Adam's Story
I consider myself to have a truly blessed life and upbringing. I was born an only child to two wonderful, caring, and loving parents who nurtured my creativity, intuition, and spiritual abilities. I can recall seeing the spirits of nature at a very young age and this was never frowned upon or invalidated by my parents. Quite the contrary- it wasn't out of the ordinary for my mother to ask me about my intuitive feelings and dreams.
So when people ask me how I got started in spiritual work- I'm left feeling that I never "got started"- it was just always a part of life for me.
Right around the age of 13 I picked up my first set of tarot cards and started doing readings for myself, my family, and my friends. By the age of 15 I started reading tarot professionally. In my late 30's I was guided to set aside reading professionally to follow a calling that was given to me during my first vision quest in the early 1990's. On that vision quest I was urged by one of my spirit guides to aid people in healing physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. This wasn't a path that I understood how to walk upon at the time, so I simply continued working with my guides and learning new techniques for self discovery and spiritual understanding.
It was also during these early years that I connected with a Native American medicine man from the Karuk Nation by the name of Charlie "Red Hawk" Thom. I attended sweat lodges and ceremonies that he conducted several times a year. He was a true catalyst for my personal growth. It was through the songs that he taught and the wisdom that he shared that I truly felt my connection with Spirit growing stronger and stronger.
It wasn't until 1993 that I actually realized that what I was learning and practicing since childhood had a name... shamanism. I picked up the book "Way of the Shaman" by Michael Harner on a whim one day. I was browsing the local metaphysical bookstore and was just pulled toward it. After reading this book, adopting some new techniques to further my connection with my guides, and actually realizing that there were other people using the same techniques as myself- my calling to work with Spirit and learn as much about Shamanism was strengthened to the point of doing daily work.
I spent the years that followed in the mountains of New York walking through the woods and learning about the spirits of the land and animals. There was many a day when I could be found sitting on a ledge overlooking a valley where the hawks and vultures would fly so close you could almost touch them. Many nights would be spent alone in a cave performing a night vigil to learn from my guides and open up doorways that lead deeper inside myself. I feel that these practices were my greatest tools for learning- it's often said that no one can teach you as well as Spirit can.
So it was through these experiences that I eventually found how to walk the path I was told about during my first vision quest. It's been an honor and a blessing to work with Spirit and my guides to facilitate healing in others. No other job or task has been as rewarding as the role I play in the healing that Spirit does.
Since the late 90's I have been studying with other shamanic practitioners and indigenous medicine people to learn the techniques and philosophies of others and see what aspects may be assimilated into my own way of practicing. I have studied with the modern shamanic practitioners in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, as well as through the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. I have studied Native American spirituality with several medicine people and traveled to Peru to learn from the medicine men and the plant spirits there during ceremony.
In 2013 I began my trainings in the Tibetan Bön tradition and have completed trainings in the ceremonies of Dü Dok (averting misfortune), Jang Chok (guiding the deceased), the Rite of Sidpa Gyalmo (healing and protection practice of the goddess) and Tse Dup Yang Bod (soul retrieval and 5 element balancing). In 2015 I received my title of Drup Shen Pa (soul healing practitioner of Bön). In 2024 I received the title of Lopon (teacher) and the Tibetan name of "A Kar Kyé Mé".
The primary sources that I draw from for healing ceremonies come from the traditions of the Maya, Peru, Ecuador, Native North America, Tibetan Bön, and Kemetic (ancient Egypt).
I feel that it is very important for people to have access to teachings and techniques found within shamanism for their own self growth and healing.
So when people ask me how I got started in spiritual work- I'm left feeling that I never "got started"- it was just always a part of life for me.
Right around the age of 13 I picked up my first set of tarot cards and started doing readings for myself, my family, and my friends. By the age of 15 I started reading tarot professionally. In my late 30's I was guided to set aside reading professionally to follow a calling that was given to me during my first vision quest in the early 1990's. On that vision quest I was urged by one of my spirit guides to aid people in healing physically, mentally, spiritually and emotionally. This wasn't a path that I understood how to walk upon at the time, so I simply continued working with my guides and learning new techniques for self discovery and spiritual understanding.
It was also during these early years that I connected with a Native American medicine man from the Karuk Nation by the name of Charlie "Red Hawk" Thom. I attended sweat lodges and ceremonies that he conducted several times a year. He was a true catalyst for my personal growth. It was through the songs that he taught and the wisdom that he shared that I truly felt my connection with Spirit growing stronger and stronger.
It wasn't until 1993 that I actually realized that what I was learning and practicing since childhood had a name... shamanism. I picked up the book "Way of the Shaman" by Michael Harner on a whim one day. I was browsing the local metaphysical bookstore and was just pulled toward it. After reading this book, adopting some new techniques to further my connection with my guides, and actually realizing that there were other people using the same techniques as myself- my calling to work with Spirit and learn as much about Shamanism was strengthened to the point of doing daily work.
I spent the years that followed in the mountains of New York walking through the woods and learning about the spirits of the land and animals. There was many a day when I could be found sitting on a ledge overlooking a valley where the hawks and vultures would fly so close you could almost touch them. Many nights would be spent alone in a cave performing a night vigil to learn from my guides and open up doorways that lead deeper inside myself. I feel that these practices were my greatest tools for learning- it's often said that no one can teach you as well as Spirit can.
So it was through these experiences that I eventually found how to walk the path I was told about during my first vision quest. It's been an honor and a blessing to work with Spirit and my guides to facilitate healing in others. No other job or task has been as rewarding as the role I play in the healing that Spirit does.
Since the late 90's I have been studying with other shamanic practitioners and indigenous medicine people to learn the techniques and philosophies of others and see what aspects may be assimilated into my own way of practicing. I have studied with the modern shamanic practitioners in New York, New Jersey, and New Hampshire, as well as through the Foundation for Shamanic Studies. I have studied Native American spirituality with several medicine people and traveled to Peru to learn from the medicine men and the plant spirits there during ceremony.
In 2013 I began my trainings in the Tibetan Bön tradition and have completed trainings in the ceremonies of Dü Dok (averting misfortune), Jang Chok (guiding the deceased), the Rite of Sidpa Gyalmo (healing and protection practice of the goddess) and Tse Dup Yang Bod (soul retrieval and 5 element balancing). In 2015 I received my title of Drup Shen Pa (soul healing practitioner of Bön). In 2024 I received the title of Lopon (teacher) and the Tibetan name of "A Kar Kyé Mé".
The primary sources that I draw from for healing ceremonies come from the traditions of the Maya, Peru, Ecuador, Native North America, Tibetan Bön, and Kemetic (ancient Egypt).
I feel that it is very important for people to have access to teachings and techniques found within shamanism for their own self growth and healing.
Adam's Education & Training
- Practicing shamanism and learning from the spirits of nature and the land since 1993
- Studied with The Foundation for Shamanic Studies
- Completed "Way of the Shaman" Core Shamanism weekend with David Corbin and Nan Moss
- Completed "Shamanic Extraction Healing Training" with David Corbin and Nan Moss
- Completed "Shamanism and the Spirits of Nature" with David Corbin and Nan Moss
- Completed "Two Week Intensive Course in Advanced Shamanism and Shamanic Healing" with David Corbin and Nan Moss
- Completed Soul Retrieval Training with Eeve Crowe
- Completed "Advanced Shamanic Techniques: Psychopomp" with Elise O'Shea and Julie Lang
- Quechua and Ecuadorian techniques with Itzhak Beery
- Mayan herbal bath and spiritual healing with Eva Sengfelder in San Ignacio, Belize
- Mayan Spiritual Illnesses and plant healing with Don Heriberto Cocom in San Ignacio, Belize
- Peruvian Chumpi Stone training with Eleanora Amendolara
- Peruvian Chumpi Stone training with Don Basilio in Pisac, Peru
- Peruvian ceremonies in Pisaq, Peru with Diego Palma
- Peruvian Pachakuti Mesa training with Don Oscar Miro-Quesada
- Completed training as a "Drup Shen Pa" in the Tibetan practices of Soul Healing (Tse Dup) through the Bon tradition taught by Chongtul Rinpoche
- Received trainings in several Tibetan Bon healing practices from the teachers Chongtul Rinpoche and Tempa Lama
- Received the Title of Lopon (Bon teacher) in 2024