About
Ezekiel (e-z) Fugate
Ezekiel is the founder and director of Deep Belonging. Born and raised in southwestern Virginia, he grew up in the close company of mountains, rivers, and more-than-human kin who taught him about belonging and quite literally saved his life.
His work is informed by three main tributaries: his PhD in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS), where he studied with Brian Thomas Swimme (read Ezekiel’s dissertation here); years of studying frameworks such as eco-depth psychology, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, somatics, and breathwork; and, perhaps most importantly, his own journey of healing via the transformative power of relationship, both human and more-than-human.
In his 1-on-1 practice, he offers an attuned, empathic presence for people seeking to shift long-held patterns, deepen their sense of purpose, and explore the stories that shape their lives. In his teaching and facilitation, he weaves the threads of evolutionary cosmology, eco-depth psychology, and deep nature connection to awaken an embodied sense of belonging.
Ezekiel is a co-editor of Starborne: The Journal of Autocosmology and a co-founder of Springhouse Community School. He has taught at institutions such as CIIS, Schumacher College, and the Deeptime Network.
He lives with the love of his life, their two daughters, and a dog named Annie in Central Virginia.
Collaborators
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Kim O'Donnell
Kim spent decades as a lawyer and judge before retiring from the bench to build a life oriented around deep and authentic connection. A graduate of Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield's Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program, she brings a grounded, elder's presence to group work and is a longtime member of Springhouse Community School's Board of Trustees.
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Ari Makridakis
Ari has taught students about the universe for over twenty-five years, including as a lecturer at UC Berkeley. He holds a PhD in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness from CIIS, where he studied with Brian Thomas Swimme. He is also a visual artist whose work explores humanity's place in an evolving cosmos. Find him at The Seed Pod and YourCosmos.
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Nathan Kuan Salazar-Uhlmeyer
A descendant of the Cebuano and Ilonggo peoples of the Visayan islands and the Celtic peoples of the British Isles, Nathan's work centers on re-imagining the human within a more-than-human world. Trained at Alderleaf Wilderness College and holding an MA from CIIS in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness, they have mentored hundreds of students in deepening their relationship to self, community, earth, and cosmos. Find them at Raise the Sky.