I guess I'm a little bit to much of a post-modernist to so easily summarize my self but I'll share some random things to try to give you a sense.

I'm a classic virgo in many senses, but have been recovering from my dependency on over working, helping others and critiquing political and social systems. More and more I'm finding meaning and different parts of my self in explorations of those dreamy dimensions where I try to let myself be a vehicle for creativity flow through. Connecting to people is what drives me most and as a Libra rising, I am naturally pretty social. Mostly I find I take pleasure from hearing people's personal stories, journeys', struggles, philosophies and musings about the world. I try to practice listening deeply and sharing freely and I find myself blessed to keep meeting people with the same will to connect.

I love nature too of course! I have never been able to decide whether I connected more to the Rocky mountains or the Atlantic ocean until this year. I will always love those snowy peeks and humbling slopes but my heart will always be in the water.

I want to say that I'm a very spiritual person but it seems silly because everyone is... And the word spiritual will never be able to describe the incredible connection I feel to the healing forces of the world.

I also feel the need to say that I am a political person. But so many people take "political" to mean "party politics" when I think real politics exist in every space, interaction, decision, relationship and idea. Plus the word "political" will never capture the incredible love I have for the world, the rage I feel for the hurt that exists, the longing I I have to see our society healed, nor the beauty of my visions for how things could be.

And these may be the central veins of my life. Spirituality and politics. I'm trying to move ever closer towards a way of being and acting in which those seemingly different things are actually the same. I have spent much of the last 10 years as an activist/community organizer but most of the last 2 years withdrawing from that world to pursue my spirituality and creativity more. While I'm passionate about my political beliefs I'm not dogmatic about them and I love to hear others perspectives or leave the subject alone:)

When I'm in Halifax I live in a communal house with between 6 and 8 friends. Communal living can be exhausting, but it is something that I love and am committed to working on and learning from. At the best moments our house can be a place for wild dance parties, healing rituals and public events. It is always a place for laughing, sharing food, making music and crying when needed.

Most of my travels have been in Latin America. Initially the purpose of my trips was just backpacking, then they were for activist events (elections, delegations, convergences or festivals) and these days I just I feel drawn around and the reason generally appears afterwards.

The last two years I've worked as a forest fire lookout observer in northern Alberta. I get flown in by helicopter to the middle of the woods where I live for 3 and 1/2 months and watch for forest fires out of a 100ft tower. It has been a cherished opportunity to spend time alone but has also reinvigorated my love for people.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I joined couch surfing because in my time traveling I have had many amazing people do incredible amazing things for me. It gives me a lot of hope for humanity to see and experience cultures of sharing. I just want a chance to meet more of these great people and give back as much as I can.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've done lots of official and unofficial couch and floor surfing. One couch surfer I hosted ended up staying with me for 6 months. One couch I crashed ended up being my home for 3 months.

Interests

Community organizing, meditation, spirituality, healing, soccer, music, dancing, nature, hiking, growing and cooking food, communal living. Recent interests are different types of body work, Reichian breath and body work, tai qi, qi gong, yoga, holotropic breathwork.

• dancing
• cooking
• yoga
• meditation
• politics
• traveling
• music
• hiking
• soccer
• sociology
• nature
• healing
• activism
• organic gardening
• tai chi
• creative writing
• drumming

Music, Movies, and Books

Books!

Ursela Le Guin is my favorite fiction writer! I love the way her political ideas come through in subtle ways.

I can't get over how articulately Starhawk brings together spirituality and politics.

Can't think of my favorites at the moment but right now I'm reading Silvia Federici, lots of Stanislov Grof, some Alexander Lowen, Joseph Camble, Paulo Cohelo and Gabriel Garcia Marquez... That seems like a lot! I think I'm not very good at sticking to one book. But it is just because I'm so excited to read them all.

Music!

Ayla Nereo is my current favorite! Check her out!

Like all kinds of music, especially rap. More interested in underground rap. Anything with good beets, meaningful lyrics.

I like dancing to electronic music!

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have participated with others in creating some cool community projects. I was part of starting a food coop at my university that now serves 5 free meals a day on campus and an occasional servings at a protest or political events around town.

I was also part of starting a marching band that plays at protests.

The list of amazing external things is long but more and more I feel the most amazing things are all internal. The adventures of living alone at the fire lookout have shown me that.

Teach, Learn, Share

I enjoy doing almost anything, and the knowledge I have I enjoy sharing. I have opinions on many things and love discussing them. Also love sharing stories, healing techniques, body work. I love fixing things and have gotten decently good at carpentry, pluming and simple electrical from practice.

I like cooking for people and having picniks.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I'm supper easy going. I am used to living communally with 8 people and being meticulously clean and patient with others mess. I am okay to be left alone if a host is busy but also happy to chat, share and adventure.

I can cook and love cooking for others. I can help clean and help out in any other way appreciated.

Countries I’ve Visited

Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Spain, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela

Countries I’ve Lived In

Argentina, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala