Larisa BlumLarisa Blum is a practicing psychotherapist, and a former litigator and synagogue executive director. Originally from the Ukraine, she spent her childhood making mudpies out of communist soil. In America, she got reconnected with the earth by getting into rock climbing, which eventually brought her to California. In California, she has engaged with many practices—from shamanism to massage to creative writing to Buddhist and other meditation practices. Her life has been a quest to find meaning, healing, belonging and connection. She went on her first quest in 2008 and trained to become a guide with Rites of Passage in 2010-11. She continues to be amazed at the capacity of the soul to flourish in nature—alone and in community. She loves guiding and helping others recognize the call of their wild.