"NORMAL" DIMINISHES YOUR POTENTIAL.

Our Roots

While meditating at a Brugh Joy year-end conference at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California in 1982, I had a spontaneous vision of what seemed to be a retreat center and looked from above like a flower with several petals extended outward. At that time, I had no idea what it meant. All I knew then was that it was startlingly clear and profoundly moving.

Through the years, especially in my time as a Religious Science minister, I was increasingly drawn to someday develop a center of healing and teaching. I was inspired by my dear friend, Dr. Michael Beckwith, when he would share with me his dreams of eventually having a “rainbow congregation”, which meant a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic spiritual community. He began following his vision with a small group of friends who met weekly in his living room and just sat and envisioned together. The result of this is the highly successful and inspiring Agape International Spiritual Center in Los Angeles.

Then in 1996, again in meditation, I saw the vision of the flower-like building again, this time coming alive, radiating light. It spread its petals out from the center. I asked how I could frame this into an articulatible vision statement and the vision responded by turning into jewels with a large crystal at the center. I sensed it telling me: “Learn - Know - Be.” This would guide my preparation for deeper service in the years to come, but also a foretelling of the foundational teachings at EarthSpirit Center.

EarthSpirit’s Birth

In 1993, a new counseling client arrived. Her name was LuAnne Myers, and through the course of several years, she became a dear friend, a supportive colleague, board president, and backbone of EarthSpirit Center. She encouraged me to incorporate the center and, with her help, EarthSpirit (then called EarthShamyn, and originally WymynShamyn - see “Our Logo History”) was born on Dec. 3, 1996 as a spiritual non- profit corporation (501C3). Our advisory board members then, as now, are self-selected.

Our Activities

(Please see “Gallery” for photos of our activities.)

Beginning in 1995, I taught classes and trainings. We had a regularly published newsletter which included student works (see “Student Articles”), articles written by myself and others, and events calendars.

In 1996, I continued to offer spiritual counseling, energy healings, vision quests, rituals, and various workshops. In April of that year, I conducted a tour with several students to some of the sacred sites in England, visiting Glastonbury, Avebury, Stonehenge, and my favorite, Bosca-wen-un in Cornwall.

Also in 1997, EarthSpirit began offering weekend and evening workshops taught by various experts in their fields, including Dennis William Hauck, practicing alchemist and teacher; Shamans Amanda Foulger, Esther Jenkins and Debra Carroll; ritual priestess Judith Kali Evador; artist Gloria Joy; Korean Shaman Hi-Ah Park; Native American Shaman Hashi-Hanta; Druid Shaman Guy Richard; OBE expert Joe Green; Religious Science minister-teacher Rainbow Johnson; color expert Pamela Oslie; psychic Amy Wiggins; sacred sound expert Jim Behrenholtz; animal communication expert Marcy Madden; Reiki trainer Franceska de Picciotto M.D.; medical intuitive Susan Brown; psychotherapist Nicki Berke Ph.D.; and many others.

Also in 1997, EarthSpirit initiated the Shamanic Mentoring-Ministerial Training Program, whose purpose was to prepare students for professional work as shamans, healers, teachers or ministers of EarthSpirit Center Church. Students completing the full course of study would earn either a certificate or graduate as a novitiate minister, with ordination after completing training hours. Several students entered the two programs, with five participating in the ministerial training and one, LuAnne Myers, completing required classes and hours for ordination. Also in 1999, I began facilitating a Mystery School, which continued until I moved to Nevada City in 2004. The group met every Wednesday evening for three hours and we studied the mysteries traditions from many cultures, ancient and modern, which included archetypes, dreams, shamanism, psychic-intuitive development, ceremony, alternative forms of healing, sacred theatre, meditation, sound, art, and Soul work. How Our Name Evolved At an Advisory Mtg. in January of 1999, the group of EarthShamyn leaders meditated on a new and more accurate name for the center. We sensed deeply that the name that came to many of us in that meditation, EarthSpirit Center, was right and it was voted on and passed unanimously. Later in 1999, during a Mystery School class, while I was leading a deep journey meditation by holding the energy for the group as they lay on the floor and journeyed, I became aware of patterns of light forming in the center of the room. It began to coalesce into a being of light, hovering above the floor and slowly turning full circle, its multi-colored, iridescent robes flowing gracefully. It felt like a feminine presence, very loving and extremely powerful. As it turned, its face seemed to be on all sides at once, with its eyes directly on me. I heard its voice and it said, “EarthSpirit is not a place...it is a state of mind.”

I was shaken but deeply moved and as the journeying ended, I had to share what I had experienced with the students. But I was amazed when two or three students said they’d had the identical experience.

From that day on, I knew that EarthSpirit was not merely a name we chose arbitrarily - it was given to us by an entity whose energy and clear intention was described beautifully by its name. I feel her presence often and believe she moved us north to manifest the center in its fullness and whose purpose is to offer and celebrate unconditional love for all.

Our Move to Nevada County

Thanks to a former Los Angeles student, Elena Powell, who had moved to Nevada City and sang its praises, I sensed a deep connection with it and this was confirmed in many visits made in 2000-2004. I felt a strong and clear “call” to live and work in this beautiful and powerful area. The cosmos was in full accord with the rightness of the move north by causing the activities at EarthSpirit in L.A. to dwindle so I would have no excuse not to follow through with the call.

So I began packing and moved to Nevada City in June of 2004. Long story short, let’s just say my first two years were what I now call “The Nevada City Experience” - a period of questioning my move, my work and my very life. Though living in the gold country was a lifelong dream come true, I had to face many fears that arose as a result of moving out of my comfort zone, even if it was the hectic, wild-energied Los Angeles. After many years of facing the shadow of my own deep consciousness, I knew I had inner work to do - and did it. As my mind calmed, my emotions mellowed, and my purpose became clearer than ever, I realized that I had moved fully into Elderhood and I had some valuable things to share. At first, I didn’t know if what I would be doing would involve EarthSpirit or not, but I knew I had to serve others.

Over a period of about two years, I presented occasional workshops and worked with individuals. I also began to teach dream, visualization, and art classes for the local hospital Cancer Center, where I met many incredible and inspiring people, all of whom were so clearly ready and enthused about the work that it became crystal clear to me that EarthSpirit was meant to blossom in this beautiful area with equally beautiful people at its core.

I now believe the entity known as EarthSpirit is guiding this process so that each participant will have a place, not only physically, but most importantly, within themselves, that builds confidence in their connection to Spirit, helps them perceive themselves as a loving and joyful presence in the world, and confirms they are Souls of great light.

Envisioning

Currently, we are actively involved in an envisioning group of people who feel inwardly drawn to EarthSpirit for the purpose of sitting together to build and hold the energy of community, listen to spiritual guidance about EarthSpirit’s direction, and radiate the power of group energy to anywhere it is needed. We do this by drumming, which calls forth the spirits of the EarthSpirit sacred space, and listening to their guidance and inspiration. The group’s purpose is simply to Build Community, Listen to Spirit, Serve Others.

I also see people feeling called to EarthSpirit and contributing their time, energy, resources, prayers and tax-deductible donations to EarthSpirit, such as for one of our more immediate projects: the expansion of the studio so more students can take part in art classes and small gatherings such as drum circles or transformational groups. (Please see our “Contributions” page to find out how you can help.)

In the not-too-distant future, we envision a wonderful day of celebration for the community, here at the EarthSpirit property, with dedications by our Circle of Sages, live music, delicious food, fun & games for adults and children, and a special land blessing of the land by our local native tribes as well as others from around the globe. I believe EarthSpirit has great potential for serving our local and global communities and a day of celebration such as this will anchor the energy for our service to become a greater reality.