Natural Healing: A Spiritual Journey of Return

Natural Healing: A Spiritual Journey of Return is a weekend healing retreat at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California, led by Michael Ventura and Margaret Harrsen. It introduces curanderismo, the folk medicine tradition, through meditative and contemplative practice, touch, prayer, plants and natural elements. It is for anyone seeking renewal who wants to learn how to attune to their own healing and, in time, support others with love and intention.

What to Expect

The workshop honors a lineage of centuries-old wisdom and moves through a set of hands-on practices:

- The Point of Origin: a session on the navel and abdominal massage, for somatic release and greater self-connection.
- Limpia con huevo: a lesson in washing with an egg, a way of clearing and divining one's energies.
- Barridas: plant sweepings that use medicinal herbal bundles for purification.
- Empathic connection: an exploration of intuition, and of how to listen to one another and to yourself more deeply.
- Baños de flores: evening flower baths to attract blessings.

The weekend begins on Friday with registration from 4:00 pm, an orientation called How to Drop into Esalen from 5:00 to 6:00 pm, and an opening session from 7:15 to 9:30 pm. Saturday is the core teaching day, with a morning session from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, an afternoon session from 4:15 to 6:15 pm and an evening session from 7:30 to 10:00 pm. On Sunday the final session runs from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, lunch is served until 1:45 pm, and guests depart by 2:00 pm. Optional movement and meditation takes place on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 8:00 to 8:30 am.

About Michael Ventura

Michael Ventura is a leader, practitioner and educator centered in the practice of empathy. He works with individuals seeking acceptance and transformation through the Indigenous traditions of the Nahua peoples. He has facilitated retreats and seminars, sharing his teachings as a means to deeper self-knowledge and well-being.

About Margaret Harrsen

Margaret Harrsen is a spiritual healer and teacher whose work covers traditional shamanic medicine, meditation and biodynamic craniosacral therapy. Her practice of the subtle healing arts is rooted in her study of nature (form) and spirituality (emptiness). She supports the well-being of people and of our shared earth.

The Setting

Esalen Institute sits on the Big Sur coast, and guests stay on campus for the weekend. Tuition covers housing, three meals a day, coffee, tea and snacks, access to the hot springs and other campus features, and the classes on Esalen's open schedule. Meals are served at set times: breakfast from 8:30 to 9:45 am, lunch from 12:30 to 1:45 pm and dinner from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.

Rooms range from shared sleeping bag space in a dormitory-style room for up to six, and bunk rooms with a private bathroom, to private queen rooms, premium rooms with ocean or forest views, wooden yurts and the historic Price House Suite. Other ways to attend include an individual day pass or staying off-site.

Highway 1 access into northern Big Sur has at times run by Caltrans convoy, at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm only, so check current conditions and plan your travel accordingly.

Before You Go

No prior experience is mentioned as a requirement. Healing Arts sessions and Esalen Massage, specialty coffee, tea or bar purchases, and bookstore items are not included. For specific dietary needs or restrictions, contact Esalen directly.