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COME TOGETHER! A Festival of IntraConnectivity and Spirit
July 24–28, 2023
July 24–28, 2023
Daniel Siegel, Elissa Epel, Tom Little Bear Nason, Rhonda V. Magee, and Douglas Drummond

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

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Need a scholarship? Apply here.

Need a scholarship? Apply here.

We live in times of high existential stress. You are not alone if you're experiencing the unease of ever-increasing personal, societal, and global pressures — the constant pain of witnessing widespread social injustices and devastating ecological crises. These shared challenges create opportunities for us to heal from within in order to heal the world — to reconsider our relationships to self, one another, and the planet — to choose a life of peak purpose, interconnectedness and interdependence. 

Esalen Institute is excited to present a thoughtful curation of four individual powerhouses in their fields of expertise: Dan Siegel (interpersonal neurobiology), Elissa Epel (science of stress), Rhonda V Magee (soulfulness and the inner work of social justice), and Esselen Tribal Leader, Tom Little Bear Nason — along with the dynamic 5 Rhythms facilitator, Douglas Drummond, American poet, essayist, and naturalist, Diane Ackerman, musicians: Sanga of the Valley, Nichol Chase, and Nick Ayers, and mindfulness teachers, including Caroline Welch and social justice leaders including Ericka Echavarria— uniting to cultivate a fully embodied, immersive week-long festival experience. This unique synergy of leading voices across brain, body, and spirit disciplines is designed to nurture connections not only with your fellow participants, with your own body/mind, but also with your own ancestors, and the ancient, sacred Esselen lands that the Esalen Institute resides upon.

This weaving of the inner and the inter can simply be named as the IntraConnected nature of the wholeness of our fully integrated lives. By looking at these realities through a scientific lens and through indigenous and contemplative practices, you will not only have an immersive Esalen experience, but you’ll also be readying your life for a path forward outside of the Esalen cultural microcosm. Expect a renewed way of experiencing life, a more mindful and socially just way of connecting to other humans, and the profound feeling of the interdependence of our planet with a sense of purpose. This synergy and journey of exploration and intraconnectedness of the self links our inner lives to those of fellow humans and to all of nature — thus, creating deeper ways to bring healing and transformation into our shared world. 

The Come Together Festival of IntraConnectivity and Spirit will be guided by rituals reflecting both indigenous and contemporary wisdom; learning deep lessons from embodied mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, and the sacred hoop — the four directions of the sacred hoop of life. 

Why do we need this? To establish, renew, and recharge our commitments to stewardship of our communities and Mother Earth in these rapidly changing and transformational times.

This campus wide festival of togetherness and intraconnection will involve deep listening, experiential activities, lectures, and discussions. Come ready to receive and to give. We will incorporate ritual, meditation, nature immersion, and movement into each day. 

Come together with Tom Little Bear, Rhonda Magee, Elissa Epel, and Dan Siegel as we create new pathways to sacred connection and explore, learn, laugh, love, and bring healing to ourselves and our world. Everyone is welcome. We especially welcome people working on environmental justice issues and anyone needing restoration and rejuvenation.

Even More Ways to Come Together!

Get a Day Pass for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Monterey County residents with their own off-site accommodations can attend the workshop during the day at a local's rate.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
Daniel Siegel

Daniel Siegel

Daniel Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he was on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain and Development and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. His psychotherapy practice includes children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

Read More

Elissa Epel

Elissa Epel

Elissa Epel, PhD, is a professor at UCSF, author of  New York Times bestseller, The Telomere Effect, and past president of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She is an expert on stress and contemplative practices, including mindful eating for optimal metabolic balance.

Read More

Tom Little Bear Nason

Tom Little Bear Nason

Little Bear is the Tribal Chairman of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. He is a traditional cultural resource specialist, Tribal Archeology Monitor, and Wildland Consultant. Little Bear has a deep history at the Esalen Institute, a sacred site for the Esselen, and has led a lifetime of retreats centering around initiation, ritual and ceremony between humans and their relationship between each other, land and Spirit. 

Read More

Rhonda V. Magee

Rhonda V. Magee

Rhonda V. Magee, JD, MA, is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco, and a nationally acclaimed speaker on mindfulness and social justice. She is an expert on mindful teaching and learning, race and law, and professional identity development.

Read More

Douglas Drummond

Douglas Drummond

Douglas has been a conscious movement facilitator for over 12 years. He is a certified 5Rhythms® teacher. Douglas currently serves as the founder & CEO of the Weaving Waters Collective; an organization dedicated to creating healing and reconciliation centers for living beings.

Read More

Categories:
Category :   
Workshop Schedule

Monday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm *How to Drop Into Esalen*
7:15 pm – 9:00 pm
Tuesday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Thursday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 11:00 am

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing

Daniel Siegel, Elissa Epel, Tom Little Bear Nason, Rhonda V. Magee, and Douglas Drummond

July 24–28, 2023
Register Now

We live in times of high existential stress. You are not alone if you're experiencing the unease of ever-increasing personal, societal, and global pressures — the constant pain of witnessing widespread social injustices and devastating ecological crises. These shared challenges create opportunities for us to heal from within in order to heal the world — to reconsider our relationships to self, one another, and the planet — to choose a life of peak purpose, interconnectedness and interdependence. 

Esalen Institute is excited to present a thoughtful curation of four individual powerhouses in their fields of expertise: Dan Siegel (interpersonal neurobiology), Elissa Epel (science of stress), Rhonda V Magee (soulfulness and the inner work of social justice), and Esselen Tribal Leader, Tom Little Bear Nason — along with the dynamic 5 Rhythms facilitator, Douglas Drummond, American poet, essayist, and naturalist, Diane Ackerman, musicians: Sanga of the Valley, Nichol Chase, and Nick Ayers, and mindfulness teachers, including Caroline Welch and social justice leaders including Ericka Echavarria— uniting to cultivate a fully embodied, immersive week-long festival experience. This unique synergy of leading voices across brain, body, and spirit disciplines is designed to nurture connections not only with your fellow participants, with your own body/mind, but also with your own ancestors, and the ancient, sacred Esselen lands that the Esalen Institute resides upon.

This weaving of the inner and the inter can simply be named as the IntraConnected nature of the wholeness of our fully integrated lives. By looking at these realities through a scientific lens and through indigenous and contemplative practices, you will not only have an immersive Esalen experience, but you’ll also be readying your life for a path forward outside of the Esalen cultural microcosm. Expect a renewed way of experiencing life, a more mindful and socially just way of connecting to other humans, and the profound feeling of the interdependence of our planet with a sense of purpose. This synergy and journey of exploration and intraconnectedness of the self links our inner lives to those of fellow humans and to all of nature — thus, creating deeper ways to bring healing and transformation into our shared world. 

The Come Together Festival of IntraConnectivity and Spirit will be guided by rituals reflecting both indigenous and contemporary wisdom; learning deep lessons from embodied mindfulness, interpersonal neurobiology, and the sacred hoop — the four directions of the sacred hoop of life. 

Why do we need this? To establish, renew, and recharge our commitments to stewardship of our communities and Mother Earth in these rapidly changing and transformational times.

This campus wide festival of togetherness and intraconnection will involve deep listening, experiential activities, lectures, and discussions. Come ready to receive and to give. We will incorporate ritual, meditation, nature immersion, and movement into each day. 

Come together with Tom Little Bear, Rhonda Magee, Elissa Epel, and Dan Siegel as we create new pathways to sacred connection and explore, learn, laugh, love, and bring healing to ourselves and our world. Everyone is welcome. We especially welcome people working on environmental justice issues and anyone needing restoration and rejuvenation.

Even More Ways to Come Together!

Get a Day Pass for Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.

Monterey County residents with their own off-site accommodations can attend the workshop during the day at a local's rate.

Learn more about the requirements to receive continuing education credit.

Lead photo:
Daniel Siegel

Daniel Siegel is a clinical professor of psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he was on the faculty of the Center for Culture, Brain and Development and the founding co-director of the Mindful Awareness Research Center. His psychotherapy practice includes children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families.

Read More

Elissa Epel

Elissa Epel, PhD, is a professor at UCSF, author of  New York Times bestseller, The Telomere Effect, and past president of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research. She is an expert on stress and contemplative practices, including mindful eating for optimal metabolic balance.

Read More

Tom Little Bear Nason

Little Bear is the Tribal Chairman of the Esselen Tribe of Monterey County. He is a traditional cultural resource specialist, Tribal Archeology Monitor, and Wildland Consultant. Little Bear has a deep history at the Esalen Institute, a sacred site for the Esselen, and has led a lifetime of retreats centering around initiation, ritual and ceremony between humans and their relationship between each other, land and Spirit. 

Read More

Rhonda V. Magee

Rhonda V. Magee, JD, MA, is a professor of law at the University of San Francisco, and a nationally acclaimed speaker on mindfulness and social justice. She is an expert on mindful teaching and learning, race and law, and professional identity development.

Read More

Douglas Drummond

Douglas has been a conscious movement facilitator for over 12 years. He is a certified 5Rhythms® teacher. Douglas currently serves as the founder & CEO of the Weaving Waters Collective; an organization dedicated to creating healing and reconciliation centers for living beings.

Read More

Workshop Schedule

Monday
5:00 pm – 5:45 pm *How to Drop Into Esalen*
7:15 pm – 9:00 pm
Tuesday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Wednesday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Thursday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 12:30 pm
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
4:00 pm - 6:30 pm
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Friday
7:30 am – 8:35 am (Optional)
9:30 am - 11:00 am

Summer Groovers will experience Esalen in a format similar to our Self Guided Explorations workshops. Each Summer Groove week or weekend will open and close with a circle, and be filled with festive, nostalgic activities that harken back to those days of yore.

More activities can be found on our open class schedule.

See general schedule information including arrival, departure and meal times.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive, program-specific tuition. Please note that not all accommodation levels are available for every workshop and additional faculty fees may apply.

Accommodations & Tuition

Click Register Now to view availability of accommodations and all-inclusive tuition that includes lodging, three meals per day, access to the baths, and all activities on the Summer Groove schedule.

We offer scholarship funds for those with financial need. Learn more.

Accommodations & Tuition

For this workshop, you will register and pay for accommodations and tuition in two separate steps.

First, sign up and pay tuition directly to

Second, click Book Accommodations from this page and enter the password to complete your reservation to stay at Esalen.

Prices for accommodations include your lodging, meals, open classes, and use of the baths and other facilities. View partner program accommodations pricing.

COVID Update

As of June 30, 2023 we no longer require a negative COVID test at the time of check in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

In addition to proof of vaccination, all guests and faculty must provide proof of negative test results at time of check-in. Please read our current COVID safety guidelines for complete details prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective January 7, 2022 in response to the rapid spread of the new Omicron variant, all guests and faculty will provide proof of negative PCR, NAAT, or antigen test results at time of check-in. The test must be taken within 72 hours nd results must come from a laboratory or healthcare provider.Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective December 15 in accordance with new guidance from Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Health, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are required to wear masks in all indoor public settings, irrespective of vaccine status, for the next four weeks (December 15, 2021 through January 15, 2022). Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Effective November 19, 2021, in accordance with new guidance from the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, all guests, students, staff, residents, and faculty are no longer required to wear masks indoors on campus. Please read our updated COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Starting November 5, 2021, due to substantial levels of COVID-19 transmission in Monterey County, a mask mandate established by the Monterey County Board of Supervisors will go into effect. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

All guests will be required to provide proof of vaccination upon arrival starting September 3, 2021. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

COVID Update

Masks are no longer mandated indoors or outdoors, except during massage sessions. Guests are not required to provide testing or vaccination verification before arriving on campus. Please read our COVID safety guidelines prior to booking your stay.

All-inclusive Pricing