CURRENT MISSION

To be in my power.

ABOUT ME

I'm the middle one in the photo!

The other 2 aren't my dogs, but I love animals and plants, especially tall trees. And I love having a conversation with anybody.

Bicycle rider (I've had my bike since 1979!), vegetarian (since I was 12 years old), social worker / social justice worker, and radical mental health worker.

I CouchSurfed in Anchorage to intern at Soteria House for 2 months in the summer of 2012. Soteria House is an alternative, non-medical model therapeutic community for people in mental health crisis, especially people experiencing psychotic break. I had been reading and talking about Soteria House for years, and was so excited to finally see the program first hand. Didn't get to see the Northern Lights, though, but saw moose and amazing eagles!

PHILOSOPHY

Be compassionate and accountable. Leave the world a better place than you found it.
I am trying to learn to live Audre Lorde's advice, "Speak your truth, even if your voice shakes."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

Thank you, CS-folks--you blow my mind!

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

My first (and now many more) surfer was a delight! Met cool folks in Anchorage. Hope to be able to have surfers again one day.

Interests

Stories--telling them and listening to stories of people's lives.
I'm involved in radical mental health work--seeing people whole and our experiences and realities as holy.
I love simple, fresh, vegetarian food, especially cooking together and sharing food.
Hanging out with my nieces and talking with my nephews.

• animals
• dogs
• dining
• cooking
• vegetarian
• reading
• cycling
• social work

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies:
I've Heard the Mermaids Singing
Watermelon Woman
West Side Story (I can't help it, I grew up in NY)
Whale Rider

Books:
Healing Wise, by Susun Weed
Woman on the Edge of Time, by Marge Piercy
The 1st and 3rd books (Dealing with Dragons and Calling on Dragons) in the Enchanted Forest series, by Patricia Wrede (from when my nieces were younger)
Secrets for the Mad, by Dodie Clark (my younger niece and I are reading this to each other)

Current reading list:
Focusing by Ann Weiser Cornell
Healing the Soul Wound: Counseling with American Indians and Other Native Peoples by Eduardo Duran (about historical trauma)
Invasive Plant Medicine: The Ecological Benefits and Healing Abilities of Invasives, by Timothy Lee Scott
In Case of Spiritual Emergency: Moving Successfully through your Awakening, by Catherine Lucas

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Talking to angels disguised as street people on the streets of New York City.
The night sky when I lived in rural Oregon.
Being in a forest and looking up at the trees reaching their arms out to each other.

Teach, Learn, Share

Consensus and Facilitation.
How to buy a great used car.

What I Can Share with Hosts

A meal and a story. And help getting something done around the house, inside or out. I especially love helping in the garden.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada

Countries I’ve Lived In

Israel, United States