CURRENT MISSION

connect with the earth

ABOUT ME

I am currently studying urban planning at the TU Berlin. My love, however, is for our spiritual connection to place. I explore the way we are connected to nature and how nature can help us evolve as human beings. I am a classical clarinettist, and practice buddhism and yoga. I am a non-smoker, and fairly independent and quiet. I like to see the culture of the cities and to do long walks in the country and between smaller villages in Europe.

Right now I'm in Germany with my wife, Jocelyn. We are recently married, and are still exploring the world together. We don't watch any TV and try to live simply. We eat organic and fresh and local whenever we can, interested in permaculture, connecting with the world, and bringing love into the world, ecopsychology, vision-quest, etc.

Ich habe in Deutschland zwei Jahre gelebt,als Musik Student, und meine Familie lebt in Hamburg. Ich bin nicht-raucher, und meditiere regelmaessig.

PHILOSOPHY

I am studying a the moment non-dual philosophy, and the luminous, god-pervaded quality of the everyday. I try to aspire to high standards of being present and aware through meditative practices, to be kind and aware of cultural differences. I am a humanist, very interested in creating structures in the world (archtectural, economic and political) that serve the goals of human freedom, connectedness, and peace.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

We have hosted several people at our appt. in Weimar, where you can sleep on a futon in the Living Room. Often we have some time to walk you around town, over to the Bauhaus Uni (about 15 minute walk) or whatever.

In the coming months (starting April, 2011), I will be studying a couple of days a week in Berlin and will be looking for places where I can stay for a couple of nights during the week while I go to classes, while still being based in Weimar, where my wife works.

Interests

sustainability, ecopsychology, being in wilderness, evolving places, walking, seeing the layers of culture and history, organic food and sustainable lifestyles, medieval villages.

• culture
• design
• dining
• organic food
• yoga
• meditation
• walking
• tv
• music
• buddhist
• history

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:
Various women songwriters/folkish
Classical music - Brahms, Mozart, Sabine Meyer,
Van Morrison, classical indian music

Books:
My Name Is Chellis and I'm in Recovery from Western Civilization
Coming Home to the Pleistocene
Ecotherapy
Biophilic design
A Pattern Language
Krishnamurti
HOw buildings learn
The United States of Europe
Essays of Montaigne
Ken Wilber
Christopher Alexander: The Luminous Ground
Wordsworth, Schelling, and Lord Byron
Oxford English dictionary
Michael Moore
Ralph Nader, Amy Goodman etc.
Turgenev

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have done long buddhist meditation retreats, played clarinet with incredible musicians, and lived in the desert of new mexico.

Teach, Learn, Share

Right now I am learning about the deeply profound connection we share with places, through the work of christopher alexander and my own being in the world. I hope to design cities that can truly help us to become enlightented. This has led me to the study of ecopsychology, shaminsm, and embodied practices