Born and raised in a materialistic California suburbia,
Andy was a preppy young man.
He eventually outgrew his family expectations and veered from his preppy path. He obtained more "edge".
Upon legal age, he set out on his own, severing ties with his relatives. No more family guilt. No more obligatory duties. No more inconveniences due to irrational relatives.
His education? A certificate of achievement for a Professional Bartending Course from Los Angeles City College.
He dabbled in retail, but quickly surmised American retail's mostly disgusting treatment of employees.
He simply wanted a pleasant existence, without too much scheduled effort. He thought that he deserved it. If he was given such a life, he'd share what he learned.
The Universe answered his call, and here's what happened.
Thankfully, he lived in California, where beach-life was rife with fun possibilities: relaxation, parties, transient relationships, a laid-back pace, and ever-soothing waves. All of it cooled his mind and gave inner joy & peace.
He was invited to beach-house parties and "sleepovers".
Finally, he felt that he had conquered that "scene", and he desired something more.
Someone pointed him in the direction of Reiki, telling him how popular it would make him. He was initiated at the Shoden Level of the Reiki method of energy healing and became a Reiki 1 Practioner.
This is the image of how he envisioned himself...
Andy's Reiki Shihan said that he was supposed to lovingly heal the world through the lens of wonder and delight. Below, he officiated at a couple's vows.
Of greater fun and interest, he found that being a Reiki artist made him hugely popular at Los Angeles parties.
His practice of "Usui Shiki Ryoho" involved the "laying of hands" to heal. Girls loved it! (and also his looks, lips, and flirty manner)
When he felt that he mastered that "land", he asked the Universe for something more adventurous.
An L.A. partygoer led him to an all-out-anything-goes party in the dessert: Burning Man. Click here to learn about it:
He met many who bared their souls and let loose in wild ways!
From those interactions, the sphere of influence of his sexual appetite and prowess grew.
Without social restrictions or Latino Catholic influences, he realized that he enjoyed playing around the men AND women. Luckily, he was amidst a plethora of eager people.
Having them "eating out of his hands", he reveled in the physicality... until the annual event ended.
Through his new connections--which only stayed intact thanks to social media and text messages--he knew people from all around the world. They gave him "standing invitations" to visit their homes in the future.
To raise money to launch himself on foreign ventures, he temporarily returned to retail. The Universe provided him with a friend who owned his own shop and gave Andy an easy-going job.
It didn't last long, because he disagreed with "social norms".
That rewarded him with arriving in Costa Rica as a buddy's "travel companion".
There, Andy savored the waterfalls and climate, and he attended Envision: a dance party of topless hippies.
He was their physiological healer. For some, he was their sexual inspiration / venting convenience.
He wrote, "Mikaylo and I have been backpacking from the lake and now entering Panama. We have seen and experienced so much together already. This guy's energy is so pure and genuine! He's from Chicago and is only 21! His wisdom is pure and from the heart! I love meeting all my beautiful backpacking friends! You guys really make traveling what it is!! Cheers to a lifetime of friendship!!!"
At the notion of something new, he returned to California and found donors so he could enroll himself in Buddhist coursework.
Raising funds was easy for him; he simply posted his needs online, made videos or "Go Fund Me" accounts, and his pockets filled & donations flooded in. You might think that you need a professional network to raise capital, but it isn't so.
Just as his mind was quieting, he accepted the next invitation for that year's Burning Man. He engaged in even more wild fun than the prior year.
Andy made more "friends" and contacts; it is a sort of networking event. He thought it was perfectly natural to have orgies under the open sky--being at one with so much energy (Below, notice the small figures in the lower corners of his image).
Having a grasp on human inclinations and attractions, he aimed for more far-flung experiences outside normalcy. From the dessert, he headed for coastal waters.
Thanks to more open-handed donations (via online fundraising and simply asking for money and having it provided), he travelled to Honduras. (I'm sure that his friends don't expect to be reimbursed.)
There, he found shelter with a group of strangers--that the Universe provided--and soaked up some summer fun.
Guatemala was his next stop, while belonging to a Volunteer Gardening group.
Mystical Yoga Farm accepted his money and enriched his mindset and capabilities.
He proudly posted each of these achievements online (as if they were merit badges), and it won him ever-increasing acclaim, financial support, energy, and popularity.
Nicaragua was the next place that he went to.
He joined a bunch of European volunteers with their ecological farming project; it provided food and shelter (just like the "drifter" song, "King of the Road").
Of course, there was always plenty of time to rest, swim, rejuvenate, make love, and admire sunsets.
Always, he kept himself fit and mentally at ease. The Universe protected him from ever needing a physician or legal help or ransom or heartbreak. He relished in his vibrant, happy blessings. Seemingly, his hands "held the keys" to an open road.
While there, he wrote online, "I'll be here until the 21st, and then off to Peru. I'm meeting the most beautiful people out here from all over the world. I'm already changed inside-out by this traveling experience. One of the best decisions I've ever made was buying that plane ticket!! I literally feel like I'm in paradise! And to all the people that kept telling me to be carful because it's so dangerous out here, I feel safer here then in Los Angeles!! People are friendly and really know how to take it easy down here. Anyone traveling to another country, never trust people's opinions, go with your own instinct and intuition. Life's to short to listen to others, go see for your self!! Light and love!"
Peru was spectacular, and the men were dreamy... with thick accents and warmth.
[What does Andy do with all those varied outfits? He gets rid of clothes when they don't suit the climate anymore. He donates or swaps them, and new clothes "come to him"].
As his life-experiences got richer in diversity, he thought of himself as this image--connecting to natural forces:
Andy couldn't miss an opportunity to site-see through Colombia and swim in the Amazon River.
He learned to simply follow the path that was set out before him--regardless of how doubtful it might appear.
Enlisting at the Healer Sunset Camp gave him stronger connections in the mystic/yoga worlds. Daily yoga moves kept him limber and toned, and such camps satisfied his desire to socialize with peers (even in the middle of nowhere).
Cosmic Convergence was a whole bunch of fun, too. He was brought there by a traveller from the yoga camp.
Next, he heard about a Wisdom Yogi class in India, and he immediately wanted to go. Why not? On Facebook, he asked for money/support to go. Naturally, he didn't want to work to earn money; he wanted to simply receive it. He stressed about missing the registration deadline, and his videos called folks greedy because they hadn't donated. Faced with not getting what he wanted, he became churlish. Aloud, he doubted the Universe. Despite all that he had already been given, he sounded ungrateful. But, the Universe provided enough resources--just in time.
He quickly assimilated with the locals.
After gleefully partaking in the "color run",
... he found a generous person to share an apartment with (seen below). They exchanged favors.
When he gets his fill of that coursework, Andy plans to backpack across India. (No, he doesn't believe in jinxing his plans by broadcasting them in advance).
He's living his dream!
He thanked the Universe for enabling him to hold Life's enjoyment in the palm of his hand.
If the images of Andy's travels aren't proof enough that anything is possible (if you believe and "let go"), then read his advice...
"Here are 10 life lessons that wise people figured out:
1. There are no mistakes, only growth.
2. You will keep repeating the same patterns until you get the lesson.
3. Whatever you believe about yourself on the inside is manifested on the outside.
4. The more you approve of yourself, the less you need others' approval.
5. All situations are pathways instead of problems.
6. Things don't happen to you — they happen for you.
7. There's no "there" to get to — it never ends.
8. Where you are today is preparing you for tomorrow? Everything is connected.
9. You will always get what you need. It might not be what you want, but it is always exactly what you need.
10. What you make of your life is up to you."
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