The Esalen Journal

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.

David Kessler has spent much of his life assisting others cope and move through grief and his breadth of knowledge has made him one of the world’s foremost experts on healing and loss. In his latest book, Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief, David adds another stage (meaning) to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five grief stages (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance), which he believes is vital after the loss of a relationship.

Three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Scilla Elworthy is a vibrant example of what we are capable of doing when we see clearly — and take action. When Scilla was just 11 years old, her four older brothers were teaching her how to fire a shotgun at their home in Galashiels, England. In one quick moment, young Scilla did something that forever changed her life path.

George Leonard, president emeritus of Esalen Institute, co-founder of Integral Transformative Practice and a leading voice of the human potential movement, passed away a decade ago this month. As George often would say "... every idea, every intention, every new thought is a new generative form in the universe," and that as human creators, we are tapping and manifesting only a small part of an unlimited potential for imagination, transformation and social progress. In appreciation of George and his continuing legacy, Esalen’s leadership shares their memories and experiences of this remarkable “poet-philosopher.”

More than 40 years ago, Wes Jackson saw all too clearly that modern agriculture was destroying native soils and was compelled to take action. He co-founded The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, in 1976 to raise awareness on how the ecosphere is self-regulating, that a more sustainable agriculture model needed to be developed and that one of the solutions to the dilemma lied in developing a perennial grain.

The quest to live an awakened life is filled with numerous discoveries that allow us to become present, mindful of our mental activity and more deeply in touch with our physical being. After reaching that initial state of awakening, another desire may emerge: sustaining it. Leaning in that direction is a lovely goal, but understanding what awakening is also vital.

Davida Taurek has been practicing dance for more than 33 years. During that time, she has witnessed first-hand the powerful impact it can offer, and invites us to create significant shifts in our lives by transforming the physical body and strengthening the body-mind-spirit connection.

Mark Nicolson, an executive coach specializing in leadership and team development for visionary entrepreneurs and catalysts for social change, made it his mission to help people and systems large and small discover the concept of renewal and become re-enchanted with their place and calling in the world. As the co-founder of T12N, an innovative program for realigning self and career, he also helped create pathways for sustaining the changes individuals truly wanted to create. Mark sheds light on this rich topic in his upcoming workshop, Designing the Life We Want: Self-Renewal in the New Year, where he creates a space for us to be vulnerable, undistracted and present.

Gabrielle Roth, the passionate creator of the famed 5Rhythms® dance and movement method, once said: “If you just set people in motion, they’ll heal themselves.”And the environment and the people around them, one could add. To be sure, there’s an undeniable uprising of energy that takes place when individuals come together in dance.

Three times a week, just after breakfast, as the sunbeams begin to brighten Esalen’s Farm & Garden, and the butterflies, honey bees, and hummingbirds engage in a cosmic dance of life, the Farm & Garden staff meets in another symbiotic process. It’s known as Relational Agriculture and it’s a rich and vibrant example of the powerful ripple effects that can occur when we “come together” with intention.

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.

How do people gather today when they are not tied to a specific religion or belief system? Esalen faculty Jeff Kripal and Dana Sawyer have long been intrigued by this subject and will explore it at length in Conversations on the Edge: America, Spiritual But Not Religious, during the weekend of December 6-8 at Esalen.

Sometime just before the Fall Equinox this year, a soulful group, curious about communal singing in the oral tradition, came together at Esalen for a weeklong workshop that uplifted their spirits and heightened their sense of belonging. But Singing on the Edge, spearheaded by Esalen faculty Lisa G. Littlebird, also managed to illuminate something deeper: That something transformational occurs when we gather together, especially through song.

Elissa Epel, Ph.D. is such a passionate expert on stress, she’ll be the first to tell you to not immediately make a mad dash away from it, avoiding it. Rather, by taking a mindful look at our reactions during stressful situations, we can, in fact, “stress” in a good way. And if we have unwanted stressful circumstances, we can use these situations to live even more fully and deeply.

Just as humans benefit from taking time for rest and personal self-care, so do the land and plants at the Esalen Farm & Garden. This is vibrantly visible during the fall months, where cover crops act as a universal metaphor for healthy living.

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we’re reminded of a sobering fact: While most women have a one-in-eight chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime, women with mutated BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes may have as much as a four in five chance, and are more likely to develop cancer at an early age.

Byron Katie created The Work, a simple yet powerful process of inquiry that teaches us to identify and question the thoughts that can cause suffering, as an opportunity to sink into our vast inner world, notice what we discover there and emerge from it with insights that create personal freedom.

During the fall months, nature becomes a stellar metaphor for our own self-care. As daylight hours diminish, we’re given more opportunities to invite stillness into our lives, reflect on the events that took place during the months that passed, and consider the ripe, internal harvests that can be collected.

This hearty, European style rye bread is a signature offering at Esalen. If you've visited us you've seen it at the bread bar, and likely you've enjoyed a slice of it — toasted or untoasted — perhaps topped with butter, jam or a nut or seed butter.

The juice itself is called Farm & Garden Green and it's a garden lover's dream, according to Food and Beverage Supervisor Lisa Hudson. “This ‘un-recipe’ features seasonal ingredients growing in Esalen's Farm & Garden and, of course, that's constantly changing, as is the recipe!,” says Lisa. “The consistent thread you'll find is that it's packed with the freshest, most vibrant greens, veggies and herbs of the season, with just a kiss of sweetness that comes from Meyer Lemons that have grown around the Esalen property for many years.”

Esalen’s original series, Conversations on the Edge, facilitates thought-provoking conversations around pressing issues of our time. In these curated weekend events, spread out throughout the year, leading experts and visiting teachers come together in lightning talks, group discussion and idea-sharing. ‍

Small yet significant creatures play such an integral part of Esalen Farm & Garden’s mindful process of growing plants and fresh vegetables that without their presence, the Esalen community would be significantly affected. As fall draws near, the Farm & Garden shared their knowledge about vermicomposting and honeybees, both of which contribute to greater good.

For more than 35 years, The Four Winds Council in Big Sur has offered itself in service to protect the Ventana Wilderness and support the Big Sur community. Esalen Institute makes up one-fourth of the Council, which includes New Camaldoli Hermitage, The Esselen Tribe of Monterey County and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. ‍

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 Harmonize: Discover Kirtan and the Yoga of Devotion, The Happy Human author Gopi Kallayil invites us to experience joy and a meditative state in an effortless way through the power of song and movement. Celebrating its third year at Esalen, this workshop blends live music with yoga and meditation. According to Gopi, no singing experience is required; simply a desire to express yourself through song. We recently spoke with Gopi to learn more about his own connection to music.

Adam Leonard and Dustin DiPerna first met 15 years ago helping to produce a series of integral workshops in Colorado. They re-connected years later when they found themselves participating in similar communities and conversations in California, and ultimately embarked on a teaching collaboration that embraces theory (having a good map) with practice (experiencing the actual territory).

Fresh beets, cucumbers, fennel, pineapple, lime, spirulina and a kiss of pear coexist beautifully in one of the many delicious fresh juices offered at Esalen’s Juice and Espresso Bar, which opened in January. This is just one example of the many innovative creations crafted from ingredients grown in Esalen’s lush Farm & Garden.

When we feel disconnected from ourselves, we can often feel a sense of restriction and limitation. According to Russell and Linda Delman, who are returning to Esalen this fall to teach The Embodied Life: Meditation, Guided Inquiry and the Teachings of Moshe Feldenkrais, we find freedom by simply being aware of our body, in the present moment. And as we become more grounded and aware, we begin to experience a sense of wholeness and ultimately the integration of mind, body and spirit.

Holotropic Breathwork, which originated at Esalen, is an experiential method of self-exploration and healing that uses deep, expanded states of consciousness induced by a combination of simple means: accelerated breathing, evocative music and releasing bodywork. In this first-person essay, Esalen Programs Specialist Paula Wild shares her experience attending The Inner Journey: Holotropic Breathwork led by Stanislav Grof at Esalen in May.

Are you feeling exhausted? Do you catch yourself feeling more negative about your job? Do you feel like you have less control of your work day? ‍According to the World Health Organization these are the most common symptoms of burn-out syndrome, a state of health resulting from chronic stress that hasn’t been successfully managed.

Summer is in full swing and our Garden is producing carrots in a wide spectrum of colors that are both lovely to behold and tasty to eat. As the heat starts to climb, it's a good time to enjoy a nice cool, refreshing salad that is easy to pack for an afternoon picnic or having friends over for a backyard BBQ. Carrots can be the star of a salad and even surpass the more famous versions of summer salads like potato and macaroni.

With more than 50 consecutive years leading Esalen workshops, Chungliang “Al” Huang holds a remarkable lineage. By offering creative Tai Ji and the Living Tao in those early years, Al helped join body and mind at a time when East was first meeting West in California. We spoke with Al about his Esalen collaborations and what makes Tai Ji both a timeless integrative practice and a wake up call for the larger world.

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.

Whether you’re forest bathing or taking a plunge into an ocean wave, more and more health professionals are recognizing the importance of nature to our sense of wellbeing. When Dr. Wallace J. Nichols began work on his groundbreaking book Blue Mind over a decade ago, the tie between wellness and the environment was just beginning to emerge. The marine biologist and avid traveler knew intuitively that being in, under, and around water created a positive impact on our emotional, physical and spiritual wellbeing; his curiosity to learn more set him on a 10-year journey to document the science behind it.

The Esalen Inspirational Film Festival (EIFF) concluded its sixth annual gathering last month with its unique mixture of art and inspiration that is anything but ordinary. “Of course it's not traditional, because it’s happening at Esalen, and nothing about Esalen is typical!” says festival co-founder Corinne Bordeau. “There’s a sense of intimacy and collaboration that includes not only the filmmakers but every participant.” A social change aspect marks the festival as well and is reflected in the many films that are programmed such as this year’s “Biggest Little Farm” and “Nature to the Rescue”.

With this recipe the classic pesto goes through a transformative experience, moving away from the traditional basil version and finding a way to use the often-overlooked leaves of celery which many discard. At its heart pesto is a simple combination: part leaves, part nuts or seed, a little garlic and cheese, then the whole thing is bound together with an acid (here we use lemon juice) and olive oil. Understanding this breakdown opens your ability to transform anything from our garden (or yours) into wonderful variations on pesto.

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.

As a founding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Woodacre, California, and creator of Awakening Joy: 10 Steps to a Happier Life, James Baraz has helped thousands of people open their minds and hearts to more awareness, authenticity and yes, joy. Together with his wife Jane, James has developed mindfulness-based courses for families, and now teaches with his son, Adam.

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.

Cinema is a powerful creative art form that transports viewers to new realms, both real and imagined. Films entertain, of course, but they also have the potential to educate and inspire. From An Inconvenient Truth and The Cove to Waiting for Superman, films can expand our horizons and encourage us to take action in our lives and communities.

As a third-generation Big Sur native and an Esalen staff member, Kyle Evans sees creativity as a natural part of life. “It’s no coincidence there’s a high concentration of artists in Big Sur,” says Kyle. “Here, art is more than any one ‘thing;’ it’s a way of living and a way of being.”

Here in coastal California, heavy rains characterize the winter months. This year, they extended well into March, which has influenced spring activities in the Farm & Garden. In addition to harvesting overwintered greens and planting trays of seed starts, Esalen farmers have been cultivating one of the intangible qualities at the heart of sustainable agriculture.

I am a painter of nature and have had the pleasure of teaching painting at Esalen for the past 16 years. I have thought a great deal about the dance between the poles of limitations and the limitless as it pertains to creativity, and Esalen is a good place to contemplate both.

Born in Big Sur and raised at Nepenthe, her grandparents’ iconic restaurant located just north of Esalen, painter and Esalen faculty member Erin Lee Gafill grew up in a household where creativity reigned. From making holiday ornaments out of tin cans and building her own toys out of scrap wood to writing plays, painting and dancing, Erin continues to weave the creative process into all layers of her life.

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.

Initiated in the healing and spiritual traditions of the Andes and Amazon, Marcela Lobos is no stranger to mythic journeys. As a medicine woman, her passion is guiding others toward wholeness through ceremony, archetype and the sacred energies of nature. As a senior teacher with the Four Winds Society, she has helped usher in a new generation of shamanic practitioners at a time when she believes the world needs them more than ever.

In 1968, philosopher Sam Keen was a straight-laced professor from Kentucky with Calvinist tendencies. When he read about a “human potential” movement happening in California, immediately he felt a call to adventure. “These were modes of thought that emphasized present-moment awareness and body therapies,” Sam says. “This was very alien to me, and I was fascinated; I felt compelled to investigate.”

Brothers Miguel Jr. and Jose Ruiz belong to a lineage of spiritual teachers called naguales in their Toltec tradition. Both apprenticed with their father, Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, as well as their grandmother, Madre Sarita. Now, the generations intertwine with the Ruiz family teaching and co-authoring books together while also pursuing individual callings.

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.

Whether in a heart-shaped box or a steaming mug, chocolate is a universal pleasure. But beyond its pure deliciousness, cacao is packed with mood-enhancing compounds including serotonin, dopamine and other neurochemicals. It also has been used ceremonially for millennia.

Inspired by a walk through the Farm & Garden as farmers harvested for Thanksgiving dinner, this spiced nut milk is infused with the spirit of Esalen. Warm and nourishing for the body and mind, Harvest Milk is luxuriously creamy on its own, makes a great base for smoothies and is wonderful in a latte.

Compassion might not be the first quality you think of when considering what it takes to succeed at work. Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it — not exactly the stuff of water cooler conversation. But for researcher, consultant and author Leah Weiss, who teaches leadership in the Stanford Graduate School of Business, compassion is one of the keys to a fulfilling professional life.

Whether Baby Boomer, Generation X, Millennial or Generation Z, we are all reckoning with a tech-filled world. Right now the screen seems to reign supreme, serving as news source, workplace, community center and movie theater all rolled into one.

In 2006, neurobiologist and cognitive scientist David Presti was at Esalen giving an evening presentation on the human mind and brain. By that time he’d been teaching Esalen workshops for nine years, leading seminarians deep into the confluence of neuroscience, psychopharmacology and more elusive aspects of mind studies.

Something special happens when you spend time at Esalen. Everyday habits fall away, senses awaken and the mind and heart open. One of the most immersive experiences is coming up in February: the Esalen Massage School’s six-week-long, 250-hour Esalen Massage®️ Certification program.

The capacity to feel the experiences of others — whether grief or joy — can open your mind to a greater sense of belonging in the world, and close the divide that separates those you might otherwise consider irreconcilably different from yourself.

After being displaced by numerous California wildfires and landslides, naturalist/educators and longtime Esalen community members Noël Vietor and Fletcher Tucker asked themselves how they could be in service to a new paradigm in which people are a reparative and beneficial force of nature. Their answer is Wildtender, which they launched in 2017.

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.

In 2015, Esalen joined a small group of other nonprofits to co-create the Wellbeing Project, a global initiative to shift the social change field culture from one of frequent burnout to supporting inner well-being. The Project structures its approach around four pillars: experiential programs, research and evaluation, convening and storytelling.