About Knowles
About Knowles
In 1997, while leading a group of three climbers up Mt. Blackburn in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska, I fell 40 feet into a narrow crevasse. While being hauled from the belly of the crevasse with a fractured patella, I noted numerous ice spires that would have undoubtedly killed me if I’d fallen a few centimeters to the right or left of the path I took down.
This near (a few centimeters) death experience left its mark on me. And in the years that followed it, I began to realize that climbing mountains had been the earnest beginning of a lifelong search for this elusive and yet closest of companions - SOUL.
This wild and mysterious guide I call soul may have even been hinting back in 1997, that although it would certainly be found up there on life’s mountain tops via ascent and transcendence, if I was to fully integrate this soul force into my life, then my work was to stay on the ground where my life intersects with the rest of the world.
My wife and I hanging by the fire while family camping in Vermont.
And this is my vision for humanity; which includes YOU!
My Dream is for each or us to integrate this deep, vibrant, benevolent, and wild force within us, which has unique expressions for each of us, so that we can creatively and collaboratively address the challenges we face on earth with the beauty and grace that is required of us NOW!
If you’ve also been seeking more connection with your soul force or have found fleeting connections yet yearned to further embody this force of meaning and power that stirs deeply in you, click on my soul guidance and mentoring and let’s talk!
Me and my son Zealand out hiking
My professional work has spanned the social service spectrum for over 25 years. In addition to the vocational work described on my site here, I currently work as a crisis clinician, hospice volunteer, and a police social worker in Vermont. I am an ordained Interfaith Minister/Chaplain and a student and practitioner of Zen Buddhism for over twenty years. I have a Certificate in Advanced Studies in Spiritual Psychology and Soul Process Work from the Concord Institute and a Master’s degree in Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding from SIT Graduate Institute.