“I can’t see a [email protected]#% thing!” I said to my college girlfriend as we drove through a blizzard, making our way south down Interstate 57 from Chicago to Champaign, Illinois, where we were both in school. In the winter, a drive down 57 is a rite of passage for Midwestern drivers. On a clear winter day, ...
10 years ago, I stepped into a ceremony that changed my life. Before entering this sacred ritual, I thought I knew something about this reality and who I was… I was wrong. How do you find yourself leaping off the edge, plummeting into a confrontation with ultimate truth? Thinking back on it, I had been ...
Growing up, I was fascinated by the hundreds of interesting plants that grew in the forests behind my childhood home in rural Connecticut. We would wander down old forgotten trails for hours, lost in the greenery and enchanted by the timelessness of the place. I would later come to realize that these old ...
Why did our ancestors fast on a regular basis? If you think about it, the biggest spiritual superheroes of all time went for long durations of time without eating anything – on purpose. Buddha, Jesus, and Mohammed, to name a few. Was it just a way of showing reverence to the almighty or was there more ...
Ever wondered why people exchange chocolate on romantic occasions? Like Valentines Day for example? Long before Willie Wonka came around, it was known among the ancient Maya as the “food of the gods,” because chocolate, or cacao, can act as a powerful aphrodisiac that awakens the “love hormones” in ...
Two thousand years ago, the following words of truth were spoken by one of the world’s legendary healers: “Whoever wishes to investigate medicine properly, should proceed thus… Consider the seasons of the year, and what effects each of them produces – for they are not at all alike, but differ ...
A big misconception about shamanism and native medicine is that it’s a cosmic thrill ride into the spiritual realms that magically helps you overcome anything you’re struggling with. Sometimes it can be. But the journey involves a lot more than reality-altering ceremonies. In authentic Amazonian ...
Have you ever noticed that when you walk into any place of worship or sacred ceremony, there is always one repeating theme? Yes, the symbols and prayers spoken may be different, but one thing is universally present – the use of smoke. Beyond its pleasing aromatic qualities, smoke is viewed in many ...
The longest night. The shortest day. Winter solstice is a sacred time to express our gratitude to the yellow dwarf star at the center of our solar system – the sun. For without it, life could not exist. It has been celebrated by our ancestors for centuries. From Scandinavian Norsemen, we gain the ...
As the winter solstice approaches, there is an ancient tradition that many of us still practice. Many adults and children alike here in the States and around the world get into the holiday spirit by hauling a bushy evergreen tree into the living room, standing it up in a prominent location and decorating it ...
Something stunning happened while I was driving my son to school yesterday morning. My eyes were fixed on the dark, dawn-lit road ahead as my mind was busy mulling over the various things on my schedule for the day. Then I noticed a gigantic ball of flame creeping over the trees into the sky. A sense of ...
Did you know that it’s almost impossible to be upset and grateful at the same time? It’s one of those universal truths that is easy to prove – just try it yourself. Being thankful flips a switch inside of you that clears out any negative feelings you were experiencing a few moments before. “Gratitude ...