Authors

Jeff Merrifield, Ph.D., author of Damanhur: The Story of the Extraordinary Italian Artistic and Spiritual Community, has worked in local government community arts as animateur and co-ordinator, organizing festivals, large-scale arts events and innovative projects, for over 43 years. Alongside this community work, he has developed his own creative projects and is founder of Playback Arts, producing theater, video, and publications. He is author of an investigation into the Cathar persecutions, The Perfect Heretics, numerous articles on a range of esoteric subjects and has written fourteen plays, edited three books of childrenís poetry, and one of senior citizen reminiscences. Jeff is co-ordinator of Artswork Essex, a charitable trust providing arts activities for young people, is founder of the Essex Arts Award and is trainer of advisers for the national young peopleís Arts Award. He lives in the Essex village of Great Totham in the UK.

Dvorah Simon was born to Hungarian Jewish parents. She was introduced to poetry by way of Milne and Christopher Robin; "The King's Breakfast" was a particular favorite, especially as acted out with her mother and sister. She was also deeply moved by the rhythms and imaginative power of Hebrew liturgy, as well as the masterful poetry of Rilke, Neruda, Rumi, Ferlinghetti, and Oliver. When not writing poetry or cavorting with friends, Dvorah works as a clinical psychologist. Dvorah teaches Words Rise Up From Silence, a poetry-writing workshop focused on the sensual qualities of words. She is the author of Mercy, a poetry book that is a Nautilus Silver Medal winner. She can be contacted at dvorahpoetry@gmail.com.

Author Resources

Visit Dvorah at her blog

Kylea Taylor is a California licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (MFC# 34901). She earned a Master of Science degree from San Jose State University, San Jose, CA in Marriage, Child, and Family Counseling. She has worked as a counselor in the addictions and trauma recovery field since 1970 and was the executive director of a community counseling program for sixteen years. Kylea has been studying the theory and practice of therapeutic work with clients in non-ordinary states of consciousness with Stanislav and Christina Grof since 1984, with particular interest in the effect of non-ordinary states on trauma recovery and the phenomena and healing potential of Kundalini. After completing the Grofs' first three-year training program in the United States, she was certified as a Holotropic Breathwork Practitioner and assisted Stanislav Grof in facilitating large group Holotropic Breathwork workshops and trainings both in the United States and in other countries.

Kylea's books include: The Ethics of Caring, The Breathwork Experience, Exploring Holotropic Breathwork™, and Considering Holotropic Breathwork™. She has written numerous articles and conducted workshop in the USA and abroad.

Author Resources

Visit Kylea at her blog with information about her therapy practice and other work.