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

We reflect on being the calm in the eye of the storm through a poem by Josiah Armstrong.

Josiah confesses where he’s at with theistic belief and how sometimes belief is a drug we recover from.

In light of recent events, Rev. Josiah Armstrong states the official position of Earth Makers on racism and spirituality. No meditation today.

We rethink the episode on the inner voice of the adult and we practice Gathas.

We reflect on the racist violence of white policing that murdered George Floyd in Minneapolis, MN on 05/26/2020. What can we do? 1. Make space for and listen to black voices. 2. If you’re white, Promote voices of color before your own 3. Ask POC how you can help 4. Make the Bodhisattva Vow

We reflect on the flow of spirituality and the things that we allow to block the flow. This: Becoming Free is by Michael Gungor and it was published by Roundtree Press in Petaluma in 2019. The quote is found on pg. v.

We reflect on the Jizo Bodhisattva qualities of equanimity, benevolence, courage, full responsibility, engagement in life, and unquenchable optimism through the lens of our inner wise grandparent.

We reflect on the voice that pleads, wants, defies, and demands. The poem “I Want To Be...” can be found at https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/i-want-to-be-2

We reflect on our most basic needs through The Inner Life. Today, part 1: The Child.

We reflect on our purpose and our identity through a story found in the book Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. Listen to Rob’s great podcast The Robcast.

We reflect on yoga as a spiritual practice that helps us connect to our bodies, God, and all beings with the guidance and teaching of Cari Armstrong. Josiah is lucky to be married to her. You can find Cari and her yoga classes at www.caritasyoga.com and Caritas Yoga on Facebook. Namaste.

We reflect on the rejection of cruelty and the value of being wrong. Please check out the interview with Mitch Horowitz on The Duncan Trussell Family Hour podcast and check out Hail Satan? A film by Penny Lane available on Hulu.

Trigger warning: there are discussions of eating disorders, self harm, and sexual assault in this episode. We reflect on masks and laying them down. We meditate on the poem “Lucha Libre” by Esteban Rodriguez. The full poem can be found at https://poems.com/todays-poem/

We reflect on words like “God” and “higher power” and embrace the mystery of it all. The article is called “Richard Rohr Reorders the Universe” and it was written by Eliza Griswold and published by The New Yorker on Feb. 2, 2020.

We reflect on spirituality as a necessary connection to all beings. Refuge Recovery by Noah Levine was published by HarperCollins in New York in 2014. The quotes are found on pgs. 49 and 50.

We reflect on spirituality and how we connect with ourselves, first. Wild Mercy by Mirabai Starr was published by Sounds True in Boulder in 2019. The quote is found on pgs. 9 and 10. You can learn more by visiting www.mirabaistarr.com

We reflect on bread and life and sacrament. The Bread of Life article can be found at https://www.lionsroar.com/bread-of-life/?mc_cid=609b5dfb00&mc_eid=87d3dac764

We reflect on facing mortality and death and our avoidance. Content warning: if death and loss are too challenging for you in this season, you may want to skip this one for now. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty was published by W. W. Norton & Company in New York in 2014. The quote is found on pgs. ix and x.

We reflect on a few great quotes from General Leia in the final chapter of The Skywalker Saga.

We reflect on the concept of “mother” today and on what actually frightens ya through Marianne Williamson’s poem, Our Greatest Fear.

We reflect on attachment to belief through Christian Wiman’s poem, All My Friends Are Finding New Beliefs. The full text of the poem can be found at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/151735/all-my-friends-are-finding-new-beliefs

We reflect on “communing with the sublime” through walking meditation via A Philosophy of Walking by Frederic Gros. The New York Times review can be found here: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/21/books/review/a-philosophy-of-walking-by-frdric-gros.html

We reflect on the beauty of impermanence and letting go through a quote by the great Pema Chödrön. Happy Vesak Day 2020 to you!

We reflect on who is on your team and how to claim your “heavenly reward” when you feel persecuted.

We reflect on being persecuted for the truth and the kingdom of heaven with Joshua Berwald of the Bread. Wine. Movies. podcast.