Hi my name is Kristin,

I’d like to share huge amounts of gratitude with every person who has opened their heart, home, and hospitality (in whatever form that may have taken) to anyone who has ever needed.

There have been many times, where kind people who became friends offered their couches/cots/tiny homes/tents/vans/RVs/guest rooms/places to rest out of pure generosity. People are genuinely amazing and continue to amaze with their reflections of kindness, care, and love.

Hi! My name is Kristin.
I can be both introverted and extroverted at times, I enjoy conversation, relating, sharing from the heart, openness, learning, playfulness, and curiosity.
As well as solitude, quietude, space, contemplation, meditation, reflection, and introspection and like to recharge with personal time.

My most important goal in life is to bring Compassion, joy, wisdom, and loving kindness to all thought, speech, and actions performed. To love, serve, and remember that the Divine is in every person, place, thing, and thought.

The past year I was traveling, living in, and getting to know Mexico. The people, Mayan and Zapotec cultures, local and international communities, and beautiful land of Mexico was incredible! I also grew a lot spending time living in a permaculture and plant medicine community. I cannot possibly describe in words how much my heart expanded living in Mexico!

Before that I lived in different parts of the United States, mostly California and Florida. When I was living in Florida I stayed in a community of meditation students, receiving Tibetan Buddhist teachings and attending meditation retreats. It was transformative and challenging and taught me so much.

One of my biggest passions is learning about and directly experiencing the inner sanctity of life - relationships, friendships, reality, and existence. What an ongoing ripening it is.

Interests:
-Travel
-Awakening
-Non-Duality
-Mind Training
-Meditation
-Mantra
-Chanting
-Music
-Community
-Plant Medicine
-Lucid Dreaming
-Interdependence
-Philosophy
-Buddhist Studies
-Hindu Studies
-Psychology
-Nature
-Human Behavior
-Wildlife Behavior
-Science
-Quantum Physics
-Biology
-Marine Life
-Sustainability
-Environmental Preservation
-Permaculture
-Art
-Singing
-Dance
-Sailing
-Kayaking
-Swimming
-Hiking
-Biking
-Conscious Travel
-Vegetarian and Vegan Cooking
-Gardening
-Writing
-Art History & Sacred Art
-Drawing
-Painting
-Nature and Travel Photography
-Fashion Design
-Sewing
-Interior Decorating
-Organization
-Animal Welfare
-Volunteering
-Non-Profit Organizations
-Pet Care & Pet Sitting
-House Sitting

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

To share and grow from experiences, to develop friendships, taste the flavors of life, and discover more about others, myself and the true nature of all.
To witness the world through awareness of all its aspects, if suffering and majesty, in people, places, things, and within myself.

To practice compassion and love for all that is seen within and without. To serve the world and all beings in any way that is beneficial and kind.

Interests

• animals
• wildlife
• arts
• design
• fashion
• photography
• japanese food
• vegetarian
• farmers' market
• organic food
• meditation
• drawing
• live music
• classical music
• hiking
• camping
• sailing
• swimming
• art history
• biology
• marine science
• science
• volunteering
• solo travel
• adventure travel
• nature
• climbing
• organic gardening
• acroyoga
• happiness
• consciousness
• vipassana
• ecstatic dance
• creative writing
• couture
• nature conservation
• landscape photography
• brain science

Music, Movies, and Books

Beloved Books:
-Pocket Pema Chodron
-Rainer Maria Rilke Poetry
-Teachings of Sri Anandamayi Ma
-Being Ram Dass
-The Mahabharata
-Bhagavad Gita
-The Ramayana
-Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming by Stephen LaBerge, Ph.D. and Howard Rheingold
-Cave in the Snow : A Western Woman's Quest for Enlightenment by Vickie MacKenzie
-Women of Power and Grace: Nine Astonishing, Inspiring, Luminaries of Our Time by Timothy Conway
-The Art of Happiness by HIs Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
-The Book of Joy by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
-The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Shantideva
-The 10,000 Songs of Milarepa
-Introduction to Tantra by Lama Thubten Yeshe

Spectacular Movies/Series:
-Becoming Nobody- Ram Dass
-Dying to Know
-Hanuman
-Kundun
-Avatar the Last Airbender Series
-Words of My Perfect Teacher
-Little Buddha
-The Tibetan Book of the Dead
-Seven Years In Tibet
-Cry of the Snow Lion
-Fire Under the Snow
-Spirited Away
-Dead Poet’s Society
-Darjeeling Limited
-The Life of Pi
-Midnight in Paris
-Groundhog Day
-3 Idiots
-Tare Zamzeen Par
-PK
-Lagaan
-Dangal

Music Genres/Artist I enjoy:
KIRTAN!
MEDICINE SONGS!
Krishna Das
Nina Rao
Jai Uttal
Shyma Chapin
Trevor Hall
Ajeet
Ayla Nereo
East Forest
Mike Love
Deva Premal
Miten
Manose
Snatnam Kaur
Banchan Kaur
Nirinjan Kaur
Maneesh De Moor
Nessie Gomes
Yaima
Curawaka
Danit
Rising Appalachia
Tina Malia
Wah!
Meditation Soundscapes
Tibetan, Sanskrit, and Pali Mantra, Chanting
Indian and Native American Drum & Flute
Huni Kuin & Yawanawa Tribe Chants
Celtic Music
Sitar, Tabla, Harmonium, Veena
Classical Music Mozart, Debussy, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven
Hang Drum
Instrumental
Downtempo
Chill Music
Classical Japanese, Chinese, Thai music
Salsa, Samba, Bachata,
Reggae
African Drumming

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Sat in ceremonies in meditation with master shamans and master plants from the Amazon rainforest.

Sat with my mind in silence in 30 day meditation retreats.

Teach, Learn, Share

Focus and discover inner peace in the silence and solitude of a 10 Day Vipassana Meditation Retreat: These life-transformational retreat seminars are an incredible experience!
http://www.Dhamma.org

Visit a beautiful Thai Forest Monastery and contemplate dharma talks with Tan Ajan Geoff aka Thanissaro Bhikku. Meditate and be still amongst tranquil mountains and sprawling Avocado forests at Wat Metta Forest Monastery in Valley Center outside of San Diego, CA.
http://www.watmetta.org

“The best form to worship God is every form”

— Neem Karoli Baba (Maharaji)

“When by the flood of your tears
the inner and the outer have fused into one,
you will find Her whom you
sought with such anguish,
nearer than the nearest,
the very breath of life,
the very core of every heart.”

— Anandamayi Ma

“Love Everyone, Serve Everyone, & Remember God”

“Treat everyone you meet like God in drag”

—Ram Dass

“But your solitude will be a support and a home for you, even in the midst of very unfamiliar circumstances, and from it you will find all your paths.”

― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

"Generosity is the most natural outward expression of an inner attitude of compassion and lovingkindness."

― His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama


 This is the miracle that happens every time to those who really love: the more they give, the more they possess.”

― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

What I Can Share with Hosts

A kind heart, a listening ear, a friendly hug, a deep conversation, a loving smile, a silly story, a meaningful insight, a sweet time interacting as human beings.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Ecuador, England, France, Mexico, Netherlands, Scotland

Countries I’ve Lived In

Mexico, Scotland, United States