Fear, Trust, Awe

The Evolution of Courageous Living

YES, this is ish.

For a deeper dive into myself, check out my life vision.

Splitting time between one of the Gulf Islands of Canada and the Sacred Valley of Peru, I am an artist, a meditator, a yogi, a writer, and a facilitator who guides men into a deeper experience of life.

I’m definitely not perfect. (You should read my other bio if you want to see some of the ways I still cope and struggle).

But, for the most part, my life is sweet, and I am blessed.

It wasn’t always like this.

Growing up undocumented and in a strictly conservative household taught me more about the edge of fear than any textbook ever could.

I navigated most of my life in the shadows and in a perpetual state of survival mode—my routine consisted of going to school and coming home, being unable to drive or work, and being unable to participate in the normal ways of adolescence. Because I didn’t have a way to generate income, for a year during college, my diet was limited to two cans of black beans every two weeks. I lived my most formative years fearing being seen because being seen meant I’d be caught.

Through this, I learned that survival mode isn’t just about getting by; it’s about constricting your world to avoid the risks of truly living. But there is a risk inherent in being alive. 

Luckily, I had this unrelenting inner knowing that there was something deeper, something more to life that I never had permission to pursue. Everyone continued to point me toward safety, which meant staying in hiding. But this safety seemed never to give anyone I know any satisfaction, contentment, or happiness.

Ultimately, I permitted myself to lean into my fear, trust the unknown, and take risks. And so I lept, literally and figuratively, off massive cliffs despite being unable to swim and out of the sky e as a skydiver, learning to work with my fear. I moved across country and continent borders to create new homes and faced the rawness of plant medicine. These experiences have been confrontations with my limits. Each time, I have emerged with a deeper understanding of what’s truly possible.

My greatest lesson has been about trust — in myself and life. I know that even in the face of fear, there is something beautiful on the other side. Every time I’ve leaned into my worries, I’ve discovered resilience and a profound sense of joy and connection — a sense of awe, which has been my guiding muse through the journey of the unknown.

I hope to help you experience that same breakthrough, to see that your fears aren’t as daunting as they seem and that life can be a canvas of awe and wonder, waiting for you to explore it fully. I guide men through the transformative journey from half-hearted survival to wholehearted living.

My life has been a journey of navigating the wild terrains of fear, resilience, and self-discovery, and I want to guide you through the same. I’m here to help you find the fearless, free, and raw essence of who you truly are.

Values

Awe | Moments that stop you dead in your tracks and render you speechless at the enormous magic and beauty of Life.

Depth | What lies underneath someone’s surface? Their deep longing, pain, joy, memory, humanity. 

Integrity | Standing for what’s authentic, regardless of how others perceive and accept it.

Resilience | The ability to stand firm and move through. It does not falter or capsize, but like bamboo, it has an innate quality of being able to move through the eye of a storm, knowing that life is on the other side.

Awareness | All senses are active. Being aware of oneself and one’s surroundings, being able to pierce the veil of the surface, and tap into the truth of the moment.

Courage | The quality that helps one move through the dark. The quality in all of us that helped our ancestors survive death, extinction, violence, and plague. 

Connection | The knowing that everything is connected, that you’re not alone but part of a greater thing beyond every one of us, and that lives within us. It’s the gnosis that we’re taken care of.

Guides

My inspiration comes from conversations with strangers, trekking mountains, and swimming in waters.

In addition, I’m grateful to the ones below for initiating, guiding, and mentoring my being and purpose into the world.

if you’re ready, let’s begin telling your story.

TESTIMONIALS

  • "Ish is simply amazing! The way that he kept his presence with me made me feel heard, cared for, and inspired. I highly recommend Ish to anyone. You won't regret it, that's for sure!"

    Verena Gruber, Archeologist

  • "Ish is a natural at what he does."

    Ben Bellamy, CEO

  • “Ish is a one-of-a-kind individual, and I highly HIGHLY recommend you work with him, if you ever get the chance! He allows for you to process your emotions and thoughts in a way you may never have before."

    Nate Maertens, University Professor

  • "A gifted space holder. It was a powerful journey being guided by Ish through some dark, dark crevices of my past. Now, I’m born anew."

    Tito Ohep, Sound Healer

  • "Ish has the touch of a tender poet. His words are simple yet profound. His medicine flows forth, unabashed, as from a quiet roaring river."

    Thomas Clayton, Sound Wizard

  • "Ish has the beautiful gift of seeing your truth, of seeing what your eyes don’t see but your soul knows. He helped me to connect with my heart, moving from the stories in my mind to the feeling of inner knowing."

    James Morrissey, Data Scientist

  • "Ish is a brother I value deeply. He is a leader of breadth, quiet strength and heart."

    Speed Weed, TV Producer and Embodiment Coach

  • "Through our work, I developed deeper understanding of myself and how I behave for the first time in 35 years. It’s already showing in my relationship."

    Ryan Abrams, Software Developer

  • "Ish has an uncanny ability to connect and understand where someone’s coming from."

    Quadri Akande, Solutions Engineer

  • "My husband and I are grateful for Ish from the bottom of our hearts for all that he has provided our son- mentor-wise, spiritual- wise, adventure-wise, emotional-wise, connection-wise."

    Corinne Smth

  • "Ish has genuine, authentic curiosity. That shows in his work and in his interactions. I’m grateful for his ability to hold space and his ability to direct in the most precise way, at the most precise time."

    Carlo Federiconi, Program Manager

  • "Ish has true vision and force. His passion, rigor and patience is empowering. His capacity for observation and taking intuitive action is exemplary."

    Richard Burton, Lawyer

  • "Ish encouraged me to pursue what I love because, in the end, it will pay off more than anything."

    Steve Sloane, Graduate Student

  • "Ish is the man!! He is simply a model in terms of how to be a great presence to others. A natural diplomat and a person who will enrich your life."

    Simon Dragon, Hypnotherapist

  • "Ish helped me find tools that I could use in my day-to-day life to stay grounded and more focused."

    Sofianne Yetto, Customer Success Specialist

  • “The processes that we embarked were gut wrenching, soul cleansing, and felt like giving birth. The space that Ish holds is of true reverence to something deeper than many of us can touch, but only feel in our bones. It's been one of the greatest periods of my life. I would recommend him to anyone looking for a deeper dive into their soul.”

    Mikael Hayden, Leadership Coach