Among my grandparents were an astrologer-herbalist on one side and an organic gardener/lapidary on the other. I began learning casually about plants, astrology and gem-lore as a young kid.
This expanded erratically into other, more occult studies, and I gradually stepped onto a Goddess path in the late Seventies.
A few years later, in 1981, this formalized into the practice of the nature-oriented path sometimes called Wicca. Privileged to study with many fine teachers, I always seem to return to Nature Herself as the ultimate teacher and healer.
In the late '80s, I began learning the practices of shamanism, and have found that — for me — Wicca and shamanism combine well to form a complimentary and balanced practice.
Extensive formal training in core shamanism has come mainly through The Foundation for Shamanic Studies and Sandra Ingerman (author: Soul Retrieval, Shamanic Journeying: A Beginner's Guide and more), but again, much of the learning comes within the journey experience, directly from the guides in nature and Non-Ordinary Reality.
Since 1991, I’ve been teaching about and using the healing practices of shamanism. I also teach classes on Tarot and other metaphysical subjects. You can find them listed here and on the Witches' Voice:
A professional journalist for years (including on "underground newspapers" in the Vietnam era), my writing now focuses on metaphysical subjects. Credits include pieces in the annual We'Moon calendar and Denver's late, award-winning Hole in the Stone magazine. Several self-published books are in print and a big one on Numerology and Magical Math entitled Math for Mystics was released by Weiser Books in March 2007. M4M was a COVR Award Finalist in 2008 and is now in its second printing. In terms of what I write and research, I like the term “independent scholar” — that may be a polite way of saying “quirky amateur”, but, hey, it’s time quirky amateurs got our due.
A beautiful group called The Circle That Has No Name has been my delight and support for over 15 years. We are eclectic, spontaneous and spend a lot of time laughing and working deep.
An Introduction
Born in Illinois,
now a multi-decade resident
of Colorado
Virgo with lots of Libra and a Grand Trine in Fire
Quote du jour:
“Philosophers have argued for centuries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but materialists have known all along that it depends on whether they are jitterbugging or dancing cheek to cheek.”
from Jitterbug Perfume,
by Tom Robbins
Alt-Quote du jour:
“From where we stand the rain seems random. If we could stand someplace else, we would see the order in it.”
from Coyote Waits,
by Tony Hillerman
Photo © Cynthia McKeever 2006
