Introducing Russell Sturgess
From his teens, Russell demonstrated an understanding of agape (unconditional love) that defied his age. His upbringing saw him channel his passion into complementary health, as well as religion. By age 32 Russell was married with four children, serving as a lay-minister, and running a highly successful rural natural-therapies practice. However, a few years later he burnt out, which brought a halt to his clinical work. Shortly afterwards he divorced, was on the verge of bankruptcy, and left the church of his upbringing. In addition, he was severely compromised physically, having become obese. It could be said he was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually bankrupt!
When the student is ready, the teacher appears. The spirit of wisdom took control of his ‘education’, which saw Russell adopt a new approach to life inspired by Attitudinal Healing, a pragmatic version of A Course in Miracles, taught primarily by Dr Gerry Jampolsky (Ca.) As well as Susan Trout in Maryland, D.C.. Blending his Christian based knowledge with Attitudinal Healing, Russell began to explore a more progressive approach to a non-church oriented Christianity. Inclusiveness was central to this approach. Social and planetary justice, balanced with a commitment to adopting the type of love taught in the Sermon on the Mount, replaced the need for religious dogma.
It was in this place of enriched awareness that Russell discovered this western approach to mindfulness. It is this knowledge that Russell reveals in his latest book, The Spiritual Roots of the Tarot. Russell went on to convert this long forgotten medieval template of spiritual wisdom that he writes about in his book, into modern vernacular. He developed Pathways to Mindfulness, a personal, one-on-one mentoring program designed to assist people to live life more mindfully. To help people stay committed to a path of expanding awareness, compassion, and mindfulness, in addition to his role as a western mindfulness mentor, Russell also serves as a spiritual director, using the path of the Beatitudes as a way to help people sustainably remember to be kind to themselves, to others and to the planet.
"...a life lived in Christ's Spirit, the spirit of the Beatitudes, is "blessed", and that only the person who becomes a "man or woman of the Beatitudes" can succeed in communicating love and peace to others."
Pope Saint John Paul II - May 20, 1990
