Celebrating An Important Anniversary
Saturday April 28th was my 11th Ocha Birthday. That is to say it was the anniversary of my initiation as a Yoruba/Lucumi Priest of Obatala (April 28, 2001). To me, it’s as important a date as my natal birthday. Traditionally, to mark the anniversary, we purchase food and cook for the Orishas (the divinities we worship), read each Orisha we have with Obi (4 quarters of coconut), and generally strive to have a peaceful and meditative day. Sometimes, if possible, we open our homes to other Orisha Priests to come and salute our Orishas and to offer their blessings. Since I was in a somewhat isolated... Read More
While vacationing in Rincon, a beautiful beach town in Puerto Rico, I fell into a seven-foot hole. There were no streetlights in the tiny village and I was out in the dark night… The fall, the pain, and being stuck in a remote place traumatized me; I was left in a cast for 7 months with a severely shattered heel. Having no choice in the matter, the time I spent recovering left me feeling trapped in my body. But, eventually, I began to listen to what it was saying.
Previously, I wrote about my challenge with cancer and how the experience of a healer aligning my energy helped me transform what... 
A dear friend was telling me the other day about a bumper sticker that had symbols of some of the world’s religions and writing that said “co-exist.” What a shame that as we approach the start of the Easter/Passover season, in which many of the world’s believers participate, that people are far from accepting the right of others to worship as they see fit without judgment or condemnation. Why is it that many people feel that their religion is the one true way to believe in and connect to God?
I can only speculate from my perspective as psychotherapist and Yoruba/Lucumi priest. Here are... 
According to a new study conducted by S. Kasen of the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University, religion may be a protective factor for individuals at high risk for major depressive disorder (MDD). Having a parent with depression can put children at heightened risk for depression. The genetic factors, combined with the difficult family environment and negative life events (NLEs) that come from living with a mentally unhealthy parent, make these children especially vulnerable for many psychological problems. But does having a strong religious affiliation protect these children? To find the... 
Are you moving through the day on autopilot? Do you sometimes feel as if life is passing you by? Do you find yourself reacting to situations, events, and people with anger and frustration? If you responded yes to any of these questions you’re not alone.
Many of us will face challenging situations in our lives that make us want to retreat from life or lash out at the world. Some of these situations will be life changing, and some of it will be the small stuff.
I actually experienced living on autopilot last week as I was driving to the office. I was coasting along, following my normal route... 
Last month a couple of my readers expressed an interest in my take on the fear of change and in guidelines for dealing with it. So that’s the topic for this month’s article.
I thought a lot about change and our reasons for fearing it. There’s a great deal of literature out there on the subject from diverse points of view, ranging from a spiritual perspective to a business perspective of wanting to help employees deal with changes to the status quo.
Since I’m by no means an expert in all of these different perspectives but have been through a few changes of my own in the course of... 
After 5 years of sobriety, in 1985, I began to notice a pattern in my sexual relationships: Even if I really liked someone, I couldn’t go more than 3 months before my attraction to them fizzled. I would then find some reason to end the relationship, although I never really understood why, and it made me feel bad. Thankfully, while I was leading a weekend retreat on Spirituality in Recovery, one participant pressed for bringing the subject of sex into the process.
Although I was unprepared, it gave me the opportunity to address the issue, and I shared my struggles with the group. When I asked... 
From sex and relationships, to confusion about career and life choices, to those persistent and pesky maladies of the mind like anxiety and depression, past-life regression therapy can heal the mind and body.
Past-life regression is a form of therapy commonly known as hypnotherapy. But hypnotherapy, in my opinion, is just a term for a philosophy that has the potential to go much deeper.
What is typically referred to as a state of hypnosis comes with a lot of stigmas and preconceived notions. The layperson has come to see hypnosis as a trance-like state, much like a zombie. In actuality, however,... 
Expressive Arts Therapy bridges the gap between the conscious and the unconscious. It can bring light to areas of therapy that are blocked, inhibited, and stuck, as well as bringing greater focus to those areas of concern. The primary focus is on the process, which allows the client to discover new insight and meaning that might not be achieved with traditional talk therapy. Appropriate for all ages, it can enhance each person’s emotional, spiritual, cognitive, and physical well-being. While no talent in the use of expressive arts is required, several modalities available to the client within... 
The majority of Americans believe in a higher power or God. Eighty percent of people living in the United States are affiliated with a structured form of religion, and the majority of those people consider their faith a significant aspect of their lives. “Thus, 
Last month, one of my readers felt shortchanged by my article on suffering. Not to be defensive about it, but the editors changed my original title [Ed. note: "Suffering" was the original title of November's article]. Nevertheless, perhaps it would be worthwhile to give my suggestions on how to survive painful and difficult periods in our lives whether they are physical, emotional, spiritual, financial or a combination of the above.
Historically, suffering has been viewed through many different lenses. There are those who feel that suffering in this life will be rewarded in the next. Others... 
“Estimates from the U.S. Department of Justice indicate between 21% and 38% of households with 
Some would say the winter solstice is a moment of equality, in which there is equal light and equal dark. It is also a moment of reversal. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. I like metaphors, so to me, winter solstice is about embracing opposites, or seeming opposites like light and dark. Like the yin yang symbol, they are parts that go together, equal parts of a whole. Like phases of the moon, there is a shifting from light to dark and back again. At the moment we embrace opposites, or shifting between... 
Part One: Finding Source Energy
In 1983, when diagnosed with a rare, deadly cancer, I sought the assistance of spiritual healer, Barbara Ann Brennan. She realigned my energy fields which seemingly helped put my cancer into remission, much to the surprise of my oncologist. It was the beginning of my understanding of Source Energy.
Whether this energy is called spirit, God, Higher Power or the universe, it clearly is something that we just feel. In whatever way it can be sensed, be it as stillness, wave vibrations, presence, feeling awakened or connected, it’s a universal force found in... 
