Casey Bledsoe, MA

For the past 25 years, I have been consciously dedicated to touching the wisdom within and beyond life - that which makes our lives meaningful and vibrant, and empowers us to transform the suffering we and others experience, as we grow in love.

Always a contemplative person, even as a child, my love of nature and respect for all beings was nurtured by my family, who encouraged and supported me as I sought the most genuine path for my life.

While living in Texas, I received my Bachelor's degree in Philosophy and Biology, and later my Master's in Counseling. I participated in a variety of holistic disciplines, the most important of which included silent retreats under the guidance of profound spiritual elder and hermit, Father Kelly Nemeck (d. 2014). I also trained in esoteric healing, meditation, and body-centered contemplative practices such as qi gong and dance.

Permeating the variety of my experiences, I felt and treasured the realization that there is one inner path, the path of love and awareness, that all true seekers tread, regardless of apparent differences in outer practice and belief.

In Universal Sufism, I discovered deep and specific expressions of the inner way that called to me, and in 2005, I began a decade of intensive spiritual training with Senior Sufi teacher and interfaith peacemaker, Shahabuddin David Less. Shahabuddin became one of my dearest friends, and we have continued to journey on a path not of doctrine or dogma, but a path of heart, connected to all those who follow a path of heart.

Over these many years of inquiry and training, at different times, I worked as an editor and a farmer, a floral designer and a psychotherapist. I began to spend time in retreat learning from Swami Sunderanand (d. 2020) in India and other unique beings I met as I traveled in South America, Israel, Europe and other places around the world.

I am ordained as an interfaith minister in the Universal Worship and certified in Systemic/Family Constellations, a powerful vehicle of collective collaboration that aids us in understanding and healing our connection with ourselves and with all of life.

For 10 years, I learned, taught, worked, and celebrated in the field of Rising Tide International, an interfaith spiritual organization in Sarasota FL, dedicated to spreading love, harmony and beauty. Being an integral part of such a community taught me to love more fully, as well as the power of belonging to the human family in a way that goes deep into our commonality as human brothers and sisters.

Now with my home base in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, I gratefully take all these lessons with me as I offer spiritual gatherings, intensives, and retreats in different communities around the US and the world, as well as here at my home in Black Mountain.

I have had the great blessing to continue ongoing study with Tibetan Bon teacher Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche (founder of Ligmincha International in nearby Virginia), as well as the inspiring Native American mystic Joseph Rael, Beautiful Painted Arrow.

It is a great joy to share in the beauty of life, learning, and true togetherness with kindred spirits of many paths, religions, and cultures.

My prayer is that by loving and growing together, praying and singing together, laughing and crying together, and walking and being in nature together, we can ease the burdens of this world and magnify its kindness, joy, peace and light, and thus fulfill our purpose as human beings - to bring Love/God to life and be truly happy.