Valeriia Miller

Roots, Branches and Leaves

The roots of GATE reach back to 1967—a moment in time when culture, consciousness, and creativity converged in ways that would quietly shape the future.

It was then that John Raatz witnessed the Beatles’ first encounter with meditation teacher Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, as they embraced the practice of Transcendental Meditation. This seminal cultural moment rippled far beyond the music world, signaling a broader awakening that would influence an entire generation of artists, thinkers, and seekers.

At the time, John was a performing musician immersed in the vibrant local music scene of Flint, Michigan. Precocious and gifted, he quickly distinguished himself as a guitar prodigy. His technical skill and musical intuition led him to be sought after by bands whose members were often older and more experienced, drawn by his uncommon talent and creative presence.

Simultaneously, John was undergoing a quieter but equally profound transformation. He discovered Eastern philosophy and became a voracious reader, exploring spiritual traditions that spoke to the nature of consciousness, purpose, and the deeper dimensions of human experience. Music and meditation began to inform one another, each amplifying the other’s impact.

This convergence of inner exploration and artistic expression proved life-shaping. Like many who encountered meditation during that era, John found that it expanded not only his awareness, but also his creative range and sense of calling. What began as personal inquiry gradually revealed itself as a path—one that would orient his life toward integration rather than separation, toward meaning as well as mastery.

In this sense, GATE is rooted in universal wisdom—drawn from spiritual traditions across cultures and continents—and grounded in the lived experience of creative transformation. Its foundations lie in the understanding that consciousness is the wellspring of creativity, and that art can serve as both expression and catalyst for personal and collective evolution.

From that initial spark in 1967, we can trace the organic, sequential unfolding of John’s thinking and actions. Over time, his insights matured into a coherent vision: to bridge consciousness, creativity, and calling, and to give that vision a tangible form. This led to the formal articulation of an organizational structure designed to support creative artists and amplify work that inspires, uplifts, and transforms.

Thus emerged GATE—the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment—a living expression of roots planted in wisdom, leaves nurtured by creativity, and branches extending into the world through transformational entertainment, arts, media, and culture.