2011 Workshops & Retreats
My 2012 Schedule will be posted soon... please check back! Here is the schedule of my 2011 workshops and retreats. Click on a workshop date and title below to view the description and registration information, or scroll down the page. For a downloadable printer-friendly pdf click: 2011 Schedule. The last few years most workshops booked full with a waitlist — register early. Thanks for your interest!
April 24-29, 2011 — Big Sur Wilderness Experience at Esalen
April 29-May 2, 2011 — The Nature of Zen at Tassajara
May 6-8, 2011 — Simply Wild at Esalen
May 15-20, 2011 — Walk on the Wild Side at Esalen
June 9-12, 2011 — Wild Mind, Zen Mind at Tassajara
June 17-19, 2011 — Fathers & Sons: Celebrating Father’s Day
July 3-8, 2011 — Body of Wilderness at Esalen
July 16-21, 2011 — The Art of Pilgrimage at Vallecitos Ranch
August 14-19 — Big Sur Wilderness Experience at Esalen
September 17 — Art of Pilgrimage at Green Gulch Zen Center
September 18-23 — Belonging to Earth at Esalen
October 23-28 — The Way of Nature at Esalen
2011 Workshop Descriptions
April 24-29, 2011
Big Sur Wilderness Experience: Springtime
Esalen Institute: Completed: Try Sept. 18-23 workshop below.
Steven Harper and Michael Newman
Esalen is the trailhead to one of the most spectacular mountainous coastlines in the world. With the Big Sur wilderness as the primary teacher, participants will explore the beauty of this alive and wild coast, from ancient redwood-forested canyons to dramatic coastal beaches, from rugged rocky mountains to the soft grassy slopes of the Big Sur hills. Drawing from nature and various experiential awareness practices, individuals will be encouraged to open both to the natural world and to the landscapes of their inner world. It is said that Big Sur is not just a place but a state of mind. This wilderness experience seeks to merge mind and place, then to embody what is learned.
Participants in this weeklong workshop will venture out into the emerging springtime magnificence of Big Sur on five day-hikes, 4-10 miles in length. The leaders will draw from a wide range of contemporary and age-old wisdom traditions, borrowing from psychology, meditation, aikido, and the natural sciences to weave together a holistic experience of self and the natural world. Each hike begins after breakfast and concludes in time to enjoy the hot springs and dinner at Esalen. Evening sessions include informal sharing, basic awareness practices, and useful outdoor skills, with attention given to incorporating what is learned into our daily lives. All levels of experience are welcome. Be prepared for the invigorating challenge of physical activity and the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet reflection. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader.)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
April 29-May 2, 2011
The Nature of Zen
Tassajara Mountain Zen Center: Completed
Steven Harper and Steve Stücky
In this retreat, we will explore nature and the essence of Zen awakening through periods of meditation, group discussions, and day hikes exploring the wilderness back country around Tassajara. Rugged mountains graced with spring wildflowers provide inspiration to cultivate and nurture awareness: Listen deeply to the silence of nature and discover how Zen mindfulness practice deepens our lives. This wonderful doorway to the heart of mountain Zen is satisfying for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
This retreat opens the 2011 Guest Season at Tassajara. This is one of my favorite times of year at Tassajara.
To learn more about Tassajara click here: Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
May 6-8, 2011
Simply Wild: Experiencing Nature
Esalen Institute: Completed
Steven Harper
“I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done.”
~ Mary Oliver
The weekend is simple. We stroll through the wilds of Big Sur on hikes, soak in the natural mineral hot springs, eat good wholesome food, commune with ourselves, others, and nature. With the bare attention of awareness, and wilderness as our teacher we show up for our life as it unfolds moment to moment. We come into deep contact with the raw beauty of this mysterious world.
The group will venture out on two hikes 2- 6 miles in length. Simple practices that encourage awareness and contemplation (“how to be idle and blessed”) will be shared with the group as well as the wonders of the rich natural history of Big Sur. No previous experience in simplicity or nature is required. Further information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($10 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
May 15-20, 2011
Walk on the Wild Side: Hiking the Big Sur Country
Esalen Institute: Completed: Try Sept. 18-23 workshop below.
Steven Harper and Michael Newman
"What's the quickest way out of the city?" John Muir is reported to have asked a stranger on the street of the metropolis in which Muir had just arrived. "Where do you want to go?" the man asked. "Anywhere that is wild," Muir replied.
This week is straightforward. You day-hike the mountainous paths into the wilds of Big Sur, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and soak in Esalen's natural hot springs overlooking the waves of the Pacific—in short, you let yourself touch and be touched by Nature.
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul," said Muir. Drawing from various wisdom traditions, the group will be introduced to practices that encourage openness to self and nature. As Muir discovered, "I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in."
Hikes (3-10 miles in length) begin after breakfast and finish in time to enjoy the hot springs and wholesome food of Esalen. Participants should be prepared for the challenge of invigorating physical activity as well as the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet contemplation. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
Muir wrote, "The mountains are calling me and I must go."
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
June 9-12, 2011
Wild Mind, Zen Mind
Tassajara Mountain Zen Center: Completed
Steven Harper and Leslie James
This retreat simply offers the finest of Tassajara—Buddhist practice, wilderness walks, wonderful meals, hot springs, and silence. We will explore Zen practice and the natural beauty of Tassajara through daily meditation, group discussions, and day hikes on wilderness trails. This is a time be fully alive, celebrate spring’s abundant emergent growth, and appreciate the elemental grandeur of nature.
To learn more about Tassajara click here: Tassajara Zen Mountain Center
June
17-19, 2011
Fathers and Sons: Celebrating Father’s Day in the Tradition of the Old Ways
Esalen Institute: Completed
Steven Harper, Kenneth Harper, Kai Harper, & Kes Harper
It is a wise child that knows his own father.
-Homer
It is a wise father that knows his own child.
-William Shakespeare
Over the ages, fathers and sons have journeyed together into the wilds of nature, traveling light, living simply, and stepping together on the path of what is known and what is unknown as students and teachers for one another. This weekend is a time for fathers and sons to come together as individuals, family, and community to explore the natural wild areas of Big Sur and the relationship of father and son in a community of men.
“Our time together is simple,” says Steven. “Participants will be introduced to basic contemplative and awareness practices from various wisdom traditions. Our time outdoors during the week will be spent on day hikes (two to six miles in length) into the rugged beauty of Big Sur. Much of our time will be in silence, quiet dialog, and reflective exercises that invite participants to pay attention to that which has heart and meaning. During indoor sessions we will share experience, stories of the path, and poems of inspiration…with a touch of creative humor to add balance.”
Longtime Esalen leader, Steven, his father Kenneth, and two sons, Kai and Kes, will lead the weekend. This multi-generational father and son team along with the group will weave together an eclectic mix that draws from collective life experience and training.
All levels of experience are welcome, however the group is limited to fourteen years and older. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($10 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
July 3-8, 2011
Body of Wilderness: Continuum in Nature
Esalen Institute: Completed
Steven Harper and Susan Harper
With the bare attention of awareness, and wilderness as our teacher, we discover the wild nature of our bodies in the body of wild Nature.
Continuum is a unique movement practice, an inquiry into our capacity to innovate and participate with the essential movement processes of life. Integrating day hiking in the magnificent Big Sur backcountry with the subtle internal explorations of Continuum movement, this workshop combines and weaves together these two practices.
On the hikes we will introduce participants to increasingly refined awareness and perceptual practices to enhance sensitivity to all that wilderness can offer, and reawaken the elements of wilderness within. With awakened senses we can receive nature's richness and beauty, inspiring our movement and creativity. Enter wilderness — inside and out — expect metamorphosis.
During our time together, we will venture out on hikes 1-6 miles in length. Simple practices that encourage awareness and contemplation will be shared with the group, as well as the wonders of the rich natural history of Big Sur. During indoor sessions, we will explore organic movements and sounding, to open a dynamic inquiry and rotate between inner investigation and the flow of unfolding creative expression. We will explore movements that express and embody what we have taken in during the hikes, which enlivens our ability to feel what we directly experience in Nature. Coleaders Steven and Susan are a brother-and-sister team who have taught this ever-evolving program annually for more than 25 years. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
July 16-21
The Art of Pilgrimage: Walking the Wild Path
Vallecitos Mountain Ranch: Completed.
Steven Harper and Don Usner
In this retreat at the remote Vallecitos Mountain Ranch in northern New Mexico we will explore the ancient art of walking in nature as a contemporary pilgrimage. Most of the world’s wisdom traditions, including those of the indigenous people of northern New Mexico, use some form of pilgrimage as part of spiritual practice, but contemporary western culture rarely integrates walking practice into contemplative life. We will take advantage of the wild landscape of Vallecitos to launch a dynamic inquiry into inner and outer nature while celebrating the sacred aspect of the journey itself, where meaning lies in each new moment of simply walking and simply being.
Our time at Vallecitos will begin with a discussion of the cross-cultural elements of pilgrimage from around the globe including the traditions of the local cultures and traditions. We will introduce basic principles of meditation, walking and movement awareness, and will take time each day to practice these in the meditation hall at the main lodge. As we journey forth on a mindful day hikes these ancient practices will inform our exploration of the wild beauty around Vallecitos and the wild nature of the internal landscape. We will focus on the place itself as a teacher, noting and discussing aspects of natural and cultural history in the rugged mountains, long an important spiritual homeland to Jicarilla, Pueblo and Hispanic people. On the wilderness trails around Vallecitos, among groves of old-growth pines, out in stunning mountain meadows, and along the banks of the sparkling and pristine Vallecitos River, we will integrate an eclectic mix of natural history interpretation, meditation practice, silence, and instruction.
On this contemplative journey into the wilds, each step will be the goal as we discover inner gems to bring back from pilgrimage as gift to our greater community. We will have the ranch to ourselves for our five-day sojourn, and single occupancy rooms will allow personal time for integrating our experience. Be prepared for invigorating activity and the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet reflection, for simple but comfortable accommodations, and for a diet of gourmet, vegetarian food.
For a downloadable pdf: The Art of Pilgrimage at Vallecitos
August 14-19
Big Sur Wilderness Experience
Esalen Institute: Completed
See September 18 or October 24 workshops below.
Steven Harper and Michael Newman with Kai Harper
Esalen is the trailhead to one of the most spectacular mountainous coastlines in the world. With the Big Sur wilderness as the primary teacher, participants will explore the beauty of this alive and wild coast, from ancient redwood-forested canyons to dramatic coastal beaches, from rugged rocky mountains to the soft grassy slopes of the Big Sur hills. Drawing from nature and various experiential awareness practices, individuals will be encouraged to open both to the natural world and to the landscapes of their inner world. It is said that Big Sur is not just a place but a state of mind. This wilderness experience seeks to merge mind and place, then to embody what is learned.
Participants in this weeklong workshop will venture out into the summer time magnificence of Big Sur on five day-hikes, 4-10 miles in length. The leaders will draw from a wide range of contemporary and age-old wisdom traditions, borrowing from psychology, meditation, aikido, and the natural sciences to weave together a holistic experience of self and the natural world. Each hike begins after breakfast and concludes in time to enjoy the hot springs and dinner at Esalen. Evening sessions include informal sharing, basic awareness practices, and useful outdoor skills, with attention given to incorporating what is learned into our daily lives. All levels of experience are welcome. Be prepared for the invigorating challenge of physical activity and the opportunity to simply sit still in quiet reflection. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader.)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
Saturday, September 17, 2011: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
Art of Pilgrimage: Walking the Wild Path
Green Gulch Zen Center: Registration 888.743.9362
with Steven Harper and Jeremy Levie
Most of the world's spiritual traditions include some form of pilgrimage. Although not often taught in the West, Buddhism also includes such a practice. This retreat will be a contemporary pilgrimage, exploring the ancient art of walking. While pilgrimage is often from one place to another, we will end at the very place we begin, celebrating the sacred aspect of the journey itself. We will begin at Green Gulch with an introduction to the basic principles of sitting meditation (zazen) and walking practice (kinhin). Much of the day will be spent mindfully hiking trails in the wilds of Marin (3-6 miles in length), moving between silence, instruction, and informal discussion. This is a contemplative journey where each step is the goal. Please bring a bag lunch. Further information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
Registration: Call our toll free number 888.743.9362 or our local number 415.475.9362.
September 18-23
Belonging to Earth: Finding Our Place in Nature
Esalen Institute: Space Available
Steven Harper and Michael Newman
In every moment of our lives we are supported by natural systems both seen and unseen. Yet, in our culture, many of us are cut off from the natural world. We have little contact with wild nature, little idea of where we live, and little notion of what directly sustains our daily life. Esalen, surrounded and sustained by wild natural systems, is an ideal place to learn more about our sense of place, of nature, and of belonging to this earth.
This program will explore our relationship to the earth through increasing our knowledge of the basic life and earth sciences, and increasing awareness of self and nature. Participants will be introduced to an overview of the natural sciences and then to the geology, weather, ecology, native peoples, flora, and fauna that make up the incredible landscape we call Big Sur.
This workshop will include evening introductory lectures, dialog, and day-hikes that venture into Big Sur’s backcountry for field sessions that expand our practical knowledge of nature and, more specifically, of Big Sur. Attention will be paid to how we take our newfound eco-literacy and integrate it with how we sense our belonging so that we may more fully inhabit this extraordinary third planet from the sun.
This program is open to all levels of experience in hiking and the natural sciences. Participants should be prepared to hike in varied terrain (4-6 miles), enjoy periods of silence, and have a curiosity about nature and our place in the world. More information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.
October 23-28
Way of Nature: The Practice of the Wild
Esalen Institute: Space Available, Last Workshop for 2012
Steven Harper
You didn't come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here. ~ Alan Watts
Ever since the supposed "primordial soup," nature has been our teacher. We were born of this earth and throughout recorded time people have turned to wilderness to awaken, become whole, and know their belonging to this world.
With wilderness as our primary teacher, we’ll explore the way of nature, discovering as contemporary humans what it means to walk this pathless path. Hiking the wilderness trails of Big Sur, we’ll balance the days between walking and quiet contemplation, active awareness exercises and simply being. As seekers immersing ourselves in the natural world, we’ll also read and share the ancient and ecstatic voices of prose and poetic imagination. This wisdom passed through the ages deepens our intimate connection to ourselves, each other, and our wild nature.
The workshop includes day-hikes (3-6 miles) into the Big Sur backcountry. Indoor sessions will include an eclectic mix of informal sharing, awareness practice, and more poems of the wild. Previous wilderness experience is not necessary, although participants should be prepared for some vigorous physical activity. Further information and a waiver will be sent upon registration.
($20 park-entrance fees paid directly to the leader)
For an equipment list and frequently asked questions about Steven's workshops, visit FAQs.