Create with Spirit

Love and/or Marriage

I am so happy to share this invitation to you all blog readers!

I am involved with a great project called the Cubby Missalette, and we are looking for submissions for our next issue. The theme is Love and/or Marriage. 

Here is the invitation. Please stretch your creative wings and submit!

Dearest Cubby Lovers,

We hope this finds you head over heels in somersaults of ecstasy at the beginning of this promising New Year. Love is in the air, and oh, what a breath of freshness it is! As Bill Fisher said recently, "The zeitgeist has never felt this good, ever."

For one thing, we can not help being madly in love with our new first couple, whose palpable love for one another is truly awww-inspiring to behold. Not only are Mr. and Mrs. Obama lovers in every sense of the word, but their partnership as they start this new journey of leadership has the potential to bring about a seismic ideological shift in America that could smash the past decade's paradigm of fear, hate and misunderstanding and bring in a new era of rationalism, empathy and love.

But as the loveliest rose comes equipped with sharp thorns that prick us, so do our love affairs sometimes wound us and make our hearts bleed. Our new leadership is a dream come true and yet, in our own beloved home state of California, the same democratic process has brought about a malicious ban on marriage between loving couples of the same gender.

Love and/or Marriage:
a Cubby Missalette

Neil Young said, "only love can  break your heart."
And The Beatles professed, "love is all you need,"

Love is a promise. We are drawn to it over and over again  - driven wild by its potential, satisfied by its fruition and disappointed by its frustrations.

We feel that now is the perfect time to explore the subject of love, as well as its companion, marriage, and to explore the myriad forces, both personal and political, that come to bear upon them.

We are pleased to announce our intention to publish a brand new Cubby Missalette, where we can explore the heart's greatest emotion and society's most hallowed institution, including all the exotic terrain in between.

SO WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
We invite you to submit your lovingly wrought expressions on the subject of Love and/or Marriage.
This could be your thoughts, your feelings, your poetry, your prose, your drawings, your collages, your comics – anything that can fit into a 2-dimensional form!

And for those who are new to the Cubby, you can see past Missalette experiences here:http://cubby.net/missalette/index.html
Jol & Tristy are also overjoyed to answer any questions you may have or give further guidance in what we are looking for, for this exciting new issue!

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, FEB. 20, 2009
(Honoring Cubby Saint Kurt Cobain's birthday!)

PUBLICATION DAY: FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2009
Please note this is a FAST turnaround – just three weeks to create and submit. But what better subject to rally around and create something new? What better time to birth a new vision into the world?

We so much hope you will join us on this latest endeavor! Please contact either Jol at endofreligion@gmail.com or Tristy at tristy20@gmail.com to let us know that you are on board this crazy love train!

In gratitude,
Your Missalette  co-editors for this issue,
Trismegista Taylor and Jo(e)l Perez

Interfaith

My excellent friend Dan shared this animated video with me.

It really is one of the most beautiful, accessible, simple and profound descriptions of what it means to be truly Interfaith - to honor ALL paths, no matter what they look like. I hope you can watch it and share it with others in your life.

It was made by TheraminTrees.

Improvising My Way Through Life

When I moved to Petaluma a few years ago, I left behind a dynamic and creative life in San Francisco. I had a wonderful group of friends who I collaborated with on all sorts of projects, from zines, to Church of Craft gatherings, to a community access television show.

Those people are still very much in my life, but Petaluma is a long drive from San Francisco, so I don't get to share in as much fun with them as I used to.

One of the things I loved doing in San Francisco was improv. Improvisational theatre is a form of theatre in which the actors use improvisational acting techniques to perform spontaneously. I had the best teacher in the world, who recognized my talent and crazy imagination and encouraged me to stretch and try out my improvising wings in a number of different formats.

I fell in love with improv. For me it really is a spiritual practice (and you know I find spirituality in the strangest of places). When I walk out on to that stage, I don't know what is going to happen. I find I must trust a greater power than myself to come in and guide me and my fellow actors to a place of passion, interest and laughter. I am always surprised and amazed at what comes out of my mouth, or how my body starts to move. I find new aspects of my personality that I never knew I had. It was improv, actually, that helped me discover my inner preacher, that lead me on my path to ordination as an Interfaith Minister!

I was amazed to discover that once I started improvising again, my life started to shift. Suddenly opportunities that used to scare the daylights out of me weren't intimidating anymore. I take far more risks than I ever used to, knowing deeply in my heart that I will be O.K. - that there is something bigger than myself that is watching and guiding me.

Through a series of interesting events, I have found an improv troupe to perform with. We are the 6th Street Players and we will be performing the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month in Santa Rosa, CA, until at least June 2009. So our next shows are January 10th and 24th. Please come and see us perform! Buy some tickets!

I have found a new community of beautiful, creative, crafty geniuses in this group. There is something so powerful in connecting with people who truly are a part of my tribe. 

I want to encourage you to take the leap and do something you have always wanted to do. Is there someone who interests you whom you have never spoken to? Go up and say hello! Have you always wanted to learn how to paint? Learn how to ride a motorcycle? Put on a Puppet Show? Do it! Stay open to all the beautiful possibilities in your life and improvise!

Article in San Francisco Medicine Journal

I am very happy to say that I have a short article in the November issue of San Francisco Medicine: Journal of the San Francisco Medicine Society. This month's theme is "Art, Design, and Medicine." It's an excellent issue, full of great articles. 

In my article I highlight the amazing projects we showcase on the Arts & Healing Network, where I have worked for the past two years.

Download the PDF and enjoy! And please note the this PDF is a download of the WHOLE issue, which is worth reading, as it is chock-full of articles about art and healing in the health care industry.

Stop Shopping

Oh my Lordy, it's Holiday Time again. I am here to remind you that in this particularly difficult economic time, it is not only O.K. but joyfully wonderful to make your own gifts this year. In fact, why not start a new trend of making gifts for all the future holidays that will come upon us?

To inspire you, watch the latest video from Rev. Billy & The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. They have some wonderful ideas, including some gifts that the "non-creative" can give (although I believe everyone can make something!).

And remember, now is the time to start those projects, so they are ready for the holidays!

Walking the Talk

   

This posting was originally published in my monthly column on The Chaplaincy Institute (ChI)'s website which can be found here: http://www.chaplaincyinstitute.org/bio/taylor 

As I experienced the wild frenzy of media coverage and discussion around this year’s powerful and important election, I was struck by how important it is to walk carefully and truthfully as an Interfaith Minister.

Fortunately, I live a very diverse life, and I am in community and relationship with a variety of different people. As the heat turned up during this election, I started to hear how people really felt. Their morals, religious beliefs and ethical ideas came more often in conversation, blogs and e-mails.

Sometimes I was surprised at the things I heard or read. The majority of the time, I could easily respect those who had different ideas from my own. I could see why some women resonated with Sarah Palin or thought that offshore drilling in Alaska was a good idea, even though I didn’t agree with them. I could hear the fear behind the words of a woman who refused to vote for Barack Obama because he was a black man. It made me sad, more than angry.

My most challenging moment arose when I encountered the first of my (many) acquaintances who planned to vote “yes” on California’s Proposition 8. For those who don’t know, this most recent election included a proposition that proposed to eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry in California. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that statutes that limit marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the California Constitution. As a result of that ruling, same sex marriage was recognized as valid and legal in California. Proposition 8 (which passed by only 4%) now means the legality of all those marriages is in question.

This past summer, I was able to officiate at four same-sex wedding ceremonies. In some cases, the couple had been together over 10 years. Several couples had a child together. Each ceremony was incredibly full of love and celebration. Everyone present was so joyous that these couples, who up until this summer have legally been treated as second-class citizens, were now being treated equally and were able to bless and legalize their unions under the authority of the state of California.

In one ceremony, we included the "jumping of the broom" ceremony. The broom was tied with ribbons of blessing for the couple. [see photo] This ritual of jumping the broom has been used by both African-American slaves and Roma (also known as gypsies) to honor life commitments and marriage ceremonies for hundreds of years. Both groups of people were also not recognized as equal human beings in their culture and societies. This particular couple decided, along with vows and their ring exchange, to jump the broom in honor of the decades that they were not allowed to marry each other with the legal recognition of our state.

Here is a quote from my sermon about the broom, from the ceremony:

Jumping the broom is a tradition that was started in cultures in which certain groups of people, were not allowed to legally marry, due to ignorance, discrimination and cruelty.

Joyfully, today’s ceremony is legal in the state of California, and [our couple] also wanted to honor the fact that this very act of uniting together in legal matrimony has been illegal for so long. This jumping of the broom, honors those 9 years spent together, and the commitment they have already made, as well as honoring this delightful day when all of you can witness them in their holy promise to each other.

It breaks my heart to hear that this ceremony and all the other lesbian/gay ceremonies that have been performed this year, are no longer legal.

Many of the people I spoke to, who decided to vote “yes” on Prop. 8, did it for religious reasons. Their scripture, pastor, and/or church leaders told them that marriage should only be between a man and a woman.

This whole experience lead me to this question: What is the role of a spiritual leader when it comes to political decisions?

As an Interfaith Minister, I feel strongly that all people have a right to express their faith, exercise their right to worship, and talk about it anywhere and any way that they like. In fact, I think it is essential that those who practice an Interfaith life (whatever that may look like) should invite dialogue between faiths and hold that space for others who may have a hard time hearing views that are different from their own.

I am also angered that someone’s spiritual faith could lead to actions that alter a state’s constitution to deprive a group of people of legal rights. This is the first time in the history of our state's constitution that a human being’s rights were taken away. “Separate but equal” has been used before, with segregation in the South. We have finally abolished that ridiculous paradigm, only to re-enforce it in a different way. Whether you are gay/lesbian or not, you are hurt by this attack on civil rights.

I realize that I am a spiritual leader who is expressing her political views. I would never tell someone how to vote. I always tell everyone to vote with their hearts.  But is there a difference between my speaking up to oppose Prop. 8 and the pastor who tells his flock to vote “yes”? I currently do not have an answer to this question.

On the one hand, I believe that religion and politics should stay separate. It is what this country was founded on. Our country is far too diverse for any one faith to hold us all. That is, in fact, why I decided to become an Interfaith minister.

On the other hand, civil rights are being violated by this ruling. As a spiritual person, shouldn’t I fight for what I believe in and help make this a better world for all? I am not basing my views on any written testament; I am basing it on what feels right and true in my heart, as a loving human being. Yet is that enough of a difference?

I am still sitting with this important discernment. I am thankful to have such a diverse group of friends, family, co-workers and community, through which I can be exposed to new ideas and new ways of thinking. It keeps me good and honest, as an Interfaith minister, to hear and understand ways of thinking that I not only don’t practice but don’t agree with either.

I have had many spirited dialogues in-person and on-line with people who do not agree with me. I try to always speak from my heart, use “I statements”, and be respectful of the other person’s views. It is a powerful and important role, to hold the space in these dialogues and help others understand that we cannot force our wills onto others. We must listen in the same way that we wish to be heard, hopefully finding common ground somewhere in the middle.

No matter what your point of view is, I ask of everyone reading this today to hold that sacred space in your dialogues and communications. Such deep and respectful listening can transform our world.

 

          

                  

 

Curmudgeon: An Unlikely Army Chaplain

I just read a wonderful blog by an "unlikely Army Chaplain." He is a Jesuit Priest and has a great style of writing. He's got a great sense of humor and speaks with a great honesty and humility. Three things I think are essential to posses when working as a spiritual companion! He's currently writing about his two favorite prayers, "Help Me," and "Thank You." Check it out.

Reading this blog helps me feel a little bit better about the soldiers who are still stuck in this war. I hope there are other chaplains like this man, serving and companioning over there.

More Obama Art

I have just discovered that there is a whole blog dedicated to all the Obama art being created out there!

Check out the Obama Art Report!

Crafting the Revolution

Oh my, two political posts in a row! I try to keep politics off the blog but these two points are too important, and both relate very deeply to creating with spirit!

There is a great thing happening right now - artists are supporting the great change that hopefully will come with the election of Barack Obama in November, by selling/auctioning their work and donating everything to the Obama campaign.

Here are two that stand out:

Dan Funderburgh made this gorgeous 3 color, letter press poster and is selling it for $30. All proceeds go to the Obama campaign.

and

Quilter and designer Denyse Schmidt is raffling off this cool quilt, with all proceeds going towards the Obama campaign. You can buy your raffle ticket here.

So many of us are feeling frustrated and frightened for the future - supporting these crafty fundraising projects is a great way to do some good work and make a change in the world. Or maybe you have a crafty project that you would like to create for the Obama campaign?

No on Proposition 8!

I try not to get too political with this blog, if only because I firmly believe that religion and politics do not good bedfellows make. And interestingly enough, that is why I feel it is O.K. and even important to say in this blog that it is really imperative that all we Californians vote NO on Proposition 8.

The  proponents of Proposition 8 (the California Family Council, the Santa Ana Unified School District and the Coalition of African American Pastors) do not admit that their legislative attempt is religious. They are using California children as a screen to hide behind - "Teachers could be required to teach young children there is no difference between gay marriage and traditional marriage!" (taken directly from California's Official Voter Guide). This is a ridiculous scare tactic that isn't even true (notice the word "could" in there). They are hiding their religious agenda and it makes me sick to my stomach - at least be honest about it!

In the end, this is not a religious issue. It is a human being issue. Same sex couples are human beings and should have the right to marry if they choose. What is so hard to understand about that?

Proposition 8 eliminates the rights of same-sex couples to marry. In May 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that statutes that limit marriage to a relationship between a man and a woman violates the equal protection clause of the California Constitution. As a result, currently, same sex marriage is recognized as valid and legal in California.

I am an Interfaith Minister by profession and one of the reasons that I chose this path is that I feel we ALL deserve to have a minister to celebrate and witness all the joys and major life experiences on our journey. Officiating weddings is one of my favorite things to do as a minister and I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to perform LEGAL wedding ceremonies for gay and lesbian couples.

I did a wonderful wedding this past weekend for two incredible, loving women who have been together 9 years and have a son together. I wish all the creators of Proposition 8 could have been at this wedding to witness the outpouring of love, joy and celebration during this ceremony. How can anyone witness that kind of love and support for a couple NOT support the idea that they deserve and have every right to be legally wed? It really boggles my mind.

As you see in this photo, I am holding a broom that has been tied with ribbons of blessing for the couple. This particular couple decided, along with vows and their ring exchange, to jump the broom, in honor of the decades that they were not allowed to marry each other, under the eyes of the legally binding body of our state. The ritual of jumping the broom has been used by both African-American slaves and Roma (also known as gypsies) to honor life commitments and marriage ceremonies.

Here is a quote from my sermon about the broom, from the ceremony:

Jumping the broom is a tradition that was started in cultures in which certain groups of people, were not allowed to legally marry, due to ignorance, discrimination and cruelty.

Joyfully, today’s ceremony is legal in the state of California, and {our couple] also wanted to honor the fact that this very act of uniting together in legal matrimony has been illegal for so long. This jumping of the broom, honors those 9 years spent together, and the commitment they have already made, as well as honoring this delightful day when all of you can witness them in their holy promise to each other.

Here’s what you can do to help defeat Proposition 8 (taken directly from Equality California PACs site).

• Make a Donation
  The cost of airtime doubles in the fall, when many candidates and organizations all vie for advertising time. More information>>
     
         
• Volunteer
  Join our group of like-minded advocates who are reaching out to NO on 8 supporters at organized phone banks and recruitment events. More Information>>
     
     
• Host a House Party
  You don't need a house to hold a Get Engaged event. Host an event that raises awareness and funds for No on 8. Register your event to download a host kit that gives you everything you need to know to make your event a success! More Information>>
     
         
• Fundraise Online
  Generate awareness for the NO on 8 campaign and help raise money at the same time. Our online tool makes asking your friends easy. Or host a “Get Engaged” fundraising event. More Information>>
  
     
• EQCA Wedding Registry
  Get the gift money can’t buy: marriage for a lifetime. Register your wedding or make a gift in the name of a couple you know. More Information>>
     
         
• Pledge to Vote NO
  Same-gender couples should not be excluded from fulfilling their hopes and dreams by getting married. Take the pledge to vote NO on 8!>>
     
     
• Register to Vote
      Vote in this and every election in California. More information>>