Solstice Hearthfire: Celebrate the Rebirth of Your Inner Light (Esalen Institute, Big Sur)

Solstice Hearthfire: Celebrate the Rebirth of Your Inner Light is a winter solstice spiritual retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by Micha Merrick. It is a workshop for people who want to mark the turning of the year in a ritual setting, with the return of the light as its theme, on the Big Sur coast.

The gathering is part of Esalen's winter programme, and it takes place in the days just before the solstice season closes out the year. Anyone drawn to seasonal ceremony, reflection at the year's darkest point, and time spent in a community of seekers will find a natural fit here.

What to Expect

The title points to the heart of the retreat: a hearthfire gathering built around the rebirth of your inner light. Micha Merrick leads the workshop, and it runs as a short residential stay on Esalen's campus rather than a day event. Unlike Esalen's Self-Guided Explorations, which let guests build their own pace, this is a facilitated workshop with a leader and a shared group experience.

The Setting

Esalen is a holistic retreat and nonprofit educational institute, established in 1962 by co-founders Michael Murphy and Dick Price and widely considered the epicenter of the human potential movement. Its campus sits on the Big Sur coast along Highway 1. Over the decades it has drawn thinkers, artists, and spiritual teachers, and its teaching spans psychology, somatics, meditation, and the arts. Guests have long spoken of soaking in the baths beneath the stars as part of the Esalen experience.

Accommodations range from rustic to deluxe, with options in between, so you can choose the kind of stay that suits you. Guests are welcomed with advance reservations, and workshop tuition and lodging are arranged together.

Before You Go

Because Esalen welcomes visitors by advance reservation, plan ahead and reserve your place before you travel. Big Sur is remote, and Highway 1 has at times been subject to closures and travel advisories, so check current road conditions before you set out and allow generous time for the drive.

Esalen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donor-funded scholarships are available for people who feel called to attend but find the cost a barrier. If that applies to you, applying for a scholarship is worth considering.

No prior experience or special preparation is listed for this retreat, and it is open to anyone drawn to its theme. Bring clothing suited to cool coastal evenings in December, along with whatever helps you settle in for reflection, such as a journal.