Gary Merel M.S. CLC

Like all my clients, I too wanted to create a life of meaning. Several times in my life I found myself in what I could only call the “dark night of the soul”. It was a place of intense personal discomfort. I had no idea what a clear vision for my life even looked like. I struggled to create a clear path that would bring me to a place where I could actualize that life. I did have a compelling need to live a life that was consistent with the spiritual beliefs I held. I only knew that my life had to change. No one’s journey through life is direct or easy. I sought a lot of help. I received a lot of help.
I didn’t have all the answers. But I found the resources and support I needed to create a plan that was set up for living a life that sustained and nourished me. I had help to navigate the uncertainty and unknowns of my life. I was able to truly create the life I envision. My life’s journey and the help I received along the way provided the resources I needed to create a life that has meaning and purpose that is so important to me.
I have been helping people to do the same for over 25 years. I would like to help you live a life with purpose and intention. I would like to help you live the life you envision.
My life experience includes:
I am an accredited life coach, with a CLC credential from the International Coaching Federation and until recently, practiced functional medicine in Ann Arbor, MI for 25 years.
Over the course of my life, I have spent considerable time in South America and Mexico learning from indigenous healers and shamans. Including the Huichol Indians in Western Mexico and the Shuar and Quechua Indians of Ecuador and Peru. Most recently I spent a month in the Bolivian Andes living among the Kallawaya Indians who are traditional healers indigenous to the Bolivian Andes.
For the last five years, I have been a trained facilitator leading individual and small-group psychedelic experiences.
I am active in both ManKind Project and Path 2 Spirit Warrior Program helping men integrate personal growth, with a focus on creating intention and direction to live a purposeful life.
I continue to live a life of spiritual awareness and have been blessed to have personal relationships with several spiritual teachers.

Blog Posts
Lost In The Desert
Since spending the last four months in Tucson, many of the blogs I have posted reference the Sonoran Desert. Tucson is a city interwoven into the fabric of the desert. The Sonoran Desert bears witness to 4000 years of continuous habitation. There are echoes of the past and voices of the present. I have spent…
Finding Creativity
A few weeks ago, I attended The Linda McCartney Retrospective at the Center for Creative Photography on the University of Arizona campus. I found Linda’s photography moving and evocative. Many of the photographs portrayed intimate moments with Paul and her children. Because of her access to the lives of all the Beatles, many photos captured…
I Have Some Resentment!
A few days ago, I hiked the Yetman trail. It is 11 miles out and back. I hike about 5 to 6 miles of the trail. The trailhead starts on the far west side of Tucson at the end of Grant Road. It is one of my favorite hikes. The terrain is moderate and follows…