Martin W. Ball, Ph.D., is a writer, independent publisher, energy worker and musician currently living in Ashland Oregon. He is the author of the epic fantasy series, Tales of Aurduin, and has also authored four books on entheogenic spirituality, Mushroom Wisdom: How Shamans Cultivate Spiritual Consciousness, by Ronin Publishing, and Sage Spirit: Salvia Divinorum and the Entheogenic Experience, The Entheogenic Evolution: Psychedelics, Consciousness and Awakening the Human Spirit and the recently released (Summer, 2009) Entheologues: Conversations with Leading Psychedelic Thinkers, Researchers, and Explorers by Kyandara Publishing.

Martin's latest book, Being Human: An Entheological Guide to God, Evolution and the Fractal Energetic Nature of Reality is his most radical and holds the potential to dramatically alter humanity's understanding of itself and its place in the grand order of things. The result of Martin's personal energetic opening, Being Human is a genuine account of the fundamental nature of reality as a unified expression of the One Fractal Energy Being, God.

Martin earned his B.A. at Occidental College in Los Angeles in 1994 where he studied Philosophy and Religious Studies. From there he went to graduate school at the University of California, Santa Barbara where he earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in Religious Studies with an emphasis on Native American traditions, Philosophy of Science and Religion, and the Phenomenology of Mystical and Shamanic Experience. For his Ph.D. dissertation, Martin performed fieldwork at the Mescalero Apache reservation in New Mexico where he studied with a number of medicine people and researched the Mescalero Mountain Spirit tradition.

Martin's personal spiritual interest is in entheogens and entheogenic spirituality and shamanism. He first began writing about entheogens with the 2006 publication of his book Mushroom Wisdom, which he has followed up with several other books. He also currently hosts the weekly podcast, "The Entheogenic Evolution," which features interviews and guidance for the spiritual use of entheogens.

Currently, Martin works as an adjunct professor teaching Religious Studies and Native American Studies in southern Oregon. He also provides personal healing and energy sessions for those looking to advance on their personal, spiritual paths.

Martin is also a prolific composer and musician. His music spans many styles and blends genres into a unique musical expression. Using a variety of instruments from acoustic guitar and mandolin to didjeridu, flutes, throat singing, percussion and electronic instrumentation, Martin's music expresses the full spectrum of experience and is an ever-shifting and transforming art.

Last but not least, Martin can be found at Burning Man where he runs his theme camp, "The God Box." All those willing to sign the Oath, write in the Book of Confessions, undergo a didjeridu Purification, are invited to enter deep within the lair of the mysterious Mystic Toad and reveal the secret contents of the God Box. The God Box will return to Burning Man for 2009! - Providing equal opportunity mystical experience to Burners of all faiths, creeds, or lack thereof since 2003.