Biographies

Gain an insight into the lecturers and presenters that frequent Universal Unity of Spirit. Most are uniquely inspired and have devoted their lives to their particular area of expertise. Check our Calendar of Events to see when they will be here next.

Co-Founders

Rev. Jan Cooke
Jan was ordained as a Spiritualist Minister in 1994.  She is a student of Unity teachings and of many healing modalities, and has taught and lectured at Spiritualist and Unity Centers throughout the US and Canada. Jan is a Reiki Master Teacher and has received high ratings as a thorough and , compassionate teacher .  Her secular background, in Human Resources and Counseling, combined with her spiritual studies creates a warm and balanced teaching style.  Jan is a co-founder of Universal Unity of Spirit.  jayjan2001@yahoo.com

Rev. Jay Cooke
Jay is a licensed Unity Teacher since 1986, was ordained as a Spiritualist Minister through the Universal Spiritualist Association in 1994.  He has studied, and has "hands-on" experience with many religious and spiritual teachings.  His foundation has been established on the goodness and oneness of God's creations.  Jay is a co-founder of Universal Unity of Sprit. E-mail: jayjan2001@yahoo.com

PRESENTERS:

Tom Beardshall
Tom has had many years of experience as both a practitioner and a teacher of alternative healing modalities and the art of personal transformation. Since 1994 he has had a full-time private practice at his office in McMurray, Pennsylvania, where he provides Healing Touch, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Polarity Therapy, Spiritual Response Therapy, Esoteric Healing, Hypnotherapy, Light-Sound Brain Wave Technology, Thought Field therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique, Reflexology, Acupressure, Kinesiology, Massage, and other methods to help his clients. He has taught classes for the Association For Research and Enlightenment (Edgar Cayce Foundation), The Lily Dale Assembly, the Pittsburgh School of Massage Therapy, and numerous other organizations around the country as well as presenting many courses and retreats on his own. He is an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church and has conducted church services and classes at a number of churches as a guest minister. His own ministry is focused upon assisting others on their path of healing and personal growth. tbeardshal@aol.com

Bob Bens
Bob is a Metaphysical Practitioner, Teacher, Lecturer, Author, Healer, and Reader.  Metaphysics is a science which investigates and studies a non-earth plane energy source.  Bob provide lecturers, demonstrations, and workshops on the following subjects:   Natural Law - Auras - Metaphysical Healing - Spirit Guides - Astral Travel - Meditation - Death and Dying - Spiritual Growth. Web: http://www.metaphysicinfo.com E-mail: bensrm@bellsouth.net

"White Dove" Crow
Visionary, "talk-walker," truth seeker, wise woman. These are all words that have been used to describe White Dove Crow, White Crow. White Dove Crow, White Crow is a universal teacher, speaker and author who continually looks beyond the illusions of everyday life. She travels throughout the United States and Canada hosting retreats, talking/teaching circles and sharing her teaching wherever she is invited. White Dove Crow, White Crow teaches traditional Native American teaching and spirituality. In addition to her Native American teachings, she teaches universal and spiritual principles channeled through her by her guide, Straight Arrow. She truly is a "talk-walker." White Dove Crow, White Crow not only teaches on all levels of consciousness, but is committed to living the same principles that she teaches. She is constantly growing and reaching new levels of consciousness. She then teaches those concepts to other so they may be able to obtain new levels of awareness in their own lives and look beyond the illusion of the ordinary world. A powerful teacher who teaches respect and honor for all of creation, she teaches us all how to live a more spiritual and enlightened life. For more information, www.northstarpathways.com

Dr. Brenda Hawkins
Brenda is a psychologist licensed in Georgia, where she maintained a private practice for 16 years in metro Atlanta.  Recently relocated back to western New York, she provides counseling and clinical supervision at a community agency and has a private practice.  Dr. Hawkins has 19 years experience in using clinical hypnosis and is an Approved Consultant of the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis.

Stan Kendz
Stan became enchanted by the possibility of seeing human auras when he was just a young boy. Years later as a young man he actually regained his ability to see auras. Shortly after that friends started asking him to help them regain their auric sight. Stan designed a fully guaranteed training program and was offering 2 or 3 aura seminars a month. Word of mouth spread the news of his work and by the late 1980's he had traveled all over North America helping groups as small as 7 and as large as 50 people regain their auric sight. Stan is committed to making these special learning-aids, tools, self- learning programs, seminars and advanced aura programs and workbooks available world-wide so everyone who has the desire can experience the joys and benefits of auric sight.  In addition to his interest in aurasStan has spent most of his adult life researching consciousness. "In the early 1990's I experienced Self-awareness and was so motivated by the implications of Self-awareness that I co-authored two books on natural health care and founded Namaste Press a publishing company dedicated to Well-being."  vpguru@rpa.net

 Rev. Ron Skowronski
Ron graduated from the Ernest Holmes College School of Ministry in 1993 and  holds the degree of Religious Science Fellow.  He is a Licensed Religious Science Practitioner.  Ron founded All Souls United Church of Religious Science in Rochester, New York and was it's minister for five years, resigning  in May of 2000.  He is affiliated with The United Church of Religious Science, headquartered in Los Angeles, California.  RonRev@webtv.net

Rev. Shirley Calkins Smith
Shirley was ordained in 1978 and was a Board Member and Vice-President of General Assembly of Spiritualists in New York City.  She was the Associate Minister and Co-Pastor of the Church of Divine Inspiration in Rochester, New York, for 14 years.  Shirley is a registered Medium at Lily Dale Assembly, Lily Dale, NY.   She has also served as Director of the Rochester Center For the Healing Arts, Inc. and was the Founder of the Spiritual Awareness Retreat Center in Lily Dale, NY. Until 1996, she was Director of Student Affairs, University of Science and Philosophy, Waynesboro, VA.  Shirley currently is an Integrative Rebirther -- teaching Transformational Breathwork and The Healing Breath, and has done Evolutionary Tutoring since1968.  She is available for Workshops, Lectures, Private Consultations, and Breathwork Sessions.  revision@netsync.net

Stephanie Turachak
Stephanie is a medium, healer and teacher.  Her meditation techniques and her ability to quickly and accurately connect with the Source has amazed her students and clients.  Stephanie facilitates the Spiritual Development Circle at Universal Unity of Sprit.

Rev. John White
Rev. White is a gifted medium and seminar leader with a wealth of knowledge and is well known internationally for his teaching skills.  His classes offer participants the opportunity to reach higher levels of spiritual consciousness.  Rev. White has been the host of Journey of Light, a metaphysical program on Canadian TV, and was featured in Zolar's Book of the Spirits.  jwhite@netsync.net