I’m a research physician who left the halls of academe for the wilds of northern Maine.
Nearly four decades ago, I was a budding scientist at Harvard College, delving into the esoteric mysteries of quantum mechanics, when my father’s violent suicide cracked the foundation of my world. I was getting straight As, but I feared I was flunking life. I began to question the meaning and purpose—if any—of our existence.
My search for answers took me far and wide. I studied ancient meditative practices at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. I earned an MD and a PhD in neurobiology at Harvard Medical School, striving to understand the electrical and chemical underpinnings of our thoughts and emotions. But on a dark night, in a wilderness forest, came an unexpected call that would transform my life.
I followed that call to the Maine Woods, where I’ve qualified as a Registered Maine Guide and become a passionate environmental activist. Ultimately, my path through the wild has led from anguished isolation into joyful connection with the Earth, and into a new and healing fellowship with its Source. By sharing my journey, I hope to guide others to the solace nature offers us all—and I hope my readers will, in turn, be inspired to work toward healing the wounds we are collectively inflicting upon our planet.
