By Leah Chyten
A lifetime ago, as a young adult I moved to Maine to homestead on the ‘hundred back acres’ of an old farm. My experience living in such intimacy with the land, building a cabin from local materials, wood stove for heat, growing all my food, hauling water from a local spring, horseback riding the mountain trails, opened me to the deep and healing presence of the natural world. I’ve carried that with me, and it is what drew me back to the Maine coast.
Seeking a meaningful way to express my gratitude, I conceived of a website (wisdomspeakersforum.com) dedicated to providing a chronicle, and sharing the voices of local wisdom speakers. Still In its infancy, the site houses video interviews with local wisdom speakers from diverse traditions. Healers, shamans, organizers, institutions such as ChIME, pastors, rabbis, indigenous peoples, churches, synagogues, and mosques will all find a home here. I plan for the site to sponsor a ‘store’ for wisdom speakers to advertise books, artwork, services, and events.
Please check out the interviews, and if inspired, please join the free site. And if you are a wisdom speaker or know of wisdom speakers potentially interested in being interviewed, please contact me at Lchyten@gmail.com.
My name is Leah Chyten and I currently reside in South Portland. I’m a psychotherapist and spiritual teacher within a path called the Diamond Approach. I’ve taught groups nationally, but currently my interest is in teaching locally. I also lead workshops on the creative process and activating imagination.
I’m the author of three very diverse novels. Keeper of the Flame is the ‘autobiography’ of Mary Magdalene, Light Radiance Splendor articulates through story the notion of Tikkun Olam, healing of the world, and Forgive Us Our Trespasses is about healing the Black Hills, sacred land to the Lakota tribes.
