15th Annual Sheets Run String Swing

Over the Labor Day weekend of September 3rd, 2021 I headed to the 15th annual Sheets Run String Swing on Middle Island Creek in West Virginia. This blue grass music festival is an annual event held by my family to celebrate traditional bluegrass music, libations, family, and friends . My family has had camps on […]

2021 Fall Badfish Music Festival @ Nelson Ledges

Over the weekend of September 24, 2021 I made the journey to Nelson Ledges in Garrettsville, Ohio for the 2021 Fall Badfish Music Festival for the first time. I seemed to always have a reason not to go but this year I was determined. I met up with my friend Chad in Washington, PA were […]

Building a Native American “Inipi”

Over the July 4th weekend, Chad and I had plans that had manifested through spiritual development and the desire to create an Inipi. Previously, we had participated in Inipi ceremonies, and through God’s will, we were driven to build one. See previous post: Native American “Inipi” Sweat Lodge Ceremony Arriving at Chad’s on Friday, we began […]

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia

Over Father Day weekend, I was invited to go to Harpers Ferry with My friend Chad his wife Michelle, and their three kids, Cayden, Mason, and Maya. I met Chad at his house in Albright, West Virginia, on Thursday, where we had a campfire that night and talked about our trip and building an Inipi […]

Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Art

Over memorial day weekend, with the weather being dreary, I decided to change my plans and go to the Carnegie museum of natural history and art. I have not been to the Carnegie for many years and was excited to see if it was the way I remember as a kid. Driving in Pittsburgh can […]

Native American “Inipi” Sweat Lodge Ceremony

Over the weekend I had the opportunity to participate in a traditional Native American sweat lodge Ceremony (Inipi) with the invitation from my great friend and spiritual brother Chad. The I-ni-pi ceremony (lakota: ini- from inyan, rock + -pi, lodge), is a type of sweat lodge, is a Lakota purification ceremony, and one of the […]

ISHKON Spirituality and Fire Puja

After returning from Peru, I was able to secure a seasonal position at New Vrindaban. The job entailed attendant, organizing processes, maintenance, and material management for the temple and the lodge. I was interested in the experience and spirituality from the Krishna perspective. New Vrindaban is an unincorporated area and an ISKCON intentional community located in Marshall County, West […]

Shirley’s 30th Birthday celebration in PTO

Chincheros, the Sacred Valley, and a very special day in Ollantaytambo

We woke up a little late and quickly got our packs ready to head out for a full day traveling and exploring communities in the Sacred Valley, starting with Chincheros. After Shirley spent some time organizing our transportation, we had a plan and met our driver. The cost for the entire trip 120 soles, which is […]

Trip to Cusco: Operation Alpaca Trueke

After spending about three weeks in Puerto Maldonado enjoying the city, jungle, family, and friends, it was time for Shirley and me to fly to Cusco to seek out Alpaca sources and communities to work with. I had booked an Airbnb in Cusco near Tupac Square for a week as our base. Shirley had contacted her friend Sumaq who would meet us and show us […]