Guided by the intention of nurturing true healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous tribes of the region, key staff and board members from the Esalen Institute and representatives from the founding family/land owners have embarked on a multi-year process of individual and collective reflection, deep learning, and humble listening, which started on October 7th, 2020.
Under the skillful guidance of Maija West and her colleagues from the Healing & Reconciliation Institute, this core group is participating in eight immersive sessions: Integrated Leadership Practices, Apologies & Forgiveness, Neuroscience & Healing, Blood Memory & Epigenetics, Inherited Identities, Indigenous Allyship, Reconciliation, and a Closing Ceremony. This work initiated deeply personal voyages, encouraging participants to explore their own familial and ancestral stories and connect with one another through the promise of our shared humanity, resulting in a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and of tangible actions that actively promote healing to help prevent the recurrence of past harms.
In 2021, the group from Esalen Institute will draw on the embodied skills and self-awareness garnered from these foundational training sessions as they sit in circle with members from the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, and possibly other representative Indigenous community members from the greater region. These facilitated listening circles will be profound opportunities for all participants to name historical harms, speak their truths, and deeply listen, allowing them to cultivate compassion and foster an abiding commitment to move forward — together — with tangible solutions.
While the concrete outcomes of this process are still emerging, all participating groups recognize that this work is necessary, complex, and nonlinear, and requires an enduring commitment. We anticipate a mutually-agreed upon set of next steps that will evolve as the collaborative partnership fosters trust among all parties.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Guided by the intention of nurturing true healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous tribes of the region, key staff and board members from the Esalen Institute and representatives from the founding family/land owners have embarked on a multi-year process of individual and collective reflection, deep learning, and humble listening, which started on October 7th, 2020.
Under the skillful guidance of Maija West and her colleagues from the Healing & Reconciliation Institute, this core group is participating in eight immersive sessions: Integrated Leadership Practices, Apologies & Forgiveness, Neuroscience & Healing, Blood Memory & Epigenetics, Inherited Identities, Indigenous Allyship, Reconciliation, and a Closing Ceremony. This work initiated deeply personal voyages, encouraging participants to explore their own familial and ancestral stories and connect with one another through the promise of our shared humanity, resulting in a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and of tangible actions that actively promote healing to help prevent the recurrence of past harms.
In 2021, the group from Esalen Institute will draw on the embodied skills and self-awareness garnered from these foundational training sessions as they sit in circle with members from the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, and possibly other representative Indigenous community members from the greater region. These facilitated listening circles will be profound opportunities for all participants to name historical harms, speak their truths, and deeply listen, allowing them to cultivate compassion and foster an abiding commitment to move forward — together — with tangible solutions.
While the concrete outcomes of this process are still emerging, all participating groups recognize that this work is necessary, complex, and nonlinear, and requires an enduring commitment. We anticipate a mutually-agreed upon set of next steps that will evolve as the collaborative partnership fosters trust among all parties.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Guided by the intention of nurturing true healing and reconciliation with the Indigenous tribes of the region, key staff and board members from the Esalen Institute and representatives from the founding family/land owners have embarked on a multi-year process of individual and collective reflection, deep learning, and humble listening, which started on October 7th, 2020.
Under the skillful guidance of Maija West and her colleagues from the Healing & Reconciliation Institute, this core group is participating in eight immersive sessions: Integrated Leadership Practices, Apologies & Forgiveness, Neuroscience & Healing, Blood Memory & Epigenetics, Inherited Identities, Indigenous Allyship, Reconciliation, and a Closing Ceremony. This work initiated deeply personal voyages, encouraging participants to explore their own familial and ancestral stories and connect with one another through the promise of our shared humanity, resulting in a deeper understanding of personal responsibility and of tangible actions that actively promote healing to help prevent the recurrence of past harms.
In 2021, the group from Esalen Institute will draw on the embodied skills and self-awareness garnered from these foundational training sessions as they sit in circle with members from the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County, and possibly other representative Indigenous community members from the greater region. These facilitated listening circles will be profound opportunities for all participants to name historical harms, speak their truths, and deeply listen, allowing them to cultivate compassion and foster an abiding commitment to move forward — together — with tangible solutions.
While the concrete outcomes of this process are still emerging, all participating groups recognize that this work is necessary, complex, and nonlinear, and requires an enduring commitment. We anticipate a mutually-agreed upon set of next steps that will evolve as the collaborative partnership fosters trust among all parties.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org