Lawrence was initiated as a mara'akame, a healer and ritual leader in the Wixárika (Huichol) tradition of Mexico, in 2004. The following year, he and his wife, Jessica De la O, began serving as Firekeepers under the auspices of Sacred Fire.
His deepest passion has been sharing healing and transformational learning with people from all walks of life. Before beginning his apprenticeship as a mara'akame, he worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. — long enough to realize that was not where he would help the world — served in the Peace Corps, and later completed a master's degree in international relations and a Ph.D. in education.
Since 2017, Lawrence has served as Executive Director of Sacred Fire, an international non-profit organization affiliated with the Blue Deer Center. Together, Sacred Fire and the Blue Deer Center are part of a “great endeavor” to bring traditional wisdom and healing to humanity during a time of profound change and challenge.
He is an avid cyclist who enjoys visiting Fire communities near and far, and he loves quiet time in nature with Jessica. They live in Carrollton, Georgia.