Hello

Chapter Affiliation/Region

Independent
Kingston, New York, U.S.A.

​

Year Knighted/Knightings

International Jedi Federation Knight (2025)

​

Jedi Path

What first sparked your interest in the Jedi path?

I realized that, for me, the Force came first, in the sense that there was this thing that I could not name that I was centering myself around and could not describe. Jedi became a kind of language that describes the sacred in a very specific way and describes one’s relationship to the sacred. I had not encountered something else that was accessible to me that spoke to what I was seeing and feeling as neatly as the Force does. Once that was nailed down, moving into Jedi thought and spirituality felt very natural, almost obvious, like of course this is what I would do. At the same time, my relationship with Star Wars goes back to childhood. I was born in 1977, so the first Star Wars film I actually remember experiencing was The Empire Strikes Back, and those stories were always present in the background of my life. What changed was not the presence of Star Wars, but the way I engaged with it. When I began to see it not just as entertainment but as something that could be taken seriously as myth and philosophy, it became clear that it was describing something I had already been experiencing internally. It stopped being something external and became a language for something deeply personal.

​

Philosophy & Journey

How did you come to the Jedi path, and when did it become more than an interest?

I had been watching Star Wars my whole life, but I took it for granted and never really examined it deeply. It started coming back into focus through books and discussions I encountered online, particularly when I read about the Jedi census phenomenon. At first, I thought it was silly, but then I caught myself thinking that if it is stupid but it works, then it is not stupid. That thought made me go back to the films and other material with a different mindset and ask what would happen if we took this seriously, not literally, but seriously as myth. That shift was the turning point. It became more than an interest when I realized the themes and ideas were not just fictional constructs but reflections of real patterns in life, things that could be applied, explored, and lived. That is when it moved from something I enjoyed to something I participated in.

​

How do you personally define the Force?

I do not have a single definition of the Force, and I do not think that is something we can or should try to fix into one idea. Instead, I work with a series of models, because when we are dealing with something transcendent, no single definition is going to fully capture it. All models are wrong, but many are useful, and I choose the one that is useful for the situation I am in. The model I return to most often is that the Force is a way of describing the relationships between things. Objects and people do not have meaning on their own; they have meaning in relation to something else. We exist within those relationships, and our lives unfold through them. When people say we are all connected, I think it is deeper than that. We do not just have connections, we exist as those connections. There is no separate self outside of them. The Force is the name I give to those relationships I do not fully understand, and also to the patterns or laws that govern how those relationships behave. It has to remain something alive and evolving. If you define it too rigidly, you are wrong, and if you are too vague, it becomes useless. So I try to hold it with humility and rigor at the same time, knowing that my understanding is always incomplete and always developing.​

​

What continues to motivate you to walk this path?

I do not experience it as motivation in the usual sense, because it does not feel like something I have to convince myself to do. It feels natural, like this is simply how I see the world. The Jedi path is a language I apply to something that is already happening in my experience. I notice it most when I fall out of that perspective, especially when I am dysregulated or overwhelmed. In those moments, I begin to feel alone, and that is when things start to feel wrong. The practice becomes returning to the understanding that I am not alone, that I do not carry the universe, but that I am carried by it. Coming back to that awareness feels like breathing again after being underwater too long. It is not about pushing myself forward, it is about returning to something that feels more real and more aligned.

​

Mentorship & Leadership

What responsibility do you believe comes with holding the title of Knight?

I am hesitant to use the word leader, because I am not personally in charge of anything, and I think it is important to be clear about that. What I do believe is that we have a responsibility to each other. When I accepted the title of Knight, a message was sent to the community that if you need something, this person can offer guidance. That does not mean I am here to tell anyone how to live their life or to police anyone, and I am not interested in doing that. What it does mean is that I have made a commitment. That commitment is that I will keep an eye on things, that I will support people if they need it, that I will help make sense of things when they go sideways, and that I will help keep this place safe. It is about being someone others can turn to when something feels off, and taking responsibility for contributing to the stability and well-being of the community.

​

What does being a mentor mean to you personally?

I think mentorship exists whether we formally acknowledge it or not, because everyone is a role model, whether they like it or not. The way we behave sets the tone for others, especially for people who are newer or still finding their footing. In that sense, we are always mentoring through our actions. In a more formal sense, mentorship is a mutually agreed upon relationship where both people understand that they are entering into something intentional, where one person is walking alongside the other and helping them navigate their path. I have had mentors who offered me far more than the opportunity to advance in rank. In fact, the rank was the least important part of what they gave me. What mattered were the lessons, many of which did not make sense until much later. I think it is a great shame when mentorship becomes about simply producing another Knight, where it turns into ranks on top of ranks without anything more substantial. Mentorship has the potential to be something much deeper, something more enriching, something that actually changes how a person understands themselves and their life.

​

How would you describe your mentoring style?

My approach to mentoring is less about instruction and more about presence and relationship. I see mentorship as something that is already happening through behavior, whether we acknowledge it or not, because the way we act sets the tone for others. In a formal sense, I view mentorship as a mutually agreed upon relationship where both people understand that they are entering into something intentional, where I am walking alongside someone as they navigate their path. I am not interested in telling people how to live their lives or in positioning myself as an authority over them. What matters to me is creating something more meaningful than simply progressing someone through ranks. I think mentorship should be something deeper and more enriching, where the value is not in advancement, but in the lessons that unfold over time, sometimes in ways that do not make sense until much later. My focus is on being present, helping make sense of things when they become unclear, and supporting growth in a way that is grounded and relational.​

​​​

What area do you specialize in as a Jedi and mentor?

Lately, my focus has become increasingly centered on love and grace, and how those ideas actually show up in the way we live. It is not about intellectual discussion or debate for its own sake. Study is important, but it is always in service of something lived. I pay attention to how we stand in relationship to others, especially when it comes to protecting those who are vulnerable or supporting voices that are not being heard. It is about how we move through relationships in a way that allows people to be safe, to be seen, and to be as whole as possible. For me, the work of a Jedi is to witness what is happening and choose an ethical response that is grounded in justice and love.

 

Is there a mentor or a few people in the Jedi Community that helped you grow as a Jedi?

My first Jedi mentor was Alexander Orion, and over time I have come to understand just how much he offered me. It was far more than rank advancement. In fact, rank was the least important thing he gave me. There were lessons and perspectives that did not make sense at the time, but revealed their value much later. Looking back, I realize how much more was being offered in that relationship than I initially understood, and how much it shaped the way I approach both my own path and mentorship.

​

Character & Growth

What do you believe are some of your core personality traits?

I would say that curiosity is one of my core traits, and it serves as a kind of internal signal for me. When I stop asking questions, when I stop being curious, that is usually an indication that something is wrong, that I have lost perspective or become too fixed in my thinking. At the same time, I am not particularly comfortable listing my own virtues or defining myself in that way. It does not feel natural to me, and I tend to avoid framing myself in terms of fixed positive qualities.

​​

What areas are you actively working on within yourself?

I am actively working on accepting that people are doing the best they can with the understanding they have at the time. That is something I have to revisit again and again. It is not a one-time realization, it is an ongoing practice. It connects closely to forgiveness and mercy, which I have found happen in stages. There are layers to it, and each time I come back to it, I am asked to go a little deeper. I am working on allowing people to be human, to make mistakes, and to not hold them to impossible standards. At the same time, I am learning to extend that same understanding to myself, which can be just as difficult.

​

​What do people often misunderstand about you?

I do not always have a clear sense of what people think of me, but I do know that my sense of humor does not always come across the way I intend. I tend to have a very deadpan style, and sometimes when I am uncomfortable, I will make a joke that can be taken seriously or come across as inappropriate. I also tend to poke fun at people I like, not people I dislike, because I do not want to be mean. If I am poking at someone, it is usually because I feel some level of connection with them, but that does not always translate clearly, and it can lead to misunderstandings about my intent.

​

Life Beyond the Temple

What brings you joy outside of Jedi practice?

A lot of what brings me joy is rooted in my relationship with my son and the time we spend together. One of the ways that has shown up recently is through sharing music. I have been following his music tastes, buying CDs of the artists he enjoys, and listening to them together in the car. It has become a meaningful way for us to connect, to experience something together, and to understand each other a little better. Those moments, even though they are simple, carry a lot of weight for me.

​

Favorite Movie/Show:

Star Wars Rebels and The Bad Batch are the ones that resonate with me the most. I find myself drawn to stories where Jedi are not operating from temples or in idealized settings, but are instead out in the world, dealing with real situations as they come. I relate more to Jedi who live in their boots, who are navigating uncertainty and applying their philosophy in real time rather than in controlled environments. Those kinds of stories feel more grounded and more reflective of what the path actually looks like in practice.

​

Favorite Singer/Band:

My music taste includes bands like Portugal. The Man, The Dresden Dolls, Radiohead, Chappell Roan, and Nirvana. Lately, though, I have been exploring music more through my son’s interests, which has shifted what I listen to and how I engage with music. It has become less about my own preferences and more about sharing that experience and discovering new things together.

​

Heroes and Inspirations:

My father is one of my biggest inspirations, and I hope that I can be as good for my children as he was for me. Beyond that, I have drawn a lot of inspiration from writers and thinkers like Thomas Merton, Rumi, and other Sufi poets, as well as theologians like Peter Nouwen and Richard Rohr. Their work has influenced how I think about spirituality, love, and what it means to be in relationship with others and the world.

​

What do you do outside of IJF?

Outside of IJF, much of my life is centered around caring for my family, including children with special needs. That responsibility shapes my day-to-day life in a very direct way, and it requires a level of presence, patience, and adaptability that carries over into how I approach everything else.

​

​How does your life outside the Order influence your Jedi path?

My life outside the Order is not separate from my Jedi path, it is where my Jedi path actually takes place. My world is relatively small in terms of daily scope, but it is within that space that I am constantly practicing what I believe. Caring for my family, navigating relationships, and showing up for the people in my life reinforces the importance of connection, responsibility, and consistency. It grounds the philosophy in something real and immediate, rather than something abstract. It reminds me that this path is not about ideas alone, but about how those ideas are lived out in everyday interactions.

​

Community & Vision

How would you describe being part of the IJF community?

Being part of the IJF community feels like being part of a group of people who genuinely want connection while also navigating the challenges that come with being individuals. There is a shared desire to belong, to be part of something meaningful, but also an awareness that we each come with our own perspectives, struggles, and ways of engaging. I see it as an ongoing effort to build something that reminds us we are not meant to do this alone. It is not always simple, but it is real, and there is something meaningful in that effort itself.

​

What values are most important for IJF to protect over time?

I think it is important to recognize that Jedi philosophy is inherently justice-oriented, in the sense that we are not just witnessing the Force passively, but choosing how to respond to what we see. That response should be grounded in justice, in fairness, and in a commitment to doing what is right, even when it is difficult. I value spiritual rigor, meaning that we take this work seriously and do not treat it casually. At the same time, that rigor needs to be balanced with kindness, grace, and compassion. I also believe strongly that just because we have the ability to do something does not mean we have the right to do it, and that is an important principle to hold onto. How we treat the most vulnerable members of our community is a reflection of who we are, and I think we should prioritize protecting and supporting one another, investing in mutual aid, and helping each other move toward a more whole and stable way of being.

​

Final Reflection

When someone reads your bio, what do you hope they understand about your heart?

I think being a Jedi is about witnessing the Force, and that is something that happens most clearly through our relationships with other people. If someone is reading my bio, I would want them to understand that any connection we have is an opportunity to engage with each other authentically. That authenticity is where real learning happens, where we come to understand ourselves and each other in a deeper way. It requires trust, flexibility, and a willingness to allow people to be human, to make mistakes, and to grow without being judged for falling short. I believe in creating space for people to fall and then helping them back up, rather than condemning them for the fall itself. Humor is part of that, but not as a way to avoid vulnerability, rather as something that can exist alongside it. At the core of it, I want to be someone who can offer others a sense of grounding, a reminder that they are not alone, and that there is a place where they can feel at home.​​​​​​