January – June 2004 DANIEL BIANCHETTA Esalen — A convergence of mountains and sea, mind and body, East and West, meditation and action Esalen — A center for alternative education, a forum for transformational practices, a restorative retreat, a worldwide community of seekers Dedicated to exploring work in the humanities and sciences that furthers the full realization of the human potential, Esalen offers public workshops, residential work-study programs, invitational conferences, and independent projects that support our mission. As a center designed to foster personal and social transformation, we offer those who join us the chance to explore more deeply the world and themselves. Welcome to ® S contents Volume xliii, Number 1 Esalen Institute 55000 Highway 1 Big Sur, California 93920-9546 Catalog Requests: 831-667-3000, ext. 7100 Esalen Board of Trustees: Lawrence Downing Mary Ellen Klee George Leonard Nancy Lunney-Wheeler David Lustig Michael Murphy Marilyn Schlitz Jeremy Tarcher Gordon Wheeler Executive Director: Andy Nusbaum Executive Director of Programming: Nancy Lunney-Wheeler Esalen Catalog Staff: DANIEL BIANCHETTA Editor: Peter Friedberg Administrative Liaisons: Genevieve Ahrens, Kasia Zajac Design & Production: Terry McGrath Catalog Subscription Information . .2 The Esalen Catalog is published General Information . .3 triannually by the Esalen Institute, Esalen Notes . .4 Big Sur, California 93920-9546. Printed on recycled paper. Friends of Esalen . .4 ©2003 Esalen Institute. Joseph Campbell . .5 All rights reserved. ISSN 1088-2782 Integral Transformative Practice (ITP) . .8 Subscription Information: Guide to Workshops . .10 Subscription cost for one year is $15 Esalen Seminars . .12 for the United States and $25 for all other countries. Please send a check Continuing Education . .74 or money order (U.S. currency) in the Work Study Program and Application . .75-78 enclosed subscription envelope, or mail it to: Subscriptions, Esalen Biographical Information . .79 Institute, Big Sur, CA 93920. Reservation Information . .86 Although we’re delighted to provide Gazebo School Park Early Childhood Program . .87 you with this issue of the catalog, if you are not currently a subscriber we Scholarship Information . .87 would appreciate a $5 contribution to Reservation Form . .88 defray postage and production costs. Please use the enclosed subscription envelope. There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud This catalog is printed on New Leaf Opaque, 30% post-consumer, elemental chlorine free. was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. —Anais Nin 2 R general information he esalen institute was founded Esalen is a 45-mile drive south from ning, arrangements can be made for access to in 1962 as an alternative educational Monterey, 11 miles south of Nepenthe, on many of our facilities. center devoted to the exploration of T Coast Route 1. From the south, we are 50 Because of the large volume of guests at what Aldous Huxley called the “human poten- miles north of Hearst Castle and 10 miles Esalen, we require a minimum of 72 hours’ tial,” the world of unrealized human capacities north of Lucia. A lighted sign on the ocean notice to arrange for accessible accommoda- that lies beyond the imagination. Esalen soon side of the highway reads: Esalen Institute, tions. If you will need sign language interpret- became known for its blend of East/West By Reservation Only. ing at an Esalen workshop, we require at least philosophies, its experiential/didactic work- two weeks’ notice to arrange for interpreter shops, the steady influx of philosophers, psy- services. In all cases, we will do our best to chologists, artists, and religious thinkers, and its assist you with your needs. breathtaking grounds blessed with natural hot The Hot Springs at Esalen springs. Once home to a Native American tribe We would like those people who are planning known as the Esselen, Esalen is situated on the their first visit to Esalen to know that swim- spectacular Big Sur coastline with the Santa suits are optional, and nudity common, in the Recommended Reading and Lucia Mountains rising sharply behind. hot springs, massage area, and swimming pool. Mail Order Merchandise There are various ways to experience Esalen, We encourage each individual to choose what All recommended reading is now available ranging from an overnight visit to a long- is most comfortable, either wearing a swim- online through our website www.esalen.org. term stay as a seminarian. The weekend suit or not, and emphasize that the environ- All other bookstore items are available via and five-day workshops described in the ment we strive for at Esalen is one of personal mail order. For ordering information please Seminars section of the catalog are the sanctuary and respect for the human body. call 831-667-3049. standard route for coming to Esalen. The In addition to round-the-clock availability for “Experiencing Esalen” workshops, scheduled Esalen guests, the hot springs are open to the periodically, offer an introduction to prac- general public, by reservation only, from 1 am Ongoing Residence Program tices such as Gestalt, massage, sensory aware- to 3 am. There is a $20 fee, payable by credit Offered beginning mid-September and end- ness, and meditation. From such a sampling, card only. To make a reservation, call 831-667- ing mid-June, the Ongoing Residence participants can then choose those approach- 3047 Program is designed for those who would like es they are most attracted to and pursue them to have time and space in the Esalen environ- in subsequent seminars. ment for an intensive workshop program Another way of being at Esalen which allows Accreditation and over a long term. A Residence Program stay is a greater involvement at a lower expense is Continuing Education 26 days (four “weeks” and three weekends). the Work Study Program, an intensive 28- Many formal educational institutions recog- Participants may select any of the five-day day work-oriented program for individuals nize the time spent at Esalen as being worthy workshops offered during their stay with who want to make a directed commitment to of credit in their own curricula; check with weekends open to enjoy room and board. self-exploration and growth, and a contribu- your university or college. We would be glad Occasionally workshops are cancelled, so tion to the Esalen community. For a descrip- to supply information to your school regard- second choices are advised. tion of the Work Study Program, please turn ing any of our programs. to page 75. The specially discounted cost is $4225 per Esalen is a provider of continuing education 26-day period for standard accommodations For those who wish an extended stay, there for psychologists, MFTs, LCSWs, nurses, and and $3335 for bunk bed rooms. No other are periodic long-term programs which bodyworkers. See page 74 for details. discounts apply. involve didactic seminars or professional trainings as well as experiential workshops. If you cancel or change any part of your Residence Program reservation at least five Finally, there are other events that enrich Disabled Access full days before its start, there will be a $165 life at Esalen. There are occasional forums Here at Esalen, many of our paths, though cancellation fee. If you cancel with less than in which writers and thinkers, both visiting paved, are extremely steep due to our cliffside five days’ notice, the cancellation fee is $365. and resident, share their ideas with the com- location. In fact, Big Sur is the steepest meet- munity. On Wednesday nights there may be ing of land and sea in the continental United lectures, films, dance performances, or other States. Nonetheless, we are committed to Esalen Is Tax-Deductible events. Bodywork of various kinds is available accommodating guests who have disabilities. by appointment with individual practitioners. Contributions to Esalen Institute are tax- There is also a community event schedule If you have a disability and think you might deductible. The expenses of attending Esalen, offered. Please check the bulletin board need assistance, and you would like to visit including travel, are deductible for federal when you arrive. Esalen, please give the office as much advance income tax purposes as an educational notice as possible about your needs. Although expense if incurred to maintain or improve Esalen is a center for experimental education. we are in the process of increasing our disabil- professional or work skills. (See Income Tax We offer neither psychotherapy nor assurances ity access, access to some parts of our property Regulation 1.162-5.) of change. continues to be difficult. With enough plan- 3 R esalen notes For more information, please contact Serena pating in selected study programs. If you would John Cleese Supports Esalen D'Arcy-Fisher at [email protected]. Event spon- like to know more about Esalen’s educational with 3 Bay Area Performances sorship opportunities are available. programs, you can e-mail [email protected] Award-winning British actor and comedian, or call 831-667-3080. John Cleese, of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers fame, is an Esalen alumnus and supporter. John A New Position at Esalen has graciously offered a series of film and con- Meet Brooke Deputy, Private Conferences at Esalen versations, titled “John Cleese’s Life and Times,” Esalen’s new Residential It is possible to arrange for your group or orga- as a benefit for Esalen. Education Coordinator. nization to hold its conferences at Esalen. We Brooke, the mother of can accommodate large groups (up to 100) on a Michael Krasny, a longtime Esalen workshop two grown sons, is a for- space-available basis. leader, host, and senior editor of KQED’s award- mer Esalen work schol- winning Forum, has generously agreed to be Smaller groups may schedule private confer- ar and extended student one of the event interviewers.