40 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MARCH 19-25, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com LIT Rob Somers didn’t want to write this book, but the spirit that directs his life kept saying: “You have to do this.” Initially, he just wanted to share the concepts he learned from the Incan cosmology that profoundly changed his life, but decided he had to write down his whole story, from the end of his rock star years, through the depression he experienced after retiring from that lifestyle, to the fight with a Stage 4 cancer that was supposed to defeat him in six months. The turning point in his biography came when Somers was deadly sick. He received an unexpected visitor. “It’s the same voice we all have in our belly—that voice of conscience,” Somers says. “It came very loud, and it said, ‘You can live. It will be very difficult, but you can live if you follow my voice. But your life no longer belongs to you. It belongs to me. You are gonna have a path of service.’” That was the beginning of his journey to becoming a shaman, documented in Shamergence. “My ego was so strong, the ego of a rock star, that it took this death sentence for me to be able to force me to my knees and surrender,” he adds. Somers’ calling is to help people to move forward in a new direction in times of suffering and pain. Much of it is about the lack of balance between the feminine and masculine. “I’m not talking about the gender, but the energy,” Somers explains. “The Incas believe we were born 70-percent the energy of our gender, 30-percent the energy of the other. With a lot of hard work, we can try to come into balance.” But the masculine has a death grip on power and is scared to let go. Somers spent time exploring Incan mythology in Peru. One of the stories he tells to exemplify his point is that of the Eagle people, people of the mind, and the Condor people, people of the heart—the unconquered Indigenous people who hid from European colonialism in the mountains. The legend says there will be a time when the eagle and condor will fly together, combining the masculine mind and the feminine heart. Currently Somers works as a shaman in Big Sur. He invites clients into his yurt and encourages them to feel the space. “It’s very special land,” he says about Big Sur, “because the Esalen Indians have been speaking to that land for 7,000 years.” Shamergence by Rob Somers book release takes place at noon Saturday, March 21. Henry Miller Library, 48603 Highway 1, Big Sur. Free. (831) 667-2574, henrymiller.org. DANIEL DREIFUSS Balancing Act A Big Sur shaman has published a book on personal and planetary healing. By Agata Popęda Rob Somers’ services include soul retrieval and death rites, although he pledges, “the appropriate path will be determined after tracking your luminous energy field.” INDOOR AND OUTDOOR DINING AND TAKEOUT Eat + Drink ’25 BEST RESTAURANT IN MONTEREY COUNTY! JOIN US NIGHTLY FOR DINNER AT 4:30PM TWO HAPPY HOURS DAILY 4:30-6PM & 8-9PM 3-Course Early Menu, $59, 4:30-6pm Daily Call or go to sardinefactory.com for details, reservations. 701 Wave Street, Monterey, 831-373-3775 OPEN EVERYDAY for DINNER at 4:30pm Offering all your favorites plus wine, cocktails, bottle and draft beers. Now Serving Snake River Farms’ American Wagyu Prime Rib. 763 Wave St., Monterey | 831.373.3778 | thewhalingstation.com ’25 Best Steak Fisherman’s Wharf’s Newest Restaurant Serving Fresh Seafood, Pasta, Steaks, Sandwiches Open Daily at 11:30am Great views at the end of the Wharf #1 www.rockfishmonterey.com • 831.324.4375 Monterey’s MOST Recommended Pizzeria Open at 4pm Mon-Thurs • Open at 3pm Fri Open at 12pm Sat.& Sun. 725 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey giannispizzamonterey.com 831-649-1500 BEST PIZZA ’98-’24 BEST PIZZA PLACE ’25 Wood Fired Pizzas, Burgers, Pasta, salads, sandWiches and more 11:30am mon-Fri, 10am Sat & Sun melvilletav.com 484 Washington St., Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 haPPY hour Food & drinK sPecials Sun-Thurs 4-6pm WEEKEND BRUNCH WITH BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS 57 Fisherman’s Wharf, Monterey 831-373-1851 www.abalonetti.com ’25 LUNCH & DINNER SERVED DAILY from 11:30am-8:30pm Monterey County’s Best Calamari Indoor and Outdoor Dining on the Dog Friendly Patio Tapas (Happy) Hour 4:30–6pm Nightly Sunday Brunch 9am–1:30pm 700 Munras Ave., Monterey | 831-375-0176 | estebanrestaurant.com ’25 Best Appetizers/ Small Plates BEACH HOUSE RESTAURANT + BAR @ LOVERS POINT ★ CASUAL CALIFORNIA DINING INDOOR & PATIO DAILY AT 4:30PM 620 OCEAN VIEW BLVD. PACIFIC GROVE 831-375-2345 • BEACHHOUSEPG.COM LOVERS POINT BEACH CAFE OPEN DAILY, 9AM–4PM ’24 Best Restaurant in Pacific Grove
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