What does the word "Reverence" mean to you?

"Have Reverence

for All Living Things."

Selig Morgenrata

[in remembrance of the architect for Esalen]

Yes sir to Big Sur!

or "To Sur with Love"I have now had the Esalen experience. You ever travel to a place in these United States and go, Wow, I never knew this was (and hopefully still is) here! And I have access to it read: it's not just for those who can afford $1000 a day!! Well that's just what I thought when I arrived at Esalen located in Big Sur, California. I am still a Blissed Sister from my short time there. I was there for a Process Acupressure workshop (PA1) - which was amazing in and of itself. Much more about this in another post...

Add on the great food - most of which is grown in the gardens on-site - 3 tasty, fresh from the garden super nutritious meals a day. A real treat for me as I have a hard time squeezing in that when I am working and living full-time. And there's something for everyone. They even have a little bar that serves beer and wine during the dinner period. Dessert was also served with every dinner - all homemade and organic. We're talking chocolate pudding cake, peach cobbler, baked apples...tasty stuff. Every meal is served buffet style and even when they have servers on some of the selections, you can ask for more, less and come back for seconds, thirds, and mix and match. I am so keen on Quinoa now. I ate it twice and sometimes three times a day.

Now here is what I consider to be the piece de resistance (I don't understand this phrase. Shouldn't it be the piece no resistance because I could not resist it? oh well, you get my meaning) are the hot tubs - communal and individual - that overlook the ocean, canopied by the blue skies during the day and a star studded sky at night (I saw actual planets and the Milky Way for goodness sake - who sees this stuff any more any where?) And I would know. A couple of nights, after dinner and after just one! digestif tonic (red wine), I didn't climb fully out of the baths until well after midnight. We could see the moon rise up over the ridge and come into view and sometimes almost directly overhead. So here we are in the hot tubs - in only the clothes mother nature loaned us. The only sounds you could hear were those of the sea and your fellow bathers.and thankfully no boom boxes, ipods, to interfere with the sound of the earth, the sea and the mountains. Some great conversations were had. I was able to meditate twice a day. And not once did I or any of my new friends feel self conscious or were the recipient of unwanted stares or leering while in the baths . It's the energy dynamic of the place and especially the bathing area. If you didn't feel comfortable in your skin when you arrived, you would after a few days and visits to the baths. This place has been in existence for over 45 years and the sacred specialness of the place is palpable. The Esalen Indian tribe (who still resides around the retreat area in the hills or cliffs, rather, have said that the baths contain sulphur (yes, it smells sorta like eggs gone bad, but not too bad) and traces of gold and other minerals. My new motto is two natural hot springs baths a day will keep the doctor and any other pesky problems away.

My overall rating of the place:

4 out of 5 towels

My next sojourn is scheduled for March 2011 - El Silencio in Borrego Springs.