Clearing Spaces for New Faces

Chances are, you’ve never heard of the Esalen acronym CABinS. Unless, of course, you’ve worked at Esalen or participated in a variation of our Residential Extended Education Program (REEP). A guest might consider it simple housekeeping — the turning of beds and general sprucing up for the next cohort of human potential seeking guests. But the reality is this work — and the ethos behind it — is an integral part of Esalen. The acronym stands for Conscious Aware Beings in Service, a phrase established at Esalen in 1987, which began as “constant and evolved into conscious,” reveals former work-scholar and now safety manager, Josef London. (He worked as a work-scholar in CABinS, also known during his time as “The Holy Laundry,” and was its department manager from 1994–2014.) “One of the best jobs I ever had,” he says.

“The ethos is really something to live and believe in,” says CABinS Supervisor Jess Siller. “It really aligned with me. Putting that attitude and perspective toward the job makes it feel all the more rewarding and fulfilling. The job we do is really important: We are creating a safe, clean space for people to do the deep transformational work in their workshops. Having that space to come back to — to process. They can't do that in an unclean space. We clear the energy and set the space to feel comfortable and safe for guests to go deep. We go in to clear the space physically and energetically so that their room feels like it’s never been stayed in. That it’s a personal room just for them.”

“Being a part of the CABinS team means continuously practicing mindfulness and leading by example,” says fellow CABinS Supervisor Aaron Williams. “When someone spends time with the CABinS team, they will walk away being more aware. It’s all about the service aspect, being of service to one another, the team, the community, the organization, etc. Once you’re in CABinS, you become more aware of how your actions can affect others, whether it’s what music you’re playing in the laundry room or how you go about completing your tasks.” 

For Jess, Aaron, and the CABinS team, cleaning a location at Esalen means being able to take on the responsibility for clearing that space. All laundry is done on the property with 54 rooms — along with meeting rooms and offices — and up to 100 beds changed over each Friday and Sunday. This means washing, drying, folding, and delivering 1,000 lbs of laundry almost any given weekday — and 1,400 lbs on change-over days. That’s without even including all the human power it takes to keep the Healing Arts spaces fresh and clean.

“We take that dedicated mindset out into a community where people feel ready to change the world. And in a really basic way, it all starts in the room,” says Jess.

“CABinS is the birth canal of Esalen,” says REEP student, Sam Belz. “I'm honored to be part of a timeless tradition, walking a path that so many staff have walked before me. I'm impressed with CABinS. It feels like a well-oiled machine, and it's fun to be part of such an organized and vital department on campus. It's easy to underestimate the regularity and the totality of turnover at Esalen and what that requires in terms of departmental organization and manpower.”

“I feel CABinS is the backbone of Esalen,” says former CABinS staff member turned Healing Arts baths attendant Manon Wilde. “We're kind of like the hidden heroes. You may not see us, but we set the tone for your experience. Every bed is made with care, down to the style of how we tuck the duvets. You form a tight-knit bond with your fellow workers that feels like family. Similar to a birthing canal, many of us start in that department, and then when we’re ready, we move on into other chapters of our lives."

Jess poses a crucial question: What does service mean to you? How much value does being of service have for you?

“This job is more important than people think,” answering herself. “Without a clean room, people’s experiences here would be drastically different. We set the stage. It is valuable, fulfilling work when you view it that way, and people appreciate that we hold the energy. 

“This is a job for someone who is enthusiastic and wants to contribute to people's healing. That is what we are doing. Whether you are washing dishes, scrubbing toilets, or pulling weeds, you are contributing to the healing process. Hundreds of people come here. I get to contribute just by making sure their room is complete.” 

“We use the phrase ‘Blessed by thy flip,’ as we flip the property two to three times a week,” says Aaron. “Some of the new REEP members came up with wishing the team ‘Happy flip days!’ and ‘Have a great flip day!’”