Cultivating Awe
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Dacher Keltner
Director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
When the world feels heavy, awe reopens your world and reminds you what’s still possible.
Little by little, the pace of life picked up and the moments that really moved you became harder to find.
The responsibilities stack up, the news cycle grinds on, and screens grab at your attention in every spare moment. You keep going, but a deeper part of you knows you’re living in what Chip Conley calls the “ghetto of the ego” – stuck in your own head, cut off from the wider world of mystery and meaning.
You remember a time when you felt more curious, more open‑hearted, more moved by the simple fact of being alive.
You want that back – not as a rare high point, but as something you can feel in ordinary days.
Without awe, midlife can feel like you’re piling on more pressure and less joy. With it, it feels more like opening a window and letting fresh air into how you work, love, and spend your time.
It doesn’t have to feel this way
You can relearn how to experience awe. Not as a rare, peak moment, but as a reliable part of everyday life.
Imagine feeling less trapped in your own head and more connected to people, nature, and something bigger than your latest worry.
Picture midlife not as your world getting smaller, but as a turning point where you’re regularly surprised, moved to goosebumps and tears (in the best way), and guided by a quieter mind and a wider sense of what’s possible.
Come practice awe where it lives.
Spend five days in Baja with Dr. Dacher Keltner, UC Berkeley psychologist and leading researcher on awe, someone who’s spent decades not only studying this emotion but actually living it in the place where he’s done so much of his thinking and teaching.
Explore the heart of Dacher’s research in a way that feels real and down‑to‑earth: noticing moral beauty in the people around you, understanding how “collective effervescence” feels in your own body, and taking simple awe walks that turn an ordinary stretch of sand or dirt road into a place where ideas and insights actually land.
Dacher is the world’s leading expert on awe, but he’s also the guy Chip has pozole with in Todos Santos – the neighbor people describe as “magnetic and lovable,” whose stories make you laugh, tear up, and feel less alone. He knows this coastline by heart, and has been teaching here every December for years.
And Baja itself is part of the awe-inspiring experience: breaching whales, the wide‑open Pacific, star‑filled nights, long tables overlooking the ocean, and conversations that get very real, very quickly. It’s the kind of place that quietly melts some of your defenses, so awe isn’t just something you hear about – it’s something you’re living.
Listen to Chip and Dacher Keltner on the Midlife Chrysalis podcast:
The Science of Awe: Rediscover Wonder with Dacher Keltner
What you’ll walk away with
During your 5 days with Dacher Keltner in an intimate small‑group setting, you will…
Learn how to “spy on the divine” in everyday life
Turn simple walks, conversations, and ordinary moments into awe walks that give you goosebumps, fresh insights, and a sense of being guided.
Shift from being stuck in your head to feeling genuinely moved again
Experience how awe calms the fearful, overthinking mind and opens you up to beauty, curiosity, and those tears‑in‑your‑eyes moments Dacher talks about.
Rediscover faith in people through moral beauty
Sit in circle, hear real stories of courage, loss, and kindness, and feel your heart crack open in the best way as you’re reminded how remarkable humans can be.
Experience collective effervescence
Notice how moving, singing, laughing, and sharing with others softens your sense of separateness and leaves you feeling less lonely and more connected.
Create simple awe practices that fit your real life
Leave with a handful of realistic, repeatable habits (not another to‑do list) so wonder stays part of your life long after your suitcase is unpacked.
Be held by MEA’s intimate magic and legendary hospitality
Soak in the experience of being deeply seen in a small group, connecting with Dacher, eating chef‑prepared meals together, and feeling that “ephemeral community” you’ll remember (and have the option to stay connected with) for years.
This Workshop Is For You If…
We can find awe anywhere – and we should, because it’s good for us. Awe reduces stress, helps your immune system, and makes you feel like you’re part of a community.
~ Dacher Keltner ~
Meet
Dacher Keltner
Author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life | Professor of Psychology at UC Berkeley | Director of the Greater Good Science Center
Dr. Dacher Keltner is one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists and a leading voice on what he calls our “basic human goodness.” Over the last few decades, he’s helped shift psychology’s focus from fear and fight‑or‑flight toward emotions like compassion, gratitude, and awe, showing how they shape our health, relationships, and sense of meaning.
He’s published more than 200 scientific papers and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, and The Power Paradox. His work has appeared in outlets such as The New York Times and Slate, and he hosts two popular podcasts: The Science of Happiness and Happiness Break.
He also served as the scientific advisor for Pixar’s film Inside Out, helping bring the inner emotional life of a child to the screen in a way that was both accurate and deeply relatable. His research spans emotion, social interaction, conflict and negotiation, and culture – always with an eye on how we can live more connected, meaningful lives.
Supported By the MEA Team
Barbara Tint
Content Facilitator
Barbara Tint, PhD, is a social/political psychologist, university professor, global trainer and published author. She has lived all around the world, bringing a deep international and intercultural lens to all that she does. She is a trained improviser and award winning storytell ...
View BioTeddi Dean
MEA's Head of Mindfulness & Movement | Former Bone Brigade team member
Teddi Dean is the Head of Mindfulness and Movement here at MEA. He offers a fun, accessible and wisdom filled approach to both meditation and yoga. Teddi loves working with beginners and has a gift in showing that each and every one of us is capable of dropping into stillness. Te ...
View BioDaniel Weinzveg
Experience Facilitator
Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Development, and is a certified breath coach and yoga instructor. For over 10 years, he has supported diverse individuals, teams and organizations to create positive changes – improving communication, collaboration, and ...
View BioBaja, Mexico
El Pescadero Resort
A stunning oceanfront property offering all of the amenities of a luxury hotel with beautiful beaches perfect for swimming or surfing. Located on the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a short drive from Todo Santos, the “Pueblo Magico”.
Is It Safe to Travel to Baja?
If recent news about Mexico has you second-guessing a trip, we get it. Here's what you should know.
Our campus is in Baja California Sur, a quiet stretch of the Pacific coast between Todos Santos and Cabo. Think surf breaks, organic farms, and dirt roads that lead to empty beaches. It's about as far from the headlines as you can get.
The U.S. State Department gives Baja California Sur a Level 2 advisory, the same rating as France, Italy, and the United Kingdom. There are no travel restrictions for U.S. citizens or government personnel anywhere in the state, and Baja California Sur is consistently ranked one of Mexico's two safest states. Flights and ground travel throughout the region are running normally with no disruptions.
Our upcoming workshops are booking as expected, and we continue to welcome guests to campus every month. Nothing has changed on the ground here.
Still have questions? We're happy to talk it through. Contact us here.
Our Agenda at a Glance
Monday:
4:00 PM: Arrival / Check-In
5:30 PM: Welcome Reception & Dinner
7:00 PM: Orientation Session
9:00 PM: Free Time
Tuesday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Wednesday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Thursday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner
Friday:
7:30 AM: Mind + Body
8:30 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Classroom Time
1:15 PM: Lunch
2:00 PM: Free Time
3:00 PM: Classroom Time
6:30 PM: Dinner, Dessert & Graduation
8:00 PM: Evening Gathering
Saturday:
7:00 AM: Breakfast
10:00 AM: Checkout / Departure
Sunday:
*Please note that not all classroom time activities take place in the actual classroom.
*Please note all times are estimates as some activities go longer or shorter depending on the group. This agenda is meant to give you an idea of the general flow of activities.
Your Workshop Also Includes:
Say yes to a more awe‑filled life.
Awe doesn’t tend to find us in the middle of email triage and Target runs.
It shows up when we slow down enough to notice the light on the ocean, the sound of someone’s genuine story, the way our chest lifts when we feel part of something bigger than ourselves.
In five days with Dacher Keltner, you’ll put your busy life on pause and practice another way of being – one where awe isn’t a rare surprise, but something you can invite in on purpose.
You’ll leave with clear, science‑backed ways to bring more awe and meaning into your days, simple habits you can actually keep, and a roomful of people who started as strangers and ended up feeling like allies.
If you’re ready to feel a little more lit up by your own life, Baja is waiting.
Book your spot today
Cultivating Awe
Is a partial scholarship for you?
We believe in making personal growth and education accessible to everyone, which is why we offer partial scholarships on a needs-aware basis for many of our programs.
These scholarships support individuals facing financial challenges, including — but not limited to — members of underrepresented communities. If financial stress might prevent you from attending a workshop, we encourage you to apply.
Partial scholarships, provided through the Association for Growth and Education, are limited to 2–3 seats per workshop and reviewed in the order received. We recommend applying as soon as possible, as scholarship decisions are typically confirmed 90–120 days before the workshop date.
Still deciding or have questions?
Connect with our helpful team of Advisors
Our Advisors are all MEA alumni who can offer genuine insights into our programs. They’re passionate about helping you finding the right fit to make your next chapter the best one.
Daniel Booz
Lucas Erie
Leslie Bartlett
