Pajama Dance Benediction

Bodyspirit Blessing for BIPOC Retreat

Music: "Get Here" written by Brenda Russell; this version performed by Oleta Adams

Friends,

Today’s body memoir gesture is this Pajama Dance. My heart is so full of life and hope this Sunday morning, for these two reasons—

One: The in-person BIPOC Retreat of InterPlayers in Gulf Shores, Alabama is concluding today, and my heart has swelled here at home in California, each time they’ve sent pics and videos out to all of us BIPOC sibs who could not attend. In my body, I could feel roots, wings, and the connective tissue of life and love. So palpable.

Two: The understatedly brilliant, non-egoic, life-restoring-reclaiming-empowering tools and forms of InterPlay© are life-ways our BIPOC bodyspirits recognized. I love the mystery that this gift of collective soul retrieval came through two beloved white countercultural artists of Spirit with the intention of freedom for all bodies.

This was the 2nd in-person BIPOC InterPlay retreat, and the leadership team was perhaps one dozen strong—gifted, unapologetic and filled with grace, generosity and boundless creativity. Oh my HEART!!

From where do you derive revolutionary hope these days? Keep plugged in right there!

This Pajama Dance is my love letter sent to the BIPOC Retreatants and now it is being sent to you. May it serve as a transmission and activation, from my prayer of freedom for all bodies to your prayer for the similar or same in your own life-giving ways!

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I want to keep working in this direction, in pathways of Spirit, Creativity and Freedom for All Bodies. I need and invite your help in making my living by doing this. In addition to writing, I offer this:

Whether for one session or lifelong sessions, beginning June 16th, I will be offering online Soul Care sessions to individuals, couples, families and groups. Sometimes called Spiritual Direction, these are qualities you may want to know about my approach:

• Interfaith and Interspiritual - I am here to support what YOU find sacred in YOUR life. My own lineage began in United Methodist Christianity, and has since expanded to a daily practice of invoking 13-20 names, pathways and qualities of the Divine, mostly the ways of Divine Feminine touching hands with the liberative Trinity

• Socially Located - I work with a necessary appreciation of both your intangible experiences as well as tangible realities (Ancestries, power, privilege, oppression)

• Creative and Emergent - My methods involve deep listening, mutual reflection and conversation, and can also involve journaling, music and movement if you and I notice the nudge from Spirit

• Individuals, Couples, Families and Groups - While traditional Spiritual Direction is often 1:1 or in small groups, Spirit calls to, and moves through all shapes of ourselves and our relationships

• Mental Health Informed - While this is not psychotherapy, I am a licensed psychotherapist (LCS17051), and can’t help but bring this knowledge with me when it can be of service to your spiritual life

• Down-to-Earth - What can I say? Come as you are. Pajamas are the opposite of pretense :)

• Practical Translucence - I offer free 30-minute consultations to see if we mutually feel like a soul-caring fit. Thereafter, my standard fee is $150/hour, with some flexibility. My fee sits midway between standard Spiritual Direction and Psychotherapy fees. I bring 62 years of my own spiritual living to our space, and what I’ve been honored to learn through others, as someone for whom holding an MSW, MFA and MDiv granted meaningful access.

Again, Writing and Soul Care are how I am trying my best to make my living, and I welcome your support through referrals. Thank you so much!

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May we Get There by remembering how to Get Here too.

Let’s be hopes and promises,

Coke