Author & Artist Profiles

CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITORS

See also Art as Activism: Participating Artists

Irene Blinston, PhD

Irene Blinston is a researcher of the lifelong aftereffects of religious apparitions experienced in childhood, anomalous human experiences, paranormal/supernatural phenomena (miracles), Psychomanteum, and consciousness. She has contributed to the book, Fatima Revisited: The Apparition Phenomenon In Ufology, Psychology, and Science, published articles, and presented her research and findings at conferences.  

Dr. Blinston’s interest is in the vast human potential. She believes that humans are so much more than we realize. She is an experienced dissertation coach who has helped many students studying for their doctoral degrees, and she also serves as a life coach, facilitating people in liberating their dreams and making miracles happen in their lives.

Website:  https://www.dissertation-expert.com/about.html

Email:  drblinston@gmail.com

#moneyarchetypes  #midwifetomiracles  #liberatorofdreams

Debra Carroll, MA, CET  

Debra Carroll is the Founder and Director of Shamanic Arts Education & Counseling, the Shamanic Arts Dreaming Research Project and the Shamanic Arts Dreaming Certification Project.  She has used Shamanic Waking, Lucid Dreaming as a counseling modality and intervention for over 30 years.  She was co-founder and editor of Shaman’s Drum: Journal of Experiential Shamanism and is a former member of the Board of the Cross Cultural Shamanism Network.  She has worked and studied at home and abroad with indigenous shamans and medicine people and plans to share this knowledge through her own research and teachings.

Website:  www.ShamanicArtsEdu.com  

Email:  debradc@gmail.com

#shamanicarts  #dreamresearch  #counseling  #education

Amy E. Clark  

Amy E. Clark is a poet and artist residing in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not writing poems, Amy enjoys painting with watercolors and constructing handmade books. Two of her pieces were recently exhibited at the Gallery Ex Libris in San Francisco’s Bird & Beckett Books and Records.

Dr. Joshua Conzo, DC, CFMP   

  Dr. Joshua Conzo completed his bachelor’s degree at Pennsylvania State University, where he studied Vertebrate Physiology and Chemistry. He earned his Doctor of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic and while studying at Palmer traveled to Fiji to help underprivileged families receive the medical care they needed.  Dr. Conzo is trained in disorders of the endocrine system, immunology, and Graston technique. He has completed advanced training and certification in functional medicine from the Functional Medicine University and has earned over 200 hours towards his Nutrition Diplomate. He has received certifications from Bridgeport University in Mastering Functional Blood Chemistry and Mastering Functional Brain Chemistry, and is currently pursuing a Diplomate in Functional Neurology to focus on neurological factors that may be missed in the conventional medical setting.  Dr. Conzo and his wife Brooke Walker Conzo are chiropractic and functional medicine physicians at Red River Health and Wellness Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Website: Dr. Joshua Conzo

Email:  drjconzo@redriverhealthandwellness.com

#functionalmedicine  #prevention  #holisticmedicine

Jaqui Duvall, MA

Jaqui Duvall is an author, trainer, life and health coach, and spiritual counselor helping people live authentically and genuinely through defining and connecting with their inner spirit. She has provided health coaching to veterans through the VA since 2013 and has been coaching in the private sector since 2002.  She has extensive experience teaching and developing Behavioral Health Education classes in a healthcare setting, including management of stress, anxiety and depression, insomnia, communication skills and more. Jaqui holds an MA in Consciousness Studies from the University of Philosophical Research and a BA in Drama from San Jose State University, as well as certificates in Health (2014) and Life Coaching (2002), Training (1989), Interactive Guided Imagery (2015).  She is currently pursuing certification as an aromatherapist.

Email: jaqui@lifecompass.org

#caring  #inspired  #present

Michelle Gilbert, BS, CA, APAIA

Michelle Gilbert, BS, CA, APAIA is a holistic aromatherapist and life coach based in Ohio. Her background and approach is broad, ranging from the scientific to the esoteric, and she studies the meeting point of science and spirit, of modern and ancient, of inner nature and outer expression.  Michelle offers personalized aromatherapy blends, energy work, and holistic life coaching to support people on their journey home to themselves. She provides consultations for holistic clinics, functional and integrative medicine, and alternative medicine practitioners and is an instructor at Aromahead Institute, School of Essential Oil Studies. She is a member of Orenda Healing International’s Board of Directors and serves on the Education Committee of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists.

Website: Michelle Gilbert  

Email: michelle@michelle-gilbert.com

#wellbeing  #holistichealth  #essentialoils

Ken Hall   

Ken is a working shamanic healer and fine art photographer living in Ennis, Montana, whose imagery reflects his spiritual path.  He became conscious of his gifts as a healer when he was four, and then he “went into hiding.” Through his work as a healer, fine artist, and performer of the Native American flute, he was able to heal the effects of violent wounding in his childhood, and he believes that had it not been for allowing these gifts to direct his life, he would have missed the rewarding and fulfilling experiences of healing himself and facilitating the healing of countless others.  In appreciation of his healing work, Ken was invited to participate with a contingent of indigenous elders in the annual Rights for Indigenous People Conference in Geneva, Switzerland in 1992. He counts having been included as an Anglo (non-native) in this life-altering event as one of the key pivotal events of his life.

Website:  https://www.bearfeather.com/

Email:  ken.hall@bearfeather.com

#shaman  #mystic  #photography

Linda Hunsaker

Linda is a printmaker and mixed media/fiber artist, currently residing in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is a graduate of Ringling College of Art and Design in Florida, and studied printmaking at Sonoma State University in California. For seven years she was a resident artist at El Zaguan, sponsored by the Historic Santa Fe Foundation in Santa Fe.  She is a member of the Boston Printmakers and the Los Angeles Society of Printmaking.  Linda’s work has been shown in over 50 national and international group exhibits and 6 one person exhibits nationally and internationally and is presently on exhibit at Watson MacRae Gallery in Sanibel, Florida.  

Website:  www.lindahunsaker.com/

Email:  hunhacat@gmail.com

#lookseecreate

Valentine McKay-Riddell, PhD, MACP

Valentine McKay-Riddell is a transpersonal psychologist and the Founder and Executive Director of Orenda Healing International, a 501.c.3  nonprofit service and research organization promoting individual and community health and wellbeing, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Dr. McKay-Riddell holds a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) in Palo Alto, California, and a BFA in painting and sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute.  She has taught as adjunct faculty for ITP’s Global PhD program, Southwestern College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Cherry Hill Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina.  She maintains a private practice in holistic wellness counseling and shamanic healing in Santa Fe, where in her spare time she writes fantasy/magic realism novels for young adults.

Website:  Wholebeing Wellness Counseling  

Email:  wholebeing@orenda-arts.org

#wholebeingwellness  #shamanism  #transpersonalcounseling

Myra Miller, PhD  

Myra Miller is an ecology-oriented transpersonal psychologist, researcher, educator, and environmental artist-designer. She is also the founder of the Earth Mother CouncilNature Studies Conservatory, and the Culture of Sustainability (COS) Outreach Project. It is her vision and mission to improve the quality of life; optimize health; assist in local-global community restoration; and build environmental reciprocal relationship for the Earth’s renewal. Diversified education/training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, the healing arts, and yoga with numerous other certifications are foundational in Dr. Miller’s personal life and work.  She integrates nature-based, intuitive and Eastern healing arts; expressive and cultural arts (literary, visual, and performance); and aesthetic, natural design to assist in restoring individual, community, and planetary wellbeing.

Email: drmyramiller@gmail.com

#intuitivehealingarts #naturebaseddepthwork   #communityhealingeducation  #healenvironment

William Peters, Sr.   

William Peters is an avid writer and poet who has been committed to this path since 1966. He has published over 70 books as well as a myriad of newspaper and magazine articles. Bill supports the venue of creative expression regardless of form. He is also an activist for the progression and evolution of humanity and our love of each other. Bill was named Poet Laureate at the 2015 Kosovo International Poetry Festival, where his book The Vine Keeper was showcased and he was awarded The Golden Grape Award.  He currently serves as CEO of Inner Child Enterprises, Ltd., Managing Director of Inner Child Press, Executive Producer of Inner Child Radio, and Executive Editor of Inner Child Magazine. His life partner Janet P. Caldwell stands by his side in support of the Inner Child vision.

Website:   www.innerchildpress.com

Email:  innerchildpress@gmail.com

 #spiritualgardener   #writerpoetpublisher   # humanitariansocialactivist

Katrina Rahn, MLIS

Katrina Rahn is an organizational design consultant who uses design thinking, effective problem solving, and collaboration to help libraries and other organizations increase their value and capacity, and inspire strategic support and growth.  Katrina earned her undergraduate degree in Creative Studies, with an emphasis in art, at UC Santa Barbara and holds a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from UCLA.  She worked for over 14 years in a transpersonal library, where her personal and professional interests converged in supporting research in alternative healing and whole person psychospiritual modalities.  Her personal mission is to be of service to others, helping clients solve problems in a way that is creative and human-centered.  She currently serves as a member of OHI’s Board of Directors and Editor of OHI’s Four Winds Journal.  

Website: Katrina Rahn

Email: katrina@MODbenefit.com

#revisioninglibraries #meaningfuldesign

Judy Schavrien, PhD, MFT

Dr. Judy Schavrien is an artist and psychotherapist in the San Francisco Bay Area. She has received 18 awards for work in the arts and theory, a nomination for Oakland Artist of the Year in California, and has been featured in cover articles for the international journals On The Issues and Art/Research International. Her books are Shot Awake: A Painter’s MemoirAlice at the Rabbithole Cafe, and Everything Voluptuous: The Love Songs 1970-2014.  Dr. Schavrien’s art and writing may be found at Amazon and Kindle.  

Website: https://www.jesart.net/

#transpersonalpainter  #poetvoluptuous  #memoirpainter #ipadartist

 

Jan Edl Stein, MFT

Jan Edl Stein, MFT is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in San Francisco and Marin County. She is the Director of Holos Institute, (www.holosinstitute.net), an educational and counseling center grounded in ecopsychology, and currently serves as Adjunct Faculty in East-West Psychology at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS).

Jan leads workshops and retreats that interweave meditation, active imagining, shamanic journeying and earth based contemplations. She has taught and given presentations at Sonoma State University, Grof Transpersonal Training Program, The Bioneers Conference, Esalen Institute, IONs, and numerous private venues.

All of her work draws upon a lifelong study of spiritual traditions and healing practices of earth-based cultures and a deep love of the natural world.

Website: www.janedl.com
Email: janedl@earthlink.net

Rich Follett

Rich Follett is a High School English, Theatre, and Mythology teacher who has been writing poems and songs for more than forty years. His poems have been featured in numerous online and print journals, including BlazeVox, The Montucky Review, Paraphilia, Leaf Garden Press and CounterExample Poetics, for which he is a featured artist. Three volumes of poetry, Responsorials (with Constance Stadler), Silence, Inhabited, and Human & c. are available through NeoPoiesis Press (www.neopoiesispress.com). He lives with his wife Mary Ruth Alred Follett in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he also pursues his interests as a professional actor, singer/songwriter, playwright and director.

Email:  richfoll@yahoo.com

#bealwayslearning

 

Judy Grahn

Judy Grahn is internationally known as a poet, writer, and cultural theorist. Her writings helped fuel, globally, second wave feminist, gay, and lesbian activism, as well as women’s and queer spirituality. She has received two American Book Awards, two Lambda literature awards, a Foremothers of Women’s Spirituality Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from Triangle Publishers, who also established the Judy Grahn Nonfiction Award in 1996. In 2014 she was Lifetime Achievement Grand Marshal of the San Francisco Gay Pride Parade. Grahn has published thirteen books with several more in process; publications include two book length poems, several poetry collections, The Judy Grahn Reader from Aunt Lute Press, an ecotopian novel, and five non-fiction books. Among them are Another Mother Tongue: Gay Words, Gay Worlds; Blood, Bread, and Roses: How Menstruation Created the World; and her memoir, A Simple Revolution: The Making of an Activist Poet. A collection of nine-part poems, Hanging On Our Own Bones, is her latest, from Red Hen Press.

She lives in California with her wife.

Website: judygrahn.org/
Email: judygrahn@gmail.com

#lovingmotherearth

 

Benjie Howard

Benjie Howard (left) is a poet, touring singer songwriter, educator, and wilderness guide. He’s the founder and executive director of New Wilderness Project, a musical performance group and an arts based education program focusing on developing youth leadership for equity, environmental stewardship and social justice. He is the co-architect of Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!) and a Deep Equity consultant with Corwin Press. He lives in Bellingham, WA with his wife and two children.

Website: youthequitystewardship.com/
Email:  roughwater1@me.com

Alan Levin

Alan Levin is a licensed psychotherapist, spiritual teacher, and activist living in New York. He has a primary focus on integrating psycho-spiritual practices with political action, reflecting his journey as a one-time organizer of SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) in the Sixties in Florida, and his many years with an esoteric meditation school studying Agni Yoga in California. He founded Holos Institute, an ecopsychology program in the Bay Area of California. He now lives in the Lower Hudson Valley with his wife, Ginny Brooke. Together, they established Sacred River Healing through which he works with individuals and couples, and teaches groups meditation and the integration of spirituality and civic involvement. He also works with people through Skype. Alan is the author of Crossing the Boundary: Stories of Jewish Leaders of Other Spiritual Paths, published by Regent Press.

Website: sacredriverhealing.org
Email: alevin@sacredriverhealing.org

#treeoflife #sacredriver #spiritualactivist

 

Ana Perez Chisti, MA, PhD

Ana Perez Chisti, MA, PhD, is President of the SUFI Universal Fraternal Institute and an ordained minister in the Creation Spirituality Community as well as functioning as senior teacher for the Sufi Movement USA.

She served as a start-up member of the San Francisco AIDS Hospice program. With the Mission of Charities in San Francisco and in Calcutta, she worked with Mother Teresa to support the homeless and marginalized communities in both areas. She was the coordinating director of the Emergency Relief Fund International that helped deliver food and medicine to areas of Somalia and Ethiopia during periods of severe famine. She is presently working with several Jewish community centers in the Bay Area that support concentration camp survivors and their families.

She holds academic degrees in psychology, philosophy and religion, and is presently an adjunct faculty member at the California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA. and the Fox Institute in Boulder, Colorado.

Website: sufiuniversalfraternalinstitute.live
Email: aperezchisti@gmail.com

#meditationforhealthandpeace

Jason Russell Poole

Born in London in 1969, Jason Russell Poole (pictured right) studied design at the London College of Furniture, and instead of pursuing an intended future in architecture, he packed his camera and spent several years hitchhiking around Europe, working odd jobs and living in the sun, usually returning to England for the winter to work in a factory before setting out on his travels again in the spring. Jason remarks, “A finer education I could not imagine.”

In 1994, he moved to the United States and lived in California and Hawaii before finally settling in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and beginning a career in graphic design and product photography. Here he seems to have found his home: “The astonishing splendor and mystery of the Southwest is far more than a match for my camera and my wanderlust.”

Website: https://jasonrussellpoole.com/
Email: jason@poole.com

Rosie Kuhn, PhD, MFT

Rosie Kuhn is the creator of the Transformational Coaching Training Program, taught at Sofia University, Palo Alto, California, since 2001. She is a Life and Executive coach and the author of many books, including Self-Empowerment 101, which is a culmination of her work as a life coach, marriage and family therapist, spiritual guide, and facilitator of Transformational Coaching. She has worked in the field of human development for over 30 years, including addictions and recovery, family violence and spiritual direction. She works internationally as a speaker, trainer and executive coach in Moscow, London, Prague, and Tel Aviv, and throughout the United States.

Dr. Kuhn’s most recently published book: ME… 101 Indispensable Insights I Didn’t Get in Therapy, provides simple spiritual insights to support and empower her readers to honor their own unique truth and Spirit.

Website: www.theparadigmshifts.com
Email: rosie@theparadigmshifts.com

#cultivatingenlightenedliving