About Jay Suthers

Dear Friends,

My name is Jay, and I'm the owner of Sage Meditation.

I founded Sage Meditation because I wanted to build something I truly believed in — something independent, ethical, and rooted in passion. After years of navigating the corporate world, where jobs came and went, I found myself unemployed once again and ready for a change. I knew that whatever came next had to matter to me deeply. Supporting meditation practice felt like the perfect fit, and I'm so glad I took that leap.

Looking back, I think my meditation practice began long before I had a name for it. Growing up in Central Wisconsin, I was a pretty typical Midwestern kid — climbing trees, playing with siblings and friends, and building snow forts in winter and roaming the nearby wood with my little terrier, Bonnie the rest of the year. But I often found myself slipping away to small, quiet spaces, just sitting, listening to the silence, and feeling completely at peace.

My mother would sometimes come looking for me, the way mothers do when things get too quiet. "What are you doing?" she'd ask. "I don't know," I'd reply — and I meant it. I couldn't explain the happiness I felt in those still moments. I just knew I loved them.

My formal meditation practice began in 1998, when a friend introduced me to the Siddha Yoga Correspondence Course. A year later, I attended my first Satsang at a Siddha Yoga Meditation Center, where I discovered a love for chanting, spiritual talks, and — above all — meditation itself. Over the years, I've studied the writings of the Dalai Lama, Krishnamurti, Pema Chödrön, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hanh, Gurumayi Chidvilasananda, and many others. Reading their words has enriched my life immeasurably, though it's my daily practice that has shaped me most.

In time, I felt a calling back to my Christian roots. Today, I sing tenor in the choir and Compline group (Gregorian-style chant) at Luther Memorial Church — a beautiful community that continues to nourish my contemplative spirit.

Running a small business has had its challenges. There were lean years, part-time jobs to make ends meet, and the inevitable slow seasons that most small business owners know well. But this work is genuinely fulfilling. My heart and soul are connected to Sage Meditation, and that connection has never wavered.

The greatest gift of this journey has been the people. So many customers have generously shared their experiences with me, and those conversations have helped me grow in ways I never expected. I'm deeply grateful for each one. As the wonderfully witty Swami Beyondananda once said, "Life is like photography — we develop from the negatives."

I hope this introduction has given you a real sense of who I am — a small business owner, a practicing meditator, and someone who genuinely cares about this community. I'm the one who answers the phone here, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope our paths cross soon.

With warmth and gratitude,
Jay Suthers