My Personal Story
Childhood
My early life was lived in rural New Hampshire, a seemingly normal life. That said, don’t we each think of our childhood as normal until we start to compare it with another?
My parents divorced when I was 11. My mother, brother, and stepfather moved to Seattle, my mom’s family home. I received nearly daily taunting from the kids at school along with some hefty doses of verbal abuse from my stepfather.
At age 14 this all changed when I moved back to New Hampshire with my father. I was delighted to experience how he welcomed me with open arms and heart. He and I lived together for the next 3 years in harmony and appreciation.
My early life was lived in rural New Hampshire, a seemingly normal life. That said, don’t we each think of our childhood as normal until we start to compare it with another?
My parents divorced when I was 11. My mother, brother, and stepfather moved to Seattle, my mom’s family home. I received nearly daily taunting from the kids at school along with some hefty doses of verbal abuse from my stepfather.
At age 14 this all changed when I moved back to New Hampshire with my father. I was delighted to experience how he welcomed me with open arms and heart. He and I lived together for the next 3 years in harmony and appreciation.
Meditation and Eastern Mysticism
It was then that I consciously began my journey back to me. I took a class in Transcendental Meditation. This practice revealed to me the sweet stillness within. With gusto, I took to this practice. It offered me the inner equivalent of a cool breeze near a creek, on a warm afternoon.
Yet, what happened next blew me open.
I had the life transforming privilege of meeting the meditation master, Swami Muktananda. In him, I witnessed a man who was completely free and alive. In his presence, I had a direct experience of my authentic wholeness; my existential self. My life’s journey since has been about returning to my authentic being. A journey that I believe we are all on, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Over the next 7 years I devoured his teachings of Siddha Yoga, memorized ancient mystical texts, and meditated for many, many hours. I managed a residential meditation center in New Hampshire, I taught classes in Eastern Mysticism and yoga, I traveled with Muktananda, and managed a Siddha Yoga retreat center in Oakland, CA.
My time with him catapulted me on a path of self-discovery with the question “Who am I?”, as my reference. To this day, that question continues to set my course.
I am humbled and deeply grateful for his guidance. Thank you.
Therapy
I’m grateful for the many years I’ve spent in therapy. I unearthed many of my conditioned responses to nearly every aspect of my existence, while also recognizing the love, strength, and freedom that lie beneath this conditioning.
Having worked intensely with a hypnotherapist (3 hours weekly for 2 years), I experienced how my imagination is one of my most effective tools for a happy life. Through an intimate understanding of how I can use my imagination, I now have a tool that can positively influence every aspect of my life and my client’s lives.
Men’s Work
In my mid 20’s, feeling a deep yearning to feel the truth of my masculinity, I enrolled in men’s workshops and groups. Inspired by this work, I developed the series "Exploring the Male Heart". I created this series out of my desire to support myself and other men in deepening our experience of ourselves; individually, as a gender, and as spiritual beings. I have also facilitated this work during ManSpirit retreats in Sonoma County.
Rhythm and Music
Music has been a source of inspiration throughout my life. Feeling the primal grooves expressed through the East Indian tablas and the African djembe, I had the awesome fortune of studying with some of the world’s greatest percussionists. Zakir Hussein, (given the moniker of “world’s greatest drummer”) taught out of my house for a summer! Now that was rich. After my study with him and Swapan Chauderi, director of rhythm at the Ali Akbar Khan College in San Rafael, Ca., I found “my” teacher.
A simple man who played like a prince, after hearing Sham Sher SIngh play live, I asked “Do you teach??". He answered “do you want to learn?”. I asked “what do you charge for your lessons?” He answered “what do you want to pay?” A classic beginning to what has become a lifetime of learning, teaching, and performing on these very soulful drums.
Relationship
When I studied with my spiritual / music teachers, I thought of myself as having nothing and them as having everything; creating a kind of vertical relationship.
Today, in my relationships I feel as though I am coming full circle. My intention is for authenticity in all things and to give and receive support towards our autonomy.
I want this kind of “horizontality” in all relationships, wherein I recognize the unique beauty of each person. Where I can hold them/you with the sentiment “Namaste.” which translates as “I see your potential to live as unlimited joy, peace, strength, and love.”
Namaste.
It was then that I consciously began my journey back to me. I took a class in Transcendental Meditation. This practice revealed to me the sweet stillness within. With gusto, I took to this practice. It offered me the inner equivalent of a cool breeze near a creek, on a warm afternoon.
Yet, what happened next blew me open.
I had the life transforming privilege of meeting the meditation master, Swami Muktananda. In him, I witnessed a man who was completely free and alive. In his presence, I had a direct experience of my authentic wholeness; my existential self. My life’s journey since has been about returning to my authentic being. A journey that I believe we are all on, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Over the next 7 years I devoured his teachings of Siddha Yoga, memorized ancient mystical texts, and meditated for many, many hours. I managed a residential meditation center in New Hampshire, I taught classes in Eastern Mysticism and yoga, I traveled with Muktananda, and managed a Siddha Yoga retreat center in Oakland, CA.
My time with him catapulted me on a path of self-discovery with the question “Who am I?”, as my reference. To this day, that question continues to set my course.
I am humbled and deeply grateful for his guidance. Thank you.
Therapy
I’m grateful for the many years I’ve spent in therapy. I unearthed many of my conditioned responses to nearly every aspect of my existence, while also recognizing the love, strength, and freedom that lie beneath this conditioning.
Having worked intensely with a hypnotherapist (3 hours weekly for 2 years), I experienced how my imagination is one of my most effective tools for a happy life. Through an intimate understanding of how I can use my imagination, I now have a tool that can positively influence every aspect of my life and my client’s lives.
Men’s Work
In my mid 20’s, feeling a deep yearning to feel the truth of my masculinity, I enrolled in men’s workshops and groups. Inspired by this work, I developed the series "Exploring the Male Heart". I created this series out of my desire to support myself and other men in deepening our experience of ourselves; individually, as a gender, and as spiritual beings. I have also facilitated this work during ManSpirit retreats in Sonoma County.
Rhythm and Music
Music has been a source of inspiration throughout my life. Feeling the primal grooves expressed through the East Indian tablas and the African djembe, I had the awesome fortune of studying with some of the world’s greatest percussionists. Zakir Hussein, (given the moniker of “world’s greatest drummer”) taught out of my house for a summer! Now that was rich. After my study with him and Swapan Chauderi, director of rhythm at the Ali Akbar Khan College in San Rafael, Ca., I found “my” teacher.
A simple man who played like a prince, after hearing Sham Sher SIngh play live, I asked “Do you teach??". He answered “do you want to learn?”. I asked “what do you charge for your lessons?” He answered “what do you want to pay?” A classic beginning to what has become a lifetime of learning, teaching, and performing on these very soulful drums.
Relationship
When I studied with my spiritual / music teachers, I thought of myself as having nothing and them as having everything; creating a kind of vertical relationship.
Today, in my relationships I feel as though I am coming full circle. My intention is for authenticity in all things and to give and receive support towards our autonomy.
I want this kind of “horizontality” in all relationships, wherein I recognize the unique beauty of each person. Where I can hold them/you with the sentiment “Namaste.” which translates as “I see your potential to live as unlimited joy, peace, strength, and love.”
Namaste.
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