My journey
Hi and welcome - my name is Tony.
Like many of us my journey started out with a desperate cry to fix myself because I believed I was broken from my trauma. It became my mission to fix and heal myself as much as I could because I could no longer live with the emotions that plagued me.
I never wanted to face my emotions, they were so overwhelming to navigate; instead I would do anything to suppress them, to kill any part that felt. My life was completely out of control; I was driving it into the biggest ditch I could find whilst blaming everyone around me for my crappy circumstances. In the end my life got so bad I had to try something different.
This might seem like a dramatic opening but I hadn’t yet figured out that all the chaos and drama that consumed me, which I blamed everyone else for, were in fact symptoms of the suppressed emotions from my trauma.
I tried many therapeutic modalities, all of them perfect for where I was at that time; each modality supporting me on another step in my journey of healing. However, even after years of therapy something still wasn’t right; the darkness still followed me albeit much less destructive. I remember a conversation I was having with a friend who said I needed to become more embodied, I had absolutely no idea what that meant - embodied what ?????
I'm not saying traditional therapeutic models don't have their place because they do, but sometimes you just need something else - and that’s where I come in. I’m here to support gay men to strengthen and deepen their embodiment. For the better part of the last 25 years, my journey, which had me dive deeply into my own trauma and explore ways to heal, has now translated into a desire to create space for other men to do the same.
Choosing to train in Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy - Embodied Counseling – Co-Creative Counseling - ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) - Conscious Relating - Sacred Sexuality, Trauma informed facilitation, RomiRomi and Mirimiri Bodywork, I now mentor individuals and facilitate, both in person and online, workshops and retreats that support people on their own journey.
Hakomi Experiential Psychotherapy – Somatic practitioner - Mentor – Embodiment Counsellor - Shaman – Healer – Tantric and Romiromi Bodywork Practitioner – Trauma informed facilitation - Men’s Workshop facilitator and hearth circle host - Temples arts and ISTA graduate,
What People Are Saying
“Tony is a very special human being. There were times during the retreat that were very raw, emotional and confronting for me due to past trauma. I wanted to break through and challenge myself. Tony made me feel very safe to be vulnerable and completely myself during this process”.
Ardon E
“Tony is a living embodiment of the power of sacred intimacy to transform oneself. His openness, authenticity and deep capacity to both honour personal process & hold space are second to none. I trust him and the work he does implicitly. You will be transformed”
Michael O
“Tony is an exceptional teacher and leader and very knowledgeable in his field. I have grown and learnt so much and have become a real close friend with him; he is caring, honest, empathetic and most importantly a totally genuine man”
Sean W
“Tony has a lot of knowledge and experience, I feel like he has a beautiful gift to share with this world and I feel super blessed to experience this myself. I would highly recommend any of Tony's work/retreats and I look forward to attending more in the future”
Jason L
Self-initiating at Temple Training 2.7 October 2024 The Temple Training is a soul Initiation for pioneers of the heart. We open more deeply into the mysteries of love. Love of the soul, love of the dark and the wild love that flows from that place. We explore the integration of love through the three rings of spirit, soul and embodiment. Highden Temple is the birthplace of the Temple Trainings now happening around the globe.
Sage: Sage has a long history of use in Egyptian, Roman, and Greek medicine, as well as in Native American healing traditions. Dried sage is burned as a way to heal, protect, increase wisdom, and boost defense against disease.
Self initiated Marriage November 2024 Humanity is vibrating through a life/death portal between worlds. The heart is the guide for this journey. We are calling the pioneers of the heart - those beings willing to go into the unknown together - to open up new trails into the emerging mysteries of group soul initiation. Wild love in action.
Higden Mystery School Temple Training 2.7 October 2024
Shiva Lingam; The Symbol of Shiva in Hinduism. Lingam means a "mark" or a symbol, which points to an inference. Thus the Shiva Lingam is a symbol of Lord Shiva: a pointing to the Omnipotent Presence, which is formless.
Pink:Higher conscious love Red:Connection,grounding Orange:Passion,courage Yellow:Clarity,choice Green: Heart Blue:Expression,freedom Violet:Vision, imagination Indigo:Trust, perception
Igniting the dragon within
Hakomi Training 2020
Yab-yum: known as the full embrace and represents the divine masculine and feminine in Neo-tantra
View from the lodge: 2020
Sacred Altar: created at one of our sweat lodges 2019.
Loving connections on retreat
Dinner and reflection at Manu Wairua: 2019
Self-reflections
labyrinth and the dive mother mary
Fire
The "Will to love"
Me 2018
Sunset over the Manawatu - Palmerston North New Zealand
Pride in The Park - 2019
Starting the fire for the grandfather stones: sweat lodge 2020
Shiva - the divine masculine is always at the center of our sweat lodges, held at Manu Wairua Retreat.
Trusting your body's yes and no's