We love the New Year because it gives a clean slate on which we can rewrite our future, if not our past. Our commitment to resolutions for change is often lofty, and filled with unreasonable expectations, and we have little understanding for our defeat when we fall off our new vision for ourselves. We often take mistakes, defeat, pain as commentary on our worthiness; a mark against us that can never be erased. What if these marks were instead indicators of our wisdom, like the mark of good broken in leather, or the beachside stone beaten by the waves into a polished brilliance? Interestingly, there now is much talk about how to cultivate being in the present moment. It is so difficult to stop... read more ...

What is Esalen Institute? Esalen is a non-profit organization that has been devoted to the exploration of human potential since the 1960′s. Historical luminaries like Aldous Huxley, Joseph Campbell, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Joan Baez, and countless others have gathered here to develop revolutionary ideas, transformative practices, and innovative art forms. Today Esalen is a retreat center where people live and work in a communal setting. Residents and guests participate in an incredible variety of alternative education and personal growth programs in subjects ranging from meditation to massage, yoga, psychology, ecology, spirituality, art, music, and much more. Esalen Institute,... read more ...

As any of you still shopping for that perfect present for that certain someone knows, this time of year is designed for thinking about others. Thoughts of getting away or doing something for yourself seem, at best, foreign and, at worst, selfish. Odd as it may seem, taking real, quality time to “escape” from your everyday routine and reflect on your own life is actually one of the best things you can do for the people who matter in your life. Adding a retreat to your agenda is a healthy act of rejuvenation and revitalization. It can help you assess what’s important and gain much-needed perspective. And while the distressed critic in your head may shout at you that you are just... read more ...