The son of a liberal Catholic mother and a Canadian Air Force service man, I grew up on military bases all over Canada before settling in Toronto.

Pagan since 1984, I spent several years as a self-taught solitary in small town New Brunswick, ordering books by mail (the internet wasn't around yet) and doing correspondence work with Ár nDraíocht Féin. On moving to Toronto, I sought out the Wiccan Church of Canada, and studied with Tamarra James for a few years. Eventually the Celtic deities, who have been with me since the beginning of my journey, led me in other directions. To that end, I've been a priest in the Céilí Sídhe tradition of Celtic Paganism since 1990.

I enjoy learning about all paganisms, and the myths and deities of many cultures, but my main areas of interest include Celtic and Indo-European religions (past and present), various reconstructionisms (including Norse, Roman, Greek, and Vedic), 'ethnic religions' (including Shinto, Afro-Caribbean religion, and various Eurasian 'shamanisms'), ritual practice, ritual studies, method and theory, cosmology, and religious states of consciousness/perception.

I have a B.A. in Celtic Studies and Religious Studies from the University of Toronto, and an M.Phil. from the University of Wales. My thesis was published as "The Secret Commonwealth and the Fairy Belief Complex" in 2002. This has been followed up by study with the Toronto School of Theology and the Canadian Association for Pastoral Practice and Education.

Currently, I work as a (multifaith) chaplain at a local Toronto hospital; a licensed Wedding Officiant for the Province of Ontario, performing weddings in the Greater Toronto Area; and of course, as the Celtic and Reconstructionist Traditions Pagan chaplain at the University of Toronto.

I enjoy public speaking, a lot. I first guest lectured at Wilfred Laurier University, followed closely by the 1996 Annual Conference of the American Academy of Religion, and have never stopped. I've continued to speak for university classes and groups, high schools, various pagan gatherings, and anyone else interested in Paganisms or Celtic Spiritualities.

Within the community I strive to emphasis a personal, intimate, and joyful relationship with deity and the Living World; preferring to emphasize magical Religion over superficially religious Magic. I also feel it is important to have a good grasp of religious history pertinent to ones faith, acknowledging the collective wisdom and insight of who and what has come before us.

I also work as a chaplain at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network.

This is just part of the story. As you can see I enjoy keeping busy, something that would not be possible without the love and support of my family and my partner, David.

My website is New Tara.