Rites of Initiation

“Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards”
- Søren

My life hasn’t changed gradually. It has changed in thresholds. Here are some of the rites of passage that shaped me.

Survival

1984 - Born - failure to thrive

1987 - Face smashed open by my father - shock collar installed

1996 - My father kills my pet rats - who’s who

2001 - Leaving for a high school in Vilnius to live by myself at 16 - free and alone

2003 - Publishing a guide book on US college admissions - inspiration in collaboration

2009 - Riding bike for 8 weeks - moving from point A to point B every day

2012 - Running 28 miles - the will and the wind

2012 - Epic on the Incredible Hulk - a brush with death

2013 - Broken knee - trauma begets trauma, until faced

2013 - Eyes on fire mobile - betrayal in love

2014 - Learning to fly - growing my wings

2014 - Climbing El Cap - one placement at a time

2016 - Parenthood 1.0

2018 - Parenthood 2.0

2019 - Straw light - deciding to live

Descent

2020 - Broken spine - change of direction

2021 - Simple and Sinister standard - healing is possible, capacity can be built

2023 - Vision quest - meeting myself for the first time

Integration

2024 - Tattoo - accepting reality, committing to growth and truth

2025 - Chakra glasses - coherence of the center

2025 - Helm of Dustiny - bringing tomorrow into today

2025 - Eye of the Mountain Substack - signal for contact

No more thresholds. Only practice and participation.