Chamber Caretakers

Rick and Elisa conduct the monthly Fire Ceremonies, Sweat Lodges, Vision Quests and Sacred Dances that take place on the land. 

Rick Cotroneo

Rick Cotroneo has been a seeker of spiritual truth from a young age. A devout Catholic as a child, he loved the smell of frankincense. After his undergraduate studies he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to study massage and natural healing. While in New Mexico he was initiated by Beautiful Painted Arrow. He has been a Drum Dancer and Sun-Moon Dancer since 1987 and has studied with several different Indigenous teachers. Rick is the author of the book, Sun-Moon Dancing: Medicine for our Time. Building the peace / sound chamber represented a synthesis of his passion for spirit, social justice and his commitment to the healing power of chanting and sound. He holds a Masters Degree in Counseling from Southwestern College and worked in the field of public health for more than 31 years. A devotee of Yug Purush Mahamandeleshwar Swami Paramanandji, Rick is a lover of Vedanta, the teaching of Ultimate Oneness.  In 2010 he completed training as a homeopath and has established a private practice called Vital Self Homeopathy. 

Elisa Cotroneo

Elisa Cotroneo is a Master Somatic Movement Educator and Therapist (MSME/T) with the International Somatic Movement, Education and Therapy Association (ISMETA). She holds a BA in Psychology and Dance and is a graduate of the Somatic Movement Therapy Training Program in Massachusetts. During the last 40 years she has trained extensively with many of the pioneers in the field of Movement Therapy. She served as Board President and then Executive Director of ISMETA until she retired in 2023. Passionately dedicated to her spiritual path, Elisa has danced and vision quested with Beautiful Painted Arrow and other Native American Elders for over 30 years. She has studied yoga and meditation under the guidance of Yug Purush Mahamandaleshwar Swami Paramanandji since 2001 and deeply embraces the teachings of Babaji Baldev Singh of Darbar Sri Gurugranth Sahib Ji.