Michael Lewis ’96 Guides Spiritual and Experiential Practice
Tell me about your current role.
Psychotherapist, Professor, Spiritual Leader, Mountain Guide
What did you study while at App State?
Recreation Management with a concentration in Outdoor Experiential Education
What advice would you give a current Wataugan?
To the new Wataugan, my advice is to be just as, or actually much more, open to seeing the world and yourself in new ways as you are to standing behind your beliefs and wanting to influence others. The current perceptions of yourself and of reality are all illusions and holding on to them will only slow down your spiritual, psychological, and social development. Be an empty cup, and keep emptying that cup as much as you can, every day.
How did Watauga help you grow?
Dr. Jay Wentworth had a monumental impact on the direction of my life. Jay introduced my fellow students and me to a variety of spiritual, religious, psychological, philosophical, artistic, and historical ideologies and practices that served as a catalyst to my life pursuits in similar subjects and lifestyles. The Watauga College’s approach to education created space for me to explore my own internal experiences as they related to the information I was receiving. The program made room for a variety of personal expressions and brought people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs together to explore reality and dissolve false impressions.