Keiden and Shannon rocketed into each other’s worlds in the spring of 2014. Keiden was teaching safer sex, healthy sexuality, and about the history of queer identity in sex positive, kink, and academic communities. He was also volunteering at multiple events and has worked with local law enforcement providing LGBTQ sensitivity training. Shannon had been attending and volunteering at spiritual and wellness venues and events up and down the east coast for many years. Through these communities she was able to heal and grow from traumas she had experienced as she was learning multiple healing modalities to share with others. Keiden and Shannon both realized the work they were doing was complimentary and had the core values of giving people the space to be themselves and sharing tools with them to aid in their own journeys of self-discovery and healing.
As educators, Keiden and Shannon combine academic research with experiential knowledge to create classes using both discussion and hands on exercises where participants can fully engage with the topics. Ever the students, they continue to expand their own experiences and knowledge through formal instruction and involvement in various events and communities.
Keiden Bren was born and raised just outside of Washington, DC and comes from a family of educators. He is passionate about language, communication, and identity, as well as creating safe spaces for people to just be themselves. He has taught a wide range of classes on connection, sexuality, and spirituality. In addition to his work in education, Keiden is also a drummer, a sacred fire tender, a member of Universal Temple of Spirits, is an ordained Priest of The Order of the Golden Gryphon, and is a graduate of Gryphons Grove School of Shamanism.
Shannon has been traveling to spiritual festivals for 17 years as a vendor, a volunteer, and as a teacher and ritual facilitator. Her interests and experiences are many and include dance, yoga, and various healing modalities that include trance work, Reiki, hypnotherapy, and Shamanic healing. Shannon is an IKYTA certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, certified hypnotherapist, and has completed her first year of training with Gryphon’s Grove Shamanic School. Shannon is a member of Universal Temple of Spirits and is an ordained Priestess of The Order of the Golden Gryphon. She recently finished her degree in Gender and Women’s Studies at UMBC where her research focus was on the recovery and healing benefits of community ritual for people who have experienced sexual trauma.