Big Sur is no longer an island! And, come fall, according to Caltrans, we will no longer be a peninsula either! Reopening after the March northern closure of Highway 1 presented a meaningful opportunity for some physical and metaphorical reconnecting. Any time we pause — whether deliberate or not — we are given the space and time to adapt and create something in the interim. For us, that time was about renewing bonds and minimizing our use of resources.
As we transitioned from “island” back to “peninsula” in April and early May, we were working hard to thrive despite the setbacks. A rideshare group was created on WhatsApp. Though the early morning and later afternoon convoys are no longer needed (yay!), and we can now move forward with the two-way traffic lights installed at the north, we still encourage offering a ride for both friendship and sustainability — to minimize individual footprints. With your continued interest, we will keep sharing access to the rideshare group upon your registration.
While healing this land at Mother Nature’s call and growing our relationships — both new and old — we witnessed embodied resilience and community. Together, we have the capacity to forge forward when faced with adversity and breathe a bit more calmly through the fears that inevitably arise from the unknown.
Now that we are back to our relatively normally scheduled programming, we are getting excited about our upcoming celebrations — and you’re invited! Summer is approaching and we are gearing up for Esalen’s official festival season. Kick things off with us in June with Come Together and in July with our Summer Groove series. Let’s stay connected!
Those of us who live at Esalen and in Big Sur, who were “stuck“ on the island, produced some truly beautiful ways to come together in community. We gathered for staff offerings that included breathwork, a 5 Tibetan rites experience, ethnobotany plant walks, ecstatic dance and yoga classes, art nights and showcases, and a film screening of a short narrative documentary, Hum, that was produced here at Esalen. In the face of sudden calamity, we choose to embrace joy!
Being part of the Esalen community means embodying the values of transformation, connection, service, diversity, and curiosity that lie at the heart of our mission. An abundant scholarship fund puts these shared values into action. Together, we can sustain this mission-critical initiative in the years to come. Your support will make the difference!
Ever wonder about the humans who laid the foundations for the structures we enjoy on campus? We’re honoring Selig Morgenrath, Mickey Muennig, and Arkin-Tilt Architects. Today, as one walks the grounds of Esalen, the current melange of structures harmoniously blend into the magnificent landscape — a testament to decades of work by visionary architects and designers who shaped this sacred place over the decades.
Our kale salad recipe is packed with nutrients and has been a staple in the Lodge for decades. We're fortunate to grow organic kale and lemons here at Esalen, making this one of our favorite farm-to-table offerings. Next time you're visiting, take a grounding walk through the field to see exactly where it's growing.
Sign up to get notifications about new workshops
We publish an update of new workshops every two weeks. Be the first to know and sign up! Our workshops fill up and sell out quickly.
In advance of her upcoming June workshop, Poetry and the Page: Writing as a Healing Path, we caught up with renowned astrologer, author, and poet Heidi Rose Robbins to find out how she views both astrology and poetry as “languages of becoming” and how she’d spend a month at the Institute: “I’d steep in the wisdom and love that is woven into the fabric of Esalen,” says Heidi. “Heaven.”
Voices of Esalen host Sam Stern on breakthrough moments: “It’s funny; the best episodes are the ones where something happens emotionally. My interview with Dr. Richard Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems therapy, is so personal it’s almost embarrassing. It’s super raw, but it resonates with our audience. I suppose that makes sense, coming from Esalen.”
Forty-six years after Andrea Juhan’s first visit, the co-founder of Open Floor International remembers the Esalen of the late ’70s — the personalities, the “pillow pounding,” the emphasis on the humanistic principle, and the entirely unique experience of not “making wrong.” (“I don’t know anywhere else that happened.”)
This time, we’re highlighting some classic Esalen texts along with a few hidden gems for an eclectic mix of staff favorites to stimulate curious minds and spirits. Here are a few titles being suggested at the bookstore when guests ask, “What should I read next?”
In advance of her upcoming June workshop, Poetry and the Page: Writing as a Healing Path, we caught up with renowned astrologer, author, and poet Heidi Rose Robbins to find out how she views both astrology and poetry as “languages of becoming” and how she’d spend a month at the Institute: “I’d steep in the wisdom and love that is woven into the fabric of Esalen,” says Heidi. “Heaven.”
Voices of Esalen host Sam Stern on breakthrough moments: “It’s funny; the best episodes are the ones where something happens emotionally. My interview with Dr. Richard Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems therapy, is so personal it’s almost embarrassing. It’s super raw, but it resonates with our audience. I suppose that makes sense, coming from Esalen.”
Forty-six years after Andrea Juhan’s first visit, the co-founder of Open Floor International remembers the Esalen of the late ’70s — the personalities, the “pillow pounding,” the emphasis on the humanistic principle, and the entirely unique experience of not “making wrong.” (“I don’t know anywhere else that happened.”)
This time, we’re highlighting some classic Esalen texts along with a few hidden gems for an eclectic mix of staff favorites to stimulate curious minds and spirits. Here are a few titles being suggested at the bookstore when guests ask, “What should I read next?”
In advance of her upcoming June workshop, Poetry and the Page: Writing as a Healing Path, we caught up with renowned astrologer, author, and poet Heidi Rose Robbins to find out how she views both astrology and poetry as “languages of becoming” and how she’d spend a month at the Institute: “I’d steep in the wisdom and love that is woven into the fabric of Esalen,” says Heidi. “Heaven.”
Voices of Esalen host Sam Stern on breakthrough moments: “It’s funny; the best episodes are the ones where something happens emotionally. My interview with Dr. Richard Schwartz, the creator of Internal Family Systems therapy, is so personal it’s almost embarrassing. It’s super raw, but it resonates with our audience. I suppose that makes sense, coming from Esalen.”
Forty-six years after Andrea Juhan’s first visit, the co-founder of Open Floor International remembers the Esalen of the late ’70s — the personalities, the “pillow pounding,” the emphasis on the humanistic principle, and the entirely unique experience of not “making wrong.” (“I don’t know anywhere else that happened.”)
This time, we’re highlighting some classic Esalen texts along with a few hidden gems for an eclectic mix of staff favorites to stimulate curious minds and spirits. Here are a few titles being suggested at the bookstore when guests ask, “What should I read next?”
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
