Who Am I?
HUMAN
I am messy, brilliant, fun, sad, wise, wild, forgetful, calm and a nerdy hermit who loves humans.
It is an ongoing dance to embrace the full spectrum of my humanness — the waves of elation and despair; the disappointment of my imperfections; the grace and glory of just letting myself be as I am. At least it's never boring!
EARTHLING
Born on Earth, I have often felt randomly abandoned on a strange and dangerous planet.
But I believe Earth is a conscious, living, loving being whose innate state is as a garden paradise. Food and medicine literally grow on trees! What a blessing it is to be in intimate, interdependent relationship with this magnificent more-than-human world.
HEALER
In the past, I have been put off by the implied ostentatiousness of this moniker. Like: how dare I?
However, I have grown to accept that my innate nature compels me to seek healing modalities for myself that are, in turn, of profound service to others. This is just who I am. This is my gift to give, so I strive to get out of my own way and give it with gusto.
Hi, my name is Dave.
And as do you, I contain multitudes.
IDENTITY MARKERS
I am a cis white hetero man of able body born into Scottish and Canadian heritage in North Carolina in 1986.
PERSONAL HISTORY
I grew up in Virginia, Japan and Minnesota. I graduated high school in Connecticut and attended college in Washington D.C.
I have lived much of my adult life in spiritual and permaculture communities in California, Colombia, Scotland and Portugal.
I have lived on the Front Range of Colorado since 2011, practicing Āyurvedic medicine and Vedic Astrology since 2016.
WORLDVIEW
I identify as an Animist — one who sees the living divinity inherent in all beings, from rocks to rivers, planets and people.
I believe in the basic goodness and innate dignity of all people, regardless of race, gender, religion, orientation or even behavior. I insist on seeing us all as inextricably interwoven within the web of all beings.
Education & Credentials
- Montessori school all the way through 8th grade.
- Minneapolis South and Suffield Academy (go Tigers!) for high school (2004).
- English & Creative Writing major at George Washington University (2008). I was three credits short of a minor in music, and was a staff arts writer for the GW Hatchet. I also played 3 years of D1 soccer.
- E-RYT500+ trained in the Divine Life Society of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta tradition (2009-2016).
- Formal and autodidactic study and practice of Jyotish (Vedic Astrology) with teachers including Sam Geppi, Komilla Sutton, Bill Sinclair, Simon Chokoisky and Freedom Cole (2009 - present).
- Four years of immersive training in Āyurveda, herbalism and Vedic spirituality with Alakananda Ma and Sadananda at Alandi Āyurveda Gurukula in Boulder, Colorado, resulting in board certification as an Āyurvedic Doctor by the National Āyurvedic Medical Association (2014-2018).
- Permaculture Design Certificate issued by Midwest Permaculture (2016).
- Master's degree in Metaphysics bestowed by the University of Metaphysical Sciences (UMS), culminating in a thesis project entitled "The Periodic Table of Āyurvedic Elements" (2020).
- Ordination as a non-denominational minister in the Wisdom of the Heart church (2020).
- Completion of the IFS Online Circle training offered by the Internal Family Systems Institute. I am now an "IFS-informed" practitioner enrolled in their continuing education program (2020-present).
- Wild Mind Guide, trained in the Nature-Based Map of the Human Psyche and Eco-Centric Development Wheel as taught by the Animas Valley Institute (2018-2022).
- All-but-dissertation for a Doctorate in Divinity from UMS, with a forthcoming thesis entitled "Internal Family Solar Systems" (2020-present).
Personal Stuff
I have a niece named Quinn and a dog named Rigby. These precious beings have taught me that love at first sight is a real thing. They keep me sane and grounded, providing consistent reminders of what really matters.
In my free time,
I like to wander in wild places, play soccer and see as much live music as possible.
I have seen 67 Phish shows, and can often be spotted at Telluride Bluegrass and Desert Hearts festival.
I have never been to Burning Man.
My favorite TV shows include Avatar: The Last Airbender, 30 Rock and The Daily Show.
I can rewatch V for Vendetta, Dazed and Confused and The Last Dance (about Michael Jordan) endlessly.
I am either a vegan eating kitchari and curried vegetables, or consuming copious amounts of pizza and ice cream. Nowhere in-between!
Recent books that have moved me include Island by Aldous Huxley, The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and The Hundred Years' War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi.
And, just for fun, here's a Dad Joke for you:
Have you tried blindfolded archery?
No, I haven't.
You don't know what you're missing!
COLORAMA
The Colorado Āyurvedic Medical Association is an all-volunteer non-profit organization devoted to the preservation and promotion of the Vedic arts & sciences in Colorado and beyond.
I have been on the Board of Directors since 2016 and am currently serving as President.
We are the primary local access point for Āyurvedic professionals and the public seeking continuing education and wise community. Membership is free and comes with many benefits.
Right now, we are making plans for our 2025 Colorado Āyurveda Conference — October 2-5 in Black Hawk, Colorado. The theme this year is Indigenous Āyurveda: Celebrating Ancestral Forms of Nature-Based Medicine.
Learn More & Join Us!
Folks Who Know Me Say Nice Things.
"I feel like a renewed person. I have my dignity back. I am reconnected to my own power source. It’s working! One year I’ve been with you and my life has changed. I can’t imagine how much momentum I’ll have after another year. I feel like I can dream and achieve and set goals again."
— Sarneet K.
"Dave is a highly empathetic counselor and astrologer. He always takes the time to listen and give you the best advice to cope with any concern you might face. He is flexible and his range of knowledge in the Vedic Sciences and spiritual practices is extensive. In my sessions, he has advised me on new habits that reflect a psychological, spiritual and practical balance. Highly recommended!"
— Rocio MH.
"In a session with Dave, I was impressed with his range of knowledge and unique perspective on how it all fits together — the natural way he explained my Vedic Astrology chart, and how that correlates to my Ayurvedic constitution! I came away with so much to reflect on; some things I could ponder for years and a few clear suggestions I can easily implement right away to support my health and growth."
— Emelia N.
"Dave offers guidance with clarity, compassion, and humor. His use of metaphors, characters, and stories effectively articulates the intricacies of the planetary energies and how they affect us. He makes it easy to understand what is in your chart and how you can respond appropriately."
— Rebecca D.
Quotations that Make Sense to Me
"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature."
— Joseph Campbell
"The world is now far too dangerous for anything other than utopia... [We must] make the world work, for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense or the disadvantage of anyone."
— Buckminster Fuller
"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
— J. Krishnamurti
"I've come to understand a true adult as someone who knows why they were born, who knows who they are as a unique individual participant in the greater web of life, and who creatively occupies their distinctive ecological niche as a gift to their people and to the greater Earth community"
— Bill Plotkin
"To go in the dark with a light is to know the light. To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight, and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings."
— Wendell Berry
"To be human is to become visible while carrying what is hidden as a gift to others. To remember the other world in this world is to live in your true inheritance. You are not a troubled guest on this earth, you are not an accident amidst other accidents you were invited from another and greater night than the one from which you have just emerged."
— David Whyte
"Never give a sword to a man who can’t dance."
— Robert Bly
Wise White Guys I Admire
As a well-educated caucasian man born at a time when it is becoming more and more obvious that wealthy white men are generally ruining everything for everyone, it is an ever-present and ongoing quest of mine to find ways to wield whatever power and privilege I possess in a good way. It has been helpful to find wise white men who embody an example I aspire to emulate. These are the few who have shaped my life thus far.
Buckminster Fuller
Inventor, geometer and futurist, Bucky's expansive body of work provides the mathematical foundation of my mystic understandings. His book Synergetics: Explorations in the Geometry of Thinking is the closest thing I have to a personal bible.
Wendell Berry
Poet, farmer, philosopher and author of a great many novels and essays, Berry's work has been instrumental to my moral development. His profoundly grounded common sense informs my political, ethical and eco-centric worldview.
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Herbalist, author and polymath, Buhner's books are inspiring, informative and sobering. His research and writing has given me wild, irreplaceable insights into the nature of Nature and brought me closer to the grieving heart of our world.
Robert Bly
Poet, philosopher and original leader of the modern men's movement, Bly is the wise grandpa I never knew. I reread his seminal book Iron John every few years to review the ways in which I've grown as a man, and where there is still work to do.
Bill Plotkin
Founder of the Animas Valley Institute, Plotkin's work has been life-saving. His Nature-Based Map of the Human Psyche and Eco-Centric Development Wheel provide archetypal maps which guide my ongoing evolution.
Richard Schwartz
Innovator of the Internal Family Systems model of psychotherapy, Schwartz's work has been personally liberating and professionally illuminating. The IFS model is more than a modality, but a fully coherent cosmology.
Humans Who Inspire Me
I am grateful to the diverse array of authors, speakers, philosophers and activists who have influenced my worldview. Here is an incomplete list:
Cornel West
American philosopher, theologian, political activist, politician, social critic, and public intellectual, Brother West serves as an example of the resilient power of love.
bell hooks
American author, theorist, educator, and social critic, her books have revolutionized my understanding of the socio-cultural dynamics of personal relationships.
Joanna Macy
Environmental activist, author, and scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology, Joanna's "Work That Reconnects" is a tangible source of hope.
Dan Savage
American author, media pundit, journalist, and LGBT community activist, Dan's books, podcast and talks have helped understand and accept my own sexuality.
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Potawatomi botanist and author of Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin inspires with her integration of indigenous wisdom with modern science.
Bayo Akomolafe
Philosopher, writer, activist and professor of psychology of Nigerian heritage, Bayo's expansive and compassionate perspective has radically altered my eco-consciousness.
LeVar Burton
American actor, director, and host of Reading Rainbow, LeVar's beautiful presence was a staple of my childhood and his life story is inspiring to my adult self.
Gabor Maté
Hungarian-Canadian Physician and holocaust survivor, Dr. Maté's work shapes my understanding of trauma and the spirit of compassionate inquiry.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Vietnamese Thiền Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author and poet was my first meditation teacher through his books and recordings. Such a dear soul.
Clarissa Pinkola Estés
Mestiza-Latina psychoanalyst and author of Women Who Run with the Wolves, her storytelling has illuminated my love of mythology and the wild feminine.
Amy Goodman
Journalist, columnist and investigative reporter, I am forever grateful for Amy's tireless effort to bring power to the people through true new on Democracy Now!
Winona LaDuke
Native American activist, economist, and author, Winona is special to me for her work to protect indigenous sovereignty in my home state of Minnesota.
That's all for now.
Thanks for making it to the bottom of the page!
I hope you know me better now.
I'll look forward to meeting you soon.
The Church
of Cymatics
This website, and everything offered here, is an expression of The Church of Cymatics, a faith-based organization devoted to collective evolution through conscious cultivation of personal and planetary harmony.
Click Here to Learn More about the Church