In this retreat, Ashe Van Steenwyk guides participants through a process1 of “queering” spirituality. To “queer” something is to re-examine, deconstruct, or subvert it though a queer lens. It means to pay attention to our deepest longings and listen to the wisdom of our bodies as we join the Spirit in the Great Work of Liberation. This work involves unearthing the toxic myths and ideas that weave through our own consciousness as well as challenging the way these myths and ideas take concrete expression in the world around us.
Format Examples:
Below are two different shorter-format options for engaging in Ashe’s process. Ashe is also able to offer this process as a week-long intensive, course, or short-term program. For a general idea, visit propheticimagination.org/socio-spiritual-discernment.
Weekend Retreat
Friday Evening:
6:30-7:15 pm – Arrival, Registration, Settling in
7:30 pm – Opening Session
– Welcome and Intros
– Overview of “Queering Spirituality”
– Framing the Challenge: Malformed by Patriarchy
Saturday:
8:00 am – Breakfast
9:00 – Morning Session
– The Flesh Becomes Word: How the Social Script is Inscribed onto Our Flesh.
– Contemplative Exercise
10:30 – Small Group Processing
11:00 – Break
1:00pm – Afternoon Session #1
– The Spirit Dances in the Space Between: Queering our Definition of “Spirituality”
– Attending to Pain: From Dissonance to Despair
– Contemplative Exercise
3:15 – Afternoon Session #2
– The Power of Naming: From Desire to Deviance
– Contemplative Exercise
5:00 – Small Group Processing
5:30 – Break
7:00 – Evening Session
– Unveiling Oppression: From Demonstration to Disruption
– Contemplative Exercise
– Overnight Assignment
8:30 – Break
Sunday Morning:
8:15 am – Breakfast
9:00 – Morning Session
– Small Group Process
– Large Group Check-ins
– The Liberatory Path: From Dishabituation to Delight
11:00 – Sending
– Take-aways and commitments
– Group blessings
Single Day Retreat/Workshop
9:00 – Session #1: Why Spirituality Must Be Queered
– Framing the Challenge: Malformed by Patriarchy
–The Flesh Becomes Word: How the Social Script is Inscribed onto Our Flesh.
– Contemplative Exercise
– Small Group Processing
11:00 – Lunch Break
12:00pm – Session #2: Beginning with Solidarity and Self Love
– The Spirit Dances in the Space Between: Queering our Definition of “Spirituality”
– Attending to Pain: From Dissonance to Despair
– Contemplative Exercise
2:00 – Session #3: Interrogating the Social Script
– The Power of Naming: From Desire to Deviance
– Contemplative Exercise
– Small Group Processing
4:00 – Session #4: Unveiling the Powers that Be
– Unveiling Oppression: From Demonstration to Disruption
– Contemplative Exercise
5:30 – Break (and short assignment)
7:00 – Session #5: If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution.
– Small Group Process
– Large Group Check-ins
– The Liberatory Path: From Dishabituation to Delight
8:30 – Q&A and Conclusion
- Ashe will guide participants through a shortened version of the “Infinity Process” with a particular emphasis on disrupting cisheteropatriarchy. ↩︎
