User Profile

I'm a medical anthropologist, teacher, writer and facilitator. I work with a team of dedicated researchers and clinicians seeking out ways to improve our struggling health care system. I'm also revising a book based on my dissertation research with HIV+ Puerto Rican women, which will be published this fall by a university press.

Additionally, I am a Wiccan Priestess in the Blue Star tradition, originally part of Braided Stream Coven, a small, tight group of unbelievably beautiful people. I now work with Clover, a fledgling group sprung from several predecessors. We have recently had three exciting events: Clover members dr_pretentious and her husband Dan welcomed a baby boy and Braided Stream member Dorothy welcomed a baby girl along with her partner Phyllis. The babies arrived at the tail end of October 2007 within 2 days of each other. Soon after, Blue Star community member and friend evilbunny and her husband Scott welcomed their own little boy.

In my own spiritual practice, I draw heavily on the work of various Buddhist teachers and rely on the Tao Te Ching. Broad-based spirituality is something of a family tradition: my brother Christopher quiet_wyatt72 is a specialist on American religions in general and considers himself both Buddhist and Craft/Pagan as well. He and his wife Christy (ghostgirl3) welcomed a lovely daughter, Zalea, into their family in August 2007.

I love to travel, especially in Europe and Latin America, and I also enjoy pursuing happiness and growth at home with my beloved, Michael (mage_imbroglio). Michael is a man of tremendous tenderness and compassion; he brings fun and beauty to my life. We laugh and take delight in each other every day. His capacity for joy both excites and astounds me. Through him, I've learned that it is deeply satisfying to be with a partner who really appreciates you and loves you well---never, never settle for anything less! Michael has also brought me another great opportunity: the chance to know and love Trent, his beautiful eight-year-old son. Trent is a small but wise teacher, generous with his heart and eager to give and receive love. He graces my life and makes me a better person. I am honored to have the opportunity to walk this path with him to the best of my ability.

I moved in with Michael and Trent on November 6, 2006, and Michael and I were married in August of 2008. Our home is tiny but beautiful. Our large yard is perfect for the vegetable garden we've created; Trent and the neighborhood children play there on spring and summer weekend afternoons. Until 11/2006, I lived with my friend and ex-roommate Shannon (shaminin) and my 2 snuggly cats, Luna and Bast. Now Shannon is exploring a new life and curious about what she will find. Luna was very old, and died on 2-13-07, after months of loving care from my friend Willow. Bast was adored and cared for by my brother and his wife until she died on 10-12-07.

I am bilingual, biracial and bicultural---my mother is from Costa Rica and my father is from Kansas. I am curious about everything and eager to see what will happen next. It feels as though I am changing so fast that I can barely keep up, but in a good way. Right now, my life seems to be about taking new and intelligent risks and opening up more than I have in a long, long time. There is great beauty in it, and more emerges with each previously unimaginable unfolding in the path.

I am very, very happy. And I believe more strongly than ever that in the end, kindness, integrity and compassion are the most important lessons of all. The older I get, the more joy and satisfaction I experience from my life and my choices. I realize that the trials (opportunities?) that brought me here were necessary, even the painful ones. Without them, I would never have been able to embrace---or truly appreciate---my greatest sources of delight.

I love my life and this beautiful world. Every day is sweet. In the words of my beloved,"Wooo-hoo!"

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