About Marielle
My work as an Evolutionary Guide is a multi-layered weaving of the many strands of the creative impulse I was born with, which has been further influenced by all of my teachers and guides, therapists and spiritual counselors, and especially by my life experience so far on our planet. But allow me to start at the very beginning…
As one of those rare native Californians, I tumbled into the world on April 5, 1955 as the first-born child of Ned and Louise Taylor, who lovingly named me Mary Lou.
My early years were spent living among the hillsides of Monterey Park and South Pasadena in Southern California. According to my parents I was a child “ever in motion,” running, dancing, and jumping around most of the time. It makes sense then that as I grew up, I was drawn to the physicality of dance and moving expression.
Primary education and credentials
Following graduation from Ramona Convent High School in 1973, at 18 years old I joined the Valyermo Dancers, a sacred dance company under the direction of choreographer John West. We performed annually at St. Andrew’s Abbey Fall Arts Festival, as well as throughout California in churches, auditoriums, Dodger Stadium for the Pope, and in Jerusalem at the YMCA during the International Seminar on the Bible and Dance.
Soon after, I started studying at USIU Performing Arts School and then went on to Cal State University, Long Beach, where I received a BA in Dance/Exercise Science in 1980. From there it was to UCLA where I obtained a MA in Dance Education/Kinesiology in 1986. My interest in Kinesiology (the study of the body in motion) led me to pursue a career in health and fitness and to become a skilled personal trainer and fitness program consultant.
Soul-centered educational track – and a second Masters degree
A devotional yearning at age 40 took me on more of an inward journey. My heart opened up when I found my spiritual home at the Agape Spiritual Center (now in Culver City, CA) where I jumped into a 4–year professional spiritual practitioner program. After graduating in 1998, I began my practice as an Agape Licensed Spiritual Practitioner, which continues to allow me to serve the community, facilitate classes in Science and Spirituality and see individual clients for spiritual counseling.
About the same time, I embarked on another soul-centered educational track and obtained a Masters in Spiritual Psychology at the University of Santa Monica in 2000. It was during my second year project that I stepped forward to create and to offer feminine essence expression workshops for women.
A rebirth
In early 2001, as my father was dying, I got sober from alcohol—a pivotal event that allowed me to further awaken to my life’s purpose. My dad was buried at St. Andrew’s Abbey overlooking the Mojave Desert and three days later, I was resurrected.
Taking the Tantra path
In my new life—and under my newly chosen name, Marielle— I began studying Skydancing Tantra with Dawn Cartwright. In December of 2002, I traveled to Poona, India where I completed Tantra Instructor Training through the Chandra Bindu Institute and soon began facilitating my own workshops at the Agape Spiritual Center. Known as Tantra Pujas, these Creative Connections evenings are designed for specific groups to experience open-hearted connections with each other.
Going even deeper
Being the eternal seeker and learner that I am, in 2003 I was drawn to the work and teachings of David Deida and have participated in more than 10 of his workshops. The two intensives that transformed both my life and my work were: Where Angels Fear To Tread 2004 and Hollyhock’s Enlightened Sex Intensive 2005. I was honored to be invited to be an assistant for Satyen, one of Deida’s associates, at his Sex, Passion & Enlightenment weekend May 2005. This work continues to open me to a deeper and fuller embodiment of Love through daily practices that expand my heart and allow me to unconditionally offer my essence—and help others to do the same.
Although I believe one’s journey never ends, my personal “biography” so far has brought me the gifts of education, intuition, training and experience, all of which add up to my calling as an Evolutionary Energy Guide.