Tehachapi News

The mystical path of local author Gene Stirm

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“I believe in synchronicities,” says local author, artist and shaman Gene Stirm.

By no accident or coincidence has Stirm's remarkable life journey led up to the publication of his first novel, The Mystical Path to Mystique. The new book is a fun read, with likeable characters and a compelling storyline. And the author's personal journey is a true epic adventure.  

According to Stirm's bio page at the back of the book, “There are two types of journeys in life. The Ordained and The Mundane.”

The mundane is recognizable as the daily path you choose, he says.

“The ordained journey is only recognizable when you look back on your life and see how far you've come and wonder, how you got on this path?”

After a lifetime devoted to several successful careers in the fine arts and the performing arts, Stirm was inspired to complete seminary, becoming an ordained Christian minister in the early 80s.

“I see Jesus' ministry as that of a shaman,” revealed Stirm. ”A healer, a visionary; chosen rather than choosing.”

“No one chooses to be a shaman,” continued Stirm. “A shaman is chosen by a higher power. And though they are directed to the path by a mentor or elder, they are instructed by the Spirit.”

Stirm explained that a main tenet of shamanism is that everything has a spirit. That belief is palpably illustrated in the breadth and scope of his own art, and the extensive collection of artifacts inside his Tehachapi home.

Eager to learn as much as possible about world religions and cultures, Stirm continued on to pursue an education in Native American art and culture, earning a Doctor of Shamanism degree from University of Southern California at Los Angeles in 2008. He also holds certifications in hypnotism and Holistic and alternative medicine and has won awards for growing exotic orchids.

Something's missing

By the time he graduated high school, a young Gene Stirm had already established a reputation as an accomplished actor, director and set designer, earning the Bank of America Award for Fine Arts. He was invited to spend two summers at the Theater Wing Workshop at San Jose State University, before starting his own local theater production company.

But two years into college, Stirm said, “it was clear there was something missing.”

On Dec. 26, 1967, Stirm packed up his camping gear and drove to Yosemite, “to find himself.”

The unplanned vision quest lasted nearly a year, as Stirm immersed himself in nature, reading the Bible, the Life of Buddha, Kahlil Gibran's The Prophet and The Tao, among others.

Stirm says he learned, “to follow my heart, seek the high ground and that there is more to life than meets the eye.” 

Upon his return to civilization, he attended art school and began what evolved into a successful 30-year career in graphic arts and publishing, including a weekly newspaper. He studied photography under Ansel Adams, becoming a guest lecturer at Ansel Adams' workshops in Yosemite.

Love at first sight

In 1972, Stirm married his true love: Patricia, a natural storyteller of Native American descent, originally from Hanover, Calif. The couple has three children and three grandchildren.

Patricia's mother insisted her daughter join her for an art class that Gene was teaching. Patricia said she resisted, but her mother insisted.

“I took one look at Gene, our eyes just locked,” Patricia said, “and that was just it.”

Acting and screenwriting set the stage 

In the mid 90s, Stirm decided to sell his printing company, and return to professional acting, snagging a regular role on the TV show, The West Wing. He played the president's valet.

“It's a miracle that I ever got on anything because of my age,” he said. “In fact everybody got younger on the second season.”

Stirm started writing screenplays “to occupy his downtime,” earning an award for a documentary film. A feature and several of his short subjects are currently in production. Future works of fiction are visible on Stirm's creative horizon.

Book festival features ‘Mysticque’

The Mystical Path to Mystique, described as “a mystical, romantic adventure” will be featured at the Independent Book Festival to be held in Studio City, Sept. 23-25. For more information on the book and its author click on www.genestirm.com.

“I loved your book and felt a resonance with it,” said Tehachapi resident Laurie Nelson in an e-mail to the author. “All afternoon I felt lifted; I felt I was seeing and hearing at a higher level. I get caught up in the dramaplay of life and forget I am a spiritual being…Thank you.”