Construction on the Lodge’s Huxley meeting room, built upon the foundation of the original Huxley and elevated to a new second floor, is completed this month in time for its namesake’s July birthday. Aldous Huxley was a seminal inspiration to Esalen co-founders Dick Price and Michael Murphy; his belief in “human potentialities” infused the very foundation of Esalen. The writer and philosopher, known for such works as A Brave New World and The Doors of Perception, passed away in 1963.
Jeff Kripal, chair of Esalen’s Board of Trustees and author of Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion, writes of Huxley’s Esalen connection: “…his call for an institution that could teach the ‘nonverbal humanities’ and the development of the ‘human potentialities’ functioned as the working mission statement of early Esalen.”
The new Huxley meeting room has been increased in size by 40 percent to accommodate large groups while still retaining similar aesthetics of the original gathering place for many of Esalen’s early teachers. Beams and wood ceilings, expansive windows to the south overlooking the Pacific, and intentionally placed westside porthole windows capturing light at specific times of the year greet visitors to Huxley. East-facing windows frame beautiful mountaintop views. A new cushioned bamboo floor supports the unique needs of movement class participants, with geothermal pipes providing additional heating.
“Through the incorporation of ecological-design elements and sacred geometric principles, we have conscientiously designed a meeting room of the future,” says Ian-Michael Hebert,
property development manager. “We have built in numerous architectural features that honor the majesty of Big Sur and celestial events at this unique location on the globe. We reused portions of the old Huxley meeting room, repurposed wood from ancient redwoods, and aligned porthole windows with the Equinox and Solstice sunsets, as well as solar noon.”
Elements of the original Huxley meeting room can be found throughout the Lodge, including the meeting room door which is now installed on the first floor entrance to the café/bar and the frames of the meeting room windows which now sit above the bar.
Regular workshops in Huxley will begin in August.
“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?
Construction on the Lodge’s Huxley meeting room, built upon the foundation of the original Huxley and elevated to a new second floor, is completed this month in time for its namesake’s July birthday. Aldous Huxley was a seminal inspiration to Esalen co-founders Dick Price and Michael Murphy; his belief in “human potentialities” infused the very foundation of Esalen. The writer and philosopher, known for such works as A Brave New World and The Doors of Perception, passed away in 1963.
Jeff Kripal, chair of Esalen’s Board of Trustees and author of Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion, writes of Huxley’s Esalen connection: “…his call for an institution that could teach the ‘nonverbal humanities’ and the development of the ‘human potentialities’ functioned as the working mission statement of early Esalen.”
The new Huxley meeting room has been increased in size by 40 percent to accommodate large groups while still retaining similar aesthetics of the original gathering place for many of Esalen’s early teachers. Beams and wood ceilings, expansive windows to the south overlooking the Pacific, and intentionally placed westside porthole windows capturing light at specific times of the year greet visitors to Huxley. East-facing windows frame beautiful mountaintop views. A new cushioned bamboo floor supports the unique needs of movement class participants, with geothermal pipes providing additional heating.
“Through the incorporation of ecological-design elements and sacred geometric principles, we have conscientiously designed a meeting room of the future,” says Ian-Michael Hebert,
property development manager. “We have built in numerous architectural features that honor the majesty of Big Sur and celestial events at this unique location on the globe. We reused portions of the old Huxley meeting room, repurposed wood from ancient redwoods, and aligned porthole windows with the Equinox and Solstice sunsets, as well as solar noon.”
Elements of the original Huxley meeting room can be found throughout the Lodge, including the meeting room door which is now installed on the first floor entrance to the café/bar and the frames of the meeting room windows which now sit above the bar.
Regular workshops in Huxley will begin in August.
“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?
Construction on the Lodge’s Huxley meeting room, built upon the foundation of the original Huxley and elevated to a new second floor, is completed this month in time for its namesake’s July birthday. Aldous Huxley was a seminal inspiration to Esalen co-founders Dick Price and Michael Murphy; his belief in “human potentialities” infused the very foundation of Esalen. The writer and philosopher, known for such works as A Brave New World and The Doors of Perception, passed away in 1963.
Jeff Kripal, chair of Esalen’s Board of Trustees and author of Esalen: America and the Religion of No Religion, writes of Huxley’s Esalen connection: “…his call for an institution that could teach the ‘nonverbal humanities’ and the development of the ‘human potentialities’ functioned as the working mission statement of early Esalen.”
The new Huxley meeting room has been increased in size by 40 percent to accommodate large groups while still retaining similar aesthetics of the original gathering place for many of Esalen’s early teachers. Beams and wood ceilings, expansive windows to the south overlooking the Pacific, and intentionally placed westside porthole windows capturing light at specific times of the year greet visitors to Huxley. East-facing windows frame beautiful mountaintop views. A new cushioned bamboo floor supports the unique needs of movement class participants, with geothermal pipes providing additional heating.
“Through the incorporation of ecological-design elements and sacred geometric principles, we have conscientiously designed a meeting room of the future,” says Ian-Michael Hebert,
property development manager. “We have built in numerous architectural features that honor the majesty of Big Sur and celestial events at this unique location on the globe. We reused portions of the old Huxley meeting room, repurposed wood from ancient redwoods, and aligned porthole windows with the Equinox and Solstice sunsets, as well as solar noon.”
Elements of the original Huxley meeting room can be found throughout the Lodge, including the meeting room door which is now installed on the first floor entrance to the café/bar and the frames of the meeting room windows which now sit above the bar.
Regular workshops in Huxley will begin in August.
“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