Spirit Journeys

01/04/2024

"Don't take anything personally," admonishes Don Miguel Ruiz in "The Four Agreements." This agreement is remarkably helpful in diffusing shame, guilt, and embarrassment triggered by the words and actions of others; at the same time, it is poor advice indeed in navigating the complexities of a real relationship. It can even be outright dangerous in the hands of narcissists who use it to deflect basic accountability. Like all spiritual truths, the second agreement can be used against ourselves if we apply it unskillfully or uncompassionately.

In ten years as Don Miguel's apprentice, I learned how to begin using the second agreement more skillfully. The key is in understanding the word, "personally." it doesn't mean that the thoughts, words, and actions of others have nothing to do with us. It doesn't mean we are weak if we allow others to matter. It is simply an encouragement to refrain from defining ourselves by others reflections. First, their reflection is influenced by the quality of the mirror itself. Second, it is not a reflection of who we are -- it is a reflection of the mask we are wearing with them in that moment. At this level, it can be very useful to understand what their reflection tells us about who the other person is, and how our mask is being experienced; masks are useful, and it is worth our time to become more skillful in using them.

At the same time, this agreement offers an even deeper invitation. Who we are isn't a mask; it is a mystery. "Don't take anything personally" ultimately encourages us to stop regarding ourselves as "persons" and to discover ourselves as extraordinary mysteries. We stop worrying about others' reflections and become more interested in discovering the endless mystery of our own being ...

19/03/2024

When I first met my teacher Miguel Ruiz, author of "The Four Agreements," I created a horrible mess with the First Agreement, "be impeccable with your word." I brought to it all of my perfectionism and judgment; it became one more way to hold myself to rigid and unrealistic standards and hurt myself in the process. Over the years, I slowly stopped using even Miguel's words as a moral absolute, though. I began to listen to how words felt in my body, how they impacted the other human bodies around me, and how the world responded to each and every word. As my awareness grew, I was able to respond to that feedback more quickly and shift my words mid-sentence, sometimes before they were fully thought or spoken. I chose words that grew my love and gave life, simply because I didn't want to hurt anymore, and I wanted to enjoy this beautiful life I've been given to share. I learned that" be impeccable with your words" means simply, use words in ways that grow love and give life. Every time I stand before the pyramids of Teotihuacan, my words overflow with such gratitude ...

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/2024teotihuacanpilgrimage.html

10/07/2023

Just three days left to register for our Ecstatic Contemplative Retreat at Ghost Ranch New Mexico, August 13-19! Breathtaking vistas, wonderful GBTQ community, and skillfully guided practice in deeply embodied meditation, ecstatic and enstatic contemplation, breathwork and stress-release. Registration closes July 13! Come join us! https://www.spiritjourneys.com/2023ecstaticcontemplative-379462-108154.html

03/05/2023

$100 Early Registration Discounts end Friday May 5 for our Teotihuacan Pyramid Pilgrimage in July, and our Ecstatic Contemplative Retreat in New Mexico in August -- wonderful opportunities to leave the world of worry behind you and return to the Truth inside you with a heartfelt community of soulful GBTQ men! Click here to find out more and register! https://www.spiritjourneys.com/index.html

18/04/2023

I love and tremble a little whenever I see the old quotation by Carl Jung, "The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely."
It inspires me profoundly even as it seems almost impossible.

Then I remember my friend, David Jones, I remember the trauma, emotional pain and addiction he overcame, and the love he used to transform his whole life -- and I know such acceptance is actually possible.

I invite you to join David and I this Saturday April 22 from 11 to 3 ET for a live, online webinar, "Saying Yes to Life: The Transforming Power of Courageous Affirmation."

Of anyone I have ever met, David has harnessed the power of affirmation -- not as a magic spell for manifestation or as a weak protest against life's challenges, but a brave, full-hearted affirmation of our hearts deepest truths. He will share a little of his story, and guide us in creating our own affirmations -- and hopefully, we will surprise ourselves with our own truth.

Here's the link to register or find out more: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/sayingyestolife.html

(And if the scheduling doesn’t work for you, we’ll be recording the webinar and we can email it to you.)

I hope to see you there!

--Hunter

Live Online ​Webinar Sat April 22, 2023 11 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 3 pm ET Open to ​Everyone! $45 ​

06/03/2023

Thirteen years ago, I was excommunicated from the very Orthodox Christian monastery that had healed my relationship with desire, s*x, and spirit forever.

Why? Because I believed that the time for secrecy is over. I believed that the Erotic teachings hidden at the heart of the Christian tradition have the power to transform our understanding of spiritual growth completely, and to help LGBTQ folk, in particular, reclaim their spiritual birthright. And I chose to stop hiding.

This Saturday March 11, I'll be sharing a few of the fundamental Erotic teachings of Christianity in this radical, newly updated live webinar, "The Erotic Heart of Christ," and inviting you heal your relationships with desire, s*x, and spirit through gentle inquiry, gentle and sacred self-touch (fully clothed during our time together), and contemplative erotic practice. This is not a "s*x workshop" in the usual sense -- it is an exploration of the deepest wellsprings of Eros in our own hearts.

I hope you can join me! Here's the link to register or find out more: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/theeroticheartofchrist.html

Hunter

09/02/2023

Spirit Journeys' 2023 Calendar is up and ready to register! Our first Webinar this Saturday February 11 from 11 to 3 ET, welcomes Zintis Muiznieks for "Opening to Guidance: The Art of Channeling Inner Wisdom." Zintis, a brilliant healer, light trance channel, author, and the former Administrative Director for the GMHC in NY, will share his own journey as a channeler and offer practical guidance on channeling inner wisdom in your own life. We hope you can join us!

Live Online Webinar Sat Feb 11, 2023 11 am - 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 3 pm ET Open to ​Everyone! $45

17/05/2022

Hello dear friends, just wanted to post a small reminder that Eli Andrew Ramer, one of the great visionaries and prophets of our gay spirit community, will be offering a webinar with me this weekend, Friday May 20 and Saturday May 21, sharing his vision of how important we as walks-between / LGBTQ people are to the world in this troubling and transformative time. If you don't know him yet, his "Two Flutes Playing" was one of the inspiring documents of the early Gay Spirit Movement, along with the work of Harry Hay, Gavin Arthur, Franklin Abbot, and many others; and his "Two Hearts Dancing," featuring the art of Raven Wolfdancer (another GSV founder) was just released this year. In many ways, his work spans the whole of modern Gay Spirit History -- and it is one of my own greatest inspirations. It will be recorded, so you can watch it afterward if you can't attend any part of the live zoom call. It's on a sliding scale, but if you can't afford that, reach out to me and we'll work something out -- I don't want anyone to miss it who feels called to be there. I believe with all my heart that the strength I've seen in each and every one of us over the years has the power to make a greater difference than we've ever let ourselves imagine ...

Here's the link: http://www.spiritjourneys.com/q***r-spirits-the-power-of-coming-in.html

Live and Recorded Online Webinar Fri May 20, 2022 7-8:30pm EDT Sat May 21 11am-12:30pm & 1:30 - 3pm EDT GBTQ Men and Kindred Spirits! $30 - $65

14/03/2022

Here's the Saint Francis no-one ever told you about -- the q***r, interfaith Sufi peace warrior whose life and teachings changed the world -- and can again. Throughout his ministry, Francesco challenged the structures of power, economics, war, gender, and s*xuality in his society, even crossing the battle-lines of the crusades to build bridges of religious tolerance and understanding between the Christian and Islamic cultures of his time. He lived a life of radical embrace that has survived eight hundred years of religious dogma and spiritual abuse -- inspiring, challenging, and freeing those with eyes to see!

In this three-hour webinar, available live and as a recording, we will explore his path of Radical Embrace and the tools he used to shatter the illusion of separation, discover himself in all creation, and experience the ecstatic ocean of Love, described by mystics as "heaven on earth,” that lies beneath the surface of our lives!

Here's the link to register:

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/saintfrancisq***rsufipeacewarrior.html

Online Webinar Saturday March 19 from 11am-12:30pm and 1:30pm to 3pm EST For Everyone $45

14/03/2022

We praise You, Lord, for all your creatures, especially for Brother Sun, who is the day through whom You give us light. And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor, of You Most High, he bears your likeness.

Want to Discover Francis the Sufi Master? Join us for a live webinar on March 19 with Hunter exploring Francis of Assisi’s Sufi Heritage, and his path of Radical Embrace!

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/saintfrancisq***rsufipeacewarrior.html

13/03/2022

GOD WOULD KNEEL DOWN

I think God might be a little prejudiced.
For once He asked me to join Him on a walk
through this world,
and we gazed into every heart on this earth,
and I noticed He lingered a bit longer
before any face that was
weeping,
and before any eyes that were
laughing.

And sometimes when we passed
a soul in worship
God too would kneel
down.
I have come to learn: God
adores His
creation.

~ Translated by Daniel Ladinsky

Want to Discover Francis the Sufi Master? Join us for a live webinar on March 19 with Hunter exploring Francis of Assisi’s Sufi Heritage, and his path of Radical Embrace! https://www.spiritjourneys.com/saintfrancisq***rsufipeacewarrior.html

12/03/2022

Dear God, please reveal to us
your sublime
beauty
that is everywhere, everywhere, everywhere,
so that we will never again
feel frightened.
My divine love, my love,
please let us touch
your face.

~ translated by Daniel Ladinsky

Want to Discover Francis the Sufi Master? Join us for a live webinar on March 19 with Hunter exploring Francis of Assisi’s Sufi Heritage, and his path of Radical Embrace! https://www.spiritjourneys.com/saintfrancisq***rsufipeacewarrior.html

11/03/2022

“With our whole heart, our whole soul, our whole mind, with our whole strength and fortitude, with our whole understanding, with all our powers, with every effort, every affection, every feeling, every desire and wish, let us all love.” – Saint Francis

“Want to Discover Francis the Sufi Master? Join us for a live webinar on March 19 with Hunter exploring Francis of Assisi’s Sufi Heritage, and his path of Radical Embrace! https://www.spiritjourneys.com/saintfrancisq***rsufipeacewarrior.html

07/03/2022

Spirit Journeys' 2022 Schedule is Up, with our Journey to the Pyramids of Mexico, our Ecstatic Contemplative retreat in the red rocks of New Mexico, the tenth anniversary of our International Gay Retreat, and webinars on Saint Francis the Q***r Sufi Master, the Erotic Heart of the Christian Tradition, Breathwork, Heart Circles, and more ... come join us for an extraordinary experience of soulful gay community!

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/

17/12/2021

Join me TONIGHT for a FREE celebration of the 13th century mystic poet RUMI. Friday, December 17 at 6:30-8:00 PM EST
Registration required: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/freerumicelebration.html

Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”


~ Rumi 1203-1273

16/12/2021

Join me for FREE celebration of the 13th century mystic poet RUMI. This Friday, December 17 at 6:30-8:00 PM EST
Registration required: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/freerumicelebration.html

When I am with you, we stay up all night.
When you're not here, I can't go to sleep.
Praise God for these two insomnias!
And the difference between them.

~~~~~~~~~~

The minute I heard my first love story
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere.
They're in each other all along.

~Rumi 1207-1273

15/12/2021

Join me for FREE celebration of the 13th century mystic poet RUMI. This Friday, December 17 at 6:30-8:00 PM EST
Registration required: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/freerumicelebration.html

The way of love is not
a subtle argument.

The door there
is devastation.

Birds make great sky-circles
of their freedom.

How do they learn it?

They fall,
and falling,
they’re given wings.

~ Rumi 1207-1273
Translated by Coleman Barks

14/12/2021

Join me for a FREE online celebration of the 13th century mystic poet Rumi. This Friday, December 17, 2021 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM. Register below to receive the link:

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/freerumicelebration.html

SPIRIT JOURNEYS

14/12/2021

Join me for FREE celebration of the 13th century mystic poet RUMI. Friday, December 17 at 6:30-8:00 PM EST

Registration required: https://www.spiritjourneys.com/freerumicelebration.html

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.

Jalal uddin Rumi 1207-1273
Translation by Coleman Barks

Image: "The Chalice" by Nicholas Kalmakoff 192

13/12/2021

Kiss

There is some kiss we want with our whole lives,
the touch of spirit on the body.

Seawater begs the pearl to break the shell, and
the lily, how passionately it needs some wild darling.

At night, I open the window and ask the moon to come
and press its face against mine.

Breathe into me.

Close the language-door,
and open the love-window.

The moon won’t use the door,
only the window.

~ Rumi 1207-1273
Translated by Coleman Barks

Join me for Rumi's birthday celebration
Friday, December 17 at 6:30 PM EST
Details forthcoming!

11/12/2021

Capacity

Moonlight stretches out against the skies
Your share of it depends upon the size
Of windows in your room. Your glass of wine
Dictates the granted measure of divine
Infinite love; and you’ll receive His grace
According to the breadth of your embrace.

Rumi 1207-1273
Translated by Farrukh Dhondy

Join me for Rumi's birthday celebration
Friday, December 17 at 6:30 PM EST
Details forthcoming!

09/12/2021

Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you’re perfectly free.

Jalal Uddin Rumi 1207-1273
The Essential Rumi

Join me for Rumi's birthday celebration Friday, December 17 at 6:30 PM EST. Details forthcoming!

08/12/2021

Time is limited, and the abundant water flowing away.
Drink, before you fall to pieces.
There is a famous conduit, full of the Water of Life:
draw the Water, so that you may become fruitful.
We are drinking the water of Khidr
from the river of the speech of the saints:
Come, thirsty one!
Even if you don’t see the water, as skillfully as a blind person,
bring the jug to the river and dip it in.

~ Rumi

11/03/2021

Calling all Toltecs and Teotihaucan Travelers!

This Friday March 12, I will be participating in a very special, FREE ONLINE event, raising funds for the Dreaming House in Mexico, run by my dear friends Alberto and Veronica. They have been a second home and family for twenty years, and the hosts for most of the trips I've led for all of those years. The Dreaming House has taken an active role in feeding incredible numbers of people in the local villages during the year of pandemic, despite the complete shut-down of their own retreat business -- and now a number of their friends and supporters -- many of whom are extraordinary Toltec Teachers in their own right -- are working together to help support this extraordinary family and their incredible service.

This Friday I will be sharing a bit of my own Spiritual Journey as a two-spirited, non-binary walks-between LGBTQ person, and the extraordinary journey of discovery with Teotihuacan that saved and changed my life forever. The evening's presentation will begin at 7 pm Eastern, and I will begin speaking sometime between 7 and 8 pm; the presentation concludes at 8:30 pm Eastern.

To get the Zoom Link to Participate, to learn more, to see the videos from other wonderful teachers, or to donate, please visit the website here: www.ExperienceTeo.com

And of course, if you're interested in traveling to Teo with me this year or in years to come, please visit me at

https://www.spiritjourneys.com/2021teotihuacanpilgrimage.html

Hunter

27/02/2021

TODAY!! "The Mystic's Ecstatic Heart: A Path of Holy Desire". Reclaim the sacred power of your own desire through the mystics' path of Holy Desire, hidden in plain sight and waiting for those with eyes to see ... Join Hunter Flournoy today for this online workshop starting at 10:00 AM EST. Click the link below for more information and registration:
https://www.spiritjourneys.com/themysticsecstaticheart.html