Spiritual Yearning

Have you felt it—that pull toward the sacred that doesn't fit neatly into the religion you inherited, or were never given? Spiritual Yearning is a three-day workshop designed for those navigating the tender space between skepticism and longing, between stepping away from tradition and reaching toward something unnamed. Held at the legendary Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, this December retreat creates sanctuary for spiritual seekers who find themselves hungry for meaning and transcendence—but outside the scaffolding of organized faith.

Led by acclaimed anthropologist Tanya Luhrmann and Gestalt musician Nancy Lunney-Wheeler, this workshop honors a specific kind of spiritual hunger that often goes unnamed. Whether you've consciously left behind inherited beliefs, never had a religious framework to begin with, or simply feel your spirituality doesn't fit existing containers, you'll find yourself in the company of others asking similar questions. The faculty invites you to voice your ambivalence openly, to sit with both the grief of disconnection and the awe of possibility—and to explore what it means to encounter the sacred through direct experience rather than doctrine.

Through guided pathworkings (meditations designed specifically for those outside traditional belief systems), vocal practices, and contemplative inquiry, you'll discover your own language for the numinous. This is not about adopting someone else's framework; it's about learning to trust your own capacity to sense mystery, experience moments of inexplicable union, and find meaning grounded in lived encounter rather than inherited belief.

What to Expect

Over three days, you'll move through carefully held space where ambivalence is welcomed and grief is honored alongside wonder. Morning sessions include pathworkings—contemplative meditations designed for secular and post-religious seekers—that create openness to transcendent experience without dogma. Afternoons feature vocal practices and somatic exploration with Nancy Lunney-Wheeler, using sound and breath to access states of presence and connection.

The arc of the weekend honors the full emotional landscape: the loss of leaving behind faith traditions, the longing for something more, and the possibility of discovering a spiritual path that belongs to you. You'll leave with practices you can take home, a deeper understanding of your own spiritual hunger, and the felt sense that your seeking—exactly as it is—is sacred.

Venue & Logistics

This workshop takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California—a world-renowned retreat center perched on the cliffs of the Pacific Coast. The three-day program runs Friday, December 11–Sunday, December 13, 2026. Wear comfortable, warm clothing suitable for meditation and movement. The Big Sur location offers both isolation and natural beauty; plan accordingly for the coastal climate. For accessibility information, contact Esalen directly through the booking page.