Hello

In 2017, I began a personal recovery journey. In 2019, I was reintroduced to shamanism, creativity, imagination, and natural growth. Since then, I've continued learning through lived experience, study, injury, recovery, and the ongoing work of becoming more fully myself.

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Born in Las Vegas in 1972, I grew up across Idaho and Florida, eventually studying at UCF in Orlando. My career took me from creative direction in New York City to Seattle and, happily, Portland. I've worked as a Creative Director in NYC, led creative teams, built experiences, and remained an artist throughout. I've also been a licensed massage therapist and a stay-at-home dad.

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That last experience matters. I've known the demands of a full corporate workload and the often-invisible, ongoing work of caring for a family: the planning, emotional labor, physical work, and constant responsibility that rarely appear on a résumé.

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Local = you and me. Ritual = action supporting value. Local Ritual is a place to make room for our hard things. Together, we create practices that support—and sometimes celebrate—the values that help us live, heal, and move forward.

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[Explore my creative career on LinkedIn →]
www.linkedin.com/in/john-speake-b95b483

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My work brings together creative direction, trauma recovery, integration support, and healing practice. I'm interested in the ways we communicate, find our footing, and create meaningful action in our lives.