The Esalen Journal

Birth doula, herbalist, and facilitator of transformational retreats Micha Merrick speaks lovingly about Esalen, harvesting flowers, and her rituals and practices — "There's a lot of pleasure surrounding me as I work" — but it's her "creative flower-child parents" and all the traditional healers who have shared with her their wisdom who make Micha truly grateful.

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. 

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.

“This is where the three waters meet.” You might have heard those words spoken as you stood along the creek — a sacred and rare convergence of mineral, sea, and fresh waters — with the fresh part providing our daily drinking water thanks to Esalen’s innovative in-house water system.

Pursuing your potential is an ongoing process that resonates differently for each of us. Whatever your goals, guidance can often be found from the greats. Look upon their works, but do not despair! Instead, be inspired to grow mighty.

After fluttering around the world, Manon Wilde’s restless spirit suddenly alights at Esalen — for now: “Here, I feel connected, accepted, and valued.”

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.

“I went from hating my body to loving my body,” shares Dave Morin. The concept of accepting our physical selves and the healing power of touch developed holistically for Western curiosity at Esalen. "Celebrating the body and pleasure supported by the freedom of the '60s and '70s became central,” recalls Peggy Horan.

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.

This month, we search for love in all its myriad forms — philosophically, spiritually, bodily, and psychologically. Here are a few titles to deepen your understanding for the type of love you desire.

Guest Services Supervisor Nani Almanza likens finding her way to Esalen during the pandemic to “washing up on the shore of a beautiful island after being lost at sea.”

Sadia Bruce tells us about living enthusiastically, cultural fluidity, internalized belonging, and maintaining her practice: “What we need today will differ from what we’ll need tomorrow.” An expert in breath-based movement, Sadia shares an integrative, vitalizing understanding of embodied movement to challenge her students and also herself: “I heal and grow even as I offer experiences for others to do the same.”

Peggy Horan found her calling in Esalen Massage®. After managing the Healing Arts department at Esalen for over a decade while teaching workshops and leading teacher training programs, the certified meditation teacher now has a coaching practice. She reflects on the summer of ’69 and the Esalen of that very poignant time in American culture. “I wasn't a hippie,” she says. “But I was fringe; I believed in the movement.” Peggy tells the tale of a formative moment: young dreamers discovering themselves through cutting edge spiritual practices and psychedelics — all to a soundtrack by Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez.

The great psychedelic resurgence is upon us. If your curiosity is piqued, we’ve created a reading list that will expand the mind and understanding of psychedelics today while also honoring the galaxy’s most distinguished pioneers: Huxley, Fadiman, McKenna, Grof — each with a long history at Esalen.

As we awaken into the new year, right now is a good time to reflect on how we communicate and share this planet with one another. Tatyana Sanikovich spent a decade at Esalen and currently works as a leadership and career coach. She draws wisdom from her experiences and shares ways to move forward rather than wallow in the spirals of what if and if only.

In her second installment of “Conversations We Should Be Having,” S. Rae Peoples asks activist and publisher Tim McKee, how he thinks white men can meaningfully contribute to and benefit from racial justice.

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.”

Internationally respected psychotherapist, executive coach, and Enneagram JEDI (justice, equality, diversity, inclusion) Dr. Deborah Egerton — "Dr. E," as she’s known on campus — tells us about her faith, greatest achievements, and her Spiritual board of directors: “They lead, but the backup chorus of angels is quite remarkable.”

Did you know we have an online version of our on-campus Bookstore? To help you find the perfect presents for loved ones, dreamers, and seekers in your life, we have curated our 2022 Ultimate Esalen Holiday Gift Guide!

Chef Abi and our Farm & Garden collaborate with The Big Share to bring nutritious foods to our Big Sur neighbors and friends.

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."

CABinS Supervisors Jess Siller and Aaron Willams share their thoughts on service, clearing spaces, and setting the stage for transformation.

Reflecting on 2022, we have so much to be grateful for — thanks to you. As we chart our next 60 years, we count on your continued partnership and engagement in order to expand our offerings and realize our shared aims.

While searching for a workshop, Chef Abi found a new job, a new home, and a new mission: to build “the next compassionate Esalen Kitchen era.”

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.

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.

“Land acknowledgment is not just about those words, but about the actions that come after. It's about actually taking the steps to be in right relations to be an ally, to be a supporter. Acknowledgment is a simple way of resisting the eraser of Iindigenous histories and working towards honoring and inviting the truth.”

“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.

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.

Supporting Indigenous people begins with honoring their history and recognizing their past. This month, we’re checking out titles suggested by the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County to learn the truth of what was and still is.

Leading up to her November workshop, Dr. Sravana Borkataky-Varma gifts our readers with an everyday meditation practice, explores the five elements of the physical body, and reveals how she feels about her own practice and Hindu Tantra: “Meditation to me is when the mirror turns inward.”

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.”

Medicine woman and vice chair for the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County Cari Herthel reflects on the gift of storytelling and her path of recovery. Fueled by ancestral wisdom and life experiences, Cari explains how grief is a teacher and shares her greatest happiness and the power of daily acknowledgment ("a simple thank you, an act of gratitude”).

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!”

Medicine woman and Esselen Tribe of Monterey County elder Cari Herthel shares the medicinal plants that inspire a re-emergence of her sensual and wild self. Herthel will lead a November workshop for a historic collaboration between the tribe and the Esalen Institute to nourish a costewardship of this ancient and sacred land.

Esalen’s Farm & Garden was recently blessed with the kind of abundance that feels straight out of a Roald Dahl book! But rather than one giant peach, we have over 1,000 pounds of squash! So Chef Abi cultivated a variety of delicious dishes — including a nourishing curried soup.

What is American food? Where do treasured family recipes actually come from? Our food sources — what we eat, who makes it, and the family history behind them — frequently have origins that have been rendered invisible. While we may associate food with the experience of American culture, we rarely take the time to move through the nuances and complexities of food as it intersects within this nation’s narrative.

After several different lives — med school, tech startups, naturopathic medicine — Shannon found the one place she’ll always come back to: “Esalen has remained a consistent thread in my life. There’s an undeniable magic here!”

This October, we’re marveling at the medicinal gifts nature provides us. To celebrate Mother Earth and the power plants hold to heal and nurture, we’ve selected titles by some brilliant healers and holders of plant wisdom.

World-renowned for his research on microdosing psychedelics, Jim Fadiman was one of Esalen’s first workshop leaders, and he’s continued a lifelong association with this institute ever since. His books include "The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide: Safe, Therapeutic, and Sacred Journeys", "Be Love Now, Essential Sufism", and "The Other Side of Haight".

Award-winning author (A Master Plan for Rescue, Mary; Mrs. A Lincoln, The Russian Word for Snow) and long-time Buddhist practitioner Janis Cooke Newman reveals the mutually reinforcing powers of writing and mindfulness. She tells us about building community, pearls of wisdom she's gained from fellow writers Sharon Salzburg and Ruth Ozeki, and even one perfect motto from His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Traditional African cosmologist, independent scholar, and multimedia artist Marques Redd tells us about the film that emerged from his spiritual practice and the African healer who wrote his “touchstone” book. With a sense of expansive appreciation, Marques shares a few of his heroes, both historical and literary, and reveals a powerful lesson for persevering through difficult times by “remembering my divine identity and who I truly am.”

As part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Michael Murphy’s mystical bestseller “Golf in the Kingdom”, you have the opportunity to join a Zoom call on Friday, September 23, 2022 with Michael, legendary golf coach Fred Shoemaker, and John Abendroth from Hooked on Golf.

Novelist Vikram Chandra opens up about his happiness, achievements, loves, and challenges. The award-winning author pinpoints every writer’s greatest fear and tells us how choosing the right tools and embracing patience help make art. A true creative spirit, Vikram blesses the musicians — while accepting his own lack of musicality — and explains why giving just one of his readers a single moment of joy is “enough for me.”

Voices of Esalen podcast host Sam Stern shares his own Esalen story, beginning with the history that predates his arrival and continuing through the life, love, purpose, and family he has built around this institution’s ethos.

Akuyoe Graham first journeyed on her own up to Big Sur in pursuit of human potential and individual growth. However, bringing system-impacted teens from Los Angeles to Esalen, an initiative she collaborated on with Programs Director Emerita Nancy Lunney Wheeler, is how they demonstrated collective healing.

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.

To spend time with Michael is to witness a truly iterative human, an intrinsic seeker, and a man of insurmountable curiosity. September 3, 2022 marks Michael’s 92nd birthday, and as we all know, age is “just a number” when it comes to this remarkable human.

Sam Nichilo left the corporate grind and the 30 Rock building back in NYC for a new home in Big Sur. “I no longer feel the pressure to look for what's next,” she says.

“As we attempt to heal the collective and the planet, men’s work is a critical component. We as a society need to unwind toxic programming around masculinity so we can fully show up for our loved ones.” — Adam Christie, Iraq war veteran and In the Company of Men: The Embodied Masculine workshop student.

This month, to honor Women’s Equality day and the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment, we’re celebrating the brave suffragists, learning about other sheroes of American herstory, and considering the challenging future facing us all. Here are four titles to enjoy this August that will inspire us all to strive for even greater equality!

It’s 1970. A smart kid from Newark drops out, grabs his guitar, and heads west to find magic and meaning in Big Sur. Half a century later, Dr. Ken Dychtwald is a psychologist, best-selling author, and world-renowned expert on aging — and yet he's still enchanted by those early days at Esalen.

Suddenly, Josef London had an epiphany: He knew he needed to make the pilgrimage to Esalen. He woke up one morning and realized he did not want to do the next 25 years like he’d done the last 25 years: “I knew I needed to change my life to heal my life, and that I needed to do it somewhere else.”

Jess Siller felt invisible in her corporate job with a soul-sucking two-hour commute. She discovered Esalen while reading a book by Michael Pollan and moved across the country to find a new home — and her authentic self.

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.

Back in the Day is a new feature that spotlights the colorful memories of long-time Esalen community members and alumni — to capture magical moments that happened once upon a time and are still treasured today. We start off by hearing from Brita Ostrom, founding member of the Esalen Massage School, who has been a part of Esalen since 1967.

This month, we’re celebrating freedom while contemplating its many forms. The responsibility of protecting and expanding our liberation is ongoing, noble, and challenging. It’s the work of a lifetime — and we can always reset and start again. Join us this month and try one of these brilliant titles, all available now at the Esalen store.

Shamini Jain, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative (CHI), Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego, and one of our esteemed faculty. Her work blends clinical psychology, psychoneuroimmunology, vocal performance, and East Indian spiritual practices. Here, she eloquently shares with Esalen what inspires her in both work and life.

“Conversations We Should Be Having” is a new column intended to foster meaningful conversations that amplify diverse voices and issues. To start us off, Enneagram + Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, & Anti-Racism Specialist Dr. Deborah Egerton shares her thoughts concerning Juneteenth.

To celebrate Pride Month, we've selected a few of our favorite LGBTQIA titles that reflect on how incredibly far we’ve come — while sitting in recognition of the real inclusive work we still have ahead.