Between the Worlds Men’s Gathering: profile picture

Between the Worlds Men’s Gathering:

A Queer Pagan Brotherhod

About Me

Queer men have, for many years now, sought spiritual alternatives to mainstream religious paths that have historically condemned their very existence. While New Age, Pagan, and Earth-centered paths and gatherings generally welcome queer spiritual seekers, they are often heterocentric in outlook and seldom address issues specific to the needs of these men. With this in mind, the BTW Men's Gathering was designed to provide a safe place for men who love men to explore alternative spiritual practices and paths, to empower themselves, and to plant the seeds of spiritual renewal within the gay community. BTW offers rituals, workshops, drumming, dancing, performances, a marketplace, and safe space for queer men to learn, workship, network and explore.

The setting is a clothing-optional private campground in the rolling hills of southeastern Ohio near Athens. Surrounded by meadows and groves of burr oak, shagbark hickory and sassafras trees, our men can shut out the distractions of the mundane world in order to build a dream that they can carry home in their hearts to warm them throughout the year. For more information, visit www.betweentheworlds.org.What They're Saying About Between the Worlds

I can truly say this experience was life altering, for I have now hope in myself and in the human race once again." Scott

"Thank you again for the friendship, the love and the community." Niko

"It was all just magical!" Toby Johnson

"Thanks for welcoming with open arms non-Wiccans as well and for allowing us to present our own perspectives and traditions." Falki

"We all had a wonderful time, felt the presence of the Lord and Lady, the Queer Spirit and most all the love and brotherhood we all share for each other ... WE CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!!!!" Fenix

"The whole experience was incredible, from the rites and workshops, to the quiet time and being in nature." Paul

"For the first time in a long time, I feel a part of a real spiritual brotherhood that stretches far and near." Benski

"Though I have enjoyed many festivals over the last few years, Between the Worlds is particularly special. Never before have I found such a sense of community and brotherhood that I feel a part of, not just a guest." Christopher Penczak

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My Interests

Pagan, Nature Spirituality, Witchcraft, Norse, Hindu, Buddhism, Wicca, Minoan Brotherhood, Hoodoo, New Age, Thelema, Radical Faerie, Druid, Shaman, Hellenic, Ceremonial Magick, Gnostic, and African Diasporic Traditions
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I'd like to meet:

Gay/Bi/Queer Men interested in attending the Between the Worlds 2007 Gathering. Our vision is to create a safe and sacred community wherein men who love men can freely share ideas on the nature of spirituality and their place in the Universe in a loving, respectful and non-judgmental manner.

Music:

Sparky T. Rabbit, Jeff Altergott, David Wood, Pansy Division, Stevie Nicks, Wendy Rule

Books:


Bullough, Bonnie, Vern Bullough, James Elias (Eds.); Gender Blending; Prometheus Books, Amherst, NY 1997.

Conner, Randy; Blossom of Bone: Reclaiming the Connection between Homoeroticism and the Sacred; Harper Collins, San Francisco, CA 1993.

Conner, Randy, et al. (Eds.); Cassell's Encyclopedia of Queer Myth, Symbol and Spirit; Cassell, Herndon, VA 1997.

Dawn, Crystal and Stephen Flowers; Carnal Alchemy: A Sado-Magical Exploration of Pleasure, Pain, and Self-Transformation; Runa-Raven Press, Smithville, TX 1995.

De la Huerta, Christian; Coming Out Spiritually: the next step; Tarcher/Putnam, New York, NY 1999.

Delcourt, Marie; Hermaphrodite; Studio Books, London, UK 1961.

Dominguez Jr., Ivo; Beneath the Skins: The New Spirit and Politics of the Kink Community; Daedalus Publishing Company, Los Angeles, CA 1994.

Downing, Christine; Myths and Mysteries of Same-Sex Love; Continuum, New York, NY 1996.

Evans, Arthur; Witchcraft and the Gay Counterculture; Fag Rag Books, Boston, MA 1978.

Evans, Arthur; The God of Ecstacy: Sex Roles and the Madness of Dionysos; St. Martins Press, New York, NY 1988.

Feinberg, Leslie; Transgender Warriors: Making History from Joan of Arc to RuPaul; Beacon Press, Boston, MA 1996.

Grahn, Judy; Another Mother Tongue: Gay Words, Gay Worlds; Beacon Press, Boston, MA 1984.

Herdt, Gilbert (Ed.); Third Sex Third Gender: Beyond Sexual Dimorphism in Culture and History; Zone Books, New York, NY 1996.

Hopkins, Jeffery; Sex, Orgasm, and the Mind of Clear Light: The Sixty-four Arts of Gay Male Love; North Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA 1998.

Jackson, Graham; The Secret Lore of Gardening: Patterns of Male Intimacy; Inner City Books, Toronto, Canada 1991.

Johnson, Toby; Gay Spirituality: The Role of Gay Identity in the Transformation of Human Consciousness; Alyson Books, Los Angeles, CA 2000.

Klein, Kenny; The Flowering Rod: Men, Sexuality, and Spirituality; Delphi Press, Oak Park, IL 1993.

Lambert, Royston; Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous; Meadowlands Books, Seacaucus, NJ 1984.

Moorey, Theresa and Howard; Pagan Gods for Today's Man: a beginner's guide; Hodder & Stoughton, UK 1997.

Murray, Stephen and Roscoe, Will (Eds.); Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies in African Homosexualities; St. Martins Press, New York, NY 1998.

Penczak, Christopher:Gay Witchcraft: Empowering the Tribe: Weiser Books, Boston, MA, 2002.

Ramer, Andrew; Two Flutes Playing: A Spiritual Journeybook for Gay Men; Alamo Square Press, San Francisco, CA 1997.

RFD Magazine, c/o RFD Press, 247 Sanctuary Lane, Liberty, TN 37095

Roscoe, Will (Ed.); Living the Spirit: A Gay American Indian Anthology; St. Martins Press, New York, NY 1988.

Roscoe, Will; Changing Ones: Third and Fourth Genders in Native North America; St. Martin's Press, New York, NY 1998.

Stewart, R.J.; Celebrating the Male Mysteries; Arcania Press, Bath, UK 1991.

Stowe, John R.; Gay Spirit Warrior: An Empowerment Workbook for Men who Love Men; Findhorn Press, Tallahassee, FL 1999.

Thompson, Mark (Ed.); Gay Spirit: Myth and Meaning; St. Martins Press, New York, NY 1987.

Thompson, Mark; Gay Body: A Journey Through Shadow to Self; St. Martins Press, New York, NY 1997.

Thompson, Mark; Gay Soul: Finding the Heart of Gay Spirit and Nature; Harper, San Francisco, CA 1994.

Vanita, Ruth and Saleem Kidwai (Eds.); Same-Sex Love in India; Palgrave Press, New York, NY 2000.

Vermaseren, Maarten J.; Cybele and Attis: The Myth and the Cult; Thames and Hudson, London, UK 1977.

White Crane Journal, P.O. Box 1018, Conifer, CO 80433-1018 Tel. 303-697-4457

Williams, Walter; The Spirit and the Flesh: Sexual Diversity in American Indian Culture; Beacon Press, Boston, MA 1992.


Zolla, Elemire; The androgyne: Reconciliation of male and female; Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, NY 1981.

Heroes:

Past Keynote Speakers have included Daduwa and Marc (2002), Drake Spaeth (2003), Christopher Penczak (2004), Toby Johnson (2005) and Ronald Long (2006)

My Blog

How to Speak BTW, Part 2

"The R-word and the H-word"But, no, not the "L-Word" (sorry, sisters). While I can say them here in-print (at least I'm pretty sure I can...) two words you won't hear at Between the Worlds a lot are "...
Posted by Between the Worlds Mens Gathering: on Tue, 01 May 2007 02:24:00 PST

How to Speak BTW, Part 1

By Steve KensonFor a festival that has only been around for just over five years (2007 will be the sixth gathering), Between the Worlds has built up an interesting body of traditions and its own share...
Posted by Between the Worlds Mens Gathering: on Fri, 30 Mar 2007 07:17:00 PST

Top Ten Excuses for Not Attending Between the Worlds

By Steve KensonSo, you're thinking about coming to Between the Worlds, but you're not entirely certain. Maybe you've got concerns, or something about the idea puts you off. Maybe you'd really like to ...
Posted by Between the Worlds Mens Gathering: on Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:20:00 PST

Registration is Now Open!

Registration for BTW 2007 is now open, and will be open until August 17, 2007. BTW is held Sept 11-16, 2007 in scenic Southeastern Ohio. Go to www.betweentheworlds.org for more information.
Posted by Between the Worlds Mens Gathering: on Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:53:00 PST