Gary Weidner was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but found his passion for connecting to the land after moving to Colorado at the age of eighteen. He began his long career as a bodyworker in 1976 at the Boulder School of Massage. Twelve years later he was trained and certified as a practitioner of Rolfing Structural Integration at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute in Boulder.
His life took a turn in 1997 when he met Don Lucio Campos Elizalde during a trip to Morelos, Mexico who told him that he was to be initiated as a Granicero or Nahua weather worker. This was the beginning of a connection to nature in a deeper way that continues to unfold. In 2008 Gary was initiated as a mara ‘akame, a healer and ritual leader in the Huichol tradition.
Gary lives near Grand Junction in Western Colorado. He serves his local community as a Sacred Fire Firekeeper, continues his Rolfing work, and is currently building a home with his wife Deanna and fellow members of the Mesa Life Community on the Grand Mesa. He also serves on the Men’s Initiation Council.