Steven Ash was born in Cornwall, England and grew up on Wikwamikong on Lake Huron – an Indian reservation in Ontario, Canada. A man of extraordinary abilities as a healer and shaman, he inherited these talents from his father Dr. Michael Ash, who was the reservation doctor and the first doctor to practice acupuncture in the UK. Steven studied Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, Tai Chi and Qi Kung and holds a doctorate in radiaesthesia.

His profound connection with Mother Earth and her plant and mineral kingdom has enabled him to gain extensive insight into the healing abilities of plants and crystals, and to use this knowledge in the continued development and refinement of the Rainbow Essences.

Steven carries the  spirit name Tatanka Wanagi Wichasta – Buffalo Spirit Man –  which was given to him by Eagle Man Ed McGaa. Steven’s vision and life mission is to help facilitate the return of the Rainbow Tribe as predicted by Black Elk, and in his work and through his life he teaches and shares the concept of the Rainbow Medicine Circle as a basis for a healthy, flourishing family and community.

Both Steven and Renata were adopted as spiritual grandchildren by Grandfather Wallace Black Elk and have been appointed as carriers of the Peace Pipe, an honor that is rarely bestowed on white people.

Rainbow Medicine Circle was founded by Steven & Renata Ash, a husband and wife team of therapists, international teachers and gifted healers who specialise in personal development, energy psychology and shamanism. Renata and Steven are recognised worldwide as experts in the field of energy medicine and have researched and worked with the human energy anatomy for over 20 years. Together they developed the Rainbow Essences – a new generation of flower and gemstone essences perfectly tuned to the human energy body and designed to help people embrace change and move through life’s challenges with more grace and ease. They are also the originators of the Golden Light Project, a powerful 13 day program for personal and global healing and transformation that has gained worldwide reputation for its effectiveness and no-nonsense approach to spiritual and personal growth.

Susan Mokelke, J.D., President, FSS Faculty

"The Foundation for Shamanic Studies has had enormous impact on our world, helping to connect people all over the world with powerful sources of compassion and wisdom. The core shamanic teachings originated, researched, and developed by Michael Harner are primary and timeless. By learning these practical and remarkably effective methods, people are able to make direct contact with the helping spirits of another reality and bring back knowledge and healing to our troubled planet. When a person travels this road, he or she comes to know, as a matter of experience not of faith, of the fundamental unity of all things—an understanding that lies at the heart of an enlightened society.

"With the support of FSS faculty, students, donors, and other friends of shamanism, as President I am committed to helping to build a vital and sustainable future for the Foundation—in service to our mission to teach, study, and preserve shamanic knowledge for the welfare of our earth and its inhabitants."

Susan has worked with non-profit educational organizations since 1978: teaching, designing courses and materials, making educational presentations, fundraising, coordinating volunteer activities, writing, working with websites, and producing videos. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Southern California and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. She has been learning and practicing shamanism and shamanic healing since 1996.

In addition to her role as President, Susan is an FSS Faculty member. She has trained extensively in the Two Week Shamanic Healing Intensives and the Three-Year Programs of Advanced Initiations in Shamanism and Shamanic Healing – as well as teaching the Pacific Northwest Summertime Three Year program. Her articles on shamanism include Effective Core Shamanic Drumming Circles, Ethical Considerations in Shamanic Healing, and Core Shamanism and Daily Life. She developed the new FSS workshop Shamanism Practicum: Guidelines for a Healthy Shamanic Practice, and is the editor of the Shamanism Annual and the FSS E-Newsletter. She maintains an active shamanic healing practice.

"Susan Mokelke, who co-leads the Foundation for Shamanic Studies with me, has superb credentials as an outstanding shamanic healer and teacher. She is an inspiring, compassionate, and knowledgeable workshop leader. Anyone who studies with her can be sure of receiving the most up-to-date and accurate results of my research, for she maintains the gold standard of core shamanism. I recommend her enthusiastically." —Michael Harner

Her students say:

“Susan is filled with stories, grace, encouragement, authenticity, humor, and a strong sense of ethics. She demonstrates a vast knowledge and experience without any judging.”

“Susan is such a grounded, clear, honoring teacher and it is inspirational to witness her obvious comfort with, depth, and commitment to the spirit world and this work. Far from acting "the guru", Susan frequently redirects our questions back to us, encouraging us to seek the answer from our own Spirit Helpers. This approach further demonstrates her respect for the process and has helped me build confidence and familiarity with my own relationship with the spirit world."
—Christobel Macdonald, Three-Year Program student

"Thank you so much for such a great workshop (Basic Workshop) this past weekend! It was absolutely wonderful to get such a good grounding in shamanic practice, so clear and eloquently explained and with so much time for practice and discussion and experience."

"Excellent information and presented so well. Clear, kind, gentle, direct. Very knowledgeable."

Susan has had a lifelong interest in creativity and the creative process. She has composed two CDs of healing songs - Teachings from the Spirits (originally produced by FSS) and Be a Light - and has written a fantasy novel, Roseheart.

Claudia Campos, a passionate Activist and committed Environmentalist, was fortunate to grow up in the beauty of the Andes, the world's longest continental Mountain Range. Born in Bogota, a spectacular high plateau in the Andes mountains at 8600ft above sea level, she enjoyed a subtropical highland climate and spring-like weather year-round. Claudia was fortunate to be raised with an innate appreciation for Nature by her Parents, Nohrita and Guillermo. They instilled in Claudia from an early age the value of Conserving Water and Electricity and Planting Trees for the sake of future generations. These valuable lessons became an integral part of her life and many years later led her fiercely to RAVENS-WAY WILD JOURNEYS!

Vincent Pinto, Naturalist, Ethnobotanist, Wildlife Biologist, and Wilderness Survival Instructor Vincent Pinto has been teaching people of all ages, interests, and backgrounds about the Natural World since 1987.  As a passionate Conservationist, Vincent strives to educate and inspire within a framework of Environmental Stewardship and Earth Sustainability.  He has led countless individuals and groups throughout the country on Nature Adventures & Educational Programs on a myriad of fascinating topics: Ethnobotany , Natural History, Conservation, Bird-watching, Tracking, Stone-age Skills, Wilderness Survival Skills, Astronomy, Wildlife Habitat Restoration, Earth Stewardship, Sustainable Living Practices, and much more!

Simone Soucy, Colorado Artist, Organic Farmer, and Teacher of some of Tom Brown's Wilderness Survival Classes.