Gray Jeffery

"Samanayo" is a tribute to my Ecuadorian teachers, the Tamayos, the Fire Blowing Bird People, and all shamans across the planet who are generously sharing their traditions, their methods of healing, and their energy medicine. It is for all who share their light and love in service to others, with integrity and compassion. The word Saman, meaning "to know," comes from the Evenk language of the Tungus tribe in Siberia where Shamanism was born 40,000 years ago.

I tapped into my spirituality and understanding of energy in the early 90's at the end of college and during a 5 month journey to India. A few years later while in Business School in Thailand, I became deeply drawn to Buddhism and Vipassana Meditation. After completing my MBA and working in management in the transportation and internet industries, I went through a spiritual experiential program called the Nine Gates Mystery School in the desert of Joshua Tree, California. It was September 2001, and like the many things that began to change at that time, my life was one.

I began working with shamans and expanding my understanding of healing tools. Over the next few years, I went through reiki training, drank ayahuasca in the deep jungles of Ecuador with the Shuar tribe and in northern Peru with a jungle shaman, trained with a family of healers in the Ecuadorian Andes, studied medicinal herbs, Spring Forest Qi-Gong, took various workshops and began to perform energy and sound work on a part-time basis with clients.

For over two years I lived in Cusco's Sacred Valley, in the small village of Pisac. During this time I was exposed to more than I thought possible. The energy of the Sacred Valley, Pachamama (Mother Earth), the Apus (the spirits of the mountains), the work with the Q'ero shamans, the medicine men, the healing work, the lights in the night sky, the sheer beauty of the landscape, the simplicity of life, the harmony of people with the environment: all were powerful, humbling, and transformational.

In mid-2010, I returned to the US and traveled the country performing Sacred Sound Healing Ceremonies with my gongs and other indigenous tools. In 2011, I toured for a second time mostly through the north east and parts of the mid-west and west where I had not previously held ceremony.

I have lived in North and South America, Europe and Asia and have travelled to over 30 countries. I continue to live and explore different places around the world.

I have an MBA in Marketing, a BA in Sociology and various certificates and course completions.

Highlights in life have included all the various travel and living experiences, performing the sound portion of a healing ceremony at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery for the ten year anniversary of 9/11, receiving my Master's Degree from His Majesty the King of Thailand, climbing a 20,000 foot mountain in the Indian Himalaya, tapping into energy, healing, sound and natural medicines, my family, friends and being of service by helping others along the path.