Michael was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He gradually and painfully became aware of his calling as a shaman - healer following a series of near - death experiences. The first of these involved an encounter with an Elemental spirit in the far north of Scotland near Thurso ( Thor's River.) A second occurred several years later in Edinburgh. The combination of these encounters with numerous others entirely destroyed his health. Michael began to experience visions, prolonged out of body and altered states of consciousness as well as intense physical pain.  Managing his life on a daily basis became an impossible challenge.  (He is currently writing a book in which he attempts to describe these encounters.)  He was finally rescued by a friend who lived in a small cottage close to an incalculably ancient female yew tree in the south east of Scotland. This marked the beginning of a 9 year period of healing and the direct transmission of an initiation knowledge that took place under the vast enclosure of the tree. Michael believes that he was led to the yew tree. He also  believes that the Yew sent him to US to communicate its message. The yew was once regarded by the indigenous and pre -Celtic shaman-healers (original Druids) as a great source of occult experiential knowledge holding the keys to an an ancient language of healing and rejuvenation. Michael often describes this language as a form of embryological and pre-conception consciousness.  A brief account of Michael's experiences under the yew tree can be read in the book Soul Companions-Conversations with Contemporary Wisdom keepers. A Collection of Encounters with Spirit  by Karen Sawyer. He has also written for the shamanic journal Sacred Hoop. As an adjunct to his shamanic work Michael uses the biodynamic model of craniosacral therapy.  Over the years he has discovered that the level of perceptual refinement that can be achieved through the ongoing practice of biodynamic craniosacral supports an expanded sense of Health, Nature and the Divine that is in some ways 'shamanic'.  ( Note: Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy is NOT Shamanism) Michael feels that this enables him to offer his work on a daily basis to people who may be in need of a 'shaman' but who may require a different language and set of symbols to access their healing at that level. Michael teaches in US and UK. In 2009 he founded the Sacred Yew Institute. The institute offers a two-year professional training in Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy as well as workshops and lectures on the history of the yew tree, Yewshamanism and Occult -Embryology.  In 2012 Michael will be introducing The Essence of the Five Trees Teachings.  These teachings will bring all the elements of his work with the yew and the Elemental beings in Scotland together for the first time. Details of the structure of the teachings will be available soon.