I would want you to find the right companion for your own spiritual journey, and make sure you and I are a good fit. So, here is a little about me:
As a Quaker, I trust in the power of listening together with an open mind and an open heart. In the presence of sacred stillness and unconditional love, the soul can breathe, expand and connect to its highest purpose. And to listen in community can give the individual an important anchor for their inner and subjective experience. My own spiritual practice includes meditation, time in communion with nature, and practices like yoga, Qi Gong and Aikido. In all of these, I seek to integrate spirituality with embodied experience.
As a healthcare chaplain at a large trauma center, I help people navigate personal crises, losses of physical ability and identity, or the deconstruction of long-held beliefs that no longer provide answers and meaning. Walking with people through difficult times of transition, I know the pain of loss and grief — and I know that there are no easy answers. Sometimes, the most powerful thing to bring into a moment of despair is a silent presence and an unwavering commitment to not abandon the other person. This is hard, but I know that there is hope because my work has also taught me, over and over, that I can trust in the resilience and strength of the human spirit.
As a man, I know that many men are struggling with profound shame, isolation, and loss of identity and purpose. Men thrive in supportive and healing spaces where we can reconnect with and fully express our positive, creative and life-giving masculine energy. I share in the collective work of dismantling oppressive patriarchal structures and decolonizing our hearts and minds. And yet, I also know that the world desperately needs the gifts and contributions of mature men who are grounded in strength and guided by their own purpose.
Finally, as a professional, I have degrees in theology and philosophy of religion from Oxford University. I am a board-certified chaplain through the Association of Professional Chaplains, and have trained at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, CA. I am a certified life and bereavement coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and a mediator through the Conflict Resolution Institute of Ventura County.
Most importantly, I have worked with thousands of people from many different backgrounds, each one putting together the parts of their life into a unique, coherent and meaningful story.
I would like to hear yours.