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David Spangler
David Spangler
from Wikipedia

David Spangler (born January 7, 1945) is an American spiritual philosopher and self-described "practical mystic". He helped transform the Findhorn Foundation in northern Scotland into a center of residential spiritual education and was a friend of William Irwin Thompson. Spangler is considered one of the founding figures of the modern New Age movement, although he is highly critical of what much of the movement has since become, especially its commercial and sensationalist elements.

Childhood and education

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Spangler was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1945. At the age of six, he moved to Morocco in North Africa where his father was assigned as a counterintelligence agent for U.S. Army Intelligence. He lived there for six years, returning to the United States when he was twelve in 1957. He attended Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts, which was considered a Protestant school.[1] His time at Deerfield was interrupted when his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where he graduated from high school. He attended Arizona State University where he was working for a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry but continued to pursue other subjects of interest.

The Findhorn Foundation

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In 1970, Spangler went to Britain where he visited the spiritual community of Findhorn in northern Scotland. He claimed to have been told by non-physical, spiritual contacts that he would find his "next cycle of work" in Europe; he arrived at Findhorn and was told that one of the founders, Eileen Caddy, had had a vision three years earlier that a David Spangler would be coming there to live and work in the community. Not knowing who David Spangler was, but having read a small booklet written by him which someone sent to them, Eileen and her husband Peter Caddy and their Canadian colleague, Dorothy Maclean, the three founders of the Findhorn Community, had been waiting for someone with that name to arrive. Sometime after Spangler's arrival, he was offered and accepted joint directorship of the community along with Peter Caddy. He remained in the Findhorn Community until 1973. He then returned to the United States with a number of other Americans and Europeans, including Dorothy Maclean, where they founded the Lorian Association as a non-profit vehicle for the spiritual and educational work they wished to do together.[2][3]

Going beyond the "New Age"

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Over the years since then, Spangler has continued to lecture and teach and has written numerous books on spirituality. He is considered one of the founding figures of the modern New Age phenomenon, but early on he identified its shadow and rejected what he termed "its further outgrowth into a myriad of 'old age' pursuits (including spiritual pursuits) dressed in 'new age' garb". This devolution into commercially-driven fads, identity politics, mystical glamour, atavistic spiritualisms, and uncritical guru reverence was a main theme of his Reimagination of the World, co-authored with fellow-traveler and cultural historian William Irwin Thompson.[4]

Spangler has often been miscast as a new-age channeler due in part to the "transmissions" received while living at the intentional community at Findhorn, Scotland in the 1970s, which became the core of his first book Revelation: The Birth of a New Age.[5] In hindsight it can be seen that Spangler's ideas were at that time transitional between the earlier theosophical esotericism represented by Alice Bailey and an emerging worldview that is more postmodern, less obscure, and less metaphysical than theosophy.[6] Spangler himself reports that it took him some years to develop a language in which to communicate clearly the insights and experiences he had been having since childhood.

Recent activities

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In recent years[when?] he has emphasized a practical or incarnational spirituality in which our everyday lives—our physical, embodied, sometimes resplendent and sometimes shabby persons—can be experienced as spiritual or sacred, as opposed to a spirituality concerned solely with the transpersonal and transcendent. Spangler defines Incarnational Spirituality most simply as the exploration and celebration of the individual and his or her unique spiritual and creative capacities. The practice of Incarnational Spirituality is one of honoring the sacredness and sovereignty of each of us and practicing our powers of blessing, manifestation, collaboration, and loving engagement with life. It is not a religious practice, but an understanding of how we connect to this world and how we may grow and develop and shape ourselves and our world by our intention, presence, participation and service.[7]

In 2010 his memoir Apprenticed to Spirit was published by Riverhead Books, describing his early years, his spiritual training, his association with Findhorn, Lindisfarne, and the New Age Movement, and his subsequent work with the Lorian Association and the development of Incarnational Spirituality.

Spangler is currently the Director of the Lorian Center for Incarnational Spirituality and a Director of the Lorian Association (www.lorian.org). Through Lorian, he publishes a free monthly essay, David's Desk, and a subscription-only quarterly esoteric journal, Views from the Borderland, offering "field notes" from his clairvoyant researches and encounters with the subtle worlds.[8]

Partial bibliography

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
David Spangler is an American spiritual teacher, philosopher, and author renowned for his pioneering role in the movement and the creation of Incarnational Spirituality, a framework emphasizing the sacredness of everyday incarnation and partnership with spiritual realms. Born in 1945 in , he began publicly lecturing on spiritual and community growth in 1964 while studying at , which he left in 1965 following profound encounters with non-physical presences that shaped his lifelong exploration of subtle realities. In 1970, Spangler relocated to the community in northern at the invitation of its founders, where he served as co-director from 1970 to 1973, significantly expanding the group from 24 to 170 members, founding its , and creating departments for arts and education. During this period, he co-authored the influential book Revelation: The Birth of a (1971), which articulated emerging paradigms of consciousness and planetary spiritual evolution. After returning to the , Spangler co-founded the Lorian Association in 1974, a focused on spiritual education, subtle energies, and co-creative practices to support personal and collective transformation. Over six decades, Spangler has authored more than 30 books on topics including manifestation, , as a , and the interplay of human and spiritual worlds, with notable works such as Apprenticed to Spirit (2012), Blessing: The Art and the Practice (2001), and Everyday Miracles: The Inner Art of Manifestation (1996). He has conducted workshops, lectures, and classes across the and , emphasizing practical , the power of individual sacredness, and humanity's responsibility to and history. Married to Julia with four adult children and two grandchildren, Spangler resides in the and continues his work with the Lorian Association, having previously shared insights through monthly essays like "David's Desk" (2008–2024).

Early Life and Education

Childhood and Family Background

David Spangler was born on January 7, 1945, in . At the age of six, Spangler's family relocated to , where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army, remaining there from 1951 until 1957. This period immersed the young Spangler in North African culture, including local customs and community activities such as joining the Cub Scouts, where he learned skills like and from den mothers. As an only child in this expatriate family setting, he experienced a blend of American military life and Moroccan surroundings, fostering an early awareness of diverse environments. In 1957, at age twelve, Spangler returned to the with his family and settled in . The family established a stable home in the desert Southwest, where Spangler developed initial interests in science and , often exploring the local and pursuing scientific curiosities. This transition marked the beginning of his formal education in .

Academic Pursuits

Spangler attended , a preparatory school in , during his high school years, but his education there was interrupted when his family relocated to , where he completed his secondary studies and graduated in 1963. This move followed an earlier period of his childhood spent in , where his father was stationed with the U.S. Army, fostering an early exposure to diverse cultural perspectives that later contributed to his receptivity toward non-Western ideas. Following high school, Spangler enrolled at in the mid-, pursuing a degree in biochemistry with initial ambitions to become a molecular . His academic path reflected a strong interest in the sciences, aligning with the era's emphasis on rational inquiry and technological advancement. However, during his university years in the , Spangler experienced growing disillusionment with scientific , which he perceived as insufficient to address deeper existential questions about and . This led to a burgeoning interest in metaphysics and spiritual exploration, culminating in his decision to leave in 1965 to pursue an inner calling that prioritized personal spiritual development over formal scientific training.

Spiritual Beginnings

Early Visions and Influences

At the age of seventeen in 1962, David Spangler experienced a spontaneous vision that profoundly shaped his spiritual path, revealing an emerging form of "incarnational " and a global network of like-minded individuals forming a living spiritual organism to embody these principles in . This insight, occurring during his late teenage years in the United States, marked the beginning of his conscious engagement with subtle spiritual realities and set the foundation for his lifelong exploration of within a transformative era. By 1964, while pursuing undergraduate studies in biochemistry at , Spangler shifted his focus toward self-directed study of esoteric traditions, including and , to better understand the subtle realms he had intuitively perceived. These influences, drawn from the works of figures like and , provided intellectual frameworks for interpreting his inner experiences as teachings on the interplay between physical and non-physical dimensions of presence. In 1965, profound encounters with a non-physical presence he named "John" led him to abandon formal academic training in favor of a dedicated role as a teacher of these subtle realities. Spangler's early public engagement began through writing and lecturing on spiritual potentials, where he shared insights from his visions and studies with metaphysical study groups, attracting a growing fellowship of seekers. These initial talks and writings, starting in his late teens and intensifying by 1964, emphasized the practical embodiment of spiritual awareness in daily life, establishing him as an emerging voice in alternative spiritual circles before any involvement in communal settings.

Arrival at Findhorn Foundation

In 1970, David Spangler received an invitation to join the in northern from its founders, Peter and Eileen and Dorothy Maclean, who had anticipated his arrival for three years based on Eileen's inner guidance and Dorothy's positive response to his published booklets on spiritual themes. Accompanied by his partner, Myrtle Glines, Spangler traveled from the , drawn by prior inner visions of incarnational that aligned with the community's emerging ethos. Upon arrival, he immediately sensed the site's potent subtle energy field, which resonated with communications from his own spiritual guide, confirming the rightness of his decision. Spangler's initial experiences at involved immersing himself in the modest community setup of caravans, bungalows, and a central , where he began collaborating on the development of spiritual education programs. Together with Glines, he contributed to organizing a structured learning at The Park, aimed at fostering personal and communal spiritual growth amid the daily rhythms of communal living and nature attunement. This period marked the beginning of Findhorn's shift from a small informal gathering to a more intentional educational hub, as Spangler lectured on spiritual principles and helped articulate the community's vision for broader outreach. During Spangler's tenure as co-director from 1970 to 1973, the community expanded significantly from approximately 24 residents to 170 members, reflecting the influx of seekers drawn to its evolving programs. Spangler also formed a close friendship with the cultural philosopher , whose visits to were inspired by Spangler's lectures and writings, laying the groundwork for their later joint efforts in planetary . These foundational adaptations positioned as an emerging residential center for spiritual education, emphasizing practical application over mere contemplation.

Time at Findhorn

Key Contributions

During his time at the Foundation from 1970 to 1973, David Spangler played a pivotal role in establishing the community's Education Department, which formalized the spiritual curriculum and learning programs. Upon arriving in August 1970 with his partner Myrtle Glines, Spangler recognized the need for structured focused on "growing people as well as plants," leading him to initiate these programs and serve as the first director of what became known as the . This department organized regular lectures and sessions in the , where Spangler delivered talks twice weekly on esoteric topics, including the principles of manifestation—drawing from the community's experiences of co-creating with —and the dynamics of subtle energies that underpin spiritual growth and environmental harmony. These workshops not only educated residents but also provided a framework for that emphasized practical application of spiritual insights to daily life. Spangler's intellectual contributions extended to foundational writings that captured and disseminated Findhorn's emerging . In 1971, he co-authored Revelation: The Birth of a New Age with the Findhorn Community, a seminal text published by Findhorn Press that articulated a vision of cosmic energies entering human consciousness, directly inspired by the transformative experiences and guidance received within the community. The book outlined how individuals could harness these energies for personal and planetary renewal, reflecting Spangler's immersion in Findhorn's ethos of manifestation and subtle realms during his residency. This work became a of the community's literature, helping to articulate its unique blend of and . Through his educational initiatives and public-facing role, Spangler significantly boosted Findhorn's visibility and appeal on the global stage. His lectures and the structured programs he developed attracted an influx of international visitors, particularly young seekers from the , contributing to the community's rapid expansion from around 20 residents in 1970 to over 200 by 1973. This growth solidified Findhorn's reputation as a pioneering hub for spiritual education and communal living, drawing people eager to explore its model of co-creation with nature and higher guidance.

Leadership Role and Departure

In 1970, David Spangler was appointed co-director of the alongside Peter Caddy, a role he held until 1973, during which he played a pivotal part in guiding the community's growth and development. Under his , the Foundation expanded significantly, growing from around 24 members to over 170, while establishing itself as a leading center for spiritual education and practice. Spangler spearheaded the creation of structured educational programs, including workshops and curricula focused on spiritual growth, which formalized the community's approach to learning and attracted international participants. This period of rapid expansion, however, introduced challenges related to community dynamics, as the influx of new members strained interpersonal relationships and the maintenance of a unified spiritual focus. Additionally, Spangler's personal visions emphasized a broader form of that transcended the specific context of , envisioning it as one node in a of emerging spiritual communities aligned with principles. These ideas, which he shared through teachings and writings during his tenure, highlighted the need for decentralized, incarnational approaches to spiritual work beyond any single location. In 1973, Spangler departed from to pursue independent spiritual endeavors in the United States, marking the end of his formal leadership role. Despite the transition, he has consistently reflected on Findhorn's enduring influence as a foundational model for communal spiritual living, crediting it with shaping his ongoing contributions to mystical and incarnational practices.

Post-Findhorn Developments

Founding Lorian Association

Following his departure from the in 1973, David Spangler co-founded the Lorian Association in 1974 in the alongside a group of former members, including Dorothy Maclean, Roger and Katherine Collis, and others who had formed a spiritual fellowship during their time at the in 1971. The organization was incorporated as a non-profit spiritual and educational foundation, aimed at exploring and sharing insights into subtle realities and planetary spirituality through workshops, classes, and gatherings. In its early years, the Lorian Association relocated to , where it established a base for ongoing activities, including the development of educational programs centered on co-creative —emphasizing partnership between human and subtle realms to foster personal and collective transformation. These programs drew on the group's shared experiences at and evolved into structured offerings that supported independent projects for raising awareness of spiritual principles in daily life. A key aspect of the association's direction involved Spangler's collaboration with non-physical "colleagues"—subtle entities encountered through his experiences—which guided the formulation of Lorian's core practices and educational focus from the outset. This partnership with these entities helped shape the organization's emphasis on integrating spiritual insights into incarnate existence, influencing its early curriculum and community-building efforts.

Emergence of Incarnational Spirituality

Incarnational Spirituality, as developed by David Spangler, is defined as the art and practice of evoking and utilizing the inner resources of energy that arise from the act of itself, enabling individuals to shape their lives, bless the world, and partner with creative spiritual forces. This framework celebrates the sacredness inherent in everyday embodiment, viewing not merely as physical birth but as an ongoing of connection, engagement, and emergence that affirms the wholeness of , , , and sacred presence in human existence. The concept traces its roots to a spontaneous vision Spangler experienced in 1962 at the age of seventeen, in which he perceived an emerging spiritual paradigm centered on incarnate beings forming a "organism" to manifest this sacred embodiment in the world. At its core, Incarnational Spirituality emphasizes key principles such as partnership with spirit, subtle activism, and the transformation of personal incarnation to influence broader realities. Partnership with spirit involves co-creating with non-physical spiritual forces, where individuals align their unique incarnate presence with sacred sources like the "Self-Light" to enhance personal sovereignty and collective blessing, honoring boundaries as creative sites of relationship rather than imposition. Subtle activism extends this by engaging the subtle realms—non-physical dimensions of mind, emotion, and energy—through disciplined intention and mindfulness, allowing individuals to act as agents of healing and upliftment by embodying qualities like love and peace, thereby shaping their personal "Incarnational Field" (a web of relationships) and the wider environment without direct physical intervention. Transforming personal incarnation focuses on inner alchemy, converting negative energies (such as anger) into positive generative forces (like compassion) to radiate spiritual light, fostering individual growth that ripples outward to affect global transformation through empowered, sovereign embodiment. The evolution of Incarnational Spirituality has unfolded through programs offered by the Lorian Association, which Spangler co-founded as a platform for its dissemination. These include year-long immersion courses that participants into deep embodiment of its principles, emphasizing practical exercises to attune to one's uniqueness and while exploring the subtle worlds as alive, interactive realms intertwined with physical reality. Such programs build on foundational practices like "Holding and ," where individuals use their incarnate presence to evoke sacred intent in everyday objects or spaces, progressively integrating subtle awareness into daily life for ongoing personal and communal evolution.

Philosophical Evolution

Engagement with New Age Movement

David Spangler emerged as a foundational figure in the movement during the 1970s, particularly through his pivotal role at the in , where he served as co-director from 1970 to 1973. His early writings, including Revelation: The Birth of a New Age (1971), articulated visions of spiritual evolution and planetary consciousness that resonated widely within emerging spiritual communities. This book, often regarded as a seminal text—or even the "Bible"—of the movement, helped define its core themes of collective awakening and the integration of spiritual principles into everyday life. Similarly, The Laws of Manifestation (1975), published in association with , solidified his influence by exploring practical spiritual tools for personal and societal change. During his early career, Spangler actively promoted key New Age concepts such as manifestation, the workings of subtle energies, and the potential for global transformation. He emphasized how individuals could harness inner energies to shape reality and foster a shift toward a more harmonious world, drawing from his experiences at where these ideas were tested in communal living. These teachings encouraged participants to view as an active force for evolution, influencing the movement's focus on holistic personal growth and interconnectedness. Spangler's contributions extended the 's reach through international lectures and the promotion of community models like , which served as a blueprint for sustainable spiritual living worldwide. In the , he delivered numerous talks—resulting in over 50 recorded lectures—that disseminated these principles across and , inspiring the formation of similar intentional communities. This dissemination helped catalyze the movement's growth during a period of cultural experimentation and spiritual seeking. Over time, Spangler's perspectives evolved, leading to later critiques of certain New Age tendencies.

Critiques and Refinements

Beginning in the 1980s, David Spangler expressed growing concerns about the movement's drift toward commercialism, portraying it as a "metaphysical " that prioritized profit over genuine spiritual depth. He criticized its superficiality, characterized by "sloppy " and vulgarization of ancient traditions, which diluted their transformative potential into escapist fantasies detached from the realities of daily life. These observations, drawn from over two decades of involvement since the movement's early days at , reflected Spangler's tempered optimism, urging a reevaluation of its core intentions to express the "soul of the planet" amid emerging excesses. In his 2011 memoir Apprenticed to Spirit, Spangler advocated moving "beyond" the toward incarnational , emphasizing a grounded approach that integrates subtle realms with embodied, everyday existence rather than abstract or otherworldly pursuits. This refinement positioned as an active with the material world, fostering personal and through practical discernment and inner . Central to Spangler's refined outlook is the concept of subtle activism, which he describes as an ethical engagement with global challenges via intentional work in energetic realms to cultivate , , and . Unlike escapist practices, it involves standing in "an inner presence of calm, , , spaciousness, and " to create a "Grail field" of sacredness that blesses humanity and the , enabling constructive navigation of crises without or withdrawal. This approach underscores activism as a holistic, incarnated response, bridging spiritual with tangible ethical action.

Writings and Legacy

Major Publications

David Spangler's major publications form the cornerstone of his contributions to spiritual literature, articulating visions of personal and collective transformation rooted in his experiences at and beyond. These works emphasize practical , the interplay of human consciousness with subtle energies, and the emergence of incarnational —a framework viewing the material world as a sacred arena for divine expression. Over five decades, his books have sold widely in New Age circles, influencing readers seeking integrative spiritual practices. One of Spangler's seminal early works, Revelation: The Birth of a New Age (1971), draws from his time at the Findhorn Foundation to explore emerging spiritual paradigms and the collective shift toward a new planetary consciousness. The book posits humanity's role in birthing forms of a transformative civilization, blending visionary insights with observations of synchronicities and inner guidance encountered in community life. Its themes of evolutionary spirituality and interconnectedness resonated amid the 1970s countercultural movements, establishing Spangler as a key voice in early New Age thought. In The Laws of Manifestation (1975), Spangler provides a practical guide to co-creative principles, framing manifestation not as magical intervention but as an alignment of personal intent with universal energies to shape reality. Drawing on esoteric traditions and personal experiments, the text outlines steps for cultivating awareness and partnership with subtle forces, emphasizing ethical responsibility in creation. Revised and reissued in 2009, it remains a foundational resource for those practicing conscious living, with its accessible approach democratizing complex metaphysical concepts. Spangler's memoir Apprenticed to Spirit (2011) integrates his lifelong spiritual , chronicling a 27-year dialogue with non-physical mentors that shaped his . The weaves personal anecdotes with reflections on inner training, , and the challenges of bridging spiritual insights with everyday existence, offering readers a grounded model for soul-level development. Published by , it highlights themes of trust in unseen guidance and the evolution of mystical experience, earning praise as an authentic contemporary spiritual . Among other notable titles, Everyday Miracles (1996) disseminates incarnational ideas through vignettes illustrating manifestation in ordinary life, portraying the physical realm as infused with sacred potential. Published by , it encourages readers to recognize and amplify subtle miracles via intention and presence, bridging theoretical with actionable wisdom. These publications have informed Lorian Association programs, fostering workshops on and subtle .

Ongoing Contributions

David Spangler has maintained a steady output of shorter-form writings through the Lorian Association, providing ongoing education in and subtle realm interactions. One of his primary vehicles for this has been David's Desk, a series of free monthly essays that ran from until its conclusion in September 2024 after 205 installments. These essays offered personal insights and practical tools for navigating everyday , emphasizing themes such as inner growth, collaboration with non-physical allies, and applying spiritual principles to contemporary challenges. Complementing this, Spangler has authored Views from the Borderland, a subscription-based quarterly esoteric journal launched around 2011, which explores encounters with subtle worlds, forces, and the integration of spiritual awareness into social and environmental . The journal delves into experiential reports and reflective analyses, encouraging readers to engage actively with interdimensional realities for personal and collective transformation. In addition, Spangler continues to contribute to Lorian Press publications, including collaborative projects that expand on Incarnational Spirituality—a framework he developed to honor the sacredness of physical embodiment and co-creation with spiritual dimensions. These efforts, often co-authored with Lorian associates, produce resources like essays and guides that apply Incarnational principles to modern life, echoing broader motifs from his earlier works while fostering dialogue. Recent examples include Partnering with Spirit (2024), which explores methods of partnership with non-physical dimensions for personal and global transformation.

Recent Activities

Current Roles and Projects

As of 2025, David Spangler serves as the Spiritual Director of the Lorian Association, a nonprofit spiritual educational foundation he co-founded in 1974. In this role, Spangler oversees the development and delivery of Lorian's educational initiatives, including a year-long immersion program that fosters deep engagement with Incarnational Spirituality through weekly sessions on embodiment and subtle partnerships, as well as online self-directed studies and resources emphasizing practices for collaborating with spiritual dimensions to enhance personal and collective wholeness. In May 2025, Lorian announced a suspension of Core Studies and Presence Classes from June 2025 to January 2026 to allow for organizational reflection and renewal, while maintaining other resources like self-directed studies. Spangler resides in the area of the , where he lives with his wife, Julia; the couple has four adult children who also make their homes nearby.

Engagements in the 2020s

In the early , David Spangler engaged in presentations on subtle activism and related spiritual practices, including sessions on partnering with subtle allies to foster global transformation. These contributions aligned with broader initiatives emphasizing energetic and consciousness-based approaches to . On March 4, 2025, Spangler published the post "What can I do?" via a repost on the Visit Ecovillage site, originally from the Lorian Association on February 15, 2025, addressing spiritual responses to global challenges such as geopolitical tensions and environmental crises. In the piece, he advocates for subtle activism—intentional inner work to shift collective energies—suggesting practical exercises like attuning to universal blessing forces and holding spaces of coherence amid chaos, rather than direct intervention. This reflection underscores his emphasis on personal empowerment within incarnational as a means to influence broader planetary dynamics. In September 2022, Spangler contributed personal reflections to the Foundation's 50-year celebration of its Sanctuary consecration on the , which were read aloud during events that honored the site's role as a spiritual hub. He shared thoughts on the sanctuary's enduring energetic presence, describing it as a "heart " for the community and a portal for subtle alliances that continue to inspire global spiritual work. This contribution highlighted his lifelong connection to , where he lived and taught in the , reinforcing themes of and sacred place in his teachings. During the Fairy Congress in June 2025, organizers issued a shout-out to the Spangler family, acknowledging David Spangler's significant contributions through presentations at six prior events between 2003 and 2014. These earlier talks explored fairy-human relations and elemental partnerships, themes central to his work on subtle realms and environmental harmony. His family's involvement, including daughter Maryn, was noted as part of the congress's legacy of bridging human and nature spirits for ecological and spiritual renewal. Spangler's ongoing direction of the Lorian Association has facilitated these public engagements by providing a platform for his teachings and collaborations.

References

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