My Journey

My spiritual journey continues to unfold in remarkable and unexpected ways!

Much of this journey began when I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Nepal in my early twenties. It was there I discovered the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh (affectionately known by his students as Thay).

After returning from Nepal, I continued to seek meaningful ways to contribute to life and to explore spiritual life and healing. I was led by the teachings of Thay to reconnect with my Christian roots (my maternal grandfather was a Methodist minister) and was baptized in the ocean in Santa Cruz in 2001.

In 2004 I visited Deer Park Monastery and fell completely in love with this community, part of the Plum Village community of practice started by Thich Nhat Hanh. In 2007 I traveled to France and was ordained by Thay Nhat Hanh as a novice monk.

In 2012 I transferred back to the United States and lived and practiced at Blue Cliff Monastery in New York.

In 2015 I was ordained as a Dharma Teacher and received the lamp transmission.

In 2018 I was called to travel outside the monastery to explore engaged practice and begin trauma healing training. I lived in Memphis, at Rose Apple Center in Vermont, and finally was called to New York City to engage in climate justice activism.

In 2021 I was called to make the big step to venture outside of Monastic life to dedicate my time and energy to counseling and engaged practice and to explore the dimensions of human relationships more deeply. A huge step for me!

Please reach out to me, I’d love to connect with you about your own journey.