Product Description
Gay spirituality and sensibility come to light in these pages of striking portraits and trenchant interviews. Thompson brings out the unique contributions of the esteemed gay men – including Will Roscoe, Joseph Kramer, Harry Hay, James Broughton, Andrew Harvey, Paul Monette, Malcolm Boyd, and Ram Dass – who lead the spiritual life. Thompson elicits vivid musings on such provocative issues as the third gender, S&M, ritual as ‘holy fire’, and spirituality in … More >>
Gay Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature with Sixteen Writers, Healers, Teache
Tags: Finding, gay soul, gay spirit, harry hay, Healers, Heart, james broughton, joseph kramer, malcolm boyd, Nature, paul monette, provocative issues, Sixteen, Soul, Spirit, spirit and nature, striking portraits, Teache, Writers
#1 by Mac Tire na Siog on May 4, 2010 - 6:11 pm
If you are a gay man who is seeking to broaden your understanding of your own spirituality, if you are any other member of the gay community, or have gay friends or gay relations, then this lovely book is essential reading. I first read Gay Soul a few years ago and have gone back to it repeatedly. It opened doors for me regarding my own role as a gay man who has long sought a context for my unique spiritual expression. Written by men who have years of experience working as healers, teachers, and mediators the book outlines an historical context for gay spirituality as the shaman and the berdache. The writing is gentle, simple and yet profound. In a world where our histories as gay people have been brutally suppressed and denied, Gay Soul goes a long way towards recovery of what has been lost and towards presenting a real alternative to those of us who are deeply moved by nature, healing, shamanism, and other forms of spiritual mediation. It affirms how essential our roles as cross-dressers, taboo-breakers, faeries, and gender-benders are to a healthy social psychology. It is a book which has had such a profound effect on my partner and I, that we keep giving copies to friends and fellow seekers. The interview format means that you can read each chapter independently, yet there is a consistent flow of thought and energy running through all of the interviews. It is a must for all faeries and a voice of clear hope for young gays. Hold on; you are not alone; we have always been here; the magic you feel within you is real; you matter; your contribution is a critical one; the world cannot survive and be healthy without us.
Rating: 5 / 5
#2 by Benjamin Ramsay on May 4, 2010 - 7:21 pm
This is an absolutely phenomenal book. I wasn’t notified that it would be liberally marked up with pink highlighter, otherwise I might have bought another used copy. But nothing can get in the way of this book being inspiring and incredible. Every gay man must read it.
Rating: 3 / 5
#3 by Anonymous on May 4, 2010 - 9:08 pm
This book is a great resource for a gay male looking for viewpoints on sexuality, spirituality, and morality. The various essays included are mostly in interview form, and make it feel that you are “listening” into a conversation. In this indirect eavesdropping, you find a wealth of viewpoints and guidance on issues that have traditionally plagued many gay men — sex, self-esteem, and sense of purpose in society.
Rating: 4 / 5
#4 by Anonymous on May 4, 2010 - 9:27 pm
At long last someone has done a study of gay spirituality! Soul and Spirituality among gay men are increasingly becoming much stronger and deeper as we approach the millenium and the Age of Aquarius. When overcoming difficulties of the modern age such as homophobia and the stigmatisation of the AIDS epidemic, gay men such as myself have started to look inside themselves for the fulfilment that lacks in society, and this book is one of very few available that studies the many different aspects of this new spritiuality. The interview format takes a bit of getting used to at first, but from the start the writing has a conversational style which makes it much easier to read, and more difficult to put down! I would highly recommend this for any gay man seeking to discover his true spirituality in whatever form- it truly is a brilliant book!
Rating: 5 / 5