So you want to know a little more about me?

I am a human with diverse interests, attempting in earnest to lead a balanced life. Even development of my body, mind, and spirit is a driving theme in my life. Novelty and Variety are dominant forces in my story.

I have been given a great gift in that I am just about equally right and left brained. Being able to grasp logic as well as the abstract has proven to be a great combination for doing what I do, and has aided me in many endevors in my life. This has also had a significant impact on my cosmology, and in all likelihood is a part of the causology of my diverse interests.

I absolutely love to dance. If there is a good beat, I am almost surely moving. It is a fabulous form of expression. Body movement is a way to recharge my creative energies. Perhaps because I am a water sign I will stagnate if I do not keep flowing.

Speaking of flowing, I am entralled by Taoism. A gross oversimplification of the basic idea is contentment goes hand in hand with moving with the current of life. Fighting the flow of one's life results in turmoil. So, flow like a river, brothers and sisters.

I am blessed and lucky in many ways, and the most important one: my friends. I take pleasure in conversation, getting to know people, and creating lasting relationships with good people. Since I love diversity, my friends come from a wide spectrum of various backgrounds, beliefs, and passions. The main common threads I seek in friendhship are positivism and loyalty. I am blown away by the inner beauty and empowered by the the collective experiences of these people. I am grateful that life has brought each of us together, and for the knowledge and strength I have gained in knowing each of them.

Two more of my best friends are my cats, Maharaji and Trinity. They are brother and sister Siamese with distinct personalities, and sweet little souls. They are ultra-affectionate and vocalize a lot. I am a lover of all animals, and cats have a very special place in my heart. Complex, intelligent, aesthetically pleasing, independent, mysterious.

Among other things, I studied anthropology and religion in college. World cultures and spiritual traditions absolutely fascinate me. Taosim, Buddhism, 'primitive culture' ritual and beliefs, Hinduism, and even the spirituality of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity are interesting and interconnected. With all the common ground of various spiritual traditions it is a shame the idealogues often rouse believers into xenophobia and intolerance. I have found there is immense self-improvement to be gained from examining other spiritual beliefs and cultures.

Though much of my early life was relatively sedentary, I realized many years ago I was developing my mind and spirit at the expense of my body. I decided this had to change. I required balance. I started running, joined a gym, and sought out to expand into supplimentary activities. I took up yoga, trying several styles, and ultimately settled down with Kundalini yoga (although occasionally indulge myself in some ashtanga).

I also have great interest in martial arts. I briefly studied Aikido. Although I found it intriguing, and beleive I will come back to it one day, it was not the right time. The philosophy of energy redirection, economy of motion, and non-violence appeal to my sensibilities. I wanted to do a harder style while I am young, strong, and full of yang energy. So I tried something different : Wah Lum Kung Fu. I trained here for some time, and enjoyed it immensely. It remains one of the best workouts I have ever found. It is a beautiful northern form of kung fu that requires development of grace and balance, and taught me volumes about my own body dynmics. But over time I decided I wanted something a little different. Although I will avoid confrontation when possible, actual street cred for a martial art became very important to me. Also, I am into the spiritual concepts of martial training and really wanted an art that would help me develop and focus my chi. I was not sure if such an art existed, but then I found Wing Chun Kung Fu. Although I have not been training here that long, I am in love with it. It is atypical of martial arts in many respects, and seems to me to generally have more in common with Japanese arts than Chinese arts.

Another important aspect of martial training to me is healing. Massage, herbology, energy work. These are the other side of the coin. I want to be able to fix someone's chi as well as I am able to disrupt it. I have informally studied a couple massage modalities, and practice on my friends here and there. I really appreciate Thai massage, though I need much more practice. I had not had much experience with energy work, and did not think much of it conceptually at first. A friend did some reiki on me one day, and I was surprised to discover it was such a palpable experience. Then a few days later I went to visit friends in Phoenix who are body and energy work masters. Nicole performed accupressure on me, which is a pretty non-invasive art, with only subtle touch on very limited areas of the body. And the experience was an eye opener. My cosmology opened to belief in energy work and its benefits, as I felt it first hand.

And my interest in healing is part of a larger picture. I feel I was brought to this earth to, among other things, make a difference in other's lives. If in just being me I can lift someone's spirits or help people in a time of need, I feel more fulfilled in my own life. Sometimes one kind word is all it takes to shift someone into a more positive state of mind. Sometimes just listening can help someone heal. It amazes me that simple acts can have huge benefits. I strive to embody the characteristics associated with my angelic appellation in my life and my dealings with others.