(What's the Story) Morning Glory?

I grew up in a large Irish catholic family just outside of Boston. We lived on a street full of boys so I played a lot of sports, hockey being my favorite. Every Sunday morning my family went to St. Patrick’s Church or St. Pat’s as we called it. I remember sitting in the pew as a child listening to the sermon, looking up at the statue of Jesus and thinking, “is this it... isn’t there more?”

When I headed out on my own, I started to experience the “more” but hid from it and tried to ignore it. I mean who wants to say they hear spirit/voices. Everyone would think I’m crazy. As the years went by signs kept coming and I kept trying to push them aside. But spirit was persistent so one day I finally decided to embrace it….let’s see what’s on the other side?

This exploration led me down a path of discovery and let me say, I literally learned from Fools and from Sages. Both taught me to really listen and decipher what resonates with you, what’s true to your values, and what makes you a better person, friend, partner, and Papa.

I moved to Seattle in 1994 and came across a couple of shamanic practitioners where I received heart walks and soul retrieval work. What I found interesting was both came back with the same detailed information, and the two of them had never crossed paths. Even though this intrigued me, I didn’t pursue shamanic study at that time, because heck there was a “shaman” on every corner in Seattle back in the day.

Fast forward to 2015 and I guess spirit was tired of tapping on my shoulder to get my attention because I got hit with my own spiritual 2x4 in the form of a car accident that should have taken my life. The physical pain and limitations from my injuries made me stop and take a hard honest look at myself. It forced me to realize I was living in denial and out of balance. I could no longer ignore spirit and I finally accepted this hockey playing boy from the Boston area was indeed a healer.

My true spiritual education began with a three-year study with well-known Shamanic Practitioner, Char Sundust, where I learned many things about myself as well as shamanic healing and ceremonies. My favorite being Heart Walks….oh man, to walk someone’s heart and see the beauty that it holds and what it tells you, it’s overwhelming, but in a good way. I have cried in just about every Heart Walk that I have performed, but how could you not?

During one of my classes I asked Char, “Can soul retrievals be performed on animals?” She took a pause, looked at me and smiled, “Yes, and Bob, you’re meant to work with animals, it’s your calling.” Whoa.