Earth Makers: Queer Dharma, Human Stories, and Recovery.

We reflect on the nature of God, identity, and gender today through Glenn Thomas Rideout’s poem, “god is no noun.”

CW: reflections on eating disorders, body image distress, gender dysphoria, self harm, addiction, and suicidal ideation and intent. We practice being in our beautiful bodies, mindfully. Are you grateful for what your body does?

Joey’s sponsor and dear friend, Patrick Hendricks, recovering addict, gay spiritual leader on the spectrum and volunteer service warrior talks about why recovery and being “a whole person” are key to the spiritual life. On Twitter: You can find Patrick @pjhendricks and All God’s Children MCC Minneapolis @agcmetrochurch

CW: An episode in which we talk about the pain of grief and loss and remembering to breathe. Black Women Radicals can be found on Twitter @blkwomenradical and at blackwomenradicals.com.

Joey explores the dangers of our attachments to fundamentals. Be warned: you might not like what they have to say.

We conclude our series on The Noble Eightfold Path. How do we concentrate on what is right over what is easy?

Wanna be here now? Let’s practice!

We reflect on the power and existence of grace in order to try our best. The reading comes from https://tricycle.org/magazine/noble-eightfold-path/

We pause to reflect on the recent police shooting of innocent, unarmed black man, Jacob Blake. Email Joey at earthmakerspod@gmail.com or tweet @RevJoBear

Before you judge your neighbor’s job and way of life, what does yours look like? The selections are found in https://tricycle.org/magazine/noble-eightfold-path/ and https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_832298

CW: references to racist policing and the murder of George Floyd. How are we doing the least amount of harm as possible? How are we leaving no trace? The selections can be found at https://tricycle.org/magazine/noble-eightfold-path/ and https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sacca/sacca4/samma-kammanto/index.html

Let’s practice thinking before we speak, together and engaging in helpful listening practices. Let’s abolish the violence of gossip together. The reading is found in Tricycle at https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/family-dharma-right-speech-reconsidered/

Why did you do that? Slow down and reflect on the reason behind your choices.

We begin our series on The Noble Eightfold Path taught in Buddhist spiritual traditions w/examining accurate vs. inaccurate perception. The quote from the Kaccayanagotta Sutta is found in “What is Right View?,” an article from Tricycle found at https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/right-view/

We reflect on the helpful nature of anger through Love and Rage by Lama Rod Owens, published by North Atlantic Books in Berkeley in 2020. The selection is found on pg. xiv.

Where is God? Who is God? Right here. In this.

CW: eating disorders and body image distress. We reflect on our perfectionism and people pleasing. Email Joey at earthmakerspod@gmail.com should you need space made for you.

CW: there is talk of abuse, suicide, addiction, self harm, and eating disorders. We continue our series in Internal Family Systems by examining our reactive protectors. The selection was found on pg. 25 in High Magick by Damien Echols, published by Sounds True in Boulder in 2018.

We continue the series on Internal Family Systems by visiting the wounded childhood parts of us. Email Joey at earthmakerspod@gmail.com or find them on Twitter @RevJoBear

CW: mention of suicidal ideation/intent. We begin our new series on Internal Family Systems theory. Do you believe you have everything you need in your core self?

Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to all addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our HP, praying only for knowledge of Her will for us and the power to carry that out.

Joey (they/them/theirs) is going on a trip for their wedding anniversary! See you on Monday!

We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.