Spirituality/Chaplaincy etc WG proposal

[Emma]

Lauren, who identified herself as a Pagan Preistess, suggested this group tonight. Josh et al, please double-check with her as to its title before making it "live."

I am starting it because I wanted to post two relevant things.

My Rabbi's sermon on Occupy Wall Street
networkedblogs.com/ornDa

And I would like to organize an Erev Shabbat celebration for this Friday evening at the (brand new) occupation. I am not sure about timing, because sunset is standard but would be during the GA. I'm going to get the word out to a couple progressive Jewish communities and get some feedback about sunset vs after the GA. I'll keep everyone abreast of those developments.

(The celebration can be very brief and sedate, or longer and boisterous, so if we do it during the GA it shouldn't be too disruptive.)

[mistervoid69laugh]

I am not sure what Pagan Priestess-hood involves.??

I might also be interested in this group under "remix-religion". I think that a philosophical/religious remix, that is, the individual empowerment of will and is valuable and especially applicable to an anarcho-democratic system.

Some shamanistic/eco-conscious/localist philosophies of life/religious texts (relatively digestible for anyone):
Toltec (Mexican shamanism) < www.toltecspirit.com/
Vedas (previous metropolis's philosophical history) < www.sacred-texts.com/hin/
Tao te Ching (Taoism) < academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/taote-v3.html
Liber Null (Khaos-ism) < www.scribd.com/doc/430095/Liber-Null
For Liber Null, I suggest: pg 16-19, 25-28, *73-77, 78-90, *91-94
The Wind is My Mother < Cherokee
Teachings of don Juan anthropological study by Carlos Castenadas

"It is a mistake to consider any belief more liberated than another. It is the possibility of change which is important. Every new form of liberation is destined to eventually become another form of enslavement for most of its adherents. There is no freedom from duality on this plane of existence, but one may at least aspire to choice of duality.
Liberating behavior is that which increases one's possibilities for future action. Limitiing behavior is that which tends to narrow one's options. The secret of freedom is not to be drawn into situations where one's number of alternatives becomes limited or even unitary.
The solution is to become omnivorous. Someone who can think, believe, or do any of half dozen different things is more free and liberated than someone confined to only one activity." - pg 44, Liber Null

[reubenshojin]

Reuben here.

Although I cannot speak fully for my wife's ministry, being a pagan, or any kind of priest, certainly carries with it all the standard duties of ministry. Including late night phone calls, and handling all the normal and extra-normal spiritual concerns of her community.

I don't think that we would be opposed to accepting remix religion, will empowerment, etc. into the Ministry group, barring any blocking concerns. We can work it out in the working group, when we have face time.

With that said, I'd like to step out myself and say that I am a Soto Zen practice group leader, and I run a small Zen community at treehousesanga.storder.org/. If folks have questions on meditation and what not, I'll offer what I can as well.

Both of us are deeply committed spiritually to the movement, and look forward to offerring the help we can.

[Lauren]

Hello! This is Lauren.

As far as my being a priest is concerned, it simply means that I have completed study and practical application of Pagan spirituality and religious concepts and have been ordained by my spiritual community.

The way I had envisioned this group was as a spiritually diverse group dedicated to assisting occupiers by offering encouragement and emotional, spiritual and mental support as time goes on. Of those who have expressed interest I have spoken with people of various religious and spiritual backgrounds as well as certified members of the mental health profession. I believe it will be necessary for people of all backgrounds to assist in this effort and very much welcome anyone of any faith or mental health background to share their experience.

And this doesn't exclude anyone who is not ordained clergy or anyone who may be agnostic, atheist or searching. I believe you simply need to care to be supportive when things become difficult and help people maintain a positive outlook.

I propose that this group be called Spiritual, Mental and Morale Support.

[reubenshojin]

Alright, so I'd like to figure out when we can get together to meet. Some of what we may want to agenda is time for a meet and greet, figuring out interfacing with Health and Wellness, picking a name that reflects the group consensus, Assets (Who has an established community/pulpit, etc.), interfacing with Outreach to broader community spiritual assets and possible allies, and anything else folks would like to bring up.

[tainapoet]

Just wanted to suggest a few spiritual leaders in our community that you might want to reach out to if you haven't already.

Jun-san Yasuda - Japanese Bhuddist Nun / Grafton Peace Pagoda - (518) 658 - 9301 [e-mail]
She has already attended OWS and I'm sure would be down to bring a crew to Occupy Albany

Fidel Moreno - Native American/Mexican American and co-director of Healing Winds. Organizes several PowWows in our community and attends/organizes many spiritual/politcal events. [e-mail]

Pastor Willie Bacote - Missing Link Street Ministry - Important spiritual/community leader in Troy, who led Occupy the Hood as a part of Occupy Troy last week. [e-mail]

Leaders of the Masjid As-Salam Mosque - masjidassalam.org who have been very actively involved in work against political repression, particularly against Muslims, in our community.

if I think of more I will let you know...

Taina Asili

[reubenshojin]

Thanks Taina!

We are already in discussion with Jun-san, although I need to loop her back in. Lauren was up there last Friday, before the demonstration on Saturday, and Sunday's GA, and she indicated a willingness to visit. We will work out some sort of Outreachy thing, and see what we can come up with.

Gassho,
Shojin Reuben Bruchez

[hl2]

any plan for a meeting yet? or will it just be at camp this weekend? maybe before/after ga on friday?

[reubenshojin]

I think we are probably looking to get together after the GA on Friday, as availability before then is going to be pretty limited for at least Lauren and I. If other folks would like to get together before then, I'm sure we could be caught up afterwards.

[nami]

If everyone is open to meeting after the GA on Friday we would be available then. Does this work for everyone?

[lpyles]

I'm a health-wellness/spirituality hybrid person (yoga teacher). The health/wellness group had been thinking about meeting at 3 p.m., before the GA, but haven't confirmed that yet. It sounds like you all are leaning towards meeting after the GA. If someone can post something on the health/wellness board about specifics it would be great so that we can either have the meetings as one and/or at least have members of both groups there if we are leaning towards being separate. (I frankly don't know where I really fit in.) Thanks, Loretta Pyles ([e-mail])

[Emma]

After the GA sounds like a difficult time to meet, partly because it will be dark out and partly because it'll be late and overnighters might be wanting to set up and non-overnighters might be wanting to leave. I personally could be available, but some time on Saturday might be better. 10 or 11am?

[Emma]

Oh, and I can go to the meeting today at 3pm (health & wellness) and hopefully we can figure out then whether the groups are joint or separate.

[lpyles]

Would love to see folks from this group come at 3 - I'll hold up a sign in general assembly area - "Health/Wellness (and Spirituality)" - or call me on cell - 506-7799. Loretta

[juliemac]

Just to add re: Jun-san Yasuda from the Grafton Peace Pagoda is on a walk in California for the next few weeks.

also although I am working ft m-f from 2-10 I would like to make myself available in whatever way any of you think might be helpful within this area.
I am an ordained Spiritualist Minister, (if you aren't familiar with Spiritualism there is plenty about it online). I am also a practitioner of several energy healing modalities. In addition to working as a Minister I have worked in human services with people in personal and spiritual crisis for 2 decades.
I wasn't clear if there was a meeting that was held or being held.
Please let me know either via this board or by email at [e-mail]
also i am good friends with all of the three people that Taina mentioned and would be happy to contact any of them if that hasn't been done already
Peace
Julie MacDonald

[lpyles]

Hi all-

Please find the minutes of the Mind/Body/Spirit group (tentative working title of combined group; need your feedback!). Also, if you've posted something here and/or want to stay connected, please send me your e-mail address ([e-mail]) so we can coordinate more efficiently then the message boards allow (we'll still post updates here). Thanks, Loretta Pyles

Attachments:

[msspang]

Thanks for taking minutes. Is it possible in the future to save the file as a pdf (under the Save As menu in Word)? I can download a pdf to my phone but have to wait until I get to my computer to read a docx file.