The Present: Director of Spiritual Alliances, LLC and The Foundation for Energy Therapies, Inc.
Dr. Bragdon became very interested in John of God’s work in 2001, the first time she went to Brazil. Since that time she has been taking people to visit John of God, as an advocate and spiritual counselor/consultant, four times a year. She has made about 30 trips to Brazil since 2001. This travel also gave her the opportunity to explore Brazil and learn more about Spiritism, a social movement that 20-40 million Brazilians participate in. We would call it a form of spiritualism–but it is that and more. It is a path of healing and spiritual evolution that is ecumenical, welcoming everyone and anyone interested in spiritual growth. She sees it as a safe and powerful path of spiritual emergence.
The Foundation for Energy Therapies came to be in January, 2008. It will continue exploring the positive potentials of spiritual healing and energy medicine through research in Brazil in a systematic and rigorous way, up to standards of modern medical research. Towards this goal, it is collaborating with hospitals and Institutes in Brazil. The Foundation also offers tours for health professionals and ministers who want to experience Spiritist Psychiatric Hospitals where spiritual healers and allopathic physicians work side by side. These learning experiences are dynamic, experiential and include formal presentations, study/discussion of books, films, and audio CDs.
At John of God’s sanctuary in Brazil Dr. Bragdon is recognized as a developed medium and healer, and helps in the current rooms when she is not working with her group members. She also assists John of God when he travels to the USA by helping in his consulting/ intervention rooms.
The Past — as she tells it: Began meditating in 1964…from 1967-1971 studied under Suzuki Roshi, Zen Buddhist Master…after his death studied Native American teachings under Harry Roberts (Yurok Tradition) and, later, Marilyn Youngbird (Lakota Tradition). Received a PhD in Transpersonal Psychology, advanced study in Process-Oriented Psychotherapy, Neo-Reichian Therapy, Breathwork, and developing intuition… was in private practice as a psychotherapist licensed in California…volunteered for 7 years at the Spiritual Emergence Network, edited their newletter and journal…author of books on the process of spiritual awakening…13 years teaching 9-day trainings to accelerate spiritual growth, called The Avatar Course™.
In 2001 went to visit sanctuary of John of God. Inspired, and wanted to share what I was learning. Authored two books: “Spiritual Alliances: Discovering the Roots of Health at the Casa de Dom Inacio” (2002). “Kardec’s Spiritism: A Home for Healing and Spiritual Evolution” (2004) Produced two documentary films : “I Do Not Heal, God is the One Who Heals: A Tribute to John of God (2006). “Spiritism: Bridging Spirituality and Health” (2008) This work has been supported by grants from many generous individuals and foundations.
And the Personal: Enjoy kayaking, hiking, swimming, horseback riding, writing and singing. Love my son, his wife, and their kids and my lively circle of friends. Live in Vermont part-time and Brazil. Grateful for a million blessings in my life. My spiritual lineage in Buddhism: Graf Karlfried von Durkheim, Philip Kapleau, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, Sogyal Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama . My father was an MD, pathologist, professor, editor and researcher–he taught me perseverence and attention to detail and the joy of research. My mother was a visiting nurse. She taught me compassion and the joy of being of service to others.
