In 1969 I formed General Idea, an artists’ group, with two friends who became my life partners. Four years later I had another nervous breakdown, traveled to Venezuela, and undertook a series of healings with a white witch who introduced me to Santeria, herbs, oils, and magic. In my 30s I studied transcendental meditation and alternative food therapies, including macrobiotics. In 1982 I traveled to India, met the Dalai Lama, and was initiated into advanced tantric practice by Ling Rimpoche, the Dalai Lama’s senior tutor. I practiced the Yamantaka, a tantric practice, for the next 13 years.