Introduction to Your Spiritual Teacher, Devin Ryback, and The Mindful Mage™ School for Spiritual Discovery
Greetings, dear Seeker!
Being the first post in The Mindful Mage™ School for Spiritual Discovery, I think it is proper to begin with an introduction to this school, and to myself, your spiritual teacher — if you choose to enroll as a student, of course!
Your Teacher, Devin Ryback
Dear Seeker, it is a pleasure and an honor to present myself as your teacher at The Mindful Mage™ School for Spiritual Discover. And if you indeed choose to enroll here, to begin and continue your journey of spiritual development, I shall be only one of the many teachers you will encounter along your path.
Origin Story
Although I have felt spiritually connected to Life and All That Is for as long as I can remember, I only began my intentional spiritual study and practice in 2012, following a highly intense, traumatic, otherworldly, life-altering experience. What exactly happened for me is a story for another time... What happened after is far more pertinent to the goings on at The Mindful Mage™ School.
My body was struggling and my mind was an absolute wreck. My nervous system was on high alert every day I had the displeasure of finding myself awake yet again. I was sincerely considering exiting my life — it was that bad.
And I am so very grateful that I received enough inspiration and motivation to stay in this life, rather than leave it. Something in the deepest core of my being knew that leaving would not really change anything or make it better in the long run. So, having made that choice (somewhat reluctantly and with wavering commitment), I opened myself up to finding a way to move through this challenging time.
For any who know of the concept, this was my dark night of the soul. I wished at the time that I had someone, anyone wiser than me, a teacher, who could guide me through that hell. In hindsight, my Teacher was with me then, and always with me — and that, too, is a story for another time.
There is so much I could write about this whole experience that I could fill books and books. And I would like to, and I intend to, someday. But for the sake of keeping this introductory post not too unwieldy, I will bring this origin story to a summarized conclusion now.
I found the spiritual practice of mindfulness meditation. And it was thanks to a recored lecture I heard by the late Alan Watts in which he says,
"The easiest way to start meditating is to simply listen."
So that is what I did. I set a timer for five minutes and just sat there, listening to the sounds around me. Back then, my mind was far noisier than it is now, and it was often louder than any of the sounds in my environment. But I persisted like my life depended on it — because it did.
Eventually I increased my meditation practice to ten minutes, then fifteen, twenty, thirty, all the way up to one hour or longer — every day. It was not very long before I noticed a change within me: my mind was becoming quieter and quieter, while a sense of stillness in my being was growing bigger and bigger. I felt more at ease. My nervous system was learning how to relax again. I was actually feeling grateful to wake up each day.
Present Day
Fast forward to now. I still meditate every day, more than fourteen years later. I don't need to, but I like to. My daily practice is usually about twenty minutes, and that is enough — because I know what I am doing. I can go very deep and "do a lot of work" with a shorter, more focused practice.
My body is healthy, my mind is balanced, my nervous system is well regulated, and my spirit (yes, my spirit) is alive and joyful. I am at peace, with an open heart, always. I have learned and practiced many spiritual techniques for my own healing and development, cultivated much wisdom from all of my experiences, and channeled all of this into being of service to others who seek healing and spiritual evolution.
I left out a lot from this story, but I have all the time in existence to tell it, when the time is right. And that brings me to right here, right now — where you are!
The Mindful Mage™ School for Spiritual Discovery
This school is the culmination of a dream I've held close and dear for more than a decade. I knew that I would offer something like this someday, but, back then, I was far from ready to play the role of a spiritual teacher for anyone else. I still had much to learn, and a long way to walk on my own path.
And now the time has come to share all that I know — and all that I continue to learn (a true Student is always a student) — with you, dear Seeker.
You may have no experience at all with spirituality or spiritual practice.
You may have been walking your own path already, and now seek a teacher to help you advance even further.
You may have had a powerful, challenging experience which does not fit into conventional perceptions of reality, and you are seeking answers.
You may have been raised religious, but never felt connected to God / Goddess / Great Spirit / Source / Creator / Cosmos through that tradition, and you are seeking your own personal relationship with The Divine.
No matter who you are, what you are, nor where you come from, as long as you walk with curiosity, humility, and respect, you are welcome as a student at The Mindful Mage™ School for Spiritual Discovery.
This school is founded upon the essential truth that I, you, we all, are spiritual beings having a human experience.
You are a soul.
You have a body. You have a mind. You have a spirit. You are a soul. And all souls are welcome here, in Life, and at The Mindful Mage™ School.
Whoever you are, if you feel called to develop yourself spiritually, to discover your own spirituality, to connect with The Divine in All That Is on a personal level...
... to have a direct experience of truth and nonordinary reality beyond the belief systems and cultural preconceptions you have unconsciously inherited...
... to cultivate inner peace, lasting joy, genuine gratitude, and radiant compassion...
... to live a more mindful, meaningful life...
... you belong here.
Your First (or Next) Step on Your Spiritual Journey
You may begin (or continue) your spiritual journey by enrolling in the Free 10-Day Beginner Mindfulness Meditation Course. This will help you establish a foundational daily spiritual practice, and serve as your bridge to discovering your own spirituality.
Once you complete the course, you may explore the other offerings at The Mindful Mage™ School. You have as your guide a highly experienced teacher who has "been there before", and who is always here to offer more direct and personalized spiritual guidance.
Welcome, dear Seeker, to The Path.