To celebrate Pride Month, we've selected a few of our favorite LGBTQIA titles. From memoir and personal essays to queer political history and more, we celebrate how incredibly far we’ve come — while sitting in recognition of the real inclusive work we still have ahead.
For personal growth check out The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. A self-identified Black, queer journalist, her book focuses on how we to nurture our friendships, our tribe, and our community of people, while also valuing our own selves.
The Stonewall Reader edited by Jason Baumann was originally published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. This archival project gathers interviews with activists and historians alongside first-hand accounts from those present on that hot summer night in 1969 — when police raided a local gay bar to find a community that refused to be pushed down any longer. The pages about trans heroes, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson are especially inspiring.
Bestseller memoirist, Glennon Doyle’s Untamed recounts how she fell for and married soccer superstar Abby Wambach. “Four years ago, married to the father of my three children, I fell in love with a woman,” writes the Christian mom blogger. Dubbed the “patron saint of female empowerment” she shares a tale of transformation, romance, and self-discovery.
Using poetry to evoke emotions and awareness of social issues, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde is unapologetic and fierce. The self-described “lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” is widely considered the mother of intersectionality. Honoring the radical importance of self-care she stated: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
“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?
To celebrate Pride Month, we've selected a few of our favorite LGBTQIA titles. From memoir and personal essays to queer political history and more, we celebrate how incredibly far we’ve come — while sitting in recognition of the real inclusive work we still have ahead.
For personal growth check out The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. A self-identified Black, queer journalist, her book focuses on how we to nurture our friendships, our tribe, and our community of people, while also valuing our own selves.
The Stonewall Reader edited by Jason Baumann was originally published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. This archival project gathers interviews with activists and historians alongside first-hand accounts from those present on that hot summer night in 1969 — when police raided a local gay bar to find a community that refused to be pushed down any longer. The pages about trans heroes, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson are especially inspiring.
Bestseller memoirist, Glennon Doyle’s Untamed recounts how she fell for and married soccer superstar Abby Wambach. “Four years ago, married to the father of my three children, I fell in love with a woman,” writes the Christian mom blogger. Dubbed the “patron saint of female empowerment” she shares a tale of transformation, romance, and self-discovery.
Using poetry to evoke emotions and awareness of social issues, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde is unapologetic and fierce. The self-described “lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” is widely considered the mother of intersectionality. Honoring the radical importance of self-care she stated: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
“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?
To celebrate Pride Month, we've selected a few of our favorite LGBTQIA titles. From memoir and personal essays to queer political history and more, we celebrate how incredibly far we’ve come — while sitting in recognition of the real inclusive work we still have ahead.
For personal growth check out The Art of Showing Up by Rachel Wilkerson Miller. A self-identified Black, queer journalist, her book focuses on how we to nurture our friendships, our tribe, and our community of people, while also valuing our own selves.
The Stonewall Reader edited by Jason Baumann was originally published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. This archival project gathers interviews with activists and historians alongside first-hand accounts from those present on that hot summer night in 1969 — when police raided a local gay bar to find a community that refused to be pushed down any longer. The pages about trans heroes, Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P Johnson are especially inspiring.
Bestseller memoirist, Glennon Doyle’s Untamed recounts how she fell for and married soccer superstar Abby Wambach. “Four years ago, married to the father of my three children, I fell in love with a woman,” writes the Christian mom blogger. Dubbed the “patron saint of female empowerment” she shares a tale of transformation, romance, and self-discovery.
Using poetry to evoke emotions and awareness of social issues, Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde is unapologetic and fierce. The self-described “lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” is widely considered the mother of intersectionality. Honoring the radical importance of self-care she stated: “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
“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
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Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org