About Layne Russell
"It seems I always knew that all that exists is Energy. And that, of course, included me and everyone around me. I remember as a child feeling the
Energy and seeing the Energy when I sat very still. “This is what people call God,” I thought, and I knew that this Energy was everywhere, in all
things, at all times. I continued to learn about this Energy as I moved through my life, and I continued to learn how all the apparent levels of
reality work together, in everyday life and in deeper states of consciousness. I knew that this Energy was formless, bright, intelligent, and
loving, and I knew that my life was about living in and with this presence.
After decades of meditation, attention, study, and life experience, I find the same Energy, though my experience of it has deepened, rounded, and
permeated my being. It is as beautiful as ever, and it continues to be the focus of my life's purpose. I do all I can, in small and large ways, to
help others realize they are this Energy and Light and that they are one with the Source, and to assist them in deepening this realization.
All reduces to this constant, luminous Energy. It is all we are, all we do, all we create."
Layne Russell is the founder of High Mountain Wind. Layne Ashta, as she is sometimes called, or DrenKar (her Tibetan name), has been teaching
spirituality and consciousness for over thirty-five years. She teaches meditation and practical spiritual tools, inspires realization of one's true spiritual
identity, offers gentle, loving assistance in deepening the experience of Living Presence and in assisting and inspiring people to live fully
their precious lives. Layne is an intuitive who has the ability to tune into where each person is on her/his path and guide in ways that
will help open, expand, and deepen both heart and awareness and help bring balance, peace, and fulfillment.
Layne began her regular meditation practices in 1970 while living in Vancouver, B.C. Her teachers include Ram Dass,
Tibetan Buddhist lamas, Hilda Charlton, Sathya Sai Baba, Neem Karoli Baba, Babaji, Nithyananda, Yogananda, and others. Contemporary Tibetan teachers
include Kalu Rinpoche, Deshung Rinpoche, Tarthang Tulku, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama, Karmapa, Lama Lodru, and Wangdor Rinpoche (Dzogchen Master).
Much of her guidance and inspiration has occurred throughout her life with teachers and guides on inner planes.
In 1972 she had an NDE ("near death experience") in which she “died” and dissolved fully and consciously into light and energy and then
returned to her physical body. Months later that same year she traveled to India on a spiritual pilgrimage. In early 1974 she fully relived
her birth and pre-birth state.
In 1980 she was introduced to Rebirthing, which she also calls “Integrative Spiritual Breathwork,” underwent extended training, did the LRT
("Loving Relationships Training" - a Rebirthing intensive), and became a resident rebirther at the Santa Rosa Rebirthing Center in Northern
California. Layne's rebirthing and breathwork teachers have been Leonard Orr, Jacqueline Angel, Bob Mandel, Bob Frissell, Sondra Ray, Bobby Birdsall, and
James Russell (Layne's husband of twenty years).
Layne is certified in hypnotherapy, taught and trained by Joseph Simons, Ph.D., and is a Reiki Master, trained by Joy Metcalfe of the Dr. Mikao
Usui lineage. She has studied spiritual, humanistic astrology since 1971, and finds this a valuable asset in her work with others. Her
spiritual astrology mentors since the 1970's have been professional astrologers John Rutherford and Shen Dok. She has also studied dreams
for over forty years and at times includes dream work in her readings and consultations.
She is currently writing several books on spirituality, meditation, and her inner journey and experiences.
Layne is also a publishing poet and a songwriter. Her poetry has been published in many journals and anthologies. Two of her poetry books
are being published: Last Vist and Into the Dark Mountain. Her poetry site is at
whiteowlweb.com.
As a songwriter, guitarist, and singer, Layne performed her music in Flagstaff, AZ, and later in the north San Francisco Bay Area.
She also spent many years studying and teaching post-modern improvisational dance and yoga in Vancouver, BC, New York City, Boulder, CO, and
different areas of North California.
Layne has a B.A. in English Literature and Composition with an emphasis in Poetry from California State University at Chico. She has a minor
in Spanish and also studied French. Later, she did post-graduate work in Religious Studies at Chico State and also at Naropa University in
1974, the year Naropa opened. She became a legal nondenominational minister and chaplain in 1984 and was later ordained as a
nondenominational minister through World Congregational Fellowship in 1993. Layne served as a Home Hospice chaplain in Santa Rosa,
California, has conducted memorial services, and has performed well over 1000 wedding ceremonies. Layne also served as a high school
substitute teacher for fifteen years.
Layne is one-sixteenth American Indian of the Cherokee tribe.
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