Esalen News

In shaping the workshop calendar, we ask ourselves, what does the American countercultural movement look like in 2025? Who is midwifing that which our society is ready to birth? What topics and teachers does the human potential movement beckon in now? What alchemical experiments are underway, transforming and transmuting individuals, communities, societies, and beyond?

Those of us who live at Esalen and in Big Sur, who were “stuck“ on the island during the recent closure of Highway 1 due to a slip out at the Rocky Creek Bridge, produced some truly beautiful ways to come together in community. In the face of sudden calamity, we choose to embrace joy.

What does it mean to reach toward your growing edge? It might involve some discomfort, perhaps a bit of vulnerability. There is an activated art to pushing into what we typically avoid, and it takes a bit of self-aware stretching to move beyond our fears. Esalen is now producing its own homespun programming — Esalen Deep Growth Experience (EDGE), a new transformational accelerator, to help you explore your edge.

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!

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.

Rebirth is right around the corner. With spring not far off, we welcome the launch of LEEP (Live Extended Education Program, formerly the work study or work scholar program). Each month, transformation awaits 12 students from around the world.

We've got brand new collections for kids and babies, newly-designed hoodies and tees that honor our sacred place on earth, gifts for rituals, energy, candle gazing, or cozying up at home. We have digital gift certificates too! Each purchase from our online store supports our programs and the land.

What’s in a bag? Aside from your essentials, there is a story behind our latest must-have from the book store. Find out how a simple stop over at a coffee shop turned into our new item of the season.

Esalen has always been a tricky place to summarize — how do you capture an expansive experience into a static piece of text? But anything is possible with enough creativity and love, so we are pleased to share our newly published 2020 Annual Report.

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."

The upheaval and change of the past 12 months leaves us all looking for a new way forward. Here at Esalen, conversations about our role in helping to heal this collective trauma are constant. Our new summit series, The Way Forward, is an outgrowth of these internal discussions. As we move into this important but difficult work, we wanted to share some insight into what we’ve been grappling with internally and the work we’re invested in thus far.

Earlier this year, Emmy-award winning journalist, author and yoga instructor Christine Chen joined us as the host of Esalen Live! on Facebook. Christine interviews Esalen faculty and change agents about timely topics — coping with the pandemic, perspectives on racial justice, and overall well-being.

“Esalen is a mecca for mythic transformation,” says Corinne Bordeau, co-founder of the Esalen Inspirational Film Festival, “and that is the heartbeat of the upcoming 25th anniversary celebration Chris Vogler’s book, The Writer’s Journey.” The online event on Oct. 22, 2020 is free to the Esalen community.

Since 1980, Track Two: An Institute for Citizen Diplomacy, formerly the Russian American Center, has provided new spheres of influence for Esalen. For Track Two, in partnership with Esalen's Center for Theory & Research, traveling to Russia, the Middle East and now the Far East, brings with it the culture and practices that Esalen embodies.

Bedding, pillows, bath textiles, specially-designed furniture and eco-friendly cleaning supplies suddenly capture the spotlight at Esalen as it moves deeper into a commitment to expand diversity in the business as well as its eco-consciousness.

Earlier this year, when Esalen temporarily closed its doors to the public during the pandemic, Esalen Farm & Garden stewards still working and living in the community asked the question: “How can we be of support to those close to us?” Their answer: a free, experimental Community Supported Agriculture program to share produce with local households.

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?”

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."

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.

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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.

In June 2017, Esalen found itself physically isolated from the larger world. Significant landslides along Highway One in Big Sur had cut off access to the Institute from both the north and south. A small team remained on campus to care for the land, but access remained blocked to faculty and workshop participants.

With spring in full bloom, now is the perfect time to get outside, soak up the sunshine and get your hands dirty! Gardening with children of any age is a wonderful way to connect with the seasons and each other while cultivating flowers, herbs and vegetables for the whole family to enjoy.

For many people who grew up before the digital revolution, free play outdoors was a standard part of childhood. Today, increased screen time, more indoor extra-curricular activities and even diminished school recess have changed the landscape of childhood.

Writer and filmmaker Annabel Teal has joined Esalen’s Board of Trustees with a desire to help envision new ways for Esalen to engage with storytellers. In addition to Teal’s appointment, Esalen also announced trustees Chip Conley and Ben Tauber have concluded their tenure on the board as each pursue new ways to advance human potential.

After a year of experimentation and exploration, including piloting programs at Esalen and Big Creek Reserve, Big Sur Park School began its spring 2019 session on April 1st. The early childhood program with a relational, ecological-based curriculum has secured an agreement with Esalen at Gazebo Park, the one-acre outdoor meadow that was home to Gazebo Park School for 40 years.

Although they were born well after the collapse of the Soviet Union, a group of Russian and U.S. college students gathered in St. Petersburg last September in an attempt to find common ground in a world reverberating not only with echoes of the Cold War, but also new media-fueled disinformation.

From its earliest days, Esalen served as a Western gateway for Eastern philosophies and practices through the teachings of such visiting scholars as Alan Watts and Chungliang Al Huang as well as Esalen’s own co-founder Michael Murphy and former president, the late George Leonard.

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.

What happens when we give ourselves the gift of unstructured time? Inspiration, healing and peace of mind have room to blossom when we unwind everyday stress and let ourselves truly relax into inner stillness. Out of that spaciousness come daydreams, new ideas and clarity about what’s true now and what lies ahead.

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.

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.

Jay Ogilvy has recently stepped down from the Esalen Board of Trustees but, thankfully, will not be abandoning his association with us. We are immensely grateful for this association because he brings an extremely broad perspective to Esalen’s thinking about its future activities and a deep familiarity with our aims and capacities.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. ‍

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?

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.”