Sitting at the Feet of the Glacier: Land-Based Practices, Meditation, and Grief Work

Sitting at the Feet of the Glacier: Land-Based Practices, Meditation, and Grief Work is a healing workshop at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by Ayana Young and Brontë Velez. It is for people who want to bring grief, including grief for the living world, into a setting of meditation and time spent on the land, rather than carrying it alone.

The workshop runs five days at Esalen, on the Big Sur coast. Its three threads are named in the title: land-based practices, meditation, and grief work.

The Setting

Esalen is a holistic retreat and nonprofit educational institute, established in 1962 and often described as the epicenter of the human potential movement. It grew from the vision of co-founders Michael Murphy and Dick Price, and its roots are in the countercultural movements of the 1960s. Over the decades it has drawn thinkers, artists, and spiritual leaders, and its teaching spans psychology, somatics, meditation, and the arts. The campus sits on the Big Sur coast, a place long associated with experiential learning and self-discovery.

Guests come by advance reservation. Accommodations range from rustic to deluxe, with options in between, so you can choose the kind of room that suits your stay at the edge of the continent.

Before You Go

Esalen is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donor-funded financial scholarships are available for those who feel called to this kind of work but could not otherwise attend. Tuition and lodging are set separately depending on the accommodation you choose, and current rates appear on the event page.

Big Sur roads can be subject to travel advisories, so check current conditions on Highway 1 and plan your arrival and departure with that in mind.