Crazy Wisdom Community Journal

Aaron is a non-embodied spiritual teacher, guiding through wisdom gained across lifetimes.

Emily Adama, MSW from U of M, has been teaching mindfulness and meditation in various therapeutic and community settings since 2013.

Layla Ananda is a trained musician whose story reflects a lifelong search for harmony within herself and with others.

Ananda and Deva have a combined 30 years of experience leading kirtan circles for healing and connection all over the globe at retreats and in Sanga.

Angel Whispers Healing Center offers healing for the mind, body, and spirit in Dexter.

Farooq Azizuddin, Grand Master, is a 10th-Degree Koga Ryu Shinobi Ninjitsu red belt at Nakano Martial Arts.

Marilyn Beker has over five decades as an SRF Kriyaban; she blends devotion to Paramahansa Yogananda’s teachings with her professional experience as a writer, filmmaker, and professor.

Rev. David Bell is a founding minister at the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth.

David Black has been trained by the Sivananda Yoga Organization, and combines that experience with meditation training.

Carol Blotter has been teaching meditation for almost 25 years. Her practice and study has led to a blending of Buddhism and Non-Duality teachings.

Michele Bond has 800+ hours of training in yoga, therapeutics, meditation, and a lifetime devoted to fitness and wellness.

Lopamudra Bose is a lifelong devotee of Paramahansa Yogananda and practitioner of Kriya Yoga. He teaches Sanskrit chanting and Kali worship.

Caitlin Boyce is a local artist who helps organize the Westside Art Hop to connect the artist community with their neighbors who support them.

Barbara Bowman is a Wellness Forum health certified Food Over Medicine Club leader.

Rachel Briggs is an end-of-life doula and assists in running the Ann Arbor Death Café.

Barbara Brodsky, founder of Deep Spring Center, is an ordained Interfaith Minister who has practiced

meditation since 1960. She teaches Vipassana and non-dual awareness.

Lama Nancy Burks is a retired psychologist and Buddhist teacher. She has a PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill and has completed a traditional Tibetan three-year retreat.

Jennifer Carson is a published children's author and illustrator, managing editor of The Crazy Wisdom Community Journal, and Production Designer for Chicken Scratch Books.

Dr. Kapila Castoldi is a physics professor who studied meditation under the guidance of spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy for nearly 40 years.

Karen Chalmer has 70+ years of enjoying singing with others.

Khenpo Chophel earned a Ph.D in Buddhist Studies following traditional monk's training in India. He applies the ancient wisdom of Buddhism to the problems facing the modern world.

Shannon Clare is a 4th year medical student at University of Michigan, excited to partner with GrieveWell to bring this project to the community.

The Clear Light Community is rooted in Paramahansa Yogananda’s vision of harmonious world communities, is a joyful, cooperative place where residents support one another in balanced, uplifting living.

Harmony Collective, 11 years young, offers an authentic experience of Krishna Bhakti to all seekers.

Rowena Conahan, author, healer, and educator, has led groups and individuals through the renewal of creative path many times over the years.

Maum Gloria Cox is the Director of the Ann Arbor Zen Buddhist Temple.

Diana Cramer is an end-of-life doula and assists in running the Ann Arbor Death Café.

Samatha Cyrus Scholl is a Somatic Coach and Traditional Chinese Martial Arts practitioner.

The Dying Year provides comprehensive natural death care planning and end-of-life doula training.

Laurie Dean has been teaching yoga for almost 20 years and continue to study with her teacher Rod Stryker. She recently became a 1600 hr. Ayurveda Practitioner.

Tarianne DeYonker, OP, MSW, is a certified leader of Amherst Writers and Artists workshops.

Miriam Dowd-Eller, LMT, has a massage therapy practice in Chelsea, and teaches yoga.

Kathleen Duffy, SSJ, Professor Emerita of Physics and Director of the Institute for Religion and Science at Chestnut Hill College, is President of the American Teilhard Association.

Connie Eiland, shamanic practitioner and teacher for 20 years, has studied extensively with Sandra Ingerman, Betsy Bergstrom, Carol Proudfoot-Edgar, Herb Stevenson, Ana Larramendi, and more. 

Julie Endress, MBA and engineer, is a spiritual teacher in a modern path rooted in depth psychology and ancient traditions. She has practiced inquiry for 20 years.

Mara Evenstar, priestess, educator, and mentor, has been creating transformational spaces for over twenty years. She is the owner and co-founder of Evenstar’s Chalice and Sophia Unfolds.

Evenstar’s Chalice exists to enhance the experience of growth, beauty, and the sacred.

Courtney Fitzpatrick, RYT-500, is a Reiki Master and owner of Verapose Yoga & Meditation House.

John Friedlander, psychic, teacher, has degrees from Duke University and Harvard Law School. His latest book, Recentering Seth, Teachings from a Multidimensional Entity, launched in 2022.

Leeann Fu, PhD, co-facilitates Empowering Wisdom parenting circles, and has a decade of experience co-teaching a graduate level "owner's manual for your brain" class at U of M.

Mara Gibson is an experienced faster.

Katy Gladwin is a mother, women’s health coach, doula, childbirth educator, and women’s advocate.

Curtis Glatter is an artist, composer, improviser, and percussionist.

Robin Lily Goldberg, MFA, RYT, OICC, is an Ecological Artist, Organic Intelligence® Coach, and Healing-Centered Educator.

Diane Grant, MS. Ed and Licensed Professional Counselor, has 35 years in education and school counseling, as well as 25 years as a Licensed Professional Counselor.

GrieveWell builds a community that promotes healthy grieving and healing for adults after loss.

Sophie Grillet is a local artist who helps organize the Westside Art Hop to connect the artist community with their neighbors who support them.

Lynda Gronlund, 5th Degree black belt in Tang Soo Do (Korean martial art), is a certified self-defense instructor and personal trainer with over 15 years' experience.

Craig Harvey is a member at the Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth.

Jewel Heart is dedicated to bringing the practice of Tibetan Buddhism to everyone.

Eileen S. Ho is a Taiko artist, educator, and organizer at the Great Lakes Taiko Center. She shows up in SE Michigan communities to drum, dance, and dream.

Debra Hopper is a Certified Embodiment Coach. Her weekly Focus Café helps participants reduce overwhelm, find flow, and move through procrastination with ease and accountability.

Huron Valley Aikikai and the Michigan Budokan practice community based martial arts and mind-body disciplines.

The Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth is a diverse spiritual community exploring all spiritual paths.

Father John Kasper, OSFS, is the former pastor of Saint Perpetua Church in Lafayette, California, and is a member of the Oblates of Saint Francis de Sales.

Esther Kennedy, OP, is a Dominican Sister of Adrian, Michigan. She is a retreat leader, spiritual director, and conducts a monthly Day of Mindfulness at Weber Center.

Rev. Annie Kopko is an associate minister at Interfaith Center for Spiritual Growth in Ann Arbor.

Jen Kramer, SEL ROCKS, blends life coaching, creative rock experiences, social-emotional learning, and community programs to help people connect to their gem within and live with greater purpose.

Mary Ledvina is a healer, writer, artist, teacher, and trained cacaoista. She is a former massage therapist who heals through creative practices like writing, art, and music.

Renee Lennard, is a psychic Medium and performs angel readings.

Sam Lieberman received teacher training in Yoga Fit and Yoga Medics and has been practicing yoga since 1988.

Mary Light is a practicing clinical herbalist, Naturopath, Apothecarist, and credentialed bodyworker. As an Approved Provider she has offered training for 20+ years.

Debra Metler MSW, CHC, is a Clinical Social Worker and Certified Health Coach. She created an innovative and effective tune-up program to assist in healthy brains.

Jackie Miller is a Certified Professional Breathwork Practitioner trained by Transformative Education International and certified by the Global Professional Breathwork Alliance.

Michigan Friends Center is a non-proft, Quaker- based rental space promoting justice, environmentalism, and contemplation.

Glenn Mullin studied philosophy, literature, meditation, yoga, and the enlightenment culture under 35 of the greatest living masters of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Irene’s Myomassology Institute is the oldest and largest massage school in the Midwest. Founded by Irene Gauthier in 1987, it continues to set high standards for massage education.

Julie Mariouw is a former English teacher, published writer, Amherst Writers & Artists affiliate, certified to lead workshops in the AWA method.

Nakano Martial Arts holds its core goal, purpose, and vision to inform and guide people.

John Orr trained for eight years as a Theravada monk. He is the guiding teacher of New Hope Sangha and longtime teacher with Deep Spring Center.

Rodger Park is the Principal Instructor at Huron Valley Aikikai and an Original Strength Certified Professional.

The Peaceful Dragon School has provided the self-care practices of Tai Chi, and Qigong since 1990.

Leslie Pertz, LMSW, RYT-200, uses her two decades of social work experience to infuse trauma-informed, somatic, and liberation focus into all her yoga classes.

Robbin Pott has seven years of regenerative outdoor cannabis experience. A certified living soil consultant, she runs a Regenerative Organic Certified hemp farm in Willis, Michigan.

Whitney Prince, former Professor of Music at Eastern Michigan University, has taught meditation through Chelsea Community Education, EMU, Verapose Yoga, and Meditation House.

Judy Ramsey is an approved instructor for Sandra Ingerman's courses. She offers shamanic healing and mentoring for practitioners; she also teaches and provides animal communication.

Berit Reisenauer Guidotti, M.T.S., is a doctoral candidate in Theological Ethics at Boston College. She previously earned her Master of Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame.

Martha Richards, M.D., is a reflexologist, journey facilitator, and integration coach who blends medical training with intuitive, body-based wisdom.

Ariana Riegel is a therapist, parent, childbirth educator, and occasional doula with a passion for infant and maternal mental health.

Demo Rinpoche is Jewel Heart’s Resident Spiritual Advisor. He studied under the supervision of the Dalai Lama and holds the highest monastic degree of Geshe Lharampa.

Joel Robbins, BS in holistic nutrition, has been studying Taichi and Qigong since the early 1990s. He has a master's degree in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine.

Robin Robinson founded Robinsongs for Kids center in 2008, after having taught the Music Together® program for eight years in various centers in New York City. 

Merilynne Rush, is an end-of-life doula, among other things, and started the A2 Death Cafe in 2012.

Hartmut Sagolla has been studying Tibetan Buddhism for over 30 years. Since 2002, he has served as a Program Director at Jewel Heart.

Cyrus Scholl is a Somatic Coach and Trauma Care Practitioner.

Naren K. Schreiner is a lifelong devotee of Paramahansa Yogananda and practitioner of Kriya Yoga. He is an ordained Hindu priest and sacred musician.

Dawn Scott, graduate of the Insight Meditation Society’s training program, served as the Family Program Coordinator at Spirit Rock Meditation Center.

Colette Simone holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology and a master’s in music. Drawn to the Ra Material and Aaron, she joined Deep Spring Center in 2017.

Hollyann Stewart, holds a BA in Art and Design from U of M, and teaches summer camp and private art lessons at Whitepine Studios.

Steven Sy began Tai Chi in 1996.  In 2007, he started learning Master Mantak Chia's system of qigong and meditation, which has about 1000 instructors worldwide.

Teddy Bear Talk Support supports talkers and listeners who serve as minimally responsive "teddy bears."

Valarie Thomas, PhD in chemical engineering, aims to inform the public about inner workings of nutrients sourced from food & their impact on bodily chemistry.

The Threshold Singers of Ann Arbor honor the ancient tradition of singing at the bedsides of people who are struggling, some with living, some with dying.

The University of Michigan Osher Lifelong Learning Institute offers study groups for those 50 years or older.

Hannah VanDuinen is a local artist who helps organize the Westside Art Hop to connect the artist community with their neighbors who support them.

Joe Walters is a long-time practitioner of Chen Tai Chi Chuan.

Matt Watroba is producer and host of the "Folks Like Us" program, the "Sing Out Radio Magazine," and "Folk Alley" on WDET.

Andrew Werderitsch studied ecstatic dance movement practice for over 20 years, acknowledging Gabrielle Roth's Five Rhythms lyrical wave influence. He is devoted to music making and teaching.

Whitepine Studios, was founded by Kaili Dence, artist and educator with a BFA from U-M.

Suzy Wienckowski has been a Reiki Master for 30 years. She has studied with Masters trained by Hawayo Takata and with Hiroshi Doi of Japan.

Rev. Eve Wilson is a master healer, trainer of world healing and ascension workers, best-selling author, columnist for Body Mind Spirit Guide, and international award-winning blogger.

Ruth Wilson has an MBA, is a life and relationship coach, peak performance hypnotist certified by Paul McKenna, and intuitive reader.

Wasentha Young, Master of Tai Chi and Qigong, has formal instruction in Buddhist and Taoist meditation, is certified in Acupressure and Five Element Practice.

Ypsi-Arbor Childbirth Education is committed to providing evidence-based education for modern parents to make empowered choices.

Zen Temple Clergy have been ordained as priests and lay teachers through the Maitreya Buddhist Seminary.