In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I talk with, Ben Oofana.

From a very early age, Ben was drawn to indigenous cultures and their spiritual practices. He was particularly fascinated by the paranormal. Native Americans, like peoples of other indigenous cultures lived with a foot in two worlds, relying on the assistance of supernatural forces to assist them in their everyday lives.

By the age of 12 Ben was reading everything he could find about tribal cultures. Around the age of 14 Ben began to learn of the traditional medical, psychological and spiritual practices of a number of different tribes of North America. It was then that Ben decided that if he ever found the opportunity, he would train under a traditional American Indian doctor.

While still in high school, at the age of 17, Ben decided to live among the people he loved and admired and moved to a community of predominantly Kiowa and Kiowa-Apache Indians. During this time, Ben immersed himself completely in the culture and participated in the tribal dances and spiritual and healing ceremonies. It was there that Ben met his mentor, Horace Daukei, the last surviving traditional Kiowa doctor (Medicine Man). He immediately recognized Ben’s capacity to become a healer. Ben felt very fortunate because very few apprentices are chosen during a doctor’s lifetime.

Ben formally began his apprenticeship under Horace at the age of 20 and continued for the next three years. As his assistant, Ben was able to see firsthand the phenomenal results of these traditional medical practices.

After a succession of destructive relationships in his mid-twenties, Ben realized that he was reenacting the traumas of his childhood and adolescence. Being very intuitive, he began to develop an entire series of intensive meditation practices to facilitate the awakening of the innate healing intelligence residing within the body and mind.

Ben began to explore a wide range of therapeutic interventions and soon thereafter returned to the ancient practices he had learned while training with his mentor Horace.

Ben later went on to train with Chinese Master Sifu Li Tai Liang. He has since incorporated these practices that have their roots in the ancient Taoist lineages.

As Ben continued to progress in his own healing journey, he could see these changes being reflected back to him in the people he attracted into his life and in his relationships. Ben began to facilitate this healing process for others, enabling them to let go of unhealthy attachments. By releasing what no longer served them, they were able to attract healthier companions with whom they could create more meaningful and deeply fulfilling relationships.

Ben has over the years combined the elements of all these practices and interventions into a comprehensive system to facilitate the healing of the body and mind, heartbreak and other deep emotional wounds.

To find out more about Ben, check out his website at https://benoofana.com/.

In this episode of the Journey of My Mother’s Son podcast, I talk with Lois Letchford.

Lois is the author of the book, "Reversed: A Memoir," which chronicles an extraordinary journey of overcoming daunting odds, offering inspiration and hope to parents and educators navigating desperate situations. At the age of 39, while teaching her second son how to read, she stumbled upon her own "learning difference," an unexpected revelation that ignited an unwavering pursuit for answers.

With sheer determination and unyielding resilience, she confronted challenges and battled self-doubt head-on, proving that no obstacle is insurmountable. Through relentless effort, she witnessed the transformative power of perseverance, achieving significant milestones and experiencing profound personal growth.

She discovered the immense value of trusting her instincts. This experience led to her appreciating literacy learning as being more than a “set of skills to acquire.” Embracing foundational knowledge of “how children and adults learn,” and adopting a growth mindset, she unlocked true potential, shattering self-limiting beliefs.

Guided by the philosophy of living in the present moment, she learned to appreciate the inherent beauty of the journey itself. As the founder of Lois Letchford, Language, Literacy, and Learning tutoring, She is dedicated to assisting others facing similar challenges. Her memoir serves as a beacon of hope, sharing the mission and vision of empowering individuals with dyslexia.

"Reversed: A Memoir" stands as a testament to triumph over adversity, offering not only inspiration and motivation but also a profound sense of hope for all who read it.

To find out more about Lois, check out her website at https://www.loisletchford.com/.

In this episode of “The Journey of My Mother’s Son” podcast, Sandy and I talk about our trip up the Oregon Coast, into Washington, and eventually across the border into Canada.

After almost two years in the making, we were excited to meet our friends and grandson, Alex in Great Falls, Montana to start our 3-1/2-month journey throughout Canada and Alaska. Even though we had only been in Canada for a little over two weeks when we recorded this episode, we have already seen so many amazing things and made incredible memories.

Traveling with this group of friends has been absolutely awesome so far.

We can’t wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us.