Ceremony

                                                                       Apucheta libation blessing

                                                                       Arabia Mountain, Georgia

In addition to and in compliment to psychotherapy and workshop activities, I practice cross cultural ceremonial and healing work.  I have studied with the Foundation for Shamanic Studies, The Four Winds Society and The Heart of the Healer Foundation; you may visit the "Links" page to contact these sacred circles.  

I am an ordained Disciples of Christ minister.  I have participated in the altomesayoke initiation rite (karpay) in the Q’ero tradition (with the Four Winds Society).  I combine elements of the Judeo-Christian, Greco-Roman, cross cultural mysticism and Mythopoetic/Bardic paths.  I have been studying ceremony and ritual since the late '60s and practicing ceremonial healing since 1992. I have presented numerous workshops and facilitated many circles utilizing these ancient arts.

I tend to view ceremonial and healing work existentially, archetypally and skeptically.  We exist and dance in a vast Mystery that the practice of ceremonial and energetic work accesses.  This must be done with great care, clear intention and profound humility.   While positive, clear and benevolent intent is the best single predictor of outcome in ceremonial work, it does not insure safety or sacredness.   In our childlike and adolescent modern minds we like to romanticize the old ways.  This can lead to naivete and predatory use of ceremony. 

Archetypally, we can use ceremony to develop imaginal relatedness with the primal forces in life.  The medicine person is a differentiation of the more universal Healer archetype.   I have been witness to many miraculous occurrences in this work; that being said, I also remain skeptical.  This seeming contradiction is, in reality, the paradox we must hold in order to reap true benefit from ceremonial and healing work.  Healing works at wholeness (re: holy - ness), not cure.

                                                                      Ceremonial altar

Please be clear: I am not a shaman but do feel that everyone has medicine.  I actually prefer the term "animism," denoting that everything, all the tribes - elementals, stones, greens, fins, creepy crawlers, burrowings, winged, four legged, two legged, cloud, stars, angelics - have life and wisdom.   In my experience there are few modern individuals who can authentically call themselves "shaman."  The genuine medicine people I have had the pleasure to encounter generally do not like the term.  Historically, the medicine person is a somewhat scary figure and does not advertise his/her expertise. 

True ceremonial work always embodies shadow and death.  It is the space where we can honor and relate to these forces.  It is also beautiful, ecstatic and requires of us service.

It is best not to approach this work too concretely, literally or even symbolically.  Rather, it is helpful to sense it energetically and imaginally.  

One of my primary goals in ceremonial work is to help you understand what your medicine is.  This is accomplished mainly by engaging the imaginal, Otherworld through journeying.  Journeying ("sourcing" in the Celtic tradition) is an accessing of the Collective Unconscious via trance, usually with drum, rattle or dance.

My services include:

• Ceremonial/energetic healing
• Mentoring in ceremony and healing work
• Using ceremonial work to enhance one’s faith/spiritual practice
• Assistance with forming rituals
• Extractions
• Soul Retreival

I am happy to meet with you and help you access how ceremonial work might be helpful for you.  I have a number of individuals whom I refer folks to when I feel your concerns do not fall into my expertise.  Both of us must be comfortable and trusting of each other to pursue work at the energetic and ceremonial levels.  I look forward to sharing in your journeys. 

© 1990-2008 All rights are reserved.  No material, except where specifically noted, may be reprinted or reproduced in any form without written consent.