Connecticut native Julie Benefico travelled across the country to find her home...at Esalen. “I had heard about Esalen from my mom’s friend,” recalls Julie. “She had been going there for years. I had dropped out of college and I was trying to find myself. She suggested the Work Scholar program.”
It would be another year before Julie arrived in Big Sur, but when she did, she decided to continue her Work Scholar month into more than a year as part of Esalen’s Extended Student program. She would emerge with a new sense of self and a commitment to study herbalism. Today that vision has come to life in the launch of her own business — Opal Elements Cosmic Apothecary.
“For the first time I felt seen and heard as a human being,” says Julie of her Esalen experience. “It’s such a gorgeous place, and I found myself connecting so deeply with others there.” Julie chose to become an Extended Student because she felt there was so much for her to learn. Her focus was Gestalt therapy, among other topics, and she went on to teach a class on herbalism as part of her Extend Student project.
With newfound confidence, Julie still felt pressure to return to college after leaving Esalen. Then she met with Jhanna Culver, a former Esalen Extended Student and now a life-change strategist who leads a six-month program to assist Extended Students as they transition out of Esalen. According to Julie, Jhanna helped her take the next important step in her journey. “When you talk about college you look scared and sad,” Julie says of her conversation with Jhanna. “When you talk about work as a herbalist you look excited and passionate.”
Julie realized while psychology would be more socially acceptable, her purpose was clear. “Everything fell into place. Esalen helped me bridge doing what I’m truly passionate about and supporting self-care in others.” She moved to the Bay Area following her time at Esalen and studied at the Ohlone Center of Herbal Studies. She now meets with clients as a student clinician in addition to growing her online website, http://www.opalelements.com. Her specialty is coaching her clients on self-care – physical, mental, and emotional. “Women often put other people first, and I’ve noticed with many of my women clients that they also lack confidence,” says Julie. “I want to help them find their passion and create more love in their lives.”
Julie credits Esalen for helping her to hone her own passion and build her confidence. “I believe the only way to figure out what you want from life is through self inquiry. When we look within and process our past it allows us to be present and figure out what we want. People can go their whole lives not looking within, but if you go to the hard places – the darkness – you can find the most beautiful places. Esalen was that place for me.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Connecticut native Julie Benefico travelled across the country to find her home...at Esalen. “I had heard about Esalen from my mom’s friend,” recalls Julie. “She had been going there for years. I had dropped out of college and I was trying to find myself. She suggested the Work Scholar program.”
It would be another year before Julie arrived in Big Sur, but when she did, she decided to continue her Work Scholar month into more than a year as part of Esalen’s Extended Student program. She would emerge with a new sense of self and a commitment to study herbalism. Today that vision has come to life in the launch of her own business — Opal Elements Cosmic Apothecary.
“For the first time I felt seen and heard as a human being,” says Julie of her Esalen experience. “It’s such a gorgeous place, and I found myself connecting so deeply with others there.” Julie chose to become an Extended Student because she felt there was so much for her to learn. Her focus was Gestalt therapy, among other topics, and she went on to teach a class on herbalism as part of her Extend Student project.
With newfound confidence, Julie still felt pressure to return to college after leaving Esalen. Then she met with Jhanna Culver, a former Esalen Extended Student and now a life-change strategist who leads a six-month program to assist Extended Students as they transition out of Esalen. According to Julie, Jhanna helped her take the next important step in her journey. “When you talk about college you look scared and sad,” Julie says of her conversation with Jhanna. “When you talk about work as a herbalist you look excited and passionate.”
Julie realized while psychology would be more socially acceptable, her purpose was clear. “Everything fell into place. Esalen helped me bridge doing what I’m truly passionate about and supporting self-care in others.” She moved to the Bay Area following her time at Esalen and studied at the Ohlone Center of Herbal Studies. She now meets with clients as a student clinician in addition to growing her online website, http://www.opalelements.com. Her specialty is coaching her clients on self-care – physical, mental, and emotional. “Women often put other people first, and I’ve noticed with many of my women clients that they also lack confidence,” says Julie. “I want to help them find their passion and create more love in their lives.”
Julie credits Esalen for helping her to hone her own passion and build her confidence. “I believe the only way to figure out what you want from life is through self inquiry. When we look within and process our past it allows us to be present and figure out what we want. People can go their whole lives not looking within, but if you go to the hard places – the darkness – you can find the most beautiful places. Esalen was that place for me.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Connecticut native Julie Benefico travelled across the country to find her home...at Esalen. “I had heard about Esalen from my mom’s friend,” recalls Julie. “She had been going there for years. I had dropped out of college and I was trying to find myself. She suggested the Work Scholar program.”
It would be another year before Julie arrived in Big Sur, but when she did, she decided to continue her Work Scholar month into more than a year as part of Esalen’s Extended Student program. She would emerge with a new sense of self and a commitment to study herbalism. Today that vision has come to life in the launch of her own business — Opal Elements Cosmic Apothecary.
“For the first time I felt seen and heard as a human being,” says Julie of her Esalen experience. “It’s such a gorgeous place, and I found myself connecting so deeply with others there.” Julie chose to become an Extended Student because she felt there was so much for her to learn. Her focus was Gestalt therapy, among other topics, and she went on to teach a class on herbalism as part of her Extend Student project.
With newfound confidence, Julie still felt pressure to return to college after leaving Esalen. Then she met with Jhanna Culver, a former Esalen Extended Student and now a life-change strategist who leads a six-month program to assist Extended Students as they transition out of Esalen. According to Julie, Jhanna helped her take the next important step in her journey. “When you talk about college you look scared and sad,” Julie says of her conversation with Jhanna. “When you talk about work as a herbalist you look excited and passionate.”
Julie realized while psychology would be more socially acceptable, her purpose was clear. “Everything fell into place. Esalen helped me bridge doing what I’m truly passionate about and supporting self-care in others.” She moved to the Bay Area following her time at Esalen and studied at the Ohlone Center of Herbal Studies. She now meets with clients as a student clinician in addition to growing her online website, http://www.opalelements.com. Her specialty is coaching her clients on self-care – physical, mental, and emotional. “Women often put other people first, and I’ve noticed with many of my women clients that they also lack confidence,” says Julie. “I want to help them find their passion and create more love in their lives.”
Julie credits Esalen for helping her to hone her own passion and build her confidence. “I believe the only way to figure out what you want from life is through self inquiry. When we look within and process our past it allows us to be present and figure out what we want. People can go their whole lives not looking within, but if you go to the hard places – the darkness – you can find the most beautiful places. Esalen was that place for me.”
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org