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"There is an underlying progression of growth in the universe, and the pattern is four-fold. I am convinced of it. And I have named that four-ness quadratos."

- Alexander J. Shaia

I am passionate about art as spiritual practice, quadratos and the inner transformative power of the practices found in the Christian gospels. I live and pray and work as a devout Catholic, treasuring the profound truth of Christanity, and striving to be a respectul partner to all great faiths.

One of my college professors (John Dunne) spoke about each person's need to "cross over" into other traditions and return "home" with new perspective. This has become a personal anthem. Whether serving as a public speaker, meditation teacher, liturgist, author, psychotherapist, or spiritual director, my desire is to open vistas that help others to "cross over" and find their way back home with enlarged perspective - greater wisdom - and more heartfelt compassion.

Hopi Siuhu Labyrinth. Imagery from Caerdroia — the journal of Mazes and Labyrinths, labyrinthos.net

My crossing over began early. Born in 1951, I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, as the third son of Lebanese immigrants, a devout Catholic (Maronite or Eastern Rite) and social activist. What one might call a minority of a minority. Going north for college was "liberation." Or so I believed then.

At the University of Notre Dame, I met my life's formative teachers. For a time, the theology, anthropology and religious studies departments were infused with the work of C. G. Jung and a depth approach to world traditions. The spirit engendered there by Henri Nouwen and Morton Kelsey-among many others-continues in my work today.

After college, I traveled disparate paths, among various professions, two masters' degrees (education and spirituality) and numerous spiritual practices. All the while, I continued to deepen my study of individual and community transformation, initiation, ritual and liturgy. Then in the mid-80's, I entered doctoral work in clinical psychology at the California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco, receiving my doctorate in 1991.

While there, I found a path that integrated many parts of my search into a whole. The practice was Sandplay, a pscyhotherapuetic method developed by the Swiss Jungian analyst, and Christian-Buddhist practitioner, Dora M. Kalff. I studied with Frau Kalff in Switzerland, and after years of training, was admitted in 1993 as the initial American man, and Teaching Member, to the International Society for Sandplay Therapy and Sandplay Therapists of America.

In 2000, my career took a dramatic turn. On a clear, star-filled night in New Mexio, an ancient key to the traditional four gospels appeared. I have named this key, quadratos - the invariant, cyclical four-fold path of the spiritual journey found across time, culture and religious tradtion. As I shared this discovery with friends and clients, I found that it was of practical use to them. It helped them to understand the gospels better, and to use them more effectively in their lives. I became determined to share these conclusions more widely - to speak and write - and carry this message to others.

Sharing the pattern of quadratos, the transformative power availabe in the Christian gospels, and a depth approach to spiritual practice are now my life's mission. I am committed to this work, to constantly rediscover the life-changing power, beauty and truth of my own spiritual home, and to help others find like-value in their ancient and contemporary homes.