We live in times of high existential stress. You are not alone if you're experiencing the unease of ever-increasing personal, societal, and global pressures — the constant pain of witnessing widespread social injustices and devastating ecological crises. These shared challenges create opportunities for us to heal from within in order to heal the world — to reconsider our relationships to self, one another, and the planet — to choose a life of peak purpose, interconnectedness and interdependence. 

Esalen Institute is excited to present a thoughtful curation of four individual powerhouses in their fields of expertise: Dan Siegel (interpersonal neurobiology), Elissa Epel (science of stress), Rhonda V Magee (soulfulness and the inner work of social justice), and Esselen Tribal Leader, Tom Little Bear Nason — along with the dynamic 5 Rhythms facilitator, Douglas Drummond, American poet, essayist, and naturalist, Diane Ackerman, musicians: Sanga of the Valley, Nichol Chase, and Nick Ayers, and mindfulness teachers, including Caroline Welch and social justice leaders including Ericka Echavarria— uniting to cultivate a fully embodied, immersive week-long festival experience. This unique synergy of leading voices across brain, body, and spirit disciplines is designed to nurture connections not only with your fellow participants, with your own body/mind, but also with your own ancestors, and the ancient, sacred Esselen lands that the Esalen Institute resides upon.

This weaving of the inner and the inter can simply be named as the IntraConnected nature of the wholeness of our fully integrated lives. By looking at these realities through a scientific lens and through indigenous and contemplative practices, you will not only have an immersive Esalen experience, but you’ll also be readying your life for a path forward outside of the Esalen cultural microcosm. Expect a renewed way of experiencing life, a more mindful and socially just way of connecting to other humans, and the profound feeling of the interdependence of our planet with a sense of purpose. This synergy and journey of exploration and intraconnectedness of the self links our inner lives to those of fellow humans and to all of nature — thus, creating deeper ways to bring healing and transformation into our shared world. 

The Come Together Festival of IntraConnectivity and Spirit will be guided by rituals reflecting both indigenous and contemporary wisdom; learning deep lessons from embodied mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, and the sacred hoop — the four directions of the sacred hoop of life. 

Why do we need this? To establish, renew, and recharge our commitments to stewardship of our communities and Mother Earth in these rapidly changing and transformational times.

This campus wide festival of togetherness and intraconnection will involve deep listening, experiential activities, lectures, and discussions. Come ready to receive and to give. We will incorporate ritual, meditation, nature immersion, and movement into each day. 

Come together with Tom Little Bear, Rhonda Magee, Elissa Epel, and Dan Siegel as we create new pathways to sacred connection and explore, learn, laugh, love, and bring healing to ourselves and our world. Everyone is welcome. We especially welcome people working on environmental justice issues and anyone needing restoration and rejuvenation.

Even More Ways to Come Together!

Get a Day Pass for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Monterey County residents with their own off-site accommodations can attend the workshop during the day at a local's rate.