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 August 8-14, 2010
Bodhi Manda Zen Center
Jemez Springs, New Mexico
The Summer Retreat is a chance to really "get away from it all"; to really recover from the stresses of daily life; to make new connections with other men. There is extraordinary power to be found in a community of gay men gathered together for seven days in such an intimate setting. With the loving encouragement of brothers, we are able to see ourselves more clearly and empower each other in realizing our life's potential, taking small steps and sometimes leaps, toward living life to the fullest.
August 18-21, 2010
Bodhi Manda Zen Center
Jemez Springs, New Mexico
Come and play in a group of erotic explorers and open up the amazing potential that lives within your erotic self. Identify and cultivate the spark that stirs inside you, trusting it to lead you to your erotic fire. Interrupt the patterns of habit, judgment, or comparison that block your sexual freedom. Practice surrender and spontaneity. Be real. Have fun. Step fearlessly into the ecstasy that lives inside your body and soul. Can you imagine that?
September 10-12, 2010
Kirkridge Retreat Center
Delaware Water Gap
Tantric Tribes comes to the New York metro area! Spend three days of fall color, rejuvenating and reawakening. The fusion of the powerful and complementary practices of Tantra and Yoga allows you to harness your sexual drive and awaken your Kundalini energy. Once harnessed, this energy is channeled into a dynamic and healing force in your life. The practice of Tantra alone is a very energizing experience, but blending the benefits and principles of yoga with tantra sexual practices transforms all aspects of your life.
Join our tribe of queer spirits for a radical, playful and passionate exploration of the deep erotic wisdom at the heart of the Christian mystical tradition. In this four-day experiential workshop, we will free the teaching of Jesus from millennia of distortion, begin to heal our own shame and fear, re-awaken our erotic spirits, and celebrate ecstatic Christian ceremonies which unite us with the divine. This is a workshop for spiritual and erotic adventurers: gay and bi men who are willing to question their beliefs, feel their wounds, and explore their own erotic edges - a workshop for men who are willing to risk joy!
April 8-23, 2011
Egypt and the Nile
Filling up very early - only 6 spaces remain!
Experience Egypt as few people ever will as we make special arrangements to be allowed inside the Great Pyramid and to get up close and personal with the Sphinx (access inside the Great Pyramid and to the Sphinx are off limits to the general public and have been for many years). These are just two of the many opportunities that wait for you on this intimate travel adventure.
A private visit to the King's Chamber inside the Great Pyramid...
A private visit to the Sphinx to stand between it's paws, to place your hands upon it...
A private visit to the Isle of Philae and the Temple of Isis at sunrise...
Ten days/9 nights cruising the Nile on our own private dahabiya (a luxury sailing yacht)...
Six nights at the world famous Mena House Hotel at the foot of the Pyramids...
A small, intimate group of fellow journeyers (a maximum of 16)...
This is a very special Spirit Journey indeed, one that can truly be called
"a journey of a lifetime." |
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Dear Spirit Journeyers,
This newsletter will be a little short since I have so much going on preparing for our Annual Summer Retreat and Authentic Eros coming in about two weeks.
This past weekend Bob Pileggi and I lead our "Welcoming Happiness" workshop at Kirkridge, and I'm still floating on a post-workshop cloud.
I am so blessed to be able to spend time with other men that are searching and exploring. What a joy!
I fall more in love with Kirkridge everytime I'm there. It's hard to believe that this wonderful place is only 80 miles from Manhattan or Philadelphia. I'm so happy that I found it!
I hope you all are having an incredible summer. Even if there are "challenges" in your life right now, try to take at least a little time to focus on what you do have and spend a little less time focusing on what you don't have. It really does help keep things in perspective!
Much Love and Many Hugs,
Calendar Updates
There are spaces still remaining for both the 18th Annual Summer Retreat and Authentic Eros. Our beloved Bodhi Manda Zen Center once again hosts us for both retreats. If you've never experienced New Mexico and the Bodhi, come see why we have been going there for 18 years! Red rock cliffs, natural hot springs, a river for cold plunges and the company of other men that are exploring what it means to be alive... It really doesn't get any better than this. If you're thinking of attending either event, please register soon to insure you get a space!
Ray Whetstone brings Tantric Tribes - Naked Yoga And Erotic Energy For Men to Kirkridge September 10-12. Ray presents a wonderful weekend of Tantric practice, naked yoga and erotic exploration. Come, re-connect with yourself and make new connections with other men.
Hunter Flournoy's new workshop The Erotic Body of Christ, is proving to be very popular. There are already 8 men registered and it has only been on the website for about a month! It's also being held at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center and runs from September 16 through September 19. Join Hunter for what will be a radical, playful and passionate exploration of the deep erotic wisdom at the heart of the Christian mystical tradition; using the true teachings of Christ to help heal the wounds of organized religion.
And lastly, our Wonders of Egypt journey coming in April of 2011 is filling up very early (there are only six spaces left). Don't miss this very special opportunity to experience Egypt as few people ever will!
This Month's Special Focus
"Go Where You Want To Go" - A little article that has some general travel tips and encouragement to explore the world.
SpiritFund Information
Thanks to SpiritWear sales and your generosity, a scholarship was awarded in June that is allowed someone to attend the Tantric Tribes Workshop.
No matter how you choose to support SpiritFund, either with direct donations or by buying items at SpiritWear, know that you are making a difference in people's lives. To date seven people have benefited from SpiritFund.
Donations and applications for scholarships can be made online at the SpiritFund page. On the SpiritFund page you will also find a list of Frequently Asked Questions that should explain everything about the scholarship program.
Total Donations Last Month: $0.00
Profits from SpiritWear Sales Last Month: $0.00
Total Income to Date: $2557.00
Total Expenses to Date: -$108.00
Total Net SpiritFund Income to Date: $2449.00
Number of Scholarship Applications: 31
Total Number of Scholarships Accepted: 7
Total Amount Awarded: $2425.00
SpiritFund Balance: $24.00
Go Where You Want To Go
General Travel Tips by Howie Holben
Most importantly, let your heart decide where you want go and what you want to see. Surrender to your dreams. This may sound silly, but I believe that we should let our curiosity, desires and wanderlust lead us. Visiting only "popular" gay destinations, or visiting only places deemed "gay-friendly" by other people, is an extremely limiting way to live life.
I have traveled the world over and usually in the company of my husband. Not once, not anywhere, have we ever been made to feel unwanted while we were traveling.
Now granted, we may have not visited all of the most homophobic places on the planet, but we certainly have been to countries that are not known to be "gay-friendly" (if you listen to mass media), like Egypt. Thanks to the news media, we could get the impression that the minute a gay man sets foot on Egyptian soil he will be imprisoned. This could not be further from the truth.
There are several reasons for this.
First, nobody can know if you're gay or not just by looking at you. You may think you're walking around with the words "I'm gay" written on your forehead, but you're not. And unless you walk down the street in a lip-lock with your boyfriend, no one can tell if you're gay.
Sure, some of us are more "flamboyant" than others, but "flamboyant" is also relative to the culture you are in. The attention you may receive from the local people is most likely because you look like a tourist, not because you look gay.
This brings us to the second point, you're a tourist. Because you're a tourist, most everyone is going to love you. Your presence supports the local economy, gives people jobs and puts food on their tables. Even if someone does not approve of gay people, they're not likely to be cruel or chase you out of their shop or restaurant if they think you're gay.
This holds true everywhere we go as gay people, not just when we're travelling. A merchant or restaurant here in America is very unlikely to refuse you service for the same financial reason. Yes, there can be zealots anywhere that will refuse you service, but that is actually more likely to happen in your home town than it is to happen when you are vacationing.
Last, governments are not people. A lot of the world hated the American government's policies during the George W. Bush years, yet they did not blame or hate the American people. I was told this countless times and in many countries by the local people. Just because a government has an anti-gay attitude or unjust laws, it does not mean that the people on the street have the same attitudes.
It has been my experience that if you treat others with respect, offer a smile, say please and thank you (especially using the local language), most people could care less who you love or who you sleep with.
All you really need to do is to practice a little common sense when you travel.
Below are few points to remember while traveling:
Don't Be The "Ugly American"
America is not the only country on this planet. We do not own the world so don't act like you are better than the local people.
Respect Local Customs And Traditions
American ways and traditions are no better or worse than any other culture's. Learn the local cultural traditions and abide by them. You will gather a lot more disapproval from local people by not following local customs than you will by being gay.
Learn A Little Of The Local Language
Learn at least a few words of the local language. The most important words to learn are "hello", "good-bye", "please" and "thank you". I have had many wonderful encounters with local people just because I said (or at least tried to say) "thank you" in their own language.
Visiting Known Gay Establishments
If you are going to a country that has a strong governmental anti-gay bias and/or anti-gay laws, do not visit known local gay clubs or other "gay gathering places". This one is a "no-brainer".
Want to see my banana?
Say no to solicitations to buy sex, no matter how cute he is!
Smile
Smile... smile a lot. You're on vacation for goodness sake. Smile, laugh, have fun and enjoy the people you encounter.
Leave Your Impatience At Home
The entire world does not run at the same pace as America (thank goodness). Leave the rushing at home; go with the local flow; participate in the local conception of time.
Be Aware Of Your Surroundings
Do your best to pay attention to what is going on around you. You don't have to be paranoid, suspicious or fearful, but do be aware. Listen to your intuition. If something "doesn't feel right" about where you find yourself, then leave. Also, make mental notes about things you can use as landmarks in case you get lost.
Don't Go It Alone
This is somewhat related to being solicited to buy sex. In general, it is probably not a good idea to go off alone with someone you do not know. Of course, every situation is different and you will need to exercise your own best judgement.
So get out there. Explore the world. We only get one chance to live this life. Don't let fear keep you from living your dreams.
- Howie Holben |
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