Cristina Star
Charting the nexus of science and spirituality, I pioneer transformative pathways for Earth's stewards and future space explorers, toward ensuring our celestial journey reflects our highest potential.
I am an interdisciplinary scientist with a Physics degree from UC Berkeley, graduate studies in Climate Change and Space Policy, and 8 years of scientific research. My professional journey has been equally matched by a personal dedication to Buddhist, Yogic, and Indigenous wisdom systems, leading me to found TRU Education, a venture I led from 2011 to 2019 focused on providing rigorous study and practice of Eastern traditions and personal transformation. Building on this foundation, I launched Cosmic Citizen Trainings in 2023 aimed at empowering high achievers and astronauts to navigate the challenges of our era with wisdom and resilience. I was voted Top 100 Women in Aerospace and Aviation 2025 for my “ethical leadership in space”.
I completed my Master’s in Space Policy in 2025, with my thesis on the personal transformation experience of the commercial astronaut and proposed methods to support their preparation and integration of this life-changing flight. I also co-organized and moderated the Climate Action + Lunar Exploration: Expert Panels on Earth Day 2024, highlighting my commitment to integrating sustainable practices with space endeavors, and presented on this topic to the United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).
As an advisor to the SETI Institute and IONS, and a volunteer with The Human Space Program, I strive to ensure that our ventures into space enhance, rather than compromise, our stewardship of Earth and its celestial neighbors. I taught for and supported the growth of SpaceKind Foundation 2022-25 to further this mission by promoting emotional intelligence and mindful leadership within the space industry.
My jewel and focus right now is in teaching the Cosmic Citizen Corps, a multi-year program that brings out the absolute best in participants - balancing their body, psyche, energy, and deeper purpose. Half the participants are active space industry professionals, but I also work with healers, leaders, parents, academics, and anyone called to my style of rigor, practice, and integrity.
It is not enough to reach for the Stars, it matters who we are when we get there. It matters who we become along the journey.
Origins
I was raised off-grid by back-to-the-lander parents on 65 acres of forested wildland and 5 acres of orchards and gardens. (The Back to the Land Movement was the 60’s/70’s equivalent of today’s Permaculture movement). We lived in sync with the rhythms of the Earth and I was always fascinated and delighted by the natural world. I also never take for granted running water, heat, or electric lights. And yes, Star is my given name.
Equally fascinated by the inner world, I have been meditating and practicing yoga since I was 13 years old, beginning formal training at 18.
Science
Drawn to root out the fundamental patterns of reality, and address questions that arise where fields intersect, I earned a degree in Physics at UC Berkeley (2007). I did formal research that spanned River Biochemistry, Astrogeophysics (UC Berkeley), Isotope Geochemistry (Lawrence Berkeley National Labs), Climate Change (University of Michigan Space & Planetary Science Department), Observational Astronomy at Infrared Spatial Interferometer with Charles H. Townes PI (UCB Space Sciences Labs), and am published in the Astrophysical Journal.
Throughout college I dove into my meditation practice and study of the worlds mystical traditions with local community, and began to teach meditation in 2006.
In 2009 I left a PhD program in Space and Planetary Physics (Climate Change emphasis) and shifted into being a fulltime practitioner, immersing myself in the practices of Zen, Hatha Yoga, Nondual Shaivism, somatic and trauma psychology, and a formal seven-year apprenticeship with a ceremonial chief in the Lakota tradition/medicine-man. I began teaching Yoga in 2010 and expanded this into TRU Education (more below).
In this decade I learned about the process of transformation, from multiple vantages and on many timescales, and how to guide others through it safely, powerfully, and seamlessly.
In 2020 I felt called to return to the world of STEM, particularly the Space Sector, and began working on a Masters of Science in Space Policy at American Military University, finally completing it in 2025 focusing on ethical business and the powerful personal transformation experience of astronauts.
I am a founding member, and active on, the Council of Advisors for the SETI Institute (2019), working primarily to advance education and commercialization directives. In addition, I am on the Board Science Committee at the Institute of Noetic Sciences (2022), and volunteer with The Human Space Program on environmental initiatives (2023).
Transformative Programs
In 2011, from the alignment of all these experiences, I created TRU Education and through eight years of continual offerings, directed programs with 20 faculty that led a few thousand adults through unique self-development programs and cultivated supportive community. These were rooted in modernizing the tradition of Tantrik Yoga (not the sex stuff - the profound system of awakening born in the Himalayas 1000 years ago). We provided in-person, online, and hybrid programs ranging from 3 hours to a year, plus longer-term internships. Most courses were in-depth collaborations with multiple facilitators, which I directed and helped craft. Testimonials on this website about program experiences are collected from those.
“I’ve done all kinds of online courses and this is by far the best put together program I’ve ever seen. It was a scary proposal for me to dedicate shifting my attention to truth, but now that I am in it, it feels like home.” — SHELLY
Wellness Activism
A significant part of my journey has been experiencing chronic health challenges since age 15, including ongoing disability. Through these challenges I continue to cultivate subtlety of self-awareness, radical honesty, deep acceptance, vulnerability, and compassion. Illness, and its requisite limitation, has taught me the process of healing, itself a transformation, and kept me focused on pragmatism and a no-fluff approach to most things. The intensity of these challenges has been, and continues to be, my greatest teacher, opening pathways to new perspectives, resources, and modalities.
Because of experiences with my health, I am dedicated to supporting society and work environments to be healthier overall, and to reform STEM* career inaccessibility for people with disabilities. To be honest, its scary to admit to being disabled while currently working with scientific organizations and the space industry. Having an invisible disability allows me to default to hiding it, but thus far it has tended to close doors which are already difficult to prop open as a woman.
Let us stop limiting what can be accomplished through STEM fields by working to include as many people as possible: genders, ages, colors, backgrounds, and ability, not just people who can work 60+ hours per week decade after decade.
*STEM= Science Technology Mathematics & Engineering
Menstrual activism is also a long-time passion. I teach and write about the benefits of syncing with biological rhythms, and working to transform the toxic cultural values that suppress and oppress healthy menstrual observances. I aim to empower menstruators to unlock the incredible potency of this cycle and find greater health and ease with their bodies. Some of my essays and specific practices are published on this topic in the book Reverence (2021).
Current Work
Cosmic Citizen Trainings is the synthesis of over two decades of study and practice and teaching, built to serve the individual and the whole with a focus on analytical, highly trained STEM professionals. I facilitate The Cosmic Citizen Corps and offer limited individual mentorship.
Cosmic Citizen Corps is a multi- year immersive experience that brings about an expanded worldview, greater health and capacity, energy efficiency, and a greater sense of alignment for the benefit of Earth, humanity, and the solar ecosystem. It is designed for the disciplined and earnest do-gooder who grasps complex concepts quickly, has experience with self development work/meditation, and is ready to really level up - in service. Enrollment open February 1- March 7, 2026.
I am eager to train commercial astronauts to fully receive and integrate the powerful cognitive shift that occurs when an Earthling sees Earth (itself) from space, referred to as the “overview effect”. This too is a Cosmic Citizen Program called SpaceBound.
As the Environmental Project Manager for the Human Space Program, I work to engage environmentalists, space industry professionals, and indigenous wisdom keepers in a productive conversation to strategize for a truly sustainable, life-affirming, aligned future. Check out Climate Action + Lunar Exploration Expert Panels event I organized, hosted, and moderated towards this goal on Earth Day 2024. I presented the takeaways at the United Nations COPUOS in June.
My Space Policy Masters Thesis was on the personal transformation journey of commercial suborbital astronauts and how to better support them with updated psychological models.
♡
On this wild ride as a multi-potentialite, its an honor to serve as best I can, for the benefit of All. I offer profound gratitude for all my teachers and mentors and the line of wisdom masters from India, Japan, and the First Nations who devote their lives to become, then share, the Light. May that Grace bring transformation.
You can check out my LinkedIn for even more details of my professional experience and mindfulness and indigenous training.
Chat with me
Feeling inspired, energized, excited about possibilities? Check out what I offer and let’s explore together!
“I feel more confident in the here and now and exceptionally more blissful!”
— CALI
“This program is steeped in wisdom, acceptance, and careful guidance that invites all involved to explore and discover the richness of a balanced life. With a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, it offers these most generous of gifts to the world”
-KEVIN
“This entire course has far exceeded any expectations since the moment of signing up to be in this class.”
— DONNA
“Having been a spiritual seeker for 40 years, this course is quite simply the best thing I have ever done. It fed me on every level: intellect, heart, soul and body-mind.”
— MICHELLE
“My life is now unfolding on a deeper spiritual path and my intuition grows. We are seeds for this new world and we are sprouting.”
— MARY
“Even given my skepticism, I find myself on the other side of this program a very different person than who I was when I began.”
-JUAN