Though raised an atheist, I’ve long felt mystery and sacredness in Life, especially in nature. This was fortunate, because during much of my upbringing, I wasn’t allowed to go home after school. I was shy, and making friends didn’t come easily, so I spent hours sitting outdoors by myself. Though sometimes I simply daydreamed, I also enjoyed many solitary afternoons in the beauty of nature, barely thinking—in other words, meditating.
In my twenties, substance issues and mental health problems spurred an urgent need for healing, and I launched a more intentional search for psycho-spiritual growth. I turned to counseling, 12-step programs, and silent worship in the Quaker tradition, the religion of my ancestors.
In my early 40’s, during a time of career loss and midlife crisis, I experienced powerful spiritual visions. In the aftermath, I took trainings in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, increased my meditation practice, and converted to Roman Catholicism. I’ve spent the years since exploring additional traditions and practices, including Theravada Buddhism, Raja Yoga, Chinese Medicine, non-dual spirituality, and somatic therapy.
Along the way, I completed some spiritually relevant trainings, listed below:
- Medical Acupuncture Training, Helms Medical Institute, Berkeley CA
- Dynamic Mindfulness / Yoga Teacher Training, Niroga Institute, Oakland CA
- Spiritual Direction Training, Interfaith Chaplaincy Institute, Berkeley CA
- Hospice Training, Zen Caregiving Project, San Francisco CA