BIO FOR DR. BARRY HAMMER Dr. Barry Hammer (born January 30, 1958; Career: inspirational/transformational author, university instructor, life coach/relationship advisor, public speaker) has a Ph.D. (from the Graduate Theological Union, in Berkeley, California, awarded October 1992), and a Masters Degree (Masters of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, awarded in June 1982) in the History of World Religions (Religious Studies). Barry also has a B.A. in History (from the University of Maine, at Orono, Maine, earned in May 1980, with Honors and Highest Distinction). Barrys graduate and undergraduate studies, as well as his post-graduate research, includes other interdisciplinary and multicultural areas of study, including fields of inquiry such as, spiritual development, psychology, pastoral counseling, philosophy, sociology, and anthropology. For many years, he has studied the process of psychological development and spiritual transformation, and its applicability to compassionately renewing individual life, personal relationships, and society. Barry has co-authored two books with his beloved late father, Dr. Max Hammer (1930-2011) and one other co-author (Dr. Alan C. Butler), both of whom were Professors of Psychology and psychotherapists. The titles of Barrys two books are, 1) Psychological Healing Through Creative Self-Understanding and Self-Transformation (ISBN: 978-1-62857-075-5) and 2) Deepening Your Personal Relationships: Developing Emotional Intimacy and Good Communication (ISBN: 978-1-61897-590-4) Barry has also posted articles online at his author webpage: https://independent.academia.edu/BarryHammer Barrys books and articles present many powerfully liberating insights that are keys to deep holistic emotional healing, psychological wellbeing, expanded awareness of spiritual reality, and compassionately transforming individual life, personal relationships, and society.

I'm a freelance writer, educator, and wedding officiant based in Philadelphia. I'm passionate about writing and teaching about wellness, spiritual growth, Judaism, parenting and more. My books include The Creative Jewish Wedding Book and The Kitchen Classroom. I'm a featured blogger for WHYY Philly Parenting and I write for and edit The New Normal: Blogging Disability. As director of "Whole Community Inclusion" at Jewish Learning Venture, I have the awesome opportunity of leading disability awareness training across the Philadelphia Jewish Community. I'm a mom of two amazing kids, love my yellow lab and have worked as a wedding officiant with Journeys of the Heart for 7 years.

Taya Shere (Taya Mâ) plays passionately in the realm of embodied reverence, ritual and vocalization. Taya is co-founder and co-direct of the Kohenet Institute. Her chant albums Wild Earth Shebrew, Halleluyah All Night, Torah Tantrika, and This Bliss have been heralded as "cutting-edge mystic medicine music." She is co-author of The Hebrew Priestess: Ancient and New Visions of Jewish Women's Spiritual Leadership and SIddur HaKohanot: A Hebrew Priestess Prayerbook. Trained in the folklore of religion at the University of Pennsylvania and as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, she is Spiritual Leader Emeritus of a Washington D.C. area Jewish congregation. Taya now leads spiritual community, teaches at Starr-King School for the Ministry, offers mentorships, and makes home, music and other magic in the California East Bay.