Esalen History

It’s 1970. A smart kid from Newark drops out, grabs his guitar, and heads west to find magic and meaning in Big Sur. Half a century later, Dr. Ken Dychtwald is a psychologist, best-selling author, and world-renowned expert on aging — and yet he's still enchanted by those early days at Esalen.

Back in the Day is a new feature that spotlights the colorful memories of long-time Esalen community members and alumni — to capture magical moments that happened once upon a time and are still treasured today. We start off by hearing from Brita Ostrom, founding member of the Esalen Massage School, who has been a part of Esalen since 1967.

To heal, we must face the hardest parts of our past. Honoring Native American Heritage Month, we offer a brief history of this sacred land and resources to help begin the cycle of healing and repair where you live.

On the heels of a controversial government report on UFOs, former Chairman of the Board Jeff Kripal (also a paranormal activity academician), tells the story of earlier Esalen inquiries into UFOs, which include a secret meeting.

As Michael Murphy celebrates his 90th birthday, former Esalen Chairman of the Board Jeff Kripal, Esalen President Gordon Wheeler, and Michael's son Mac Murphy pay tribute to and share heartfelt reflections about Esalen's esteemed co-founder.

In 1962, Esalen Co-founders Michael Murphy and Dick Price planted the seeds for a remarkable new endeavor. The creation of Esalen Institute was a rare kind of kismet, one that attracted thinkers such as Alan Watts, Aldous Huxley, Abraham Maslow, Joseph Campbell and Paul Tillich as well as men and women from around the world who wanted to explore new worldviews and ways of growth. The human potential movement was born.

George Leonard, president emeritus of Esalen Institute, co-founder of Integral Transformative Practice and a leading voice of the Human Potential Movement, passed away a decade ago this month. As George often would say "... every idea, every intention, every new thought is a new generative form in the universe," and that as human creators, we are tapping and manifesting only a small part of an unlimited potential for imagination, transformation and social progress. In appreciation of George and his continuing legacy, Esalen’s leadership shares their memories and experiences of this remarkable “poet-philosopher.”

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Esalen co-founder Dick Price, who died in a hiking accident in Hot Springs Canyon. “Dick Price’s influence lives on at Esalen in countless ways, among them our emphasis upon psychophysical healing, intelligent risk taking, independence from cult, and regard for each person’s uniqueness,” said Michael Murphy, co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of Esalen’s Board of Trustees. “He embodied a wondrous combination of strength and compassion, skepticism about extravagant claims, and freedom from dogma. He was a great partner when the going got tough. For me, he was a comrade for the ages.”