Welcome to our Gay Spirituality Resources page.
Here we hope that you find things to aid you on your personal journey.
Why this page is here:
In the past few years, the LGBT community has done much in the arena of equal rights and acceptance. We have fought hard to become accepted by, and even welcomed into, our neighborhoods. However, in our effort to show the world "that we're just like everybody else", the fact it is that we are NOT like everybody else. Our Creator made us different. Let's celebrate the gifts that being different has to offer us.
I know from personal experience that the gift of being gay gives us a unique perspective on life. I also know that somehow our gift frequently makes us more receptive to the "unseen" things in life. We frequently are healers and shamans. Many of us are seen as unifiers; people with the ability to bridge gaps between others and heal relationships of all kinds. We all have much to offer the world. What I want to present on this page will be various resources that celebrate our being gay and support us in offering our gifts to the world.
I love the following quote from Marianne Williamson. Even though it is not directly addressed to our community, I think it speaks deeply to the gay experience of hiding ourselves and our gifts from the world:
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
Resource List
LGBT SPIRITUALITY BOOKS, ARTICLES, PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES:
Check out the writings of Toby Johnson. "GAY PERSPECTIVE: Things Our Homosexuality Tells Us about the Nature of God and the Universe" and "GAY SPIRITUALITY: The Role of Gay Identity in the Transformation of Human Consciousness" are both great reads.
The White Crane Journal is the oldest gay spirituality magazine, with a 15 year history of exploring gay spirit, culture and wisdom.
Revolutionary Wisdom is the web-site for Christian de la Huerta, author of Coming Out Spiritually.
Gay Spiritual Network Links Directory has a host of links to all kinds of resources on the internet.
John J. McNeill writes about Gay and Lesbian Liberation, Self-Acceptance and Spiritual Maturity.
Joe Perez is a writer striving to take Integral approaches to issues in ordinary life, culture, politics, and spirituality.
Life by Design is a wonderful website dedicated to changing the world by changing ourselves. Life by Design - Because life does not come with an owners manual!
ABOUT GAY IS A GIFT by Salvatore Sapienza: This concise handbook shares the spiritual wisdom of gay shamans throughout history, from the Native American "Two Spirits" to contemporaries like Ram Dass, but does so in a very clear and simple manner, giving readers step-by-step instructions for applying this wisdom to their own spiritual paths. Gay spiritual writer Toby Johnson says, "Salvatore Sapienza's Gay is a GIFT is itself a gift; a sweet, inspiring portrayal of gay consciousness as blessing, along with a simple, light-hearted - even fun - spiritual practice for bringing more blessing into your life."
Salvatore Sapienza is also the author of several books on gay spirituality including Seventy Times Seven, which was nominated for two Lambda Literary Awards. A former monk in the Catholic Church, Sapienza is now pursuing ordination as an Interfaith Minister. Visit www.gayisagift.com.
COMMUNITY:
MyOutSpirit is an online community for people looking to connect with like minded others for inspiration, products and services to support their spiritual lives.
Easton Mountain is a wonderful retreat center set in the beautiful Hudson Valley of New York, three hours outside of Manhattan. Their mission is to sponsor, develop and present workshops and other learning activities that promote wholeness, health, and peace; to foster the growth of spiritual community, respectful of all religious and spiritual traditions, that supports the integration and healing of all people.
Gay Spirit Visions is an Atlanta based group that endeavors to "create a safe, sacred place for men who love men." (Special thanks to Harry W. for this tip)
Men In Touch workshops and retreats are held throughout North America, bringing men of diverse sexual orientations together in the spirit of nurturing and authentic contact with one another.
The work of Body Electric is to help people experience their potential as fully integrated, loving and self-aware beings through personal growth exercises, touch, conscious breath, and honoring the wisdom of the body. The individual’s work can then affect healthy and positive changes within many communities.
Gay Love Spirit focuses on helping you to perceive your sexuality as the central source of life energy and to connect with it in a comfortable and affirmative manner. Their workshops can help you to liberate your sexuality from restrictive thoughts and experiences. You can learn how to use new powerful sources of energy for your own path of personal and spiritual growth.
Toning the OM uses drumming, chanting, guided meditations to help open us up to our heart-wisdom and allow for transformational healing of oneself, each other, and all of creation.
Jerry Buie is one of the founders of Queer Spirit. Queer Spirit seeks to have queer life magnified, examined and honored.
ASTROLOGY:
Robert Samson, Psychological Astrologer, has been helping people make sense of their lives in times of crisis and transition for the past 25 years. His readings are in-depth and down-to-earth, informed by a spiritual wisdom born of real life experience. Robert can be reached via his website: www.samsonstars.com.
BUDDHIST:
Gay Buddhist Fellowship is in San Francisco.
QueerDharma, based in New York CIty, is a safe space for the LGBT community to gather, listen, discuss, and encourage Buddhist meditation practice and spiritual growth. (Special thanks to Ira R. for this tip)
Gay Zen LA's purpose is to introduce interested persons to the teachings of Zen.
CHRISTIAN:
DignityUSA works for respect and justice for all LGBT persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support. (Special thanks to Joe D. for this tip)
Integrity is a nonprofit organization of LGBT Episcopalians and our straight friends.
Lutherans Concerned works for the full inclusion of LGBT Lutherans in all aspects of the life oftheir Church and congregations.
The Metropolitican Community Church, the first Christian church for our community.
The Jesus In Love website promotes artistic and religious freedom by supporting spirituality and the arts for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and our allies.
Jesus in Love Blog - A place for LGBT spirituality and the arts. Home of the gay Jesus and queer saints. Uniting body, mind and spirit.
JEWISH:
Keshet Ga’avah is The World Congress of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Jews and consists of about 50 member organizations worldwide. The World Congress holds conferences and workshops representing the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual, & transgender Jews around the world.
Jewish Mosaic partners with Jewish organizations, communities, and individuals of every denomination to create a world where all Jews are fully included in communal life, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Nehirim: GLBT Jewish Culture and Spirituality offers cutting edge Jewish thought, culture and community. Provides intensive spiritual retreats around the country as well as city based Jewish programming.
MUSLIM:
The Al-Fatiha Foundation is dedicated to Muslims who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, questioning, those exploring their sexual orientation or gender identity, and their allies, families and friends.
MORMON:
Affirmation: Gay and Lesbian Mormons is an organization of people who believe in the worth of every soul regardless of their sexual or gender orientation.
SHAMANIC:
Gay Men's Medicine Circle seeks to affirm the premise that being gay is important, substantial, and meaningful, and constitutes a significant evolutionary and social purpose that gives a unique inner vision to guide and shape behavior, lives, and psycho-spiritual growth.
The NYC Gay Men's Shamanic Circle is a group of male shamanic practitioners, based in New York City. Participants gather to create sacred space for men who identify as queer, gay, or men who love men. They perform shamanic journey work for the purpose of healing on many levels, including themselves, their community, and the planet.
HEALTH & FITNESS:
YOGA:
Spirit Journeys facilitator David Moreno offers incredible Yoga instruction and DVDs. He has taught yoga at international conferences, universities, worldwide, and is frequently a guest instructor for yoga teacher training programs. He has worked privately with clients in the fashion and entertainment industries, and has trained world-class athletes, including the coach of the 2004/2008 Olympics U.S. Mens Swim Team. He is also a certified Pilates instructor. Check out his work at www.moryoga.com.
Kevin Kortan is also a Spirit Journeys facilitator. He is a Certified Yoga Therapist and Teacher, a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Movement Therapist and Educator, Dance Teacher, and Tantric Educator. He works in New York City and Minneapolis. For more information, please visit his sites: evolutionaryeros.com & evolutionaryyoga.com.
BODY WORKERS: Larry Melamerson offers Pink Tantric Massage, Kundalini Bodywork & Table Release Yoga in the Minneapolis area.
LIFE TRANSITIONS:
Life-Shifting is an innovative approach to healing and personal growth that synthesizes the most up-to-date methods of life coaching and psychotherapy. Dr. Jeffrey Hull and his colleagues work with clients in every human domain—mental, emotional, physical and spiritual—addressing the full spectrum of life’s challenges—past, present, and future. Partnering together, in a space of safety and confidentiality, they focus on what you need, not on what they do.
GOODIES:
Although, not specifically LGBT, Wicca-and-pagan-supplies.com has a great selection of candles, incense, smudge, crystals and a host of other things that can enhance your journey.
Body Tools manufactures and distribute health products and massage tools.
Kundalini Arts is the shared artistic vision of Brighton artists Philip Shadbolt & MandalaBob, who have been co-creating their inspirational images for over 12 years. In this time they’ve had a dynamic journey of self-discovery, having spent several years researching visual imagery and its uses and traditions in India, Australia, and Sri Lanka.
MISCELLANEOUS:
Self Improvement from SelfGrowth.com - SelfGrowth.com is the most complete guide to information about Self Improvement on the Internet.
Check back often...I will be updating the resources on this page frequently.
As always, send any comments or suggestions to info@spiritjourneys.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
Namaste,
Howie
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