Justin Michelson

Justin's Journey of Healing and Spiritual Growth

Justin grew up in Seattle, WA with the great fortune of having a home that bordered nature. When his mother invited him to a meditation class for teens at age fifteen, he had already forged a special, spiritual relationship with the natural world. The Dharma layered upon this sense of belonging, authenticity and simplicity in intuitive ways, and his life became captured by its wisdom.  

In his 20s, Justin practiced wherever he could find a sangha, experiencing Soto Zen, Tibetan, and various forms of Theravada Buddhism. In the process, he came up against deeper psychological wounding that needed a new type of attention, eventually leading him to western healing modalities such as Internal Family Systems. Along the way, he worked in non-profit management, environmental education, community development, and eventually started a native plant nursery.

At age 30, Rodney Smith, his primary teacher from the age of 15, asked him to start sharing his practice with others, beginning a profound new journey growth, as well as a life-long passion. Justin likes to remind students that while he has a certain wisdom to share, he is just another human on the path with his own challenges and growth edges. What’s most precious is not our personal attainment but our being together in practice with sincerity - that’s where the magic happens.  

Justin's mission:

He's dedicated to sharing the jewels he's found

along his way - inspired by the Dharma and the natural world. This includes techniques and tools for healing and insight. However, most fundamentally, he hopes to inspire the recognition of the goodness and wisdom that lay at the core of each of us - and life itself. Through this realization and our devotion to it, we can bring a truly revolutionary love into our own beings, and share it with those around us and the world at large. 

Justin's Unique Approach to Teaching

Justin takes a unique approach to teaching. In his "Dharma of Healing" retreats, he emphasizes the development of self-compassion first, as a prerequisite for exploring the deeper spiritual insights in the Buddhist path. In his outdoor "Dharma of Nature" retreats, he emphasizes learning from the natural world itself as the primary teacher, encouraging students to explore a natural, relaxed awareness. In group mentorship, he emphasizes community connection and a casual - but sincere - atmosphere.

In each setting, he encourages a relaxed, body-attuned approach to the practice, emphasizing rest and recovery from modern life as an essential act of self-compassion - one that allows us to naturally discover our own liberating inner wisdom. Moreover, as a communitarian himself, he values the spirit of community and works to cultivate a sense of safety and connection between participants.

Alongside all this, he remains devoted to the tradition of accessibility in the Theravada lineage, never turning someone away for lack of funds in his online or in-person programs. In his retreats, he still relies on the traditional practice of donations (“dana”) to support his livelihood. 

“Justin is an embodied, compassionate and extremely seasoned practitioner, teacher and guide.”

  - Alison Roffman