she maintains a voice studio in Los Angeles and offers a unique Vocal Immersion Sound Bath experience that promotes healing and wellness.

Gourmet organic chef, author, and Esalen faculty Leslie Cerier shares a vegetarian twist on sushi.

For Republic of Georgia native Mzia Dalakishvili, Esalen’s Gazebo Park School felt like home the first time she stepped foot in the outdoor school. She had been working as a Gestalt therapist when an educational program brought her to the U.S. and to a tour of Esalen. Her teacher, Felicia Carroll, had been a Gazebo teacher.

More than 25 years ago, Wisdom 2.0 founder and author Soren Gordhamer came to Esalen as an Extended Student from Lubbock, Texas. He was introduced to Esalen by way of his father, a single parent who made annual treks to Big Sur as his one trip away from the family. Today Soren is the catalyst behind Wisdom 2.0, an annual event where 3,000 people from more than 20 countries and a variety of sectors and disciplines come together with a shared desire to live with greater wisdom and meaning using technology to create a more open and healthy culture. Past speakers have included the founders of Facebook, Twitter, and eBay, along with spiritual teachers like Eckhart Tolle.

There’s a gathering happening, according to entrepreneur Alison Raby, a tribe of tribes where circles are coming together to touch and connect. “There’s a quote by Thich Nhat Hanh that says, 'It is possible that the next Buddha will not take the form of an individual. The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing lovingkindness, a community practicing mindful living. This may be the most important thing we can do for the survival of the Earth.' I believe that the next Buddha may be community of communities. That’s what I’m really seeing happening with Shift2016.”

What if the building you worked in was designed to optimize your health and wellbeing while also producing enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements? The latter is the definition of a zero energy (or net zero) building. The number of zero energy commercial buildings has doubled from 2012 to 2014, according to the New Buildings Institute, and speaks to a growing awareness of a different approach to building design.

How can we as individuals transform society? How can film entertain, uplift, and enlighten? How can we build community around transformation?