The Queer Spirit – Details, episodes & analysis

Care Chats are short, mindful conversrations where we share what's on our hearts + minds.

Jonathan Koe joins us as we reflect on the year: what we have shed, what we are building, and our hopes for the new year as we enter the solstice. 

• Find Jonathan online at JonathanKoe.com
  
• You can also connect with them on Instagram @jonathankoeofficial
• Listen to Healing the Spirit podcast here

Queer Spirit is for ALL people + Queers + Allies.   Links + Resources + Invitations:

• An invitation to the private Queer Spirit Community to continue the conversation and connect with other listeners. 
• Join us for FREE virtual Care Circles meditation + chanting + breath work circles online. We meet monthly on the 1st Saturday, 3rd Sunday + 4th Sunday. 
• Support us
• Follow us on BLUESKY + IG!
• Join our mailing list to get the weekly QS Bulletin with Care Nuggets and news on upcoming Care Circle + podcast updates sent directly to you.

The Queer Spirit Community gathers on the 1st Saturday of each month for practices of guided meditation, breath work + movement. These practices are faciltated by TanyaMarck Oviedo (they/them) and Nick Venegoni (he/they). They are curated + inspired by the planetary + astrological + pagan wheel of the year energies in mind. Original music + sound care by Nick + TanyaMarck.

QS Care Circles are for ALL people - Queers AND Allies.

~ This month we work with the energies of a Gemini full moon moving into Cancer, as well as Jupiter in Cancer - inviting us to explore our emotions and expand our care.

We invite you get comfy, grab some hydration and join us together in queer community.

We honor with Gratitude + Thanks the sacred Practices + Traditions + Peoples + Lands: Yoga, Ayurveda – Sanskrit, Mantra, Raga, Hindi & Urdu language music traditions, Buddhism + Tibet + Meditation; Tongva + Kizh + Chumash + Ohlone; Tarot + Astrology + Magic + Witchcraft; the teachers who have carried this wisdom and shared it with us ~ Gracias.

As always, you can find all things Queer Spirit HERE. 

 

Links + Resources + Invitations:

• An invitation to the private Queer Spirit Care Community to continue the conversations and connect with other listeners. 
• Join us LIVE for FREE virtual Care Circles meditation + chanting + breath work circles online. We meet monthly on the 1st Saturday, 3rd Sunday + 4th Sunday. 
• Follow us on BLUESKY + IG!
• Join our mailing list to get our weekly QS Bulletin with Care Nuggets and updates on Care Cirlce + podcast updates sent directly to you.
• QS Resources: News, Education + Care.

QS Community Care Circle recording of August 17th, Chant + Breathe.

We invite you get comfy, grab some hydration and join us in chanting together.

The Queer Spirit Community gathers on the 3rd Sunday of each month for practices in devotional chanting, toning and song, as well as breath work + movement. These practices are faciltated by TanyaMarck Oviedo (they/them) and Nick Venegoni (he/they). They are curated + inspired by the planetary + astrological + pagan wheel of the year energies in mind.

In this practice we honor the astrological energies of the Moon in Gemini + Jupiter in Cancer + Saturn in Aries - reality + Neptune in Aries - fantasy.

The sanskrit mantras we chanted today:

• Om Gum Ganapayei Namaha
  translation - "Salutations to Ganesha, remover of obstacles."
• Om Gum Gurubhyo Namaha
  translation - "Salutations to the Gurus, I bow to you."

Gratitude for today's Mantras from "Healing Mantras" by Thomas Ashley-Farrand.

We honor with Gratitude + Thanks the sacred Practices + Traditions + Peoples + Lands: Yoga, Ayurveda – Sanskrit, Mantra, Raga, Hindi & Urdu language music traditions, Buddhism + Tibet + Meditation; Tongva + Kizh + Chumash + Ohlone; Tarot + Astrology + Magic + Witchcraft; the teachers who have carried this wisdom and shared it with us ~ Gracias.

As always, you can find all things Queer Spirit HERE. 

Links + Resources + Invitations:

• An invitation to the private Queer Spirit Care Community to continue the conversation and connect with other listeners. 
• Join us for FREE virtual Care Circles meditation + chanting + breath work circles online. We meet monthly on the 1st Saturday, 3rd Sunday + 4th Sunday. 
• Follow us on BLUESKY + IG!
• Join our mailing list to get news, Care Circle + podcast updates sent directly to you.
• QS Resources: News, Education + Care.

 

Ryan Loiselle is a non-binary queer person (using he/him or they/them pronouns) and has been exploring radical identity and spirituality since their early 20s. While that journey has involved enculturation as a gay male and initiation into some more organized systems their experience has always been foregrounded by deep interest in expressing and celebrating their own queerness and discovering the inherent magic that can come out of liminal being. Under the name Sister Sharin' Dipity, they became fully-professed member of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence in 2003 and continues that work today as the current Prioress of the Portland Sisters. In 2018, he was initiated as a Brother of the Unnamed, an ecstatic spiritual path for men who love men that focuses on service and personal work with ancestors and the deities connected to that path. In his secular life, Ryan is a licensed professional counselor and gender therapist in private practice in Portland Oregon where they also serve as the Clinical Supervisor for Brave Space, a counseling center devoted to supporting a transgender, non-binary and other gender expansive individuals and their families.

Episode Highlights

• Ryan tells us who the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (SPI) are, how they began and what they do today. He also tells us how he first discovered them and his path to joining them.
  
• They share their ideas about the connection of the Sisters to the Radical Faeries.
  
• Ryan talks about how being a Sister shaped his spiritual life and his own queer identity.
  
• We discuss how the Sisters help us push and expand our ideas of gender through their own authentic explorations.
  
• Ryan talks about becoming a therapist and how he came to focus on gender and identity.
  
• They share how they use and practice existential therapy in their practice.
  
• We talk about breaking gender role norms, no matter what your sexual or gender identity is.
  

Web links

• Find Ryan at InContextCounseling.com or Brave Space
• Connect with the Portland Sisters

 

Grab your FREE Guide - Needs, Boundaries & Self-Care for Queer Folks.  Download it here.

Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

And follow us on Instagram!

Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

Kerin "KB" Berger (she/her) is a physician assistant (PA) practicing in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from Quinnipiac University PA program in 2015 with a master's in health sciences. She works full-time at the LA LGBT Center in the sexual health and education department. Additionally, she performs high resolution anoscopy for anal cancer prevention. Kerin is an adjunct professor at Charles Drew University (CDU) PA program where she implemented the LGBTQI and nonbinary curriculum. Kerin travels around the U.S. speaking to medical professionals, students, mental health clinicians, community members and advocates. She lives in West Hollywood with her wife, Jordan and her dog, Rilo. She loves to cycle, travel, and drink old fashions.

Episode Highlights

• KB explains what a Physician Assistant (PA) is and how it's different from a doctor or a nurse.
  
• She shares how she got interested in medicine by being interested in science.
  
• KB talks about her podcast "Queer Meducation" and her inspiration to start it to bridge the medical and queer communities.
  
• She felt like her medical education didn't prepare her to work her best with the sexual health of queer folks.
  
• Later on she was invited to come give a presentation on queer health to medical professionals, and this gave her insight to the level of ignorance and inspired her to do more.
  
• She shares ideas about how queer folks can find queer and friendly medical practitioners. (GLMA)
  
• KB shares tells us what kinds of health issues queer folks might be overlooking and encourages us to pay a bit more attention to. 
  

Web links

• Find more at  QueerMeducation.com 
  
• iTunes,  Instagram, Facebook &  Twitter
• GLMA - Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equalilty

 

Grab your FREE Guide - Needs, Boundaries & Self-Care for Queer Folks.  Download it here.

Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

And follow us on Instagram!

 Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

Gede Parma (Fio Aengus) is a Balinese-Australian witch, international teacher, magical mentor, author, and initiate. Gede (they/them pronouns) cherishes the initiatory mysteries of four powerful witchcraft traditions, and is a co-founder of the Coven of the Wildwood and midwife and initiate of the Wildwood Tradition. They are also an active initiate of Reclaiming and Anderson Feri. Gede has authored or coauthored five books.

Gede/Fio's work links animism to heresy to sorcery to poetry to spirit-work to sex to faerie faith to folklore. Most of their time is spent reading Tarot, working magic, teaching and celebrating the Craft, mentoring witches and spirit-workers, singing and drumming, and laughing with friends. 

They currently reside in the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal Peoples, in so-called Brisbane, Australia.

Episode Highlights

• Gede talks about their first spirituality came from being born into Balinese Hinduism which includes mysticism and Tantra. They started exploring witchcraft on their own in childhood.
  
• They share their ideas about what it means to be born a witch and to practice magic.
  
• We muse over the intersection of queer people coming out and discovering their own personal spirituality.
  
• Gede shares about their first experiences of racism and cultural appropriation within their multicultural experience growing up as a child in both Australia and Bali; and within pagan community.
  
• We discuss the practice of white on white calling out of cultural appropriation
  
• Gede talks about Intention vs. impact, and the relationship of money and spiritual appropriation.
  
• They talk about their engagement and influence from the Reclaiming tradition, and its embracing of multi-gendered identities in its community.

Web links

• Find more at GedeParma.com 
  
• Instagram, Facebook & YouTube

 

Grab your FREE Guide - Needs, Boundaries & Self-Care for Queer Folks.  Download it here.

 Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

And follow us on Instagram!

 Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

Sâde Gryffin, MFA, is an Oakland based Mystic, Psychic Energy Healer, Teacher and Artist. Born and raised in Wales/UK, his practice is deeply rooted in earth-based Welsh mysticism. Sâde brings a bold and pragmatic sensibility to his work, through a unique combination of psychic lineage, intensive clairvoyant training, 30 years experience in the healing arts, and his former career as a seasoned arts professor.

Sâde is a GQ/Trans/Gay man. In all aspects of his practice he strives to create safe, nonjudgmental containers for LGBTQI individuals, communities and allies. Sâde loves to co-create intentional sacred space and earth-based ceremony. In his private practice, he integrates his intensive psychic reading skills with deep energy healing work to facilitate profound transformation for his clients, in all aspects of their lives.  

Episode Highlights

• Sâde describes himself as an integrated psychic practitioner, what that means to him, and how he uses energy healing in his practice.
  
• He and Nick discuss the importance of empowering their clients to take agency and sovereignty in their own healing work.
  
• Sâde shares how he first started doing energy and divination work by exploring earth based practices and herbal studies.
  
• He works with people on a variety of issues from physical, emotional and spiritual; including working with a lot of other healers and helpers.
  
• Sâde talks about deconstructing gender and decolonizing his work, especially by being mindful of his language in teaching and explaining what's happening with clients.
  
• He also shares about his work to uncover Celtic appropriation that happens in new age circles and the larger culture.
  
• We talk about connecting with sacred sites, and Sâde's particular interest in stone circles.
  
• Sâde explains more about his classes and online workshops, to help people dive deeper into their healing and energy clearing work.
  

 

Web links

• Find him at SâdeGryffin.com
  
• Instagram & Facebook

 

"Reclaim the Power of YOU" - An online course for LGBTQ+ folks. Begins October 5ht. Info & Registration here.

Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

 And follow us on Instagram!

  Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

Gregory Foster has had a life long dedication to the exploration of queer men's spiritual and sexual well-being. He has studied Reiki, Healing Touch and Holistic Nutrition and has blended his interests in art, sexuality and spirituality into a self published magazine called "The Holy Male" where he curates the work of queer, gay, bi and trans male identified people into the quarterly publication.  Gregory has spoken at universities in Canada about his past experiences as a sex worker, shame, vulnerability and the role our sexuality can have in our spiritual healing and cultivation of self love. A self identified "polymath" or "multipotentalite,"  he is currently working on his latest project 'Folk + Foster', which is an online store and brand that is dedicated to bringing his multiple projects and personal vision to the public. Gregory currently resides on Salt Spring Island.  

Episode Highlights

• Gregory talks about his inspiration to start The Holy Male quarterly magazine as an idea for a book to explore gay spirituality, sexuality and art.
  
• The magazine includes art and writings from a queer male spiritual perspective.
  
• Gregory shares the path of his spiritual exploration as a queer man growing up in a religious home.
  
• We discuss connecting to nature as a way many queer folks find a path back to spirituality.
  
• Gregory shares his experiences and explorations of blending spiritual practice with sex work.
  
• He shares why queer spirituality is so important today - it's not all light and easy, but inner work is challenging and rewarding.
  

 

Web links

• Find Gregory & the magazine at  TheHolyMale.com 
  
• As well as on Folk+Foster, Instagram, Tumblr &  Facebook

 

"Reclaim the Power of YOU" - An online course for LGBTQ+ folks. Info & Registration here.

 Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

 And follow us on Instagram!

 Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

rexylafemme (rex renée leonowicz) is a visual + performing artist, writer, and musician born and raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY. As a working class trans femme, rex's work is grounded in a politics of radical resistance, healing and witness. rex blends genders and genres, utilizing drag, comedy, visual art, and burlesque, to critically respond to the relationships people "on the margins" have with our surroundings and each other. rex's book of poems and illustrations, when there is no one and there is everyone is available from Magic Helicopter Press. rex is also a practicing witch and offers spiritual readings and mentorship with a focus on radical occultism. they co-create with bloom wave collective, a network of artists and organizers building revolutionary culture in New York City.

Episode Highlights

• rex talks about being the family entertainer growing up, which influenced their performance art.
  
• As a child, rex explored divination and had spiritual experiences with deceased relatives.
  
• We discuss the ways that witchcraft is inherently queer and trans.
  
• rex uses drag and performance art as ritual for healing and banishing, and talks about embodiment as a spiritual practice.
  
• They also use poetry and creative arts as a divination tool, and writing poetry as an oracle.
  
• rexy does an impromptu divination from their poetry about supporting the queer future.
  
• Their first experience of performing burlesque had an empowering and spiritual effect on them.
  

 

Web links

• Find them at  rexylafemme.com 
• Instagram, Twitter &  Facebook
• Bloom Wave Collective on Insta

 

Reclaim the Power of YOU - NEW e-course to Transform Your Relationship To Yourself & Others

Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

 And follow us on Instagram!

  Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.

Phoenix Song is a licensed trauma therapist, expressive arts practitioner, certified hypnotherapist, and applied shamanic counselor serving healers, artists, and spiritual seekers in their own deep healing work. She is passionate about supporting others in reconnecting with the wisdom of our bodies and the Earth, taking back our own power, and connecting to our own creative and spiritual paths. She is in the process of opening a second business, Earth Based Wisdoms, with a focus on offering energy work and earth based healing services to individuals and groups. Phoenix is also a writer, poet, singer, dancer, and yoga student. She is deeply in love with the healing power of the arts and the greatest artist of all, this magical being of Earth.

Episode Highlights

• Phoenix shares how she became a healer by connecting to the mysterious energy of nature and asking for her "magic powers" to come to her.
  
• We talk about praying in an earth-based way by connecting to the different elements of nature.
  
• Our wild, queer nature has been taken from us and connecting to the earth and calling that essence back is empowering.
  
• Phoenix shares her ideas of healing the "sacred space of me" as a way of bringing back wholeness and compassion to ourselves.
  
• She talks about the intersection of psychotherapy, hypnotherapy and earth based wisdom practices (aka. eco-therapy or "shamanic" practices), and how she weaves those all together in her practice.
  
• We discuss biological cycles and spiritual initiations, and how they hold power and teachings for us when we are present to them. 

Web links

• Find Phoenix at PhoenixSongtherapy.com - Instagram & Facebook
  
• Also at EarthBasedWisdoms.com - Instagram

 

Grab your FREE Guide - Needs, Boundaries & Self-Care for Queer Folks.  Download it here.

 Join the Queer Spirit Community Facebook group to continue the conversation and stay up to date on new episodes. 

 And follow us on Instagram!

  Join our mailing list  to get news and podcast updates sent directly to you.