This book is dedicated to the memory of my generous father, Robert Henry Johnson, and to Colleen Brenzy, for passing on the teachings.

Dear reader, you and I may never meet, but I hope my words and teachings will empower you as the words of so many unmet teachers have empowered me—Pema Chödrön, Chögyam Trungpa, John Sanford, Lama Surya Das, Black Elk, and Carolyn Myss.

I remain always grateful to the Great Spirit who creates through us all, to the trees that give of their wood, and to my Spirit Guides who kept me safe through my teen years.