Becoming Wilkinson

Bryce Bailey, MA, ATR. Registered Art Therapist from Seattle, WA currently living in Palm Springs, CA. He launched his own creativity/ design consulting practice “EmpowerART Studio” and offers Per Diem Art Therapy at a local physical rehabilitation hospital. He leads art therapy groups and facilitates creativity workshops in community. Bryce is passionate about utilizing the creative process to facilitate personal growth, transformation, healing and connection through artmaking. He has worked with most populations but specializes in LGBTQ, at-risk adolescents, addiction recovery, and identity empowerment. Bryce has remained active in giving back to the recovery community for over 22 years, sober since 9/24/99. He enjoys his own artmaking through collage, mixed media, oil pastels, and visual journaling. Graduating from Antioch University Seattle's Masters in Psychology/Art Therapy program (2006), he interned at Seattle Counseling Service (LGBTQ), worked as art therapist and mental health clinician at Community Psychiatric Clinic and Michael’s House Dual-Diagnosis Treatment Center, facilitated creative recovery & visual journaling workshops in Miami, San Jose, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Seattle, and volunteered with homeless and LGBT youth in Seattle. His research project "Artmaking as a Component and Facilitator of Resiliency with Homeless Youth" was published in the Art Therapy Journal (2008). Bryce served on the Board of Evergreen Art Therapy Association chapter in Seattle from 2005-2015, presented at several national Art Therapy Association conferences, and became Local Chair for the 2013 American Art Therapy Association conference in Seattle. Bryce can be reached at: empowerartstudio@gmail.com; Instagram: @bryce_empowerartstudioPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

"I had another experience when I was meditating that affirmed my life was transforming again. I dreamed I was standing on a river bank. There were people in canoes peacefully rowing in a river. I came to understand that the river was peaceful flow. The people in the canoes waved and smiled to come in. I looked up and down the river bank. There were countless people standing on the banks. Some walked into the river and a canoe appeared for their transport. Some shook with fear on the side. Those in the river were committed. Somehow I knew it was a big commitment. I waded in and the next thing I knew I was in a canoe. I felt immense peace. I knew I would never go back to the river bank. At the same time, there was no judgment about those on the river bank. There was a simple invitation to wade into the peaceful river of life...I have witnessed the prison-house closing in on the growing child within myself and within my family. My work is dedicated to millions who have felt bound by the conditions that would imprison. My story is not unique. My message is simple, never ever give up! There is always hope. It is my intention that as you hear the story of my journey,  you will remember from deep within you-- your calling, your purpose, and your recovery of the truth of who you are. You are already free. You simply need to remember."           Larendee RoosFounder Director Miracle Activation CenterFounder CEO Roos AdvisorsPartner Ador DevelopmentFacilitator Trainer Pathways of LightGrateful Spouse, mom, and grandmother. Daughter of Abba Father.To contact Larendee, simply text her at 1-801-209-3611Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Bob Blackford discusses how he felt after donating blood, only to have the clinic subsequently call him in to discuss  some "irregularities" that the testing had revealed.... then informing him that he was HIV positive.  This was when he was in the ministry, was married with kids and it was prior to meds being developed.  He basically heard a death sentence.  He had to not only tell his wife that he was HIV positive, but also that he had had some gay sexual experiences.  He describes how they negotiated that, managed to raise two daughters, wrote a book and then share the mic with his wife in telling their joint story to an International audience.  And he tells how feels to be in Palm Springs, living his authentic life today as a gay man.Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Chapter One:  The Law of Attraction. I've learned that "Where focus goes- energy flows"! What we choose to throw out into the Universe is what comes back to us. I share some of the rather profound experiences I've had in this area.  So many of my friends are amazed at what I seem to create or attract into my life.  I've learned that "Where focus goes- energy flows"!  What we choose to put out into the Universe is what comes back to us.  That means if we expect good, it will come to us.  But if we dwell on the negative or constantly worry about what "might" happen in the future, those negative things come prancing back into our lives.  It took me a very long time to grasp this concept but it's very real. I give you some concrete, amazing examples from my life on how this has worked.Chapter Two: My Energy Work Journey. I've had quite a few "Whoa" moments the last few years!  It took a lot to change from a pretty close-minded guy in ministry to opening up to what also might be true in the Universe!  When I was in the church in my "former life", I never would have considered even the possibility of exploring energy work.  To me, in my narrow definition of the world and reality, it was all "devil stuff" and to be avoided at all costs.  But then one day a friend in Seattle gifted me a session with her energy gal via a phone call.  At first I resisted but then I said yes after doing some open-minded research.  The session with the gal was interesting, but we weren't quite on the same page.  But that experience opened the door to another reality.  I've been seeing my energy guy (Mark Hollenstein) on a weekly basis for about five years now.  Things have really changed and my mind, heart and understanding have expanded by leaps and bounds.  There's been a few "shocking" moments, for sure.  Here's a bit of the story...Chapter Three: Let's Talk About Love. What does real love look like? How does it play out in our lives? Does the religious right even know what love is? Here are a few thoughts on this topic.  Love is a term that's thrown around lightly.  We love chocolate sundaes.  We love our jobs, our kids, our partners and our pets.  The Christian Right has their ideas on what love is.  Things get messy.  But what does real love look like?  How does it play out in our lives?  Here are a few of my thoughts on this topic.Chapter Four:  Remembering my little sister Sunday (She used to say, "My name is Sunday- just like the day of the week")!  I didn't have a lot of regrets in my life. But a thought haunted me for many, many years. "What was so important that I had to get on the plane that day"? In the period 2000-2003, I lost my two sisters, my nephew, both of my parents and a friend.  I reflect on part of this story...Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.Image credits:  Model: Andrew Delta.      Photographer: Wilkinson (Copyright Wilkinson/2022)Found art location: The Ruins in N. desert Hot Springs, CA.  Abandoned desert buildings with various graffiti artists' work.  "Love" created by graffiti artist "Crew".To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

I met John Woodruff at a pool party some time ago.  I was immediately drawn to his friendly personality and Southern accent. And his body was pretty amazing as well!  I gave him a business card and we eventually did a couple very fun photo shoots. He's definitely fitness model material! Some time after that, I read one of his social media posts where, in 2015,  he described his weighing 245 pounds and he couldn't stand for more than ten minutes at a time due to degenerative disc disease.  His doctors wanted to fuse his vertebrae together.  He took matters into his own hands and followed the knowing in his heart. His story is amazing and he also shares what happened when he left the ministry, came out as a gay man and subsequently got into a pretty interesting relationship. Here's the scoop!Find John on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/woodruff2940/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2021Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

David Wichman is an author, speaker, sexual healer, and entrepreneur who is respected and well-known all over the world to those who seek to live free of stigma, shame, and fear around sex, love, and intimacy.Raised in Fremont, California, David survived a childhood marked by severe neglect and abuse, which led him into years of homelessness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. After decades of struggle and rehabilitation failures, he finally obtained freedom from his addiction in 2005. He remains an active member of New Thought and recovery movements to this day.In 2006, David found a calling in sex work. While working with seniors, the disabled, and those with severe intimacy issues, he discovered the profound transformational power that sex work creates for both client and provider. In 2009, he founded his travel-companion company, the Male Adventure, through which he has accompanied clients on life-changing adventures to all seven continents. He is an activist, vocal ally, and grateful member of the LGBTQI2 community.David lives with his partner Todd & their 3 rescue dogs: Panda Petey & Siain in their home in the Coachella Valley area of California. In 2016, David co-founded Heal-VR, a software development company that merges ancient spiritual principles and meditation techniques with modern virtual reality technology.His story is both profound and touching.  Prepare to think and feel deeply as this gentle soul shares his heart with us.Find David at: http://DavidsWorld.mePhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

In his "former life", Mark was married to woman, had three kids and was a minister in a church.  The conflict he found himself in, leading this life when he was a gay man, eventually led to a nervous breakdown.  His healing led him away from the church and he became a trainer.  He shares what happened when he attended a trainers conversion in San Jose, where he met a very special man. His life became to rapidly change from the fallout of that meeting.As a facilitator and coach for over two decades, Mark Hollenstein has been honored to blend his skills and gifts as a business coach, spiritual life coach, energy healer and intuitive reader to what he describes as a call  to “Love on” people in the name of the Divine.He see himself as a conduit for Spirit, The Divine, Source, The Universe, God, Goddess, Creator, or All That Is. However one divines that/it for his or her self. Simply, the Source, or energy greater than ourselves the guides, instructs, leads, loves and supports all of us, absolutely unconditionally through this human experience we call life.As his personal evolution has continued and he experienced higher energetic vibratory upgrades daily, his work is now calling out to men and women of all gender identification and sexual orientation who are resonating, recognizing, and remembering – in order to together find our way to each other.Find out more about Mark here:  http://www.MarkHollenstein.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jase Nagaia is the mastermind behind "Endeavor with Jase" which is an exercise class held at Demuth Park in Palm Springs.  Jase is also one of the most positive people I know- always saying a good word about everyone and seeing the best in them.  He talks with me about the struggles he's had with the lack of diversity in the desert, and how he sees things changing.  It's definitely worth a listen!Find Jase here:https://endeavorpalmsprings.comhttps://m.facebook.com/endeavorpalmsprings/https://www.instagram.com/endeavorwithjase/Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Patrick Prohaska is an author and life coach specializing in personal empowerment, consciousness expansion, and sexual healing. Patrick has a Bachelor’s degree in history of science and a Master’s degree in the religions of ancient India, and has studied several healing systems, including Ayurveda, Reiki, Theta Healing, aromatherapy, and more. He’s the author of Brain Cells: Escape Your Mental Prisons and Dream Yourself Awake: The Power of Lucid Living. His newest book Good Sex: Spiritual Principles for an Electrifying Sex Life is currently in the rewrite stage and will be published soon. He recently moved to Kansas, and he's  available for lectures, seminars, and workshops around the globe. When he’s away from the office, you’ll probably find him hiking in the wilderness. We chat about his journey and his new book... Everybody loves to listen in to a conversation about sex, right?  Join us now as we explore this topic.Find Patrick at:  https://www.sexpowersoul.comPhoto: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com

Jerry Lynch was priest in the Catholic Church for nearly three decades.  He loved what he was doing, serving people - but there came a time when he realized that he could no longer live an inauthentic life.  He had to live a congruent life as a gay man.  He talks about this process and the joys and struggles of his journey.  Listen to his heart as his story unfolds.Photo: Copyright Wilkinson/2022Opening and closing music courtesy the very talented Zakhar Valaha via Pixabay.To contact Wilkinson- email him at BecomingWilkinson@gmail.com