Fall 2024 Classes

Tuesdays 4-5:30pm PDT, 6 months
Starts October 22, 2024

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron includes exercises and insights to create shifts with life-long issues that have stymied our personal growth and creative expression. The course’s six-month time span allows enough time to create new habits and practices you can integrate into your daily life. Morning pages are a way to develop journaling. Each week Julia suggests an artist date.
Most of us don’t think of ourselves as artists with a capital A, but we are all born with creative abilities we may or may not have accessed. Men in general and I think gay men particularly have experienced blocks, wounds, and/or blank space around our capacity to express ourselves through words, arts, crafts, music, drama, touch, , clothing, the list goes on and on. Julia gets it right that tapping into creative energy involves our connection to eros, spirit, our own deeper wisdom, as well as an innate sense of playfulness.

"The Artist’s Way for Gay Men" class is an effective way to integrate valuable learning over time in a community format that promotes connection, honesty and risk-taking. Zoom calls each week allow the group to bond through the book, themselves, and the weekly tasks. Checking in regularly with others provides support and inspiration that will enhance the journey of self-discovery which the book lays out so beautifully.

The cost of the class is (payable by six monthly payments of $200 or one amount, $1200)  You must purchase your own copy of the book. Please call or email me if you have any questions or want to know more about the class.  


GAY SOUL - Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature with Sixteen Writers, Healers, Teachers, and Visionaries interviewed by Mark Thompson

Wednesdays 4:00 - 5:30 Pacific Time
October 23, 2024 - February 19, 2025
Tuition: $800, paid monthly $200
Each week you read the chapter, most of the weeks have videos or movies. I will send you three questions about the person who Mark Thompson interviewed. 

Gay spirituality and sensibility come to light in these pages of striking portraits and trenchant interviews. Thompson brings out the unique contributions of the esteemed gay men - including Will Roscoe, Joseph Kramer, Harry Hay, James Broughton, Andrew Harvey, Paul Monette, Malcolm Boyd, and Ram Dass - who lead the spiritual life.Thompson elicits vivid musings on such provocative issues as the third gender, S&M, ritual as `holy fire', and spirituality in the age of AIDS. His interviews call out the deepest emotions of each of these vibrant leaders who reveal, as never before, the spirit and the soul of the gay life.

 

Testimonials from past participants

 
I am taking risks, I am taking a fresh outlook on creativity and the fears that often hold me back. I’m working at integrating the Morning Pages and at living one, continuous Artist’s Date – looking for new inspiration and being conscious of myself looking.

I’m trying to dive into things, both things I know I need to be do and things I’ve never done before, but would like to learn, try or to create.

I’m trying to step right into fear and hopefully through it. So often it’s based on faulty assumptions and it’s not so scary after all. I’m also trying to care less about what others think or how they may judge me and my creations.

I’m looking within for what I know and what I may never know and trying to express both in my artwork. If I have something unique to contribute, I’d like to “do it my way.”

I read the “Artist’s Way” several years ago. I think I did get significant benefit from it. But this was much more intense and had much greater depth because of doing it slowly and with a group.
Motions of Tenderness: Navigating Grief with Eros as a Guide

 

October 31 - November 3, 2024

Easton Retreat, Greenwich, NY

Join Collin Brown and JoJo Bear for a transformative 4-day journey into the depths of grief embodiment. Held amidst the serene landscapes of Easton Mountain, this in-person workshop invites participants to explore the multifaceted layers of grief in a safe and supportive community setting.

Throughout our time together, we will delve into the collective experience of global and communal grief, while also honoring the intricacies of individual sorrow. Through interactive rituals, group discussions, and compassionate sharing, we will create a space where each person’s grief is acknowledged and held with care. Additionally, we will offer an opportunity to praise and celebrate the cherished moments and memories that illuminate our lives, fostering healing and resilience.

Together, we will discover how embracing our grief can serve as a powerful catalyst for personal growth and healing. By intentionally witnessing and embracing our emotions, we will uncover the transformative potential of grief, recognizing it as a vital component on the path to experiencing profound pleasure and joy. Through our voices, utilizing song, words, and tears, we will transform the presence of grief and sorrow into a source of release, akin to the presence of *eros.

Whether you are navigating recent loss or seeking a deeper understanding of the grief experience, this workshop offers a sacred space for exploration, connection, and healing.

About Eros:
In this grief workshop, we will be guided by the principle of Eros. When we invoke Eros, we refer to the practice of cultivating profound sensations within our bodies, leading to a release of epic proportions. Through this approach, we aim to explore grief in a deeply embodied and transformative manner.

Navigating Grief with Eros as a Guide

Experience the transformative embrace of grief and eros, where healing begins and love finds its voice
  • Integration of Grief and Desire: A newfound ability to integrate grief and desire, understanding that both are natural aspects of the human experience and can coexist harmoniously.
  • Permission to Feel: Realizing that it's okay and even necessary to feel and express a wide range of emotions, including grief, without judgment or shame. Grief is Individual: Recognizing that grief is a deeply personal journey and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, allowing for greater self-acceptance and validation of their unique experiences.
  • Growth Through Grief: Understanding that grief is not just about pain and loss but can also be a catalyst for personal growth, resilience, and transformation.

How can we support your decision? Please contact Doug at newyork@bodyelectric.org. For more information about Body Electric https://bodyelectric.org/