
Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Spirituality
Spiritual revelations do not arrive from thinking long & hard about Divinity. They come through silencing our thoughts, moving our ego out of the way, and opening up to the quiet, mysterious, spiritual realm that is always here with us. The world of soul is here and now, superimposed and woven through the world of the five sense. It doesn't take belief. It is Reality itself. You must only learn to see beyond the veils.
“There is another world, but it is in this one."
–W.B. Yeats

Healing
Healing occurs in the mind, heart, spirit, and body. Any system of self-improvement that does not address all of these essential components of the human being is lacking. I believe this so strongly I’ll repeat it: Any attempt to heal only one aspect of yourself without addressing the others, will ultimately lead to imbalance and unhappiness.

Spiritual Guidance
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.”
W.B. Yeats
When we quiet our thoughts and emotions, and open to the subtle realms within & around us, we begin to recognize that all of life is a spiritual mystery. This mystery is woven through the denser world of the five senses, yet always here—available for our witnessing. We need only to sharpen our 'sight' to perceive it.
As author Tom Cheetham brought to the foreground of my consciousness years ago: it’s been a long time since many of us have really experienced the world. Instead, we experience a constriction of it. A filtered selection of it, lacking breadth and depth. We step out cautiously, checking ourselves against what is 'allowed’ and what is 'known.' Then we cast that perception outward, ahead of ourselves, and move into it. We have found our way into a closed world and mistaken it for infinity.
So what happens when we're fully present and facing reality without any constrictions and overlays—without our conditioning, influences, desires, beliefs, trauma, cynicism, cultural programing, expectations, survival-based fears, self-loathing, delusions of grandeur, toxic positivity, or any of the other 10,000 colorful narratives we construct along our journey? What happens when we look at the world through zero filters, without any of our identities? What happens is: we see.
This takes great courage, which is why we often avoid looking too closely and we allow protective buffers between us and reality. Nietzsche thought of this as a natural, preservative instinct that he called "the will to superficiality"—an embracing of the trivial, and an avoidance of anything troubling, profound, or anomalous. By focusing on the superficial, humans become more "flighty, lightsome, and false"—unwilling to dive beneath the surface-level appearances. Nietzsche believed that this protected against the chance one might "get a hold of the truth too soon, before they have become strong enough, tough enough, artist enough to handle it." He further wrote: "It might be a basic characteristic of existence that those who know [the truth] completely would perish, in which case the strength of a spirit should be measured according to how much of the truth one could still barely endure – or to put it more clearly, to what degree one would require it to be thinned down, shrouded, sweetened, blunted, falsified."



So how do we begin the journey of seeing clearly, and of humbly encountering Truth? To begin with, clinging to any pre-constructed organization of Truth is not the way. As Krishnamurti famously said, "Truth is a pathless land." I've included an excerpt from one of his talks below. His ideas have always resonated with me.
I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect. That is my point of view, and I adhere to that absolutely and unconditionally. Truth, being limitless, unconditioned, unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or to coerce people along any particular path. If you first understand that, then you will see how impossible it is to organize a belief. A belief is purely an individual matter, and you cannot and must not organize it. If you do, it becomes dead, crystallized; it becomes a creed, a sect, a religion, to be imposed on others. This is what everyone throughout the world is attempting to do. Truth is narrowed down and made a plaything for those who are weak, for those who are only momentarily discontented. Truth cannot be brought down, rather the individual must make the effort to ascend to it. You cannot bring the mountain-top to the valley. If you would attain to the mountain-top you must pass through the valley, climb the steeps, unafraid of the dangerous precipices.
-Krishnamurti, August 3, 1929
The adventure of encountering Truth often begins with an honest examination of all the identities and constructs we cling to, whether consciously or unconsciously. From the moment we're born, we begin accumulating these identities, and by adulthood, it can be difficult to clearly examine, change, or release them.
For some people, the idea of existing without a fixed identity—however temporarily—can feel unsettling or even terrifying. By in my experience, those identity-less moments are the most peaceful, primordial, and spacious states of being. As my sweet friend Jana says, "If you can embrace the fact that you're in uncharted lands...and you remain open, without labels, without boundaries...if you no longer know who you are...good job. You're doing a very good job."
To further explore this idea, I created a framework that interprets the various spheres of identity we carry within us. You can think of each sphere as a kind of veil—one that must be lifted in order to perceive reality (both internally & externally) with greater clarity.
At each level/sphere, we identify with a particular aspect of self, either through self-identification or inherited prescription—shaped by family, culture, society, etc. These identifications are not inherently wrong, nor do they need to be entirely discarded! But when we become unhealthily attached to these identities, that attachment can obscure our perception and inhibit growth.

1) Ego. A healthy ego is necessary to safely navigate the world, and to recognize our unique purpose & meaning. However, excessive ego-identification can make one self-centered, rigid, and lacking in compassion. At worst, an un-healthy ego manifests as narcissism, psychopathology, and a total disregard for the interconnected eco-system beyond one's self.
2) Family. It is essential to examine the ideals, belief systems, and relationship models we inherited during early development. This includes conditioning around self-worth, love, relationships, safety, money, power, cultural identity, and personal potential. To mature spiritually, we must lovingly confront—and when necessary, transform—these inherited imprints. Unexamined attachment to these familiar patterns—whether out of ignorance, 'blood loyalty', or unresolved wounds—can stunt development.
3) Tribe. A tribe can be a religious or political group, a profession, nationality, or an other formal or informal identity group. For example, 'biologists', 'women', 'CEOs', 'people who meditate', 'athletes', etc. There is absolutely noting wrong with tribes. One could easily argue that we need tribes to survive. But if we become too dogmatic about our tribe's ideologies, or we elevate our group’s beliefs, priorities, and worldviews above others, we risk dogmatism and forget our shared human and planetary kinship. We fail to honor the simple truth that we are all in this together.
4) Human. Imagining the universe through a non-human perspective is difficult to fathom because everything we've ever explored, defined, believed, or speculated has come through the filter of the human mind. But we must acknowledge that humans are only one thread in a much greater, cosmic tapestry. A truly honest understanding of the human being's placement within the universe requires a complete de-humanization of the Truth. If we fail to honor this, then our reality, god(s), and perceptions of Truth will always be diluted, altered, and anthropomorphic. So how can we begin to glimpse a broader consciousness? We can do our best through awareness and conscious contemplation. A good starting point is to meditate with non-human beings—rocks, trees, stars, animals, air, deities. These meditations can help us remember that the universe is not human-centered.
5) Non-identity. This is the final and most elusive sphere. Non-form. Non-thought. Śūnyatā. The abyss-like emptiness that exists prior to, and beyond, all manifestation. In this sphere, there are no forms...even thought-forms. There is only void. In the diagram, I also refer to this level as 'Pure Consciousness', though even that label is only useful if that consciousness contains nothing but nothing—not even the idea of a witness. This is the reason why the final sphere is the most peaceful state, because no concept of "I" exists, as there is no active mind with which to imagine "I" into existence. While impossible to describe this ineffable state, it can be touched: through meditation, stillness, or sometimes spontaneously. To experience this state is not to 'know more', but for all knowing to dissolve.
Here's another way to think about the idea of seeing clearly. Let's assume the true aim of a spiritual truth-seeker is to exist in Truth— Ultimate Reality without any constrictions. This reality is not only profound, it's too much to behold all at once! As mortal beings, we're designed to prioritize the processing of mundane, survival-based information, so we can navigate each day safely. But the goal of those who crave truth is to widen the funnel of perception—to allow not just the necessary data about our environment and needs to pass through, but also the countless other miracles of Ultimate Reality that are always available to us.
For a more poetic & sophisticated dive into this concept, I invite you to read Stephen Mitchell's translation of the epic, ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita. In my favorite chapter, Chapter Eleven, the warrior Arjuna is reluctantly heading into battle in a chariot driven by Krishna (the Supreme Hindu God). Up until this point, Krishna has only appeared to Arjuna in the form of a humble charioteer, but now, Arjuna longs to see Krishna's truest form. He says:
"You have told me in detail
the origin and dissolution
of all things, and have described
your own vast, imperishable Being.
I do not doubt that you are
what you say you are, Lord. And yet
I want to see for myself
the splendor of your ultimate form.
If you think I am strong enough,
worthy enough, to endure it,
grant me now, Lord, a vision
of your vast, imperishable Self."
What follows is one of the most breathtaking passages in spiritual literature. Krishna reveals himself as all that is—a vision so radiant, terrifying, and incomprehensibly vast that Arjuna nearly perishes while attempting to behold it! Finally, mercifully, Krishna returns to his "mild and pleasant" form, as Arjuna's charioteer once again. And Arjuna has been transformed forever.
If you've never read the Gita, I hope you do one day. It's beautiful.
Before I move on, and share some of the practical ways I can guide you to a more soulful, peaceful life, here is one of my favorite spiritual poems by Max Ehrmann. (My other adored spiritual poets are Rilke - especially the Duino Elegies - Rumi, and Kabir.)

And here is one of my favorite panels from the apocalypse tapestry in Angers, France. It depicts John, symbolically eating the Word of God (as written in the Book of Revelations.) They were some hard truths to swallow, but he went for it...









“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
Michelangelo
I help guide my clients through:
Spiritual Transfiguration
Life-altering Transformations and Deep Soul Awakenings
Dark Nights of the Soul and Crises of Faith
The Integration of Mystical Experiences
Intuition Development
Exploring New Spiritual Realms and Liminal Spaces
Ayahuasca Preparation & Integration Counseling
Managing New Awareness, Activations, and Spiritual Empowerments
Finding Peace in Śūnyatā—Sacred Emptiness, Nothingness, the Void
Relational & Communal Healing
Sacred Partnerships; Relationships as a Spiritual Practice
Leaving or Healing from an Oppressive Religious Group or a Cult
Navigating Relationship Difficulties due to Differing Spiritual Beliefs
Sacred & Medicinal Ceremonies for Couples, Families, or Friends:
*Shamanic Sound Healings, Hapé, Men's & Women's Groups*
Identity, Purpose, & Energetic Alignment
Discovering & Aligning with your Mythopoetic Identity
Cultivating & Sustaining your Chi/Life Force Energy
Aligning all Aspects of your Life with your Spiritual Purpose(s)
Perception Discernment; Learning to See Clearly within Others and Yourself
Practices & Ceremonies
Meditations & Prayers Tailored to Your Path
Private, Sacred & Medicinal Ceremonies:
*Shamanic Sound Healings, Hapé, Initiations, Deep Shamanic Work*
Guided Yoga Nidra Meditations
I work with clients from a wide range of spiritual and non-spiritual backgrounds. Your beliefs will always be respected, and you won’t be expected to change them at any point during our work together. Having said that, if you've chosen me as your guide, chance are you're open to exploring new perspectives that deepen your understanding of yourself and the world.
I consider myself a spiritual "free agent", unattached to any single doctrine or tradition (though I've explored many.) I'm comfortable working with Christians, Buddhists, Atheists, Taoists, Plant Medicine Enthusiasts, Humanists, Jews, Existentialists, Muslims, Sufis, Mormons, Non-Dualists, Agnostics, Pagans, Druids, Priestesses—and however else you identify. This same openness applies to gender identity, sexual orientation, race/cultural background, and beyond.
Living with Your Soul as Your Guide
- Following Your Intuition -
If you become very still inside, and listen beyond the noise of your mind & the fluctuations of your emotions, you will begin to discern a subtle, compassionate, undeniable knowing. It does not clamor for attention or impose itself upon you, for it is entirely without violence. This is the voice of your truth. Your intuition. Your soul speaking to you.
Oftentimes, the mind and emotions are so loud & persistent that you may default to listening to them... simply because they make the most racket! But in moments of great decision, the soul understands what neither the mind nor emotions can conceive, which is why it's so important to learn to learn to hear—and trust—the guidance of your soul.
Think of your soul as the voice of God in you—the part of you that exists beyond thoughts, emotions, conditioning—even beyond linear time. The soul maintains a perspective that knows what will bring you the deepest sense of peace, satisfaction, and meaning. And other internal and external influences, it never lead you astray.
If the word soul feels unfamiliar or uncomfortable, think of it as a gut instinct, an inner compass meant to calibrate you along the best possible path for your journey. Or, if you're more speculative/playful in your thinking, imagine your intuition as a set of secret instructions encoded in your DNA by the original programmers themselves: the evolutionary coding installed by the alien-architects who set this whole, wild, cosmic ride into motion! Those big, bad-daddy orchestraters of this elaborate cosmic play want you to evolve. Their goal is for you to uncover & listen to those instructions so that you can become as conscious and powerful as them. Or, if you prefer to think of life as a gigantic simulation, think of yourself as an avatar—and the messages you intuitively as being sent from your 'original self' in the real world, guiding you back to truth; who knows...maybe if you listen closely enough and follow the guidance you hear, you'll finally break free from the simulation.
However you frame it, this benevolent inner guidance is the wisest, most trustworthy ally you'll ever have.
Remember: it is the soul’s desire to bring you back to Truth. Back to God. Back home to your truest self. This's why following your intuition is one of the most extraordinary acts of self-love.
One of the most common reasons people come to me is a longing to reconnect with the quiet, steady wisdom of their soul. I’m always honored to support them in strengthening and trusting such a valuable part of their inner world.




Your Mythopoetic Identity
Soul is more than a guiding voice or feeling we connect with in moments of pure stillness. It can be understood as an entire identity, your deepest essence. Eco-depth psychologist Bill Plotkin refers to an individual's unique soul identity as their "mythopoetic identity"—an identity not defined by your surface-level labels or roles in the world (for example, it is not your identity as a mother, father, wife, husband, Christian, Taoist, artist, teacher, business person, community leader, or any other worldly role.) While these roles can carry great meaning, they are not ultimately who you are at the level of the soul. According to Plotkin, it's only by discovering and embodying our mythopoetic self that we can whole-heartedly embrace our deepest callings, and from that place, every action we take becomes an expression of who we truly are.
In his book, The Journey of Soul Initiation, Plotkin notes that some people are fortunate enough be living in alignment with their soul identity without consciously realizing it. For them, developing a more conscious understanding of this identity can help them inhabit their unique "eco-niche" in the wider web of life, and help them find the most effective, joyful, meaningful ways to deliver their gifts to the world. For others—not yet attuned to their mythopoetic identity—"decent into soul" may be an essential part of their spiritual journey.
A decent into soul is an extended process that may unfold over months or years. It involves a radical alteration in consciousness and marks a transition into a new stage of spiritual development. Unlike a rite of passage, which is typically a singular ceremony, event, or experience (such as puberty, pregnancy, marriage, induction into a special group, the ordination of a priest, the enthronement of a King), a decent into soul is not a singular rite or ritual that marks a passage between socially defined roles or statuses. Instead, it is an inner pilgrimage made up of many rites, rituals, ceremonies, dreams, and periods of deep introspection. It allows the individual to transition between entire levels of spiritual development.
In Plotkin's words, a decent into soul (i.e. discovering and merging with one's mythopoetic identity) is "not a mere social, vocational, [or locational] severance or leave... it's the complete & conclusive undoing of one's former psychological and social identity and the definitive ending of one's belief that any and all identities rooted in social life could ever again be fundamental to who one really is."
While Plotkin encourages having an experienced guide or mentor during this transformative journey, it is not a requirement. Epic figures such as Carl Jung, for example, underwent (and documented!) a decade-long descent into soul without formal guidance. The results of his journey were profound, mystical, and...genius. So yes, it is possible to go it alone. But, for most people, having an experienced companion by your side can make the path more navigable, more held, and perhaps even more deeply integrated.
Dark Nights of the Soul
I want to include this section for anyone who may be suffering through a period of spiritual confusion, severe doubt, or dark & oppressive heaviness. If that feels like you, I realize that some of the other sharings on this page may not resonate right now—and that's understandable. I hope these next few paragraphs bring you a glimmer of hope & light, and remind you that your dark night will not last forever. Nor is it without purpose, wisdom, and meaning.
What is a Dark Night of the Soul?
A dark night of the soul is very different from ordinary depression, cerebral anxiety, or circumstantial grief. A spiritual dark night can be thought of as a form of soul guidance, there to let you know it's time to break free from beliefs, perceptions, and identities that are no longer serving your highest becoming. Soul guidance doesn't always arrive as peaceful messages and angelic visions; it may also come through upheaval—through stress, illness, despair, confusion, or any other route to get our attention. Sometimes this dark night comes because we haven't been listening to our soul's more subtle nudges; other times, this period of confusion is entirely out of our control, and nothing we could have done differently would have changed the dark night we are destined to travel through.
During a spiritual dark night, which could actually be many long nights, you may confront the deep contents of your inner world while confronting your fears, integrating your shadow, and challenging false 'gods' you've clung to (who often do not give up their hold without a fight.) This requires great faith and stamina, but the perseverance is worth it because you are clearing space to allow more truth, grace, and Divinity to move through you.
True spiritual expansion begins when we release our tendencies toward fantasy, attachment, domination, trauma-identification, greed, manipulation, egoic desires, and false perceptions of self & world. When these fall away, clarity arrives. And with clarity comes healing—not only for yourself, but for others. You become a vessel for love, faith, and service.
For many people, a dark night of the soul is not just a crises; it's an initiation along their spiritual journey. Mystics, shamans, healers—those called to deep spiritual work—often pass through it. As Caroline Myss says: the path of the mystic involves an enormous capacity to bear the truth, as the mystic must be detached from the illusions of the physical world, in order to see symbolically.
Myss explains that lessons on the path of the mystic are lessons in physical, emotional, and spiritual loss & disempowerment, followed by rebirth to a new relationship to power. Through anguish and ecstasy, mystics gain access to Spirit that is so profound, they become capable of breathing divine energy into ordinary words and acts—and they become able to heal others through acts of genuine love and faith. She says that before this can occur, crossing to the underworld is necessary so that the mystic can understand, from an experiential vantage point, the madness, darkness, sickness, disillusionment, and pain of humankind; for it is only from truly understanding an illness that the antidote is revealed.
The 16th-century Spanish mystic, St. John of the Cross, was the first to refer to a spiritual crisis as a "dark night of the soul." He knew that because so few people can endure direct contact with heaven, God intended to strengthen them before offering them the ultimate gift: experiencing heaven on Earth.
If you are experiencing a period of spiritual confusion that feels like a dark night of the soul, I'm here to help guide you across those trenches, through the dark, and toward the awaiting dawn.
Until then, remember: this too shall pass. And when it does, you'll emerge feeling more alive than ever before, with newfound wisdom, capacity, strength, clarity, and peace.
The dark night of the soul is transient, as all of existence is.
“Tenderly, I now touch all things, knowing one day we will part.”
St. John of the Cross


Thank you for your interest! If you'd like more information on either of my two, private, year-long programs, please read through either the "Introduction to SOAR - The Initiation" page or the "Introduction to SOAR - The Big Heart Path" page and fill out the contact form at the bottom of either page. I look forward to connecting with you!
A gentle reminder: at this time, I'm not accepting new clients for drop-in sessions or The Initiation, but I am welcoming couples for The Big Heart Path. Jessica Foutz & I are also available for groups seeking Medicinal Sound, Hapé, and Shamanic Ceremonies. If you're not interested in either of those options but would like to be contacted for a future drop-in session, please reach out, and I’ll be in touch when space becomes available.

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