[Note: The following was excerpted from my entrance essay for the Findhorn Experience Week, at the Findhorn Foundation, Scotland.

I was born under the sun sign of Pisces (Cancer rising, moon in Capricorn) and raised in an Irish-Catholic family and attended Catholic school for 8 years. As a kid, I was always fascinated by mythology, Tarot, science fiction and fantasy even though I considered myself to be fairly logical and scientific-minded. In fact, I began college as a Physics major and ended up graduating with a BS in Mathematics; I've been working as a computer analyst since graduating 15 years ago. However, the curious little sprite inside me has always remained a powerful force in my life.

After high school, I drifted away from the church in search for something that was more engaging and fulfilling to me. I was introduced to Buddhism and Eastern philosophy during college days. For many years, it was little more than an intellectual pursuit for me; I mainly read books on Buddhist and Taoist philosophy, but did not actively seek a community of people who lived any of these philosophies. I learned Transcendental Meditation shortly after graduating college and I have had an off and on again meditation practice since then.

Back in 1998 the five-year relationship with my former partner ended. It was a devastating time for me as I had to rebuild my world from scratch and began to question many of my long-held beliefs about who I was and where I was going in life. In retrospect, this kick in my complacency was one of the best things that ever happened to me; as a result, I began pursuing my spirituality in earnest. I began attending workshops at a local yoga center and retreats with a men's spirituality group. I started practicing yoga and I joined a Unitarian Universalist church in Boston.

Discovering this church was a wonderful experience. My approach to spirituality had been fairly eclectic and I was delighted to find a church that affirmed many of the same tenets that I believed in. Unitarian Universalism encourages diversity in its community, believes that every person has inherent worth and dignity, and that all the world's wisdom traditions have value and can inspire us in our ethical and spiritual lives. I felt at home there. My church also promotes social responsibility. To help give back to the community, I have become involved in a literacy program for grammar school children and a soup kitchen for homeless people in Boston.

From my experience in workshops, on retreats and with my church, a spiritual community is very important to me and facilitates my spiritual growth. I have never been one for sitting alone in meditation until I reach enlightenment. I favor an engaged spirituality. I feel I am at my best when I connect with other like-minded people, and am able to share experiences, thoughts, ideas, and feelings.