Spiritual Survey
On Friday Worthie Mecham (aka Momma) will lead a workshop at True Colors. It's called Dragged Out of the Spiritual Closet. In addition to doing a short comedy where Momma interviews three of my characters about their spiritual journeys (Dr. Meadows, Chad and Earthel), we will have participants share some about their own journeys.Here is the description of the workshop:
Actor/Activist Peterson Toscano teams up with drag diva, Momma, to present a brand new play that looks at spirituality, queerness and courageous living. Participants will then have a chance to explore their own spiritual journeys through dynamic activities and discussion groups. Finally, volunteers will come up on the stage to get in costume and have their own moment with Momma. A fun, insightful, an interactive way to look at the often taboo subject of queer spirituality.We will start with a little survey to get folks thinking and talking. I reproduce it for you here. Feel free to take it yourself and to give suggestions/feedback.
Spiritual Survey
Which of the following applies to you? (check one or two)
- I regularly attend religious services
- I am spiritual but not religious
- I don’t mess with God and God doesn’t mess with me
- I am a member of a faith community
- I feel unsure about spiritual matters
- I am Satan
- I am God
- Other
- Nacho Grande!
- Chips with Salsa
- A Glass of Water
- I am in nature
- I am with my family
- I am alone
- I am with friends
- I am doing art
- I put on makeup
- I read the Bible or another spiritual book
- I attend a religious service
- I bitch-slap someone
- I walk the dog
- I listen to music
- Other
How does your queerness and spirituality intersect?
posted by Peterson Toscano @ 10:36 PM
3 Comments:
Thank you - your survey speaks to me, and I find myself asking more questions. Some of them still need a little bit of seasoning, though.
One question I would add to "I feel most spiritual when" might involve activity - either physical activity like swimming (which I find intensely spiritual) or even work activities - a friend of mine believes deeply in the revelatory powers of dishsoap, and another meditates by crocheting blankets for people who need them (which really falls under doing art, I suppose). Also, perhaps I'd add making music to the listening part.
I also like that you are asking how spirituality works with queerness. I think our society has done its level best to separate sexuality from spirituality, to the detriment of both. Even the people who claim that spirituality can be connected to heterosexuality (and it alone) are attacking that connection by denying the beautiful variety of Creation and the variety of ways we experience sexuality, spirituality, and the intensity of love.
Haha, my pun detector must have been off, I just now got the pun in the workshop title.
And drag diva is redundant don't you think? ;-)
On a serious note, I would add writing and reading to the list. I've had some remarkable moments letting my thoughts come out in writing. And I have had some wonderful moments reading what others have written. I think that's why blogs are so powerful, there is something deeply spiritual about the thoughts of the moment be they mine or yours or others.
As for where queerness and spirituality intersect, I think my fellow poster 'plain foolish' makes an excellent point: we have been convinced that these things must be separate somehow. Some of that is because spirituality is often packaged by groups that exclude GLBTQ people, thus we feel the sting of exclusion and think it's a part of spirituality. But nothing could be further from the truth: to be human is to be spiritual, that is where they intersect.
good thoughts. thanks for the input.
plain foolish, I often forget about physical activity. Really, I find I sit far too much and overlook the spiritual and physical benefits of movement.
pw, yes, writing really helps some of us connect spiritually. That is one of the powers of blogging. Folks get to move into other worlds with their words.
Thanks
Peterson
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