The Esalen Experience

Photo: Esalen Institute & the Pacific

My quick summary of Esalen Institute: (On the central California Coast - 238 miles south of us)

Location: Outstanding
Food: Excellent
Seminar: Brilliant
Facilities: Rustic, Funky & Charming
Grounds: Magical
Our Bedroom: The Car

We went to attend the Donna Eden course which I wrote about earlier that my cousin, Gerald, in the UK had highly recommended to me. She has worked with Energy Medicine for many years and has evolved a system of health to support the mind and body in healing and staying healthy. She can actually directly work with the body's energy systems. The course was a very fast paced and hands on experience to teach us on how to work with ourselves and others. I think she has to be one of the most joyous, happy people I have ever been around. She is incredible! Always positive, outgoing and loving. A good example of "walking your talk"!

Our decision to attend the course was literally last minute - we registered the same day it started, knowing there was only classroom space and no accommodation at the Center. Our dear friend, Raphael, so kindly stayed at our house to take care of the"furkids". We threw all the sleeping gear and tent in the car (Honda van with back seats removed!)) but hoped to get a room at a nearby hotel. Alas, the Big Sur area was booked up for the weekend. Ron made a great bed set up in the car for the first (& 2nd!) night and we slept on a "pull out" off the road, on Hwy 1, near the entrance to Esalen. (They don't let you even sleep in your car in the parking area!) We woke up to a great view of the Pacific and the sound of pounding surf - very invigorating and lovely.

We had had a stressful drive down the night before in the rain, fog and dark after getting a late start. It took us 4 1/2 hours of driving southwards with the last part the most difficult. The coast road is very windy with steep cliff drop offs on one side and rock falls from the cliffs from the other side! We missed the evening talk and the evening dinner but there was a huge chocolate cake with fresh cream and fudge topping left for late comers. So, of course, we helped ourselves. I ate mine for a pre-breakfast appetizer the next morning and then felt very sick. But it was definitely worth it ;)

Oh, and we partook of the famous Esalen hot tub experience the first night. There are thermal springs that apparently gush out at 80 gallons a minute. Over the years hot tubs have been crafted to make use of this warm and slightly sulfurous smelling water. (The local Native Americans (the "Esselens"), historically, used the area as a sacred healing place). Ron and I mellowed out in one that was lined with rocks and was cantilevered over the cliff face about seventy feet up or so from the rocky beach and pounding ocean. Very cool (and warm)!

The weekend created an extremely supportive environment for getting me ready for my health challenge in the next few months. I came away with many great tools to use and integrate into my holistic healing journey, and to use for the rest of my life. I thank my wonderful husband for making the weekend happen. He literally dropped everything that he was working on and said " Let's just GO!" Thank you my Sweetest and Dearest!!!