Simply Wild: Experiencing Nature as Nature

Imagine five days where the only agenda is presence. Where a moss-covered boulder becomes your teacher, where the convergence of Big Sur's coastal cliffs and Pacific horizon quiets the mind faster than any mantra, and where you learn what it means to move through wildness with deliberate slowness. Simply Wild is a spiritual retreat designed for those ready to step aside from habitual patterns and meet each moment—and the natural world—as it truly arrives.

Led by Steven Harper, a meditation practitioner since 1972 and longtime student of Gestalt practice, this retreat at the renowned Esalen Institute weaves together daily hikes across Big Sur's dramatic terrain with soaks in natural mineral hot springs, shared meals, and evening contemplative gatherings. This is not summit-chasing or rapid-fire trekking. Instead, you'll move with presence, pausing often to absorb the raw aliveness of the land. The philosophy is spare and grounded: doing less, being more. Over these five days, you'll discover what happens when you finally stop rushing and let nature itself become your primary teacher.

Whether you're a seasoned meditator, a hiker seeking deeper meaning, or simply someone exhausted by the noise of modern life, this retreat offers a rare opportunity to reset your nervous system and reconnect with what matters. You'll leave with practical attention practices drawn from Buddhist psychology and Gestalt inquiry—tools you can carry back into your everyday life—and a renewed sense of what it means to be alive in your own body, in this world.

What to Expect

Each day unfolds with intention and spaciousness. Morning and afternoon hikes range from four to eight miles, moving through Big Sur's coastal wilderness at a contemplative pace. Between hikes, you'll soak in natural hot springs, share simple meals with fellow seekers, and rest. Evenings gather the group for informal reflection and integration—a chance to let the discoveries of the day settle into your being.

The retreat balances movement and stillness, solitude and community. Throughout the week, Steven Harper weaves in simple attention practices from Buddhist and Gestalt traditions, guiding you to notice what arises—in your breath, your senses, your mind—without rushing to change it. The hikes themselves become meditation: the sound of waves, the smell of sage, the feeling of earth beneath your feet. There is no performance, no pressure to "achieve" anything. You simply show up and let the wildness do its work.

You'll return home with a quieter mind, a steadier nervous system, and practical tools for bringing this quality of presence into daily life.

Venue & Logistics

This retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, one of the world's most renowned retreat centers, perched on dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific. The event runs Monday, August 31 – Friday, September 4, 2026. Wear comfortable hiking clothes and sturdy footwear; the terrain is varied. Accommodation and meals are included. If you have mobility concerns, contact the organizers directly to discuss the hike distances.