In His Own Words I am curious. If one word describes me, it is that one. I was born and raised on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, curious about nature and the world around me. When I was young, my grandfather took my brothers and me to sporting events. There I felt the energy of the crowd: thousands singing in one voice, breathing in one breath. I understood that there was a deeper connection between all things, and I went looking for it. Curiosity has led me around the globe. I studied the sacred mysteries in Egypt, lived with monks in India, and learned from every culture I was fortunate enough to experience. I was not looking for Atlantis, Hyperborea or Paradise. I grew curious when I saw the mounds of Anykščiai, and more curious as their alignments came into focus. So I dug, and I dug, and I dug. I read every ancient myth and text I came across, and I am still reading. This book, and the others to follow, are the result. Curiosity leads to learning. Learning leads to transformation. I wear many hats. The one I love most is the one I wear with my children: foraging in the forest, or on the beach for a sunrise or a sunset, every one of them different. Never be, or pretend to be, the smartest person in the room. Learn from the room you are in. Understand the smallest curiosities of the world, and the larger ones reveal themselves. I am Shawn, but more importantly, I am curious.