MyOutSpirit.com Gay Spirituality Blog

LGBTQ Buddhist Meditation Retreat at Garrison Institute is Your Chance for Revival and Reflection

 

2016 is shaping up to be a wild one, with a contentious election process and conflict all around us. From April 14-16, get away from it all and centered in your right mind at Garrison Institute’s annual silent retreat for (and by) LGBTQ people: “Waking Up Free, Whole, and Fabulous: Healing Within and In the World.”

 

“Attending a retreat revitalizes my aspiration for mindfulness practice, inspires me to continue deepening my practice, and reconnects me to myself and others,” says La Sarmiento, teacher at Insight Meditation Community of Washington and Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, and transgender themselves. “I come home feeling more grounded, open, compassionate, loving, and accepting of others.”

 

Participating in a mindfulness retreat even affects others in your life through “retreat osmosis,” says Madeline Klyne, co-founder of South Shore Insight in Hanover, MA.

 

“When I come home from a retreat, my wife says she can absorb some of the retreat energy I bring home! We are more open, more present, more spacious, more awake, and more connected.”

 

“A silent retreat offers a rare opportunity to take a break from our often crazy, busy world,” says Sarmiento.

 

Dharma teacher Gavin Harrison explains, “On a silent retreat, there is an opportunity to turn towards the infinite loveliness of our true nature, and this understanding is the gift that accompanies us back to the everydayness of our lives.

 

“What we are, most truly and deeply, is a ground of unutterable wakefulness, love, compassion, and wisdom. All the mystics tell us this.”

 

“Every year, I am reminded of the power of LGBTIQ people practicing together,” Klyne continues. “Many of us don’t even recognize the stress and tension we feel in a world where LGBTIQ people are still marginalized, and this retreat gives us a chance to literally breathe outside of our fears and anxieties.”

 

Mindfulness is important for LGBTQ people to practice, Sarmiento says, because “when we are NOT mindful, present, or comfortable in our skin, we have a tendency to: withdraw, act out, become impatient, be irritable, engage in unskillful behavior, be judgmental or overly critical, and unkind.”

 

“I was infected with HIV before the virus was identified,” Harrison recalls. “Without the ground of mindfulness at the time, and without a consolidation of inner affection and love, I gave myself to a sexual situation even though the voices within me were loud and filled with caution. I turned away from the knowing of my heart. It was an unconscious moment with permanent repercussions.

 

“I consider mindfulness, the spiritual journey, and awakening to my true nature to be the best medicine available on the planet!”

 

All the retreat leaders agree that mindfulness and meditation have enormous potential to make LGBTIQ people happier and healthier. Harrison concludes:

 

“The LGBTIQ community is thirsty for more love, honesty, integrity, and authenticity. We can make this happen moment-to-moment by the choices we make – by how you live your precious human life. When our preciousness is valued deeply we become a more trustworthy and impactful force for good in our beautiful world. We become the solution we pray for.”

 

 

Learn more and register for the retreat at https://www.garrisoninstitute.org/event/waking-up-free-whole-and-fabulous-healing-within-and-in-the-world-lgbtiq-retreat/

 

 

LGBTQI Meditation and Mindfulness: Reflections from the Teachers of Garrison Institute's LGBTQI Meditation Retreat

From April 9-12, 2015, you are invited to attend an LGBTQI Meditation Retreat at Garrison Institute in upstate New York: Embodying Presence in Our Lives: A Mindfulness Meditation Weekend for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, and Queer Communities.

MyOutSpirit was invited to chat with some of the retreat leaders about how meditation can improve the lives of queer people.

 

Being Gay Without Gay Culture

After a few too many late nights out, many people in the gay community begin to feel that they are ready for a new routine.  Within the course of a year, I went from being lost in a college daze to feeding orphanages one pair of yoga pants at a time.  This story is about how I woke up and moved on.

 

Disease and Pain Cannot Keep You From Joy

{by Patrick Henry Morris of Sang-gye Healing Arts}

It’s been a week since I returned from retreat in upstate New York. I’m settling into my newfound freedom of mind quite nicely. I feel so grateful to have had such a nourishing experience for my body and soul. I’m counting down the days until I can make the small train trip journey again to live with a beautiful sangha, mindfully.

I stayed for a week with the brothers and sisters of Blue Cliff Monastery. I was welcomed with smiles of joy and care upon arriving. I was just happy to be out of the concrete of New York City for a few days. I was so excited to see trees, grass, birds, and deer. The earth’s beauty was almost overwelming but I knew it was just what I needed.

If you’ve been following my story you know that the last 5 years have been anything but easy, especially the last 6 months have been extra intense on top of ongoing health issues. I’ve been living with/suffering from/learning from HS disease for about that long. Though I’ve never experienced pain quite like the kind provided by this disease, I have no regrets about my illness. It has been my greatest teacher, one I am eternally in debt to for its teachings. About two months ago, I awoke from a night of restful sleep missing my symptoms of illness I have been living with for these last few years. Fingers crossed, those symptoms still have not showed back up.

I’m not sure why the universe decided to throw me a bone but I couldn’t be more thankful. There were times where I didn’t believe I would live through this disease. There were times when I wanted to give up. There were times where I just wanted to be put out of my misery. Especially those times where It was too painful for me to get up and walk. Having these experiences in my timeline, the fact that I was able to use my legs and entire body during this retreat - to live mindfully and feel my experience at the monastery - kept bringing up a huge sense of gratitude with every step I would make. During walking meditation, just feeling the earth under my feet and breathing with each step made me tear up. I couldn’t believe I was walking, fully healed with no pain. This entire experience has been miraculous. I have no other explanation.

I needed to get away from the city and reground myself in the loving energy of nature. I went on many walks through the beautiful forest, feeling each step and looking at the streams, leaves, and clouds. The earth seemed brand new, full of possibility. Finally I was waking up to my life. Finally I was realizing all that I had within me.

For a week I lived in the present moment. I needed nothing else, wanting nothing else. I had everything I needed. Health, good food, support, meditation, friends, and the outside world full of beauty. The monastics that live at the monastery were so full of joy and inspiring. They shared beautiful stories of healing and wisdom. I listened to every word as if It might be my last time to use my ears. I ate every meal as if it might be my last meal to taste. I walked every step as if It was my last on the earth. I appreciated it. It nourished my body and soul and slowly, day by day, I began to come alive.

This retreat was a celebration. A celebration of healing. A celebration of my journey here. I’m so grateful for the suffering that has been handed to me as a gift. I want to learn from it all and help others relate to their pain in a differnet manner. It doesn’t have to consume us. We can learn to smile at our pain. We can learn to except pain and joy at the same time, instead of running towards joy and away from pain. We can make space in my hearts and minds to encompass whatever may be arising.

The peace and healing I recieved from this retreat has re-inspired many areas of my life. Just by being present with myself, all my problems started to unravel themselves. I’ve returned with a new vigor for life. I’m curious about all the people I share this world with. I vow to see them as no different than myself. Everyone is my family and I can smile at them. I want to learn as much as possible about everyone I meet. I want to help them. I want them to heal. Let’s heal together.

The monastics taught me many different things but the teaching that resonated with me the most was about healing our ancestors. It is Buddhists' belief that, when you practice mindfulness in everyday life, you heal past wounds. Not only do you heal your own wounds, but you also heal your ancestors' wounds. Going back as far as time goes back. Breaking the cycle of pain and giving life. I heal myself and I heal all others in contact with me in this life. If that’s not motivation to continue to heal and practice than I don’t know what is. I love that I can provide relief from pain for my family just by healing myself. We are really all connected. We really are all in this together.

I envision a day where we can all heal. A time when all of us can look at our minds and make friends with them. I look forward to the day when we are no longer enslaved by our own minds. When we live in harmony with the world around us. With its pain, with its joy. We will smile.

Smile, there is love.
Smile, there is pain.
Smile, don’t run away.
Smile, stay here.
Smile, be here.
Smile, feel.
Smile, accept.
Smile, send love.
Smile, recieve love.
Smile, you are beautiful.
Smile, you can heal.
Smile, you are alive.
Smile, to the possibilities.
SMILE

 

A Gay Yogi Begins His Year Long Meditation Instructor Training

 

{by Patrick Henry Morris, Awakened Artistry}

Last weekend I started my year long immersion training with The Interdependence Project in New York City. Entering those doors and climbing the 200 stairs to the loving space of my Sangha I was nervous with the teeming possiblities. What would this training mean to me? How would it change me? What would I learn? Am I smart enough to complete this? Will the others understand me? Will I be a good teacher? Will I be a good student?

As we took our seats, Ethan Nichtern started by giving us some meditation instruction. At the end, he asked us to get in touch with what we feel in our bodies and to start getting comfortable with being on the spot, showing up and staying in the present, no matter how fearful we may be. At that moment, all the questions in my mind vanished. I made a commitment to be available to what the world was teaching me at that moment.

Being completely open to what was arising didn’t mean I wasn’t scared anymore. I don’t think I stopped sweating for the rest of the weekend. We went through a study session and taking turns teaching mindfulness meditation and giving feedback. I was nervous for all of it except when I was actually leading meditation. I stayed with those feelings, I felt them. And what do ya know, I didn’t die. I’m still here to relate this story to you. I always assume whatever hard task is in front of me will kill me but some how I prevail. I should start remembering that from the beginning.

As the weekend progressed, I kept feeling more inspired and grateful for the opportunity to learn from 15 different teachers during the course of this year. People from all walks of life with such vastly different experiences. Each unique in their own way, yet we have so much in common. It’s nice to share a space with so many indivuduals who are interested in learning more about themselves and their own minds.

I’m no longer nervous about being put on the spot. I know it’s exactly what I need to do to learn more about myself, become accepting, and grow. I’m inspired to continue on this journey and learn how to better relate the teachings so that others may benefit.

May I be of benefit.

---

IF ONLY YOU KNEW…

{Mary Anne Flanagan, Toning the OM™}

If only you knew how magical you are.

If only you knew how beautiful you are.

If only you knew how radiant you are.

If only you knew how magnificent you are.

If only you knew how creative you are.

If only you knew how joyful you are.

If only you knew how peaceful you are.

If only you knew how playful you are.

If only you knew how blessed you are.

If you only knew how supported you are.

If only you knew how powerful you are.

If only you knew how embraced you are.

If only you knew how loved you are.

Breathe in your magical, beautiful, radiant, magnificent, creative, joyful, peaceful, playful, blessed, supported, powerful, embraced, and loved SELF. You are all of this and much more – always and in all ways.

Mary Anne Flanagan is a Certified Life Coach, Shamanic Practitioner and Teacher, workshop facilitator, inspired speaker, and creator of Toning the OM™.  Mary Anne Flanagan/Toning the OM™: [email protected] or 917.238.9726. Visithttp://www.toningtheom.com

 

When You Don’t Know What to Do, Have a Cup of Tea

When You Don’t Know What to Do, Have a Cup of Tea
Mary Anne Flanagan, Toning the OM™

my mind is clear as water –

so peaceful, nothing troubles me.

such is the state of leaving

the self and all things behind.

i pour myself a cup of tea

and drink; it is sweet indeed.

~korean tea poem – 15^th century

When you don’t know what to do, have a cup of tea.

Mary Anne

Mary Anne Flanagan is a Certified Life Coach, Shamanic Practitioner and Teacher, workshop facilitator, inspired speaker, and creator of Toning the OM™.  Mary Anne Flanagan/Toning the OM™: [email protected] or 917.238.9726. Visit http://www.toningtheom.com

Meditation Fights Depression, Study Finds

Drugs like selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are effective treatments for the scourge of major depression, but what about the many patients who are reluctant to stay on the medication indefinitely, risking serious relapses? A new Canadian study suggests that a novel alternative – a form of meditation – actually does as good a job in preventing such relapses as the drugs.

Evidence suggests that major-depression patients will often discontinue their medication far too soon. So a team at Ontario’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health looked at whether mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) would work as a replacement. It teaches patients to regulate their emotions, monitor possible relapse triggers and adopt lifestyle changes that help maintain mood balance.

Participants in the study, published in Archives of General Psychiatry, were all treated with antidepressants until their symptoms went into remission. The 84 subjects were then divided into three groups: one that stayed on the drugs, one that took placebos and one that stopped taking the drugs and received MBCT. Relapse rates after 18 months for patients in the MBCT group did not differ from patients on antidepressants, both being in the 30% range, compared to a  70% relapse rate for those on placebos.

Read more: http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/12/07/meditation-as-good-as-drugs-for-depression-study/#ixzz17eh9XzAJ

photo: Lisa Omarali/Creative Commons

Slowing Down ~ Meditations

{Mary Anne Flanagan, Toning the OM}

 

As we begin a new month, we have been reminded, especially in the East Coast, of how extreme weather can allow us to slow down. Whether a big heat wave or heavy rains or even a tornado watch in NYC (!), the weather has been our greatest teacher this month. I know the weather has taught me to slow down, drink lots of water, rest, sit quietly (and enjoy ice cream). As we slow down to enjoy some vacation months, I invite you to spend time with some contemplative thoughts and questions and allow them to enter your heart.  

 

As an invitation, feel free to close your eyes, sit with your spine straight, and take a few soft breaths. Then inhale a little deeper through your nose, and on the exhale, repeat the mantra OM (AUM).  Do this three times. Allow yourself to really feel everything and become the observer of your thoughts. Feel free to focus on one question or statement below and just allow your experience to unfold.

  

In every breath, there is love.

 

Living in the moment frees us from living in the past.

 

Create space in your life for what you LOVE to do, rather than fill space with what you are comfortable doing.

 

What are some of the “waves” in my life I can naturally jump with ease? Where else in my life do I go with the flow? Go with the flow & the rest will follow.

The light in me is a reflection of you.

Who and what am I willing to meet with understanding?

When we choose to live in this moment, we choose a direct path to our heart and the divine. Being present to this moment right now means being home. Welcome home.

Each person will have their own experience so the invitation is to be open for whatever thoughts flow through you. Allow your mind and body to expand into the experience (without judgment).  Feel free to start with whatever mantra calls to you.

 

We are all students and teachers.

Mary Anne

 

Mary Anne Flanagan is an intuitive Shamanic Practitioner and Teacher, Certified Life Coach, workshop facilitator, inspired speaker, and creator of Toning the OM™.  Mary Anne Flanagan/Toning the OM™: [email protected] or 917.238.9726. Visit http://www.toningtheom.com

Summer Sun Meditation

{by Mary Anne Flanagan, Toning the OM}

Sit quietly..with your spine straight...breathe slowing in and out through your nose. Allow the exhale breath to last a little longer. Keep breathing until your whole body relaxes. Breathe through each part of your body.

Allow an image of the sun to come into your awareness. Allow whatever color of the sun come to you that feels really good. Sense it's presence just above you. Invite the rays of the sun to come into you. Allow the sunlight to brighten every thought and feeling. As you breathe in, sense the warmth of the sun and as you breathe out, sense the light of the sun. Bathe in the sun.

Connect with your own sun - the light that is you. Imagine sending this light out to someone you love so they can also bathe in the light. Spend some time bathing in the sun. When you are ready, slowly let the imagine of the sun go. The light is always there within, ready to shine. Bathe in the light of you in all ways.

Bring the light into your heart. Know that the light is always available, always there, and always ready to be shared with those around you.

Namaste,
Mary Anne

Mary Anne Flanagan is an intuitive Shamanic Practitioner and Teacher, Certified Life Coach, workshop facilitator, inspired speaker, and creator of Toning the OM™.  Mary Anne Flanagan/Toning the OM™: [email protected] or 917.238.9726. Visit http://www.toningtheom.com