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, and a lengthy stint at Denver’s great Westword as their art critic), 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 third 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 almost 20 years. We are eclectic, spontaneous and spend a lot of time laughing and working deep.
Photo © Cynthia McKeever 2006
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
