Jack Hebrank, PhD, PE

Anthony Rios

To me Core Shamanism is a teachable way of investigating nonordinary reality and living more fully from knowing its existence and from interacting with the helping spirits there. I've found, through personal experience, that we can learn to work with compassionate spirits for wisdom, information, and to heal others and ourselves.

Teaching and research have been central themes in my life. I helped start and run a child-centered K-8 school and taught undergraduate and graduate engineering courses for eighteen years in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at NC State University. As a researcher, most of the projects I’ve done combine engineering and biology, such as how sharks swim, detecting heartbeats in chicken eggs and understanding the keyhole shape of human outer ears. To me, there is an incredible beauty in the physical mechanisms of nature. I’ve also been fascinated by the field of parapsychology and efforts to characterize and understand aspects of nonordinary reality. As a grad student I traded building equipment such as random number generators, for the opportunity to observe experimental work. Today I volunteer at the Rhine Research labs.

I'm the grandson of a dowser and have done core shamanic healing work since about 2010. I took the FSS Basic Workshop (The Way of the Shaman®) in 2006 followed by the Two-Week Shamanic Healing Intensive, Harner Shamanic Counseling and the Three-Year Program of Advanced Initiations in Shamanism and Shamanic Healing. I’ve been an FSS faculty member since 2015 and taught over a thousand FSS students.

I live in the woods of Durham, North Carolina, in an owner-built house. I‘ve raised three kids and have two grandkids. My formal credentials include a BS in Electrical Engineering, a PhD in Mechanical Engineering (both from Duke University), a Professional Engineering license in North Carolina, and am inventor/co-inventor for about seventy US patents. Outside of work, I've biked and run, played soccer, danced (mostly Limon-style modern and Contact Improv), done Tai Chi, walked in the woods with my dogs, and heated my house by cutting firewood with a two-man saw.

I believe people learn best by doing and experiencing. The FSS workshops in Core Shamanism offer well-developed methods for people to interact safely and ethically with their helping spirits and, consequently, develop a larger view of the world and become more fully themselves. The opportunity to help others learn these skills is why I'm part of the FSS faculty.

Student Feedback

"Very powerful. Lots of hands-on practice, and clear explanations. I liked having two teachers who worked together. Easy going manner made it easier to learn. A wonderful experience where I feel like I'm walking away with a new set of skills and a new circle of kindred souls."

"This was a well-led and excellent, thorough workshop. Jack and Marcia were thoroughly prepared, respectful, and careful leaders; their different leadership styles complemented each other smoothly."

"Positive. Empowering. Jack and Marcia worked well together. Their separate backgrounds bring harmony in thoughts and ways of explaining things. Content and presentation was informative and well presented."

"Thank you! I feel a huge impact on my life. What wonderful experiences! I learned a lot!”

“Jack is a wonderful teacher. He is kind and knowledgeable, respectful and helpful and stays on track.”

“His style was flawless. He was organized, personable and knowledgeable.”

"Instructors worked joyfully and diligently to teach and to be inclusive. Jack and Marcia make a good team. They play off each other, improving the quality of instruction. Thank you for all that the FSS is doing to teach and to preserve this precious knowledge."

"Enlightening, very positive. I think the presenters are wonderful teachers."

"Discovery of facts and ways to divine that help with personal issues was a highlight of the experience. Teachers were very knowledgeable. All aspects regarding learning and exploring as a beginning shaman were clear and well presented."

“Jack’s honesty and vulnerability coupled with all of his experience made me feel immediately comfortable.”

“Jack is very humble and transparent with all instructions. He presents in a way that is easy to listen to. It is very apparent he has a vast experience in shamanic practice.”