Re: [UUPoly-L] Friends (Quakers), sexuality and polyamory...what would
Yes!...and thanks to you and Alan for directly addressing my post....at least in part. It's time.....if you know of any Friends....even just occasional Friends....feel free to point them in my direction, and then just let me know you did. One of the reasons I posted - among others - was to hear from others about their successes and challenges in dealing with this. So share as you feel inclined. I did send a post to the Quakers and Sexuality list...it hasn't appeared yet, but I trust if he checks, that it will.
Here's what I wrote (in part) -
*I struggle a bit with the phrasing "God wants....", but I acknowledge that you stated this as your own personal position paper, and I can respect that. My personal position holds to the idea that we all have our own truth to come to, in our own way, and in our own time. My understanding of the clearness process, is not so much to tap into the wants of an external God, but rather to locate and access our own "Inward Guide"....while acknowledging that corporately our Inward Guide may in fact be a thread in the larger tapestry of "The Burning Oneness Binding Everything". I also have great faith in the concept of continuing revelation, and the belief that each of us is capable of a direct and immediate communication and communion with The Spirit (however named).
All that being said, I am very pleased with many of the aspects of your references to the ethics and integrity that best serve deep, loving, spiritually grounded, enduring relationships. However, I also say this to you as a "bi", or perhaps more accurately "sexually open", polyamorous Friend, and "tantrika" (student and practitioner of sacred/spiritual sexuality, sexual healing and sexual/spiritual integration). Additionally, I am very glad to see sex-positive references, as well as references to the integration of our spiritual and sexual selves.
In my earlier years (late teens, early twenties), I was introduced to tantric spirituality/sexuality and polyamory. I was in a phase of intense exploration and discovery. I then moved into a phase of deeper spiritual exploration (in an intentional Sufi community) that was important and exquisite, but that also put sexuality on a back burner, and confined it to monogamous matrimony.
Fast forward a few more years, and a marriage, one other significant relationship - and a smattering of short lived ones - later. After struggling under the weight of a difficult 2nd marriage for years, and also grappling with my own sexuality and feelings about relationships in general, I put myself in to places of discussion (groups and list serves) where I could explore these areas more deeply. I discovered new ways to examine both my light and my shadow....my spirituality and sexuality as an interrelated whole....my sexual orientation....my "love-style". I have to confess that for a long time, I had a very "tight", closed reaction to anything other than monogamous heterosexuality. Obviously, by my earlier statement, I have opened up and embraced a whole different way of seeing things considerably. Polyamory ("many loves"...the ethical, responsible loving of more than one) - for me - has been the key to an even deeper understanding of relationship, and particularly
spiritually grounded, ethical "romantic" love relationship/s. I also feel more at one with an "entity" that I perceive to be All-Loving.
If we are to believe that The Spirit is All-loving, and that there is "that of God in everyone", then the concept of loving only God in one way or place, or "that of God" in only one person could possibly be a limiting concept....at least for some of us. And then there is also this....just like varying sexual orientations and identities, there may be those among us who feel more authentic to who they are, by choosing a polyamorous love-style. This however, does not suggest that this would be right for everyone. I'm simply suggesting that monogamy may also not be right for everyone. I know of several very successful polyamorous relationships. Is there some transiency?...yes....but quite frankly for the most part, it's for the same reasons monogamous relationships become transient. *
I'm still looking for other input here. The conversation is only beginning.
Peace: Tara
(in Lancaster PA)
Tara's page - http://360.yahoo.com/tara_affinity - a sacred living, sex-/poly-positive exploration
Meet Up for Lancaster Poly-Tantra - http://tantric.meetup.com/14/
Yahoo Group for Lancaster Poly-Tantra - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LAPTN
----- Original Message ----
From: "JasmineGld@aol.com" <JasmineGld@aol.com>
To: uupoly-l@uupa.org
Sent: Wednesday, June 6, 2007 5:00:16 PM
Subject: Re: [UUPoly-L] Friends (Quakers), sexuality and polyamory...what would
In a message dated 6/6/2007 4:23:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
alan7388@comcast.net writes:
> A month or two or three ago, I ran into a Quaker online somewhere
> who liked the idea of forming a "Quakers for Polyamory Awareness"
> modeled on UUPA -- maybe even adapting some of UUPA's literature,
> with permission. Did anyone ever hear from her?
A couple of years ago, I was contacted by a Quaker who wanted to attend my
workshop on poly at the district meeting. Tara, if I can find his email, may I
give him your email address?
If there is interest in creating such a Quaker group, I'd be delighted to
share some of UUPA's successes and errors (for avoiding), after I get back home
at the end of the month.
Jasmine
************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.
_______________________________________________
The UUPoly-L mailing list has public archives.
Please keep that in mind when deciding how much to reveal about yourself.
UUPoly-L mailing list
UUPoly-L@uupa.org
http://www.uupa.org/mailman/listinfo/uupoly-l
____________________________________________________________________________________
Park yourself in front of a world of choices in alternative vehicles. Visit the Yahoo! Auto Green Center.
http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center/
This archive was generated by a fusion of
Pipermail (Mailman edition) and
MHonArc.