Encountering Relational Practices
Through circling, meditation, contact improv, and other relating arts, I understand deeper who I am in relation to the collective. Prior to contact with these practices, I held a notion that my art and businesses signaled my existential importance; I felt emotionally identified to my successes and failures. Since training in and facilitating relational practices, and connection with certain spiritual teachers and communities, I feel joy for no reason, and fulfilliment through my expanded presence, embodiment and attunement with myself and friends.
Now, I lead Surrendered Leadership weekends and Transformational Connection Nights in Amsterdam. I also co-lead Transformational Connection and Surrendered Leadership weekends across Europe, and assist at the SAS Leadership Training with Transformational Connection (previously Circling Europe). I also completed their coaching training.
Intentional Community and Research
“The next Buddha may take the form of a community, a community practicing understanding and lovingkindness, a community practicing mindful living.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
My community building experience began in Los Angeles 2019, when regular attendees of plant medicine ceremonies began gathering too for simple human connection. I created and led monthly Community-Building Vegan Dinners (CBVD), and we grew intimate through circling, live music, and family cuddles. This gained momentum as I simultaneously built a circling group online called Circling with Friends. Monthly dinners halted during the pandemic, and my desire for closer community meant my nearly lifelong base in L.A. was moving.
I gave away most of my belongings, and flew to Portugal to join a 3-month community house experiment focused on trust research. There, 10 facilitators of various relational arts – from dance to tantra – explored an open community culture and held retreats. I desired a more unified vision with stronger self-leadership, and so I organized a new group of 16 participants and led one of the most beautiful and harmonious chapters of our lives. We shared meals and practices, celebrated two new pregnancies with our committed couples, and grew events that attracted community-seekers throughout Europe.
Dry southern Portugal didn’t fit my needs for climate and biodiversity, and Costa Rica called me. My prior visit to Pachamama Eco Village impacted me, suggesting a land ripe for community life. At Pachamama, I led Authentic Connection workshops, contact improv dance, co-facilitated men’s circles, and taught at the Jungle School, where I led the school play. Pachamama exemplifies sustainable community, and a more reciprocal and healthy way of living with nature.
My intentional community research includes time at Tamera Peace Research Village in Portugal, DIMA in Mallorca, MAPLE (Monastic Academy) in Vermont, Groesbeek in the Netherlands, and several communities in Costa Rica. I am currently based in Amsterdam, where community shapes as peer circling and other co-created togetherness fields. I have been called a natural community leader, and my innate gift is tracking the community energy field to include and empower all beings to share life in harmony.
Previous Lives
Prior to walking the intentional community path, I enjoyed lives as a Princeton University student, independent filmmaker, tech entrepreneur, and real estate developer. My filmmaking highlights include supporting the Indigenous Environmental Network at Standing Rock, directing a full-length comedy called “The Prospects” distributed by Independent Film Channel, and premiering at Sundance Film Festival with a drama that I edited. In business, I led a small 10-employee tech company for five years, and co-developed over $20 million in real estate in L.A. My diverse background helps me apply systems-oriented management and creative skills to conduct the complexities of community life.
Additionally, I have worked closely with two living spiritual teachers from the neo-Advaita tradition of non-dualism popularized by Ramana Maharshi. I have a regular meditation and yoga practice, and consider myself a spiritual friend to anyone walking these paths.
