Davida Taurek

My spiritual journey began at a very young age. One of my earliest memories, around the age of four, is attending church with my Great Aunt. I recall looking up at her as she prayed, feeling awe at her profound connection with God. This experience was different from the Temple visits I had with my mother, yet both left me struck by the universal power of prayer, regardless of religion.

Growing up, I attended Hebrew school and was exposed to various religious traditions, as well as spiritual and meditative practices. My mother, a clinical social worker who survived World War II in Poland as a young girl, and my father, a professor of philosophy raised in a Catholic household, developed a unique spiritual practice outside of their respective religions. They passed this eclectic perspective on to us children, encouraging us to explore a wide range of religious and spiritual beliefs and empowering us to make our own choices. Our family celebrations often included lighting the Hanukkah candles, saying prayers, and sharing in Hanukkah festivities, followed by Christmas celebrations with my grandmother, my father's mother.

Around the age of eleven, my mother became involved with Tibetan Buddhism and meditation. I frequently joined her in these practices, and we hosted Tibetan nuns and monks visiting Los Angeles for events such as the Dalai Lama's Kalachakra initiations. A profoundly moving ceremony at age 21, where I was blessed by the Dalai Lama, solidified my commitment to my spiritual journey.

In my early teens, my mother introduced me to the Esalen Institute, where we attended numerous workshops on spirituality, psychic intuition, dance, and massage. These experiences had a lasting impact on my life's path.

In my early twenties, I moved to New York and was initiated into the spiritual and religious practices of the Yoruba culture. Baba Olatunji, a mentor, father figure, and friend, taught me the rhythms, drumming, dances, and songs of his Nigerian homeland and the Yoruba people.

My spiritual journey continued as I lived at Harbin Hot Springs, teaching yoga, dance, meditation, Watsu, and Waterdance (aquatic bodywork and therapy) throughout my thirties and into my forties. As an adult, I also led many workshops at the Esalen Institute, incorporating lessons from my childhood visits there. These workshops included sitting meditations, 5Rhythms movement meditation, West African Drumming, and Improv Theater, all of which deeply connect to my spiritual path.

To this day, I continue my spiritual practices and remain profoundly grateful for the lineage passed down to me by my mother and father, the many teachers I had along the way, as well as my teachers, the Dalai Lama, and Baba Olatunji.

Being an ordained minister enables me to reach more people who might feel intimidated by the stigmas associated with traditional talk therapy. It allows me to both deepen and expand my work to include those more broad, all-encompassing, and all-embracing aspects of Spirituality.