Days to Commemorate Individuals with Diverse Gender and Sexual Identities

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Gender, Sexuality, Transgender

Let us honor those who have the courage to walk their unique personal paths on these memorial days that have been identified to raise awareness about individuals with diverse gender and sexual identities. Not sure what all the identities are about? Look up their definition and pride flags in my glossaries on Gender and Sexual Identities at http://www.soulsexalchemy.com.

February LGBT* History Month (UK)
February Gay Mardi Gras in New Orleans
February (First full week after Feb 14) Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week
February (Week starting Sun/Mon surrounding Feb 14) Non-Binary Awareness Week
March Bisexual Health Awareness Month
March 1 Zero Discrimination Day
March 8 International Women’s’ Day
March (Third Week) LGBT* Health Awareness Week
March 24 Day of Blood (Gallae, eunuch priests, made their offerings to Cybele & Attis in ancient Rome)
March 31 National Day of Transgender Visibility
April (Second Wednesday) International Day of Pink
April (Second Friday) Day of Silence to Protest Bullying
April 6 International Asexuality Day
April 8 Transgender Day of Empowerment
April 22 Ecosexual Day
April 26 Lesbian Visibility Day
May 16 National Honor LGBT+ Elders
May 17 International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, & Transphobia
May 18 HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
May 19 Agender Pride Day
May 22 Harvey Milk Day
May 24 Pansexual & Panromantic Awareness or Visibility Day
June LGBT+ Pride Month:
        June 1 Gay Day
        June 2 Lesbian Day
        June 3 Bisexual Day
        June 4 Polysexual Day
        June 5 Pansexual Day
        June 6 Omnisexual Day
        June 7 Ceterosexual / Skoliosexual Day
        June 8 Demisexual Day
        June 9 Grey Ace (Asexual) Day
        June 10 Asexual Day
        June 11 Polyamorous Day
        June 12 Intersex Day
        June 13 Trans MTF Day
        June 14 Trans FTM Day
        June 15 Agender Day
        June 16 Genderfluid Day
        June 17 Bigender Day
        June 18 Trigender Day
        June 19 Pangender Day
        June 20 Genderqueer Day
        June 21 Demigirl Day
        June 22 Demiboy Day
        June 23 Androgyne Day
        June 24 Intergender Day
        June 25 Non-binary Day
        June 26 Questioning Day
        June 27 Homoromantic Day
        June 28 Biromantic Day
        June 29 Panromantic Day
        June 30 Aromantic Day
June 5 HIV Long-Term Survivors Awareness Day
June 12 Pulse Night of Remembrance
June 27-28 Stonewall Riots Anniversary
July 1 Chameleosexual Day
July 2 Abrosexual Day
July 14 International Non-Binary People’s Day
July 16 International Drag Day
August Compton Cafeteria Riots Anniversary
August 19 Trans Flag Day
August Last Friday Wear It Purple Day
September or October (TBD) Ally Week
September (Third Week) Bisexual Awareness Week
September 18 HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day
September 23 Bisexual Visibility Day & Celebrate Bisexuality Day
September 27 Gay Mens’ HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
October LGBT History Month
October (Third Week) Genderfluid Visibility Week
October (Final Week) Ace (Asexual) Awareness Week
October (Third Wednesday) International Pronouns Day
October (Third Thursday) Spirit Day (Day Against Bullying)
October 8 Lesbian Day
October 11 National Coming Out Day
October 26 Intersex Awareness Day
November Trans Awareness Month
November (Second Week) Trans Awareness Week
November (First Sunday) Trans Parent Day
November 8 Intersex Solidarity Day & Intersex Day of Remembrance
November 19 International Men’s’ Day
November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance
December 1 World Aids Day
December 8 Pansexual Pride Day
December 28 Trans Youth Day

List Compiled by Drake Bear Stephen in 2022 http://www.SoulSexAlchemy.com

The Tale of Two Feathers

Tags

Two Spirit

Once there was a Chameleon that had forgotten it could shapeshift into human form. Chameleon had forgotten it had already had many previous lives as a male and a female human. You see, Chameleon was quite sensitive and easily intimidated by the world so it spent its days being invisible by blending into its surroundings. It had a safe cave it stayed in quite a lot.

One day, as Chameleon was peacefully dozing in its cave, a Spirit appeared. Chamelon asks “Who are you?” The Spirit replies “I am The Reincarnationist.” Chameleon asks “Why are you here?” The Reincarnationist replies “I am here to bestow the Power on you. You already have the gift of Sensitivity so that will balance with Power to keep your Ego in check.” Chameleon asks “But why are you giving me the Power and the Gift?” The Reincarnationist replies “It is now time for you to shapeshift into a human. Only this time you will be both male and female in one lifetime. You will learn to embody the masculine and feminine by blending both into one identity.” Chameleon asks “But how will this happen?”

The Reincarnationist then gives Chameleon the following directions: “Lie under the light of the next full moon to absorb the feminine energies and dream your body into being.” Chameleon follows this direction and lies under the light of Grandmother Moon. Its body morphs into a human female body with fully developed female genitalia.
The next day in the cave, The Reincarnationist looks at Chameleon’s body and nods with approval. Now he says “Tomorrow lie under Father Sun to balance Grandmother Moon’s energies.” So the next day, Chameleon once again follows the Reincarnationist’s directions. Her now female body begins another transformation, this time adding male characteristics and fully developed male genitalia alongside the female genitalia.
The next day back in the cave, The Reincarnationist nods approval again. He tells Chameleon “Tonight lie under the stars.” And so, Chameleon does lie under the stars and as s/he does, Brother/Sister Star Dust falls on him/her and activates his/her Androgyny. Now his/her emotions, thoughts, and entire being is balanced perfectly with masculine and feminine energies.

The next day The Reincarnationist is ecstatic with his creation, however, he gives Chameleon one last set of instructions. He says “Lie under the sky today once again.” So as Chameleon lies beneath the sky, soaking up the healing energy of Mother Earth and the healing rays of Father Sun, a rainbow appears and shines its colors down upon him/her illuminating his/her body, chakras, and heart.

The next day The Reincarnationist says “Your physical body is made of Mother Earth and your energy body is illuminated by Father Sun, Grandmother Moon, Brother/Sister Stars, and the Rainbow. It is now time to leave your cave and venture into the World. It will be a great journey that you travel as you share the light that has energized your body with others. Now you no longer need to hide by blending into your surroundings. You will be visible so that you can guide others to the light. Once in a while you may feel a need to return to the cave to rejuvenate but it will be a temporary respite and you will return to the World refreshed and ready to serve. I have one additional gift for you. That gift is your new name.” And with that, The Reincarnationist blew the name “Two Feathers” into Chameleon’s body. “From now on you will be known by the name ‘Two Feathers’.”

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Gender Shamanism

Tags

gender identity, Shamanism

WHAT IS GENDER SHAMANISM?
A very close teacher and friend of mine, who is a pioneer in erotic spiritual work with gay males, once dubbed me a “gender shaman”. Great, I really liked that term of honor but what did it mean? And did it really apply to me? I had never heard anyone else talk about gender shamanism. Yes, there is a person who calls himself the “sexual shaman” but I’ve never heard of any gender shamans. It’s taken me a couple of years and a lot of speaking about gender journeys to finally step into what I think that means.

To begin, let’s look at the basic definitions of gender and shamanism separately, then we will move into the syncretized definition of gender shamanism.

GENDER
The on-line dictionary defines “gender” as “the socially constructed roles and behaviors that a society typically associates with males and females”. Volumes have been written about what gender is including my own book, Soul Sex, which focuses on the concepts of gender fluidity. Our consciousness about gender is moving away from the old binary system of only two options, male and female, into a recognition that there are many gender identities.

Kate Bornstein, in My Gender Workbook, says in jest that there exists only one gender – yours. But another quote from her book by t@whateversusan says, “gender is neither a binary nor a spectrum but an entire galaxy full of stars.” I will go deeper into the wide array of gender identities in the gender shamanism section below.

SHAMANISM
The word “shaman” originated from the Siberian word “saman”, meaning “one who knows” or “seer”. The word “shaman” spread from the Russians to the Americas via anthropologists. The word “shaman” is often substituted or is considered synonymous with medicine person, witch, wizard, sorcerer, magician, seer, sage, healer, herbalist, dream interpreter, priest/priestess, and/or spiritual adviser.

Shamanism is a healing practice that has been in existence for at least 10,000 years and perhaps as far back as 50,000 years ago. Shamanism is not a religion and does not have dogma. Shamanic healing is a form of energy and/or spiritual healing.

A great book to read about basic shamanism is The Hollow Bone by Colleen Deatsman. She says, “The role of shaman can encompass a wide range of services and duties, which, vary from shaman to shaman and culture to culture.”

The following characteristics are present in all shamanic cultures:

1. Journeying to other dimensions to retrieve a solution or lost soul parts for dis-ease, injuries, and trauma.

2. Extracting spirit intrusions that have entered or been sent into the body and are causing dis-ease or accidents.

GENDER SHAMANISM
“He [a wintke, berdache, two spirit] told me that if nature puts a burden on a man by making him different, it also gives him a power.” This quote is from a Lakota man named John Lame Deer. Two Spirit is the modern term for dual-sexed or third gender individuals that were treated as sacred by over 155 North American indigenous tribes. The third gender is comprised of individuals that have a gender identity that is neither male nor female or both male and female. Two Spirits have the following characteristics:

• Possess non–conforming gender and/or sexual identities. Two Spirits have an even balance of male and female energy. They express themselves outside the traditional binary gender roles in temperament, dress, lifestyle, and social roles. They may specialize in non–traditional gender role work by taking on roles viewed as belonging to the “opposite” of their birth assigned sex.
• Are a member of an indigenous culture. Indigenous means living naturally or being native to an area. It is an innate awareness of belonging to a specific geography. The indigenous–identified soul is consciously aware of the spirit of the Earth and everything on it. To North American Indians, being a Two Spirit means having Native American bloodlines.
• Hear the call of Spirit. Two Spirits are spiritually connected through beliefs, visions, and dreams. They often become healers, counselors, therapists, high religious priests and priestesses, shamans, witch doctors, medicine people, holy people, or prophets.

Unfortunately, the introduction of Christianity by missionaries and the influx of white settlers virtually destroyed the acceptance of Two Spirits in North American native life. However, the existence of third gender individuals occurs in many cultures all over the world, from ancient times to modern times, including: the Arctic, Borneo, Burma, Canaan, the Cook Islands, ancient Greece, Hawai’i, India, Italy, Latin and South America, Mesopotamia, Mexico, the Middle East, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Phoenicia, ancient Rome, Samoa, Siberia, Sumer, ancient Syria, Thailand, and Tonga.

The Dagara tribe of West Africa believe that gender is energetic and sexuality is spiritually based. Individuals with alternative gender and sexual identities have a specific spiritual role because with the ability to stand between the world of male and female, they experience a state of vibrational consciousness which allows them to stand between this world and the spirit world. This place between the worlds is called the gates and these individuals are the guardians of the gates.

One of the requirements of medicine people and shamans is that they have the ability to walk between many worlds. In Siberia, shamans–to–be must spend time living in both genders. This includes dressing as a member of the “opposite” birth assigned sex. Many shamans adopt these androgynous roles for the rest of their lives. Consequently, they are considered to have special magical powers and responsibilities. The Russian term “schupan” means “a gender transformed shaman”.

Daan van Kampenhout, author of several books on shamanism, describes Siberian shamanic costumes as being androgynous so that the wearer understands the totality of all human experience, through living as both a male and a female. He says:

“As part of the training of the shaman–to–be, he or she was expected to live for some time as a member of the opposite sex. During this period, the aspirant had to think, act and dress like a man if she was a woman, like a woman if he was a man. Often, a person who successfully passed this part of their shamanic examination would choose to continue living as a member of the other sex. In some parts of Siberia, this was even expected of all male shamans. Many traditional shamanic cultures offered their homosexual members the possibility of living with a partner: a gay or lesbian could become a shaman and change sex, afterwards being able to marry a person of the same biological sex. Usually such transformed shamans would be looked upon with awe, fear or suspicion. They were considered to have very strong and special magical powers and carried distinctive and important responsibilities, yet their shaman costumes were androgynous.”

WHAT IS A CHACARUNA?

I consider a Gender Shaman to be a Chacaruna (Bridge Person). A Chacaruna is a Quechuan* word that means one who crosses from one state of consciousness to others as well as helping others to connect to the spirit world. A Chacaruna is the connector/networker between multiple worlds. They must connect the worlds of:

1. Male and Female to include all gender variations
2. Gay and Straight to include all sexual orientations
3. Heaven and Earth
4. Ordinary Reality and Non-ordinary Reality
5. Life and Death
6. Past, Present, and Future Lives
7. The Body, Mind, and Heart
8. The Middle, Lower, and Upper Shamanic Worlds
9. The First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Dimensions

*Quechuan is the language of the Q’ero people that live in the high Andes of Peru. 500 years ago they were the spiritual advisers to the Inka.

A Chacaruna must know that the passages between the worlds are two way streets and that the various worlds (dimensions) exist in parallel. There is no hierarchy of the various worlds.

Who better to be a Chacaruna than someone that has lived in multiple worlds in one lifetime and over multiple lifetimes? An individual that has non-conforming or alternative gender and sexual identities has learned to be a walker between the worlds. Not only have I lived a non-conforming life of multiple genders, multiple sexual orientations, and multiple spiritual perspectives in one lifetime, but I have done extensive research in gender and sexuality studies. These experiences have not only created a power of empathy I use in my healing sessions, but as a walker between worlds, I benefit from the ability to see from multiple perspectives. Like a remote viewer, I can see events and situations from my and others’ viewpoint simultaneously.

So, not only does gender bring spiritual medicine to shamanism but shamanism brings spiritual medicine to gender studies by overlaying gender identity with spiritual perspectives and associated ceremonies.

I guess it was no accident that hearing about Two Spirits led me to shamanism, which is a form of energy work that I deeply resonate with. Working in the field of gender shamanism allows me to combine my top three passions: past life therapy, shamanic energy medicine, and gender/sexuality studies. I have applied my shamanic and metaphysical background to develop new views about gender and sexual identity. I believe I am now ready to step into the “shoes” of a gender shaman.

GENDER JOURNEY WORKSHOP

In order to raise consciousness about the metaphysics of gender, I have created a presentation and all-day workshop called Gender Journey: Integrating the Divine Masculine and Feminine. One exercise I facilitate is called the Gender Energy Quotient, where we learn to read the percent of masculine and feminine energy in ourselves and others. Each time I have done a presentation, I know my audience never sees themselves or others the same way afterwards. I also employ guided meditations and other exercises to help individuals integrate their Divine Masculine and Feminine. If you are interested in hosting or attending a workshop, please contact me.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Trans* Rights Now

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#trans

Now It’s Our Turn! Trans* Human Rights Now!

We’ve waited patiently while we have watched the progression of human rights expand to other minority and non-mainstream groups. First it was the women’s liberation and the black civil rights movement. Then it was the gay rights movement culminating in the right to marry. We understand that there is much additional work to achieve full acceptance in all of those movements.

But now it is our turn! It is a sad fact that there are groups of people that do not experience rights and protections under the law because that is an entitlement of ALL humans. We demand (because if we politely requested or asked it just wouldn’t happen) the following:

1. Insure trans-inclusive equal rights protection under the law including hate crime protection and non-discrimination on the job, in schools, in medical care, and in housing. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 add “gender identity” and “sexual orientation” to: It is illegal to discriminate against someone on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or sex.

2. Pass legislation (like at least seven other countries) that provides the ability to declare oneself as third gender or gender “X” on all legal papers including birth certificates and passports.

3. Pass legislation (like Argentina), whereby any individual can change their legal papers to reflect their gender identity without medical treatment including hormone therapy or sterilization, divorce, or the approval of gatekeepers (doctors, lawyers, or therapists).

4. Remove “Gender Dysphoria” as a mental disorder from the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). Remove “Transsexualism”, “Transvestism”, “Intersex”, and “Gender Identity Disorders” from the UN’s World Health Organization’s ICD (International Classification of Diseases).

5. Stop performing genital “corrective” surgery on infants or children before their gender identity has developed and they are able to choose the course of action (if any) of their own physical body.

6. Provide gender neutral restrooms at all public venues and/or provide protection for any individual that uses the public restroom of their gender identity.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Return to the Goddess: Integrating the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine

Tags

Divine Feminine, Divine Masculine, Goddess

This article is a prequel to the sequel of my book, Soul Sex. When I volunteered to do a workshop on the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine, I realized I did not know enough about what that really meant. My research to learn more about it led me into the subject of the Goddess and opened an entire new world of ideas to me. There is so much I decided to create the Soul Sex sequel, a workbook dedicated to integrating the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. The following are a few ideas that resulted from my research.

WHAT IS THE DIVINE MASCULINE & THE DIVINE FEMININE?

I had a hard time finding a true definition of what the Divine Masculine and Feminine is. I finally settled on the following: masculine and feminine is a gender-based attribute associated with human qualities. Divine masculine and feminine is the highest and best qualities associated with each gender stereotype.
What makes a characteristic masculine or feminine? One way to categorize human qualities as masculine or feminine is based on which gender we believe has the preponderance of a certain characteristic. However, if we all sat in a room and categorized qualities as masculine or feminine, I am betting there would be some disagreement because bottom line, what we consider masculine or feminine, is based on our own personal perception. And, our perception of another’s degree of masculinity or femininity is based on what we believe ourselves to be. In other words, someone that you might consider feminine might be more feminine than you are as feminine as you are. And vice versa, if you consider someone masculine, it is because they are more masculine than or as masculine as you feel you are.

Not only is our perception of gender qualities based on our own identity but it is also very much related to cultural beliefs. Masculine and feminine qualities are not universal but differ not only from culture to culture but over time as well.

The history of gender associations with the colors blue and pink is a good example of perception shifting over time. Color distinctions for boys and girls did not develop until the early 1900s. Until then, all infants were dressed alike and mostly in white. Until 1939, pink, because it was close to the color red, was a boys’ color and blue was a girls’ color. After World War II, blue became a boy’s color and pink became a girls’ color.

In time of the Goddess, She was represented as Heaven and the Sun and her male consort was represented by the Earth and Moon. During the last 2000 years, these representations flipped and the God is now represented by Heaven and Sun and the feminine side of God as Earth and Moon.

Below is a list of stereotypical qualities I found that are associated with the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. Read through the list and see how many of these you concur with. I, myself, found a lot of these to be androgynous or neutral. In other words, they apply equally to both males and females.

Divine Masculine
Healthy Attributes: active, adventurous, analytical, capable, consistent, courageous, determined, disciplined, decisive, fearless, focused, goal-oriented, heroic, intelligent, linear, logical, loyal, ordered, practical, predictable, protective, provider, powerful, rational, reliable, rugged, sensible, single-minded, smart, stable, strong

Unhealthy Attributes: aggressive, autocratic, authoritative, closed-minded, controlling, dogmatic, dominating, heartless, non-communicative, rigid, rule-bound, ruthless, self-centered, stubborn, tough, violent

Divine Feminine
Healthy Attributes: adaptable, beautiful, caring, care-giving, creative, ever-changing, fertile, flexible, forgiving, gentle, inspirational, intuitive, kind, loving, mysterious, nurturing, open-minded, passive, patient, peaceful, playful, receptive, serving, soft, spontaneous, sweet, tender, understanding, warm, wise, yielding

Unhealthy Attributes: ambiguous, bitchy, controlling, emotional, fickle, illogical, indecisive, irrational, manipulative, powerless, pushy, stupid, unpredictable, weak

Below is a table of comparisons of beliefs between the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine:

DIVINE FEMININE
Communalism, Cooperation
Union / Oneness
Archetypes: Goddess, Queen, Priestess, Warrioress, Lover, Wise Woman, Muse
Unmanifested Matter
Compassionate Love
Electrical Side
Stillness, Presence
Receiving, Receptivity
Darkness
Growth from Support & Praise
Earth & Water
Moon

DIVINE MASCULINE
Capitalism, Competition
Separate / Duality
Archetypes: God, King, Priest, Warrior, Lover, Sage, Magician
Manifested Matter
Ecstatic Love
Magnetic Side
Action
Obtaining, Expression
Light
Growth from Challenge
Air & Fire
Sun

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GODDESS WORSHIP AND GOD WORSHIP?

I am fairly familiar with what it is like to live in a God-worshipping patriarchal culture. What I felt was completely unknown to me was Goddess-worshipping matriarchal culture. In my research I was looking for the sociology of Goddess culture. In other words, what were the characteristics of living in the time of the Goddess? How did they worship? What did they believe? How did they live? What did they do?

Perhaps because most of the Goddess cultures existed so far back in history, many of it before the written word, this information just doesn’t exist. Also a lot of information was destroyed during the transition from Goddess worshiping societies to the Judeo-Christian-Islam societies of the past 2000 years. Perhaps the bulk of what we can know is what archeologists and anthropologists can gather from pottery shards and statues.

The Goddess is immanent and embodies the Divine as female. She is in Nature, the Earth, and the Universe. One who worships the Goddess may be called a Goddessian. According to Judith Laura in Goddess Matters: The Mystical Practical & Controversial, the subsets of Goddessian worship are:

– Matrist – The Great Mother or other Mother imagery
– Dianic – The Maiden
– Kalian – The Crone
– Tripletarian – The Triple Goddess: Maiden, Mother, and Crone
– Kwantarist – Asian Goddesses
– Guadalupista or Guadalupera – Central and South American Goddesses
– Asherastarite – Ancient Near East Goddesses
– Willendorfian – European Neolithic Goddesses
– Gaians – Earth-based Spirituality and Environment
– Isian – Egyptian Goddesses especially Isis

I have started a comparison of characteristics of the worship of the Goddess and God as shown here on the table below.

GODDESS WORSHIP
Immanent – The Divine is located within every person, animal, plant, the Earth,          and the Universe
Polytheistic, Pantheistic, Panentheistic
Matriarchy, Matrilineal, Matriotism
Philogynist, Women are equal or dominant
Sexuality is natural & sacred
Congregation is in a circle
Congregation shares thoughts
All are equal in spiritual authority
Leadership is rotated
Congregants are equally connected
Conducted through rituals and celebrations
Little to no dogma or book of rules
Holistic thinking
Body affirming
Earth centered
In right relationship with Nature

GOD WORSHIP
Transcendent – The Divine is located outside (usually above) the material world
Monotheistic, sometimes Henotheistic
Patriarch, Patrilinear, Patriotism
Misogynist, Women are a lower caste
Sexuality is sinful & shameful
Congregation faces a pulpit
Congregation listens to a sermon
One individual (male) is considered specially ordained
Leadership is fixed (usually a sole male)
Congregants are in a fixed hierarchy
Conducted by worship
Much dogma and many rules
Dualistic thinking
Body denying
Heaven centered
Rules over Nature

Even though patriarchal God-worship has dominated much of the world the past 2000 years, they do have Divine Feminine aspects within them. Most likely they have been carried over from the earlier Goddess-worshipping cosmologies. The following religions have the presence of the Divine Feminine within them:

RELIGION                 DIVINE FEMININE
Taoist                         Yin
Kabbalah                    Shekhina
Gnostic                       Sophia
Buddhist                     Praj-na-para-mita (wisdom)
Christian                    Grace & Faith
Catholic                      Mother Mary & Virgin Mary

A SHORT HISTORY OF SPIRITUAL ENERGY MANIFESTED ON EARTH

Goddess worship can be dated as far back as 33,000 years ago. It would be natural to see the Divine as Feminine at that time. The people were very in tune with the Earth and Nature. They had no modern comforts such as structures to separate them from the natural elements. Survival was dependent on hunting and gathering skills. It probably was not known what the male’s role in procreation was. So the female was the one with the power to procreate. Societies were matrilineal and matrifocal (see reference glossary at the end). Eventually agricultural skills and domestication of animals were added to hunting and gathering skills. Nomadic lifestyles were replaced by life in villages. Societies were communal. Food and property were shared. The Goddess was the main deity. The Divine Masculine was present as her lower ranked male consort.

Goddess worship was dominant around the world throughout the Stone, Copper, and Bronze Ages. This was also the Age of Leo, Cancer, Gemini, and Taurus. In the transition from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age, which was also the shift into the Age of Aries, metal tools and weapons were invented. This was accompanied not only by a rise in warfare and aggression, but in the ways of living, and shifts in spiritual beliefs. The surplus of material goods and animals began to be accumulated and hoarded by individuals. Men, being physically bigger and stronger, were the most powerful at gathering wealth. In order to protect their property, God worship, with the Divine Masculine as the dominant force, and consequently rules and restrictions against the Goddess, increased rapidly. Most of today’s religious factions began in this period of time, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

There was a brief time when the God and Goddess co-ruled. This was the time of the Greek and Roman Pantheons. Also Hinduism has a good balance of Gods, Goddesses, and even many Androgynous deities. However, the Hebrews believed that there was only one true deity and most of the laws set forth in the Torah, and subsequently the Bible, were specifically designed to “kill” off Goddess worship and lower the status of women to be below men. With the dawn of the Age of Pisces, the patriarchy of Christianity came into full power.

I have created a graphic representation of the historical timeline of religions and ages. Anodea Judith, in her book The Global Heart Awakens, overlaid the chakra system on the timeline of human history. The first and second chakras were at their peak during the time of the Goddess. The third chakra rose to its peak during the rise of God worship, specifically monotheism. We are just now entering into the energy of the fourth chakra. It seems to be no coincidence that it is timed with the onset of the ascension energy and the Age of Aquarius that we are now transitioning into.

Deepak Chopra, in his new book The Future of God, explains his concept of the progression of spiritual energy on Earth as:

God 1.0 – The last 2000 years of religious belief that God is the Father, the big man in the sky that was created in our image. His role is the supreme lawgiver, the divine protector, the punisher, and the loving father image.

God 2.0 – Humans are shifting into the belief that God is the “interface between us and infinite consciousness”. Characteristics of those that are experiencing God 2.0 include: becoming centered, gaining self-awareness, experiencing higher consciousness and more purpose, enlightenment, and merging with the source [pure consciousness].

Chopra says that God 1.0 is a noun. God 2.0 is a process, a verb.

What Chopra left out of his book is Goddess 1.0, what I call the period of Goddess worship that predated God 1.0. In addition, I believe in order to achieve the level of consciousness that Chopra refers to, we must reframe God 2.0 to encompass the energy of both the God and the Goddess. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it Androgyne 1.0, because it is the Androgyne that is gender neutral; that embodies all of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine qualities. The Androgyne is the Divine Marriage of the Masculine and Feminine. It is the Divine Androgyne that is the energy in alchemy that can ascend back to the spirit world.

God 2.0 must include the Return of the Goddess. The patriarchy and monotheism of the past 2000 years has created an incredibly unbalanced energy on Earth. India is the only country where the Divine Feminine is worshipped today by a large number of people.

The alchemical process of how the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine descend and re-ascend to the Spirit World (called the Logos) is shown in the diagram below. Spiritual energy (manifested as the Soul) descends to Earth as separate Masculine and Feminine energy. A Sacred Marriage of the two creates the birth of the Divine Androgyne (a unification of the Masculine and Feminine) who then ascends in Consciousness, returning to the Logos.

It is a principle of physics that anytime two separate energies merge, they create a third and more powerful field of energy. The Androgyne’s power is in this third, balanced energy field.

Sharon Mazer says that “this divine union relationship is a co-creative partnership of equality. The child of cosmic birth is referred to in alchemy as the True Self, and it is created from a union known as the sacred marriage of dualities. In the Greek alphabet, the letter Delta (triangle/triune) was the symbol for cosmic birth. The triangle can represent: father/mother/child or the Perfect Union of the Two that creates the Third or the perfect union when two become one.”

So Spirit, as represented in our Soul, evolves through the integration of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine. I believe there are two ways to integrate these two energies:

1. Balancing the masculine and feminine within oneself as represented by Ardhanarisvara, a Hindu deity that is half male-half female.

2. Through relationship with a partner as represented by Shiva-Shakti blending the male-female within the posture of making love.

Mazer believes that in order to experience a unified field with a partner, one must first connect with the internal qualities of masculine and feminine energy within one’s self.

THE FUTURE: WHERE ARE WE HEADED?

We are at the entrance into the Age of Aquarius. This will be a time of spirituality and transformation. Aquarians are psychic, magical, and spiritual. Old superstitions and dogmatic religions will die away as the Divine Awakening or Ascension occurs. It will be a time to celebrate diversity and individuality, peace and prosperity.

Lion Goodman says that as incarnated humans, we stand between the earth and the sky as a product of both mother and father. The soul, when not in human form, is a being of light and energy. It has no gender. Therefore, gender is a construct of incarnation and each of us carries the archetypes of the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine in our psyche.

Earth is moving away from its role of providing dualities for incarnated humans into being a place of connection and universal oneness. Merging the Divine Masculine and Divine Feminine is one of these dualities that will collapse to create a balanced Divine Androgyne.

Lion Goodman also says that in cultures where both male and female deities are worshipped, there is more parity between men and women. Right now our dear Mother Earth is suffering greatly from over-abundance of masculine energy and an under-abundance of feminine energy. If Earth is to survive, actually if we are to continue living on Her, we must bring the Divine Masculine into balance with the Divine Feminine. Let’s all welcome in the Age of the Aquarian Androgyne.

GLOSSARY

Patriarchy:
• A form of social organization in which the father or the eldest male is recognized as the head of the family or tribe, descent and kinship being traced through the male line.
• Government, rule, or domination by men, as in a family or tribe.

Matriarchy:
• A form of social organization in which the mother is recognized as the head of the family or tribe, descent and kinship being traced through the mother.
• Government, rule, or domination by women.

Matriotism:
• Devotion to Mother Earth, ecology, sustainability, peace and the survival of life and the human species.
• Love or celebration of women’s influence upon society; the feminine equivalent of male patriotism.

Patriotism:
• Love of country; devotion to the welfare of one’s compatriots; the passion which inspires one to serve one’s country.
• The desire to compete with other nations; nationalism.
• Love or celebration of men’s influence upon society; the masculine equivalent of female matriotism.

Matrifocal – A group, tribe or household led by a woman.

Matrilineal – Designating or of descent, kinship, or derivation through the mother.

Patrilineal – Designating or of descent, kinship, or derivation through the father.

Misandry/Misandrist – Hater of men.

Misogyny/Misogynist – Hater of women.

Philogyny – Love of or fondness for women.

Philandry – Love or fondness for men.

Androgyny – Both male and female in one; of or marked by a blend of male and female characteristics, roles.

Gyandrous – Exhibiting characteristics of both feminine and masculine.

Gynandromorphic – Having male and female characteristics.

Hemigynous – Exhibiting characteristics that are predominantly male. Possessing qualities that are half-woman; womanish.

Hemiandrous – Exhibiting characteristics that are predominantly female. Possessing qualities that are half-man; effeminate.

Androcentrism – An ideological focus on males and men, and issues affecting them, possibly to the detriment of non-males.

Gynocentricism – An ideological focus on females, and issues affecting them, possibly to the detriment of non-females.

Theology – The study of religious doctrines and matters of divinity; the study of God and the relations between God, humankind, and the universe.

Thealogy – The examination of doctrines, scriptures, and practices in various religions focusing especially on: the portrayal and voice of women in sacred writings and practices; the role of women in religion historically and at the present time; and conceptualizing and imaging of the divine. (Definition from Goddess Matters: The Mystical Practical & Controversial by Judith Laura.)

Henotheism – There may be more than one deity but only one is worshipped.

Monotheism: Only one deity is worshipped.

Panentheism: All life and life forms are encompassed within the Divine.

Polytheism: Many deities are worshipped.

Pantheism: The Divine is within all individual life forms including the Earth and the Universe.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Some Fresh Concepts excerpted from Soul Sex: The Alchemy of Gender & Sexuality

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Gender, Sexuality

The  Soul Globe: Instead of linear models of gender and sexual identity, I propose a holographic model of the soul. An individual’s identity can move to a near infinite number of points in order to learn from different experiences. This movement may happen in one lifetime or over multiple lifetimes. Other human constructs, in addition to gender and sexual identity, such as race, creed, color, culture, ancestry, age, socioeconomic status, and spirituality are also resident on the holographic soul.

The Transsexual Medicine Wheel: This wheel represents the transition of a transsexual individual to the life and body of desire. The journey begins in the East direction, the place of Preparation. The Transformation begins in the South. Moving to the West, Assimilation begins. In the North, Liberation is felt as jubilation. The final direction is the Center, which is the place of integration. The Self now stands in right relationship to itself in the Inner World and itself in the Outer World.

Chameleosexual: An individual that is sexually versatile depending on the gender of their partner. An example is an individual that plays the bottom (receptive) role when with male sexual partners and plays the top (active) role when with female sexual partners.

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

Graphic Dictionary of Gender and Sexuality Symbols

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Gender, Sexuality

Sex, is a physical characteristic of our bodies. Some individuals have male genitalia, some have female genitalia, and others have some of both. Gender identity is a consciousness of who we are. Components of our gender identity include our gender expression and gender role. Sexual identity is a consciousness of who we want to be with romantically or sexually. Components of our sexuality include our sexual orientation and sexual behavior.

Gender Blenders put all the characteristics of masculinity and femininity together to create a unique blend of gender identity. Gender Blending is the blurring or blending of gender roles. Inside the blender is a combination of astrological symbols that represent Male (Mars), Female (Venus), Neuter (Mercury), and Asexual.

This image of the divine Male and divine Female, conjoined as one being, represents non-duality. This is the alchemical symbol for the union of Male and Female. The Logos (soul) deconstructs into Male and Female on the physical plane. The 6-pointed star represents the reconstruction of Male and Female into an Androgyne.

A symbol of Androgyny is created from the union of the God and Goddess. The God is represented by the symbol of the Horned God: a half moon pointing up. The Horned God is Associated with nature, sexuality, and hunting. The Goddess is represented by the symbol of the Triple Moon: a circle representing the full moon in the middle, a half moon on the left (waxing moon of new beginnings), and a half moon on the right (waning moon of endings). The Triple Moon can also symbolize the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone.

Individuals with any gender identity may use a unisex toilet or restroom. Unisex restrooms benefit families that have small children as well as disabled and elderly individuals that need assistance. In addition, trans* and gender fluid individuals may use a unisex restroom without fear of harassment or embarrassment.

A symbol for transsexual transformation consists of the Greek letter “X”. As a symbol with 3 bars, it represents the 3 phases of a transsexual’s life: the pre-transition, the transition, and post-transition. “X” has multiple meanings. It is the Roman symbol for “10”, which is the number of completion and balance. “X” is a graphic representation of the interplay of opposites. “X” also represents the perfectly balanced human, one line being the spiritual, intellectual, active, and male side and the other line being the earthly, rational, passive, and female side. “X” represents the union of dualism. It also represents a cross over, as in transitioning from one physical gender to another. And lastly, “X” is short for the prefix “ex”, which means a formerly held position, as in ex-male or ex-female.

These symbols are representations of gender variance and therefore choice. They graphically portray the concept that gender identity is not linear but can have twists, turns, and even question marks.

The five-sided pentagon stands for the numbers “2” (the Male) plus “3” (the Female) which adds up to “5” (the Androgyne). Inside the pentagon are the combined symbols for Male (Mars astrological symbol), Female (Venus astrological symbol), and Neuter (Mercury astrological symbol). All are enclosed by the circle which symbolizes circular living, the throwing away of linear thinking especially for gender and sexual identity models.

The symbols for Mars (male) and Venus (female) are combined with a third arm that represents non-binary trans* people. The strike through the circle in this version represents those individuals that don’t identify as male or female. The inverted triangle was a symbol the Nazis made camp prisoners wear during World War II. Different colors represented different groups. Homosexuals had to wear the pink triangle. Today the inverted triangle has been reclaimed for use as a symbol for pride.

This graphic symbol has two feathers representing the two spiritual energies, male and female, on a background of the yin-yang symbol. The circle is a symbol of sacred cycles that have no beginning and no end.

IOZ is a fictional but intriguing concept from the movie Zerophilia*. It is about individuals that are born with an additional chromosome, the “Z” chromosome. These individuals change sex whenever they are sexually aroused to orgasm with an individual of the opposite sex or with another zerophiliac.
*Zerophilia (2005) written by Martin Curland

The Taijitu (diagram of supreme ultimate) is the Chinese symbol for yin (female) and yang (male). It is a classic symbol for the balance and harmony of opposite energies.

The Yin Yang Yuen was designed to include a third gender in the traditional Tao symbol of yin (female) and yang (male).

The word “pan” comes from the Greek word for “all”. Pansexuals are sexually and romantically attracted to individuals of all gender identities. They understand that there is a much wider gender spectrum than just males and females. In other words, being attracted to an individual’s soul, energy, and inner beauty supersedes the importance of the physical body.

A new symbol for pangender. The word “pan” comes from the Greek word for “all”. Individuals that are pangender experience many or all gender identities. The number of genders may fluctuate. They may be experienced one at a time or simultaneously. Pangender is non-binary and multi-gender.

The symbols for multiple gender and sexual orientations. Variations include combinations of astrological symbols that represent Male (Mars), Female (Venus), and Neuter (Mercury), and Intersex (Earth).

The hormones that create secondary sexual characteristics in humans.

Standing at the intersection of Gender Drive and Sexuality Street, what direction are you traveling?

Compiled and designed by Drake Bear Stephen. Note: Many symbols are universal and some were designed by others.

Copyright © 2022 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.SoulSexAlchemy.com

Soul Sex: The Alchemy of Gender and Sexuality

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Gender, Sexuality

How does your gender and sexual identity define you? Find out in this guide for identity fluidity in the 21st century.

The soul, when not in human form, is a being of light and energy. It has no gender and no sexual orientation. Therefore, gender and sexual identities are constructs of incarnation created for learning purposes. The question, then, is why did each of us choose our specific gender and sexual orientation for this lifetime?

I offer fresh perspectives on gender and sexual identity, including biological, sociological, and psychological influences with an emphasis on spiritual impacts. Included are new concepts about gender fluidity and alternative sexual orientations. I have drawn on years of research and personal experience to create the broadest perspective of gender and sexual identity compiled in one volume.

Gender and sexual identity are two of the most basic but powerful aspects of our personal identity. These are the bedrocks upon which we build our self-concept and the lenses through which we view the world. Labels are not important but self-identity is critical to self-empowerment. This book illustrates how our identities are not set at fixed points but lay along ever-shifting continua. Here you will discover:

• How gender and sexual identities are created and why.
• How gender and sexual identities change throughout one lifetime or over multiple lifetimes.
• Theories on why a soul chooses its gender and sexual identity when incarnating.
• Introduction of the Energy Body.
• The history and mythology of Two Spirit and Third Gender cultures around the world.
• The real story of a “boy named Sue”: my life as a Four Spirit.

If you have questioned your gender and sexual identity or if you have never questioned your gender and sexual identity, this book is for you. This book is also for individuals who want a deeper understanding of gender and sexual identities, individuals who are improving their self-empowerment through identity ownership, individuals who are exploring identity fluidity, and students of gender and sexuality studies.

In Soul Sex, I offer a buffet of perspectives on gender, sexuality, and identity. You are invited to sample each of the dishes as food for thought.

Fluidity is the new identity of the 21st century.
Acceptance is the new morality.
Self-empowerment is the new mantra.

BOOK SPECS

ISBN#: Paper: 978-0-9862498-1-5
Electronic: 978-0-9862498-0-8

Library of Congress PCN#: 2015904369

Price & Publish Date: Paper: $24.00 April 1, 2015
Electronic: $9.95 May 1, 2015

Category: SOC 032000 Social Science: Gender Studies
PSY 016000 Psychology: Human Sexuality
REL 105000 Religion: Sexuality & Gender Studies

Length: 360 pages, 75,000 words, 50 illustrations

Format: 6” x 9” (h) x 0.75” (d) Trade Paperback

CONTENTS OF THE BOOK

Prologue: Switcheroo
The Real Story of a Boy Named Sue

Chapter 1: Introduction
Welcome to the Art & Soul of Gender & Sexuality

Chapter 2: Biology of Gender & Sexuality
The Forces of Nature

Chapter 3: Sociology & Psychology of Gender & Sexuality
The Forces of Nurture

Chapter 4: Spirituality of Gender & Sexuality
The Forces of the Spirit World

Chapter 5: The Energy Body & the Physical Body
The Layers of Body Consciousness

Chapter 6: Gender Identity
The Consciousness of Gender

Chapter 7: Sexual Identity
The Consciousness of Sexuality

Chapter 8: Changing Gender
Transitioning Gender & Sexual Orientation in One Lifetime

Chapter 9: Reincarnation
Transitioning Gender & Sexual Orientation over Multiple Lifetimes

Chapter 10: Two Spirits & 3rd Gender Cultures
Alternative Gender & Sexual Identities in Culture

Chapter 11: Self-Empowerment Support Services
Tools for Increasing Self-Knowledge & Belief in Self

Epilogue: Conclusion
Our Journey through the Sacred & Secular

Appendix: Reference Tools

• Passion Poems: The Author’s Trans*ition Poetry
• Inspirational Quotes
• Gender Diversity Etiquette
• Days to Commemorate Gender & Sexual Identity Diversity
• Glossary of Gender & Sexual Identity Terms
• Bibliography
• Index

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I am a Transpersonal Hypnotherapist and a Shamanic Energy Medicine Practitioner. I specialize in Past Life Regression Therapy. My background includes a 37-year career in telecommunications and a degree in art and psychology. I am a Four Spirit having lived as a bisexual in both female and male genders in this lifetime. I have been an intense student of metaphysics and spirituality for the past thirteen years.

ABOUT THE PUBLISHER

Soul Sex was published by Wisdom Weaver Press and printed in the United States.

HOW TO BUY THE BOOK

Soul Sex will be primarily available from online retailers. I recommend these two links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Sex-Alchemy-Gender-Sexuality/dp/0986249815/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427300989&sr=1-1&keywords=drake+bear+stephen

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/soul-sex-drake-bear-stephen/1121538384?ean=9780986249815

If you are interested in a book signing or an author presentation of the book, contact the author by email at drakebearstephen@pacbell.net.

Ingram Book Group is the distributor for the book. They distribute printed books to 39,000 retailers, libraries, schools, internet commerce companies, and other channel partners, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. They also distribute to the Canada, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. They distribute electronic books to every single major e-book retailer in the world including Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Nook, and Kobo.

QUOTES FROM THE BOOK

[Note: Permission to reprint a quote is provided as long as the source is cited as “Soul Sex: The Alchemy of Gender & Sexuality” by Drake Bear Stephen. Any other use is prohibited under the copyright laws.]

ABOUT GENDER & SEXUALITY

“Fluidity is the new identity of the 21st century.
Acceptance is the new morality.
Self-empowerment is the new mantra.”

“In Soul Sex, I am offering a buffet, from soup to nuts, of perspectives on gender, sexuality, and identity. I invite you to sample each of the dishes as food for thought.”

“Your genes determine what’s in your jeans (your biological body) but not what type of jeans you wear (your psychological identity).”

“The soul, when not incarnated, is a being of light and energy. It has no gender, no sex, and no sexual orientation. Gender and sexual identity are constructs of human incarnation. This means that the states of gender and sexual identity are created for the sole purpose of learning.”

“Gender identity is state of mind and not necessarily the physical state of the body. It drives social role and personal presentation. Sexual identity is a state of mind that drives the sexual activity of the physical body and the emotions of the heart.”

“Sexuality and gender are two of the most basic but powerful aspects of our personal identity. They are the bedrock upon which we build our self-concept and the lens through which we view the outer world.”

“A rose is a rose is a rose. But if a rose could talk, and it said it was not, would it still be a rose? This is the consciousness of identity.”

“The wonder of identity builds gender in 12 ways: psychologically, physically, professionally, mentally, spiritually, emotionally, biologically, legally, financially, aesthetically, ethically, and socially.”

“Although all individuals together make up a common tapestry, each of their lives is a unique and colorful thread. In Soul Sex we examine all of the independent threads of gender and sexuality to see how they weave together to create a beautiful textile.”

“Assuming a gender and sexual identity is not about putting on one outfit and wearing it for an entire lifetime. As outfits become outdated or outgrown, they can be discarded for new ones.”

“Gender is the prism that each one of us perceives others through in this physical world. It is the most observable quality about an individual.”

“We usually ‘read’ others’ gender from surface clues of the physical body, but an individual also has a gender energy that is not always as recognizable even though it is always present.”

“Gender and sexual identities are not caused but created. The creation of self-identity is complex, multi-dimensional, and made up of seen and unseen forces, including: biological, sociological, psychological, and spiritual factors.”

“Biology is no longer destiny due to the advances of Western medicine and surgical techniques. Now consciousness can power gender identity.”

“There are four major forces that shape the physical body: your genes, your hormones, time, and what you think of yourself.”

“21st century birth announcements should be non-gender specific and announce ‘Congratulations! It’s a human!’”

“Androgynous, intersex, and third gender individuals have been present from ancient times to modern times throughout the world. They are present in mythological and creation stories from many cultures and religions. Why then is a binary system of gender and sexual identity still the mainstream model in most cultures?”

“Non-conforming gender and sexual identities are gradually being eliminated from the books on mental disorders because these identities are natural and normal. Social awakening and subsequent law reforms are in progress to reflect the new consciousness of personal identity freedom and expression.”

“Picture your soul as a holographic globe with a continuum of sexual identity acting as longitude and a continuum of gender identity acting as latitude. Just as you can live at any longitude and latitude coordinates on Earth, you can be at any longitude and latitude of identity within the Soul. With free choice and fluidity of identity available to you at all times, you can spend an entire lifetime on one point or move from point to point throughout one lifetime.”

“Gender and sexuality are fluid and not permanently assigned at birth. It is possible for individuals to live outside of the two gender boxes of male and female. They can wake up each day and decide who they want to be at that moment in time.”

“Don’t assume that gender identity matches birth assigned sex. Modern etiquette practices should include asking an individual their preferred name and preferred pronoun.”

“We need to adapt our modern language to allow for non-gender specific pronouns that don’t keep us trapped in the old binary gender system.”

“Indigenous cultural perspectives that are based on a circular concept that all things are connected and interrelated seem to embrace the three or more gender classification systems more easily than Western cultural perspectives that are based on the linear concept that all things have a polar opposite and act independently of one another. These linear based belief systems perpetuate the binary sex system of only two legal gender statuses.”

“Because there are only two options at present, male or female, in binary gender systems, there is no place for individuals who have an identity that is both male and female or at some point between male and female. Yet the number of individuals who do not identify as either of the two legal choices is steadily on the rise.”

“Not all individuals with non-conforming gender identities are the same. Some individuals have a gender identity that is opposite of their birth assigned sex and take steps to transition the physical body to match their identity while others may have a gender identity that is somewhere between the male and female poles. These individuals make up the third gender.”

“How can people say it is unnatural to be somewhere between male and female? Picture a beautiful flower: the petals of its feminine genitalia enshroud the masculine phallus at its center.”

“Trans* individuals that live in a binary gender system are pressured to completely transit from one gender to the other. However, if there were a third gender option, how many might choose to remain at some identity between the two? How many truly embody characteristics of both male and female? Would more individuals be asking for both male and female genitalia? After all, wouldn’t that be the best of all worlds?”

“Past life experiences can have a big effect on current gender and sexual identities. In addition, a soul may change gender and sexual identity from one lifetime to another. The soul chooses specific identities to experience and learn for the purpose of growth.”

“The understanding, welcoming, and acceptance of trans* and intersex individuals as natural beings would change many lives in profound ways. Gone would be ostracism, shaming, stigmatizing, discrimination, bullying, and hate crimes perpetrated just because an individual is considered to be different.”

“I guess I am living the Reader’s Digest abridged version of fluid identity. I am a Four Spirit having lived a straight female-bodied individual; as a lesbian female-bodied individual; as a straight male-bodied individual; and as a gay male-bodied individual in one lifetime.”

“A transsexual’s emancipation proclamation is a custom made body. Surgery is one small step for a lifetime, one huge step towards freedom.”

“We should abandon classifying sexuality on the basis of an individual being attracted to someone like or opposite themselves. Individuals can identify their sexuality based on the object of their love i.e. andro-loving, gyno-loving, or pan-loving.”

“A chameleosexual is an individual whose sexual role is dependent on what the gender orientation of their partner is. In other words, an individual that is sexually versatile depending on the gender of their partner.”

“I’m not homo, hetero, bi, tri, or pan but simply sexual.”

ABOUT SELF-EMPOWERMENT

“Self-identity is self-knowledge. Self-knowledge accompanied with self-esteem creates self-empowerment.”

“If we scuttle the belief that we are victims, we realize that each of us is so powerful that we intentionally create our Earth identities for the specific purposes of learning and experience. The resulting wisdom is a gift to our soul.”

“No matter who you are or how you identify, you are exactly who you are supposed to be at this given moment in time. Your mission, if you so choose to accept it, is to recognize your self-worth, amplify your self-love, and step into your personal power.”

“Each one of us is a prize from the Universe to our Self and from our Self to the Universe. Your personal prize is as precious as diamonds, more valuable than gold, and the most beautiful rainbow ever seen.”

“Every individual has the sacred right to their identity. Identity is complex, multi-dimensional, and as unique to each individual as snowflakes are different.”

“The bottom line is that all things are possible in the world of energy. And our entire universe and all its multiple dimensions, known or unknown, consists of energy.”

“As you heal old wounds, cancel outdated vows and contracts, and create a luminous Energy Body, you are free to find the treasure you seek. It may be peace, empowerment, energy, health, creativity, prosperity, spirituality, or love. But I guarantee that by the end of your quest, you will find that you are the treasure!”

“Being compassionate doesn’t mean you need to walk a mile in my moccasins. It simply means walk a mile next to me. With respect.”

“Projections become reflections. The world is a mirror. Use it to your advantage. What belief, thoughts, words, and actions you project upon its shiny surface is none other than the very same beliefs, thoughts, words, and actions that are reflected back to you from others.”

“Like a kid in an identity shop, I am searching for the Holy Gail, that Wind of Life, on whose wings I can ride to peace.”

“Self-security is created by striking a balance of being in a power position (yang energy) and being in a peaceful place (yin energy).”

“Self-identity is self-empowerment.”

“The stronger an individual’s identity is, the more at peace they will be because owning one’s identity is empowering.”

“Self-empowerment consists of four steps: 1) Know Yourself. 2) Love Yourself. 3) Be Yourself. and 4) Share Yourself.”

“Most of us have experienced some form of trauma while growing up but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn to love ourselves, claim our power, and manifest a successful life. The possibilities all lie in the power of our perception.”

“The Golden Rule of Empowerment: Be true to yourself. And honor others for being true to themselves.”

ABOUT THE SOUL

“Our identities are created, like the perfect storm, when multiple forces converge on one physical body in one lifetime. These forces are divided into three aspects: the Physical (includes nature, hormones, DNA, and genes); the Mental/Emotional (includes nurturing, family, culture, society, and personality); and the Spiritual (includes astrology, past lives, karma, pre-life selection, and soul purpose).”

“In our current lives not only are we are working on the karma that we created in past lives but we are creating karma that will affect our future lives.”

“Our inability to accept differences in others has the power to destroy lives. Furthermore, karma being what it is, individuals that persecute others because of differences will be experiencing the other end of that persecution in a future life.”

“Duality is a construct where incarnated souls learn from experiencing polar opposites. But duality is also a spectrum with an infinite number of points between the polar opposites. We learn balance by traveling along the spectrum until we find the middle point.”

“What we see when we look in the mirror is what the world reflects back to us. We get what we believe we deserve. When we believe we are not good enough or deserve what we want, we block the flow of abundance, prosperity, and love. The more we love ourselves the more of our dreams we are able to manifest.”

“The only thing we can take with us out of this lifetime is the knowledge and wisdom that our soul acquires. So any gain we make in knowing ourselves will stay with us. These are the questions to ask in the quest for wisdom: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going? What is my purpose? What are my gifts?”

“Perhaps my soul is really homeless because it has wandered through so many lifetimes in so many different cultures, creeds, genders, sexualities, and spiritualties.”

“A predominant characteristic of older souls is that they come onto the Earth plane with a sense of knowing. My message to old souls is, don’t let others shame you away from what you know even when you feel you are in a minority of one. Go with your gut instinct because it is the truth for you.”

“I was born in the 1950s where there was only the Black and White Way. There weren’t any Ifs, Ands, Buts, or Gray Areas allowed. Unfortunately, by the age of six, I knew I was not fitting in well with the Black and White Way. The 1960s introduced, and the 21st century is reinforcing, a replacement model for the Black and White Way. It is an inclusive Shades of Gray Way.”

“Shifting our perception from static to dynamic enables us to stop thinking in black and white and start thinking in the colorful multi-shades of the spectrum. This enables two-dimensional linear models that limit the human experience to transform into three-dimensional spherical models that are inclusive.”

“There is no such thing as ‘being born in the wrong body’. A soul may incarnate with a mismatch between identity and physical body for various reasons but it is not accidental. A soul sets the parameters of their life before incarnating. Realizing this changes an individual’s perspective from victimhood to self-empowerment.”

Copyright © 2015 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

 

Sacred Sexuality

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Sacred Sex

It over a year since the consciousness shift began in December 2012. As a result many of us are naturally shifting our spiritual perspectives. It may also be a time to shift our sexual perspectives as well and perhaps even wed our sexual activities with our spiritual practices.

The subject of sacred sex should not be taboo because it is an expression of love – love for another, love for one’s self, and even just the love of sex.

First let’s define what we mean by making love for the purposes of this article. When two people feel an affinity or powerful love towards each other, they want to express their love through touch. If the chemistry is right, especially in the limerence* stage, a couple may have the feeling of wanting to physically merge, swallow up the partner, or be swallowed up by the partner.

*Limerence was defined by psychologist Dorothy Tennov to describe the near-obsessional form of romantic love. It is the involuntary cognitive and emotional state of intense romantic desire for another person. It is experienced in the initial stages of a new relationship.

TYPES OF LOVE

The ancient Greeks identified 5 different types of love:

1.   Eros – Romantic & Sexual
2.   Philia – Friendship
3.   Storge – Kinship
4.   Agape – Divine
5.   Xenia – Hospitality

The Chinese identified yet another category call Ren, which is benevolent love that focuses on duty, action and attitude. In Judaism, Chesed is a form of love described as loving-kindness. Impersonal love is a love for objects, causes, principles, or goals.

SEXUAL ENERGY

Sexual Energy is one of the most powerful energies humans can generate, reflect, and absorb. However, Sexual Energy doesn’t always have to be used for the sexual act or for the goal of orgasm. Many Eastern practices discuss the tantra of love, sex, and yoga. Many of these practices defer the moment of orgasm. Sexual energy can be diverted to be used in creativity, play, prayer, manifesting desires, and making affirmations.

Sex isn’t only about inserting Tab A into slot B. Much more is happening on the energetic level. In fact two individuals can merge energetically not even involving the merging of the physical bodies. The energetic body can be caressed, massaged, and made love to.

Think about how couples make love that do not have physical body parts that work together. The making of love takes place energetically and emotionally. For more information on how to transform your sexual life into a broader experience that includes the energy body, you may want to purchase the DVD, Path of the Sexual Shaman: Teachings on Energy, Orgasm, and Wisdom, available at http://sexualshaman.com/description.html#DPSS.

When the two energies of sexuality and spirituality are combined with one intention and one action, a tremendous amount of energy can be generated and released. The intention becomes the energetic expression and the action becomes the physical expression. This form can be used in solo sex or sex with partners. Think about releasing a wish to manifest something into the Universe with the energy of an orgasm!

In Judaism, the Shekhina is the Divine Feminine, the feminine aspects of G-d. At the beginning of the Shabbath, two candles are lit by the woman of the home, kindling great arousal in the upper world. It is a mitzvah (good deed) for a Kabbalist to make love to his wife on the Shabbath. This act of the Divine Masculine and the Divine Feminine uniting makes G-d one [whole and balanced]. As above, so below. As it is on Earth, so it is in Heaven.

If you would like to explore your sexuality in safe and sacred space, here are a few ways:

1. Participate in erotic massage exchanges
2. Learn Tantric Yoga
3. Go to Sex Therapy
4. Use a Surrogate Sex Partner
5. Hire a Sacred Intimate

SACRED INTIMATE

A Sacred Intimate is a professional that works erotically and energetically with those seeking healing, guidance or transformation in their erotic and spiritual lives. The primary gifts a Sacred Intimate contributes are Presence and Service. They are of service by: listening deeply, doing whatever is asked (within their power), performing emotional clearing, fulfilling fantasies, countering negative self-talk with affirmations, and erotic healing. A Sacred Intimate helps others remove the stigma and shame from sex and associated body parts. The Sacred Intimate provides a safe and sacred space to heal, teach, and help others explore their sexual issues.

Some of their work may include: intentional hugs, erotic massage, role play, bondage, sacred S&M play or any other things that will meet the needs of the client while not crossing the professional and personal boundaries of the Sacred Intimate. Sacred Intimate work is about healing, reclaiming, rejoicing and celebrating beautiful erotic spirit.

A Sacred Intimate has been called by many names: Erotic Priest, Priest of Love, Sacred Prostitute, Qadishtu, Heriodule, Heteratae, Courtesan, Friends with Benefits, Healer, Sexual Shaman, Sex Worker, Sex Therapist, and Sensual Masseur.

SACRED SEX RULES

In any encounter between two people there should be consent and agreement on what the ground rules are. Too many rules will restrict your freedom of expression, but a few basic ones will protect the participants involved. An agreement on the ground rules provides a safe and sacred place have sex. Sacred Sex rules are:

1. Follow the Wicca Rede of Respect: If it harms none, do what you will.
2. Exorcise shame.
3. Go with the flow of the heart.
4. Use the mind as an erogenous zone, not as a referee or judge.
5. What happens in “intimacy” stays in “intimacy”. Keep your interaction sacred by not gossiping about it to others.

It is important to keep your own energy systems pure. Daily practices of grounding and protection is a must. In addition, carefully consider who you choose to exchange intimate energy with. There are two acceptable motives for intimate energy exchanges (IEE):

1. You are with a partner of equal or higher energetic vibration.
2. You are with a partner of lower energetic vibration as an act of service. In other words, you are volunteering to be with them for teaching or giving motives.

ENERGETIC SEX

When most people think about making love, they picture manifesting that love with their physical bodies. However, there is another body to consider in the use of love expression and that is the energy body.

If you would like to increase your receptiveness to energy or feel it more effectively, here are 3 exercises that may help:

1. Practice with yourself: Rub the palms of your hands together a half dozen times to awaken your hand chakras. Now hold your hands in front of you, palms facing toward each other and spread about 3’ apart. Slowly begin to move the palms toward each other. Note the subtle differences in the energy.
2. Choose a crystal and run it from your crown chakra to your base chakra. Note the feeling of energy movement in your body.
3. Practice with a partner: Have another person lie horizontally. Now do a body scan by holding your open hand, palm down, over your partner’s base chakra. Note what you feel. Try to detect the shape and condition of the chakra with your hand. Now move up to the next chakra and complete this scan for all 7 chakras

The mind is the most erotic organ you your body. That is why fantasy is so powerful. So making love energetically consists of using your mind to:

1. Set intention. Your intention will involve what you want to experience with your partner.
2. Set attention. Focus on the energetic exchange more than on the specific body parts.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com

The Androgyneous Soul and Gender Blending

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Androgyneous Soul, Gender Blending

The soul in spirit form is androgynous. It has no sex, hormones, or biological tendencies that are associated with the physical form. Advanced souls are androgynous possessing the perfect balance of yin and yang. All souls experience both male and female lives when incarnated in the physical form. Living in both genders helps the soul develop androgyny. In the end, everyone probably lives 50% of their lives as male and 50% as female.

The gender of a specific lifetime may be chosen based on the following criteria: to fulfill a specific purpose, for a specific timing, to be sexually available or unavailable to a specific mate, to provide an experience out of the norm, or for physical/genetic reasons.

A series of lives may be lived in one gender until it is necessary to changeover in order to establish balance. This transition is not likely to be easy and some believe that transgender or gay lifetimes are a result of the incarnated soul transitioning from one gender to another.

A spirit guide may appear as either male or female, depending on the gender-specific need for the soul in the current incarnation. A spirit guide may appear as neither male or female if the incarnated soul is being applauded for being balanced or the spirit guide is suggesting that the incarnated soul focus more on a gender-balanced lifestyle.

Gender blending is the blurring or breaking down of gender divisions. Gender expression of male and female attributes become points along a continuum instead of polar opposites. The old binary, limited-to-two-gender choices, belief system is beginning to collapse. Of course, many Native American tribes knew this long before the white people arrived in North America. Most of the tribes had 3rd gender cultures and honored the 3rd gender individuals as powerful medicine people and big contributors to society.

A startling example of this is Facebook’s recent addition of 58 gender options for users. The choices are now male, female, and custom. If you click on “custom”, you can type in your identity. To get a full list of all 58 titles, read the article at this link:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/02/heres-a-list-of-58-gender-options-for-facebook-users/

Wikipedia also has a list of alternate gender identities at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ephilei/List_of_genders

The day may soon arrive when we will have more than two gender options to check on forms and it will be correct etiquette to ask people during introductions, not only what their preferred name is, but their preferred pronoun when being addressed.

I am writing a book, Soul Sex: The Alchemy of Sex and Gender, that greatly expands on all aspects of gender and sexual identities. It is due to be published later this year.

Copyright © 2014 Drake Bear Stephen. Except where acknowledged. http://www.DrakeInnerprizes.com