At 16, Phil picked up his first guitar and was instantly hooked. Inspired by legends like Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck, he dove deep into the heavy blues rock classics, drawn to their raw creativity and expressive power. Before long, he was playing in local Toronto bands, jumping around on stage and channeling his passion through a beloved Fender Telecaster.

But with bills to pay and no desire for life on the road, Phil eventually settled into a series of corporate desk jobs. What began as a hobby of building websites grew into a full-time career in web development. Working with open-source tools on Linux systems, he discovered a new creative outlet in code. A natural problem solver with a lifelong passion for learning, Phil built a reputation as a skilled software engineer, despite not following the traditional academic path.

Beneath it all ran a persistent curiosity: a deep need to understand the true shape of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe. Alongside that, a quieter longing for inner peace and harmony with the world. This book is Phil’s attempt to share that inner journey, and to make contact with a wider world of imagination, meaning, and hope.