Art: Paneros at the Edge of the World

Anticipation

 That moment when, having completed Eir journey, Paneros drops Eir last apple seed into the waters.

Rainbow Moon Circle: Rite of Release and Remembrance

Paneros by Jeff Cullen (photo: P. Sufenas Virius Lupus

)

Come As You Are To…
The Rainbow Moon Circle’s Rite of Release & Remembrance
A Full Moon Circle Honoring the Full Spectra of Gender Diversity

Saturday, November 19, 7:00PM
Doors open at 7:00PM, circle is cast at 7:15PM
Please arrive on time, no one is admitted after the circle is cast.

Qulture Collective, 1714 Franklin Street, Oakland, 510-419-0552
Wheelchair Accessible

$10-$20 donation accepted, no one turned away for lack of funds

Image:

The mxgender Priestxes of Come As You Are Pagan Congregation invite people of any and all genders — or none — to join us in honoring our beloved transcestors and ansxtors, especially those whose lives ended in violence. We will send them on their way on a wave of rainbow love and peace. We will be calling on Paneros; All Love, the Metagender deity of the Tetrad++ pantheon, to guide us in smashing the invisible barriers that keep us from love. You are invited to bring ancestral items and images to charge on the altar, and a treat to share for cakes and ale after we open the circle.

Our Mission: The Rainbow Moon Circle is a safe and sacred space for all to explore the spectra of gender and identity. We honor the holistic experience of self-determined identity and its infinite intersections. We celebrate the glittering prism of Divine existence that is powerful, delightful, enthusiastic, playful, transformative, magickal, compassionate, and reverent. Live the Spectra!

Join us on Facebook or  G+

Source: http://www.cayacoven.org/rainbow/

A Paneros Symbol Came to Me

Blessed Be the Tetrad++!

Paneros Chant

For the Rainbow Moon Circle; August 29 at The Sacred Well

A child stepped into the River of Styx
There wasn't a ripple, only silence
Eir fears were purged, all self-hatred rinsed
Paneros emerged—All Love immanent!

2015 composed by Jaina Bee
(a gift from the Salish Sea)

For more information on Paneros and the Tetrad++, get a copy of All-Soul, All-Body, All-Love, All-Power: A Transmythology by P. Sufenas Virius Lupus. And also on eir prolific blog, Aedicula Antinoi.

Living the Spectra with Jaina Bee

A quarterly exploration of issues and events related to gender diversity in the context of a Pagan practice.

After a year of seeking out and announcing "trans*/pagan" events, I'm redirecting my focus toward this new series of posts wherein I share about my recent adventures and discoveries in service as a metagender member of CAYA Coven's clergy. I am hoping to include book reviews, interviews, events listings, event reports, and anything else that may enlighten and inspire those who, like me, value the wisdom and well-being of Pagans Beyond the Binary. Please let me know if there's anything you'd like me to check out. Blessed be!

Happy birthday, Kate Bornstein!

Pantheacon 2015: Seeking and Co-Creating Gender Variant Hearth & Hospitality

When I was very kindly invited to share what "metagender" means to me at the evening session of Dee Shull’s excellent roundtable discussions on gender diversity and safe spaces, I was speechless for a moment. Then I awkwardly stuttered through a paraphrasing of descriptions written by P. Sufenas Virius Lupus, who was sitting right next to me. How could I be so nervous and shy in a room full of Pagans representing so many unconventional genders?

Because I'd never before been in a space where everyone was Pagan and no one was cisgendered. Because for the very first time, I was speaking to a crowd where I didn't have to deal with resistance to the idea of non-binary genders AND my Pagan practice was as accepted as my need to stay hydrated. I was speaking to "my people." It was a completely weird experience for me to feel so normal. I didn't know how to handle it.

Until I’d read PSVL’s Transmythology (mere months ago), I really didn’t have a satisfactory term for my own relationship with gender. I’d very casually been trying out genderqueer for a few years and half-heartedly considering “they” pronouns. For decades, queer has been my default identity on many fronts—sexual, gender, spiritual and just about any other part of my life that needed an adjective. All of the various terms I tried on fit me like off-the-rack garments from a discount store—parts of me did not squeeze into them and hung out awkwardly and often shamefully. Queer was my identity muumuu.

It was the story of Paneros that finally hit home.

Born of a MTF deity and an FTM deity, Paneros is the first non-binary deity of the group. Not half-male/half-female, like Ardhanarishvara or Hermaphroditos, but something else entirely. Meta means “beyond” and gender means “type.” (The character actors of the gender world, who cannot be typecast?) Paneros is much like a mirror to every individual e meets. Eir mother calls em “she,” eir father calls em “he.” Even the few who know what e is, such as eir grandfather Antinous, cannot speak eir name or pronouns until the child speaks them emself. Pushed to the edges of everything and beyond, the child finally releases all forms of sex and gender hatred from emself while simultaneously freeing their antidotes into the world. E is Paneros: ALL LOVE. (my synopsis is so bare and stilted, please read the original!)

So I’m reading this on a packed plane, laughing and crying and kissing the book and frantically underlining and circling and drawing stars and hearts all over the pages. After years of inklings and doubts, I’ve finally got some language that clears the air like a thundercrack. I finally know my name and my pronouns. I never knew what a difference that would make until it happened.

What I wished I could have said to that beautiful roomful of gender variant Pagans: metagender opens up uninhibited freedom to be myself; a one-size-fits-me label that is no particular gender but neither is it agender. It is a slippery, slithery gender that evades every attempt to define it; a trickster gender. (Every person in this conformist culture who does not identify with their assigned gender is forced in some way to become a trickster, even if they would not be otherwise. Metagender is trickster to the core.) Ask nine metagender people what metagender means and you'll get twelve answers. Wow, wouldn't it be amazing to be in a room with NINE metagender people!???!!

All of this is a rambling explanation of why Dee Shull's two round-table discussions (neither of which were in the main program, by the way) provided a desperately needed service at Pantheacon. When one finds oneself in a safe and hospitable space, deeper understandings and vaster opportunities open up. Many closeted Pagans experience this joyful feeling of inclusion and community by attending events such as Pantheacon. The conversations Dee facilitated brought forth the challenges and solutions we need to consider in order to expand that generous spirit to include currently marginalized members of our community. One wise and wonderful participant posted this excellent clarification of the essential differences between accommodating and providing accessibility.

In my explorations of gender-related issues, I have found the most useful language and questions in the words and works of our many brilliant Pagans of Color. In Bringing Race to the Table, Crystal Blanton drops this mindblower into our laps, "If the mainstream within Paganism is not cognizant of the effects of racism in the overculture, and does not become active in promoting a culture of change that is inclusive of people of color, then we should be honest that diversity is not our goal." Once you read that, you cannot unread it. Enjoy!

Many thanks to the Pandemos Hospitality Suite and to the Pagans of Color Hospitality Suite for opening their spaces to host these events! You lead the way with heart and soul.

With hospitality and safe, sacred space in mind…

CAYA Coven's newest ritual offering: Rainbow Moon Circle at The Sacred Well

 

Come As You Are to…

The Journeying Moon

Presented by CAYA Coven’s Rainbow Moon Circle

Saturday, April 4, 2015, 8pm

The Sacred Well

536 Grand Avenue, Oakland, CA 94610, 510-444-WELL

by donation—no one turned away for lack of funds

Join us for the inaugural rite of our newest moon circle to explore and honor gender diversity in ourselves, our communities, and in deity. We will Journey with the Hindu god, Hanuman—who is noted for his ardent devotion and trickster qualities of transformation— to find our healing powers within and dance with joy to celebrate each of our unique gifts. You are welcome to bring a contribution to cakes and ale, but most importantly— bring your beautiful self!

The Rainbow Moon Circle is a safe and sacred space for all to explore the spectrum of gender and identity. We honor the holistic experience of self-determined identity and its infinite intersections. We celebrate the glittering prism of Divine existence that is powerful, delightful,  enthusiastic, playful, transformative, magickal, compassionate, and reverent. We co-create rituals and hold space for supportive, loving community. We reflect and uphold the Mission and Vision of our shared CAYA Coven community.

The Rainbow Moon Circle offers rituals and sacred services which honor and celebrate the full spectrum of gender diversity.

For more information, check out our online community.

Book Review

Tango: My Childhood, Backwards and in High Heels

Justin Vivian Bond

2011; The Feminist Press; New York, NY

Told in v's signature chatty, witty, and astonishing style, Mx. Bond lays bare the most tender and quivering bits of a childhood that may or may not be as uncommon as some people think. Oh, it's certain v is a most unique individual—as a writer, a performer, and a fashion trendsetter—however, I am beginning to wonder if suburban neighborhoods are rife with children doing strange and unspeakable things to each other. Or maybe it reveals more about that bygone era of the mid-60's, when family members were protecting their privacy from the nosey neighbors rather than soliciting "Likes" from them on social apps. No one really knew what the kids were up to in that treehouse. Or if they did, no one was publishing a book about it. It seems that the adults of Hagerstown, Maryland always knew that there was something different about the chatterbox young 'un that would grow up to be an award-winning performer. Justin's beloved Pop-Pop called his grandchild "twinkle toes" with nothing but affection, but Mom threw a fit when she caught her 6-year-old son leaving for school wearing lipstick. All of us who grew up uncertain about living up to the gender expectations around us know how such inconsistency leads to second-guessing our every impulse— completely thwarting our childhood spontenaeity. Justin Vivian unpacks all these closets and more in v's little book.

To Paneros

Hail, Paneros

You who break the world open with Your love

You who shatter the bonds

that restrained love of old

We honor you.

Paneros!

Bring us to the shimmering edge

Hold us shaking and shivering

At the crest of desire

Hear Your name on our lips

When we honor you.

Paneros, awaken our hearts!

AsYou are open, open us to others

Let our hearts beat

with Your joyous, flowing love,

Free!

As we honor you

Paneros!

O Breaker,

O Anarchist of Love

O Love's song and Love's delight,

Piercer of Hearts

Waker of the Soul

that wades through fear to reach love's shores

Hear us, as we raise our voices in praise of You!

All honor to Paneros, and to all the Tetrad++!

*************************************************

Want to know more about Paneros? Check out P. Sufenas Virius Lupus' blog post on all the Tetrad++ and honoring them here and also eir epic poem The Marriage of Paneros.

 

My Gender Sermon of the Moment

 I have recently had several interactions with a friend of mine who is currently offering generally wise and well-informed counseling to the public on matters of sex and relationships. After a few incidents in which I felt that her gender education wasn't up to speed, I sent this email. This seems like a fine introduction to my personal gender story, which is one of the subjects the Priest/esses of Beyond the Binary would like to share with the public. May it be received with the love and compassion with which it was composed.

I hope this missive finds you well and fine.

I have been wanting to touch in with you about something that hasn't settled well with me. I haven't spoken up before because I felt too upset to communicate clearly and compassionately, and, well, you know we discussed the difficulties in working against the conditioning not to speak up for oneself.

Lately, for me, it has been an interesting process of "coming out" as a gender variant individual. It has been a private affair for me, and one that has felt too unclear to share with others, similar to what I have heard shared by my friends of variant sexualities. I never had an issue with identifying my sexuality as "queer", though most people presume I am heterosexual (and my sig others tend to be straight white men). I have found it to be much more challenging to correct others when they presume I am a cisgendered woman.

It has been easy for me to pass as a woman because of my feminine gender expression, however I often feel more like a drag queen. I like being a drag queen. No one questions me when I use the women's room, (Try using the men's room in the city to get an idea of what it's like to be gender variant) I have been welcome in women's spaces (though with increasing discomfort for me. I wrote a blog post about it here: http://paradoxmysteryandawe.blogspot.com/2013/07/womens-rituals.html ), and no one (friends, family, strangers) feels entitled to ask me, "So what ARE you? A boy or a girl?" as they do many other gender outlaws.

This is important for me to share with you; a person who is offering counseling services to the public on matters of sex and relationships. Gender is a highly-charged topic these days, as it comes out of the cisgendered binary cage it has smothered in for so long.

We have spoken on this subject for three weeks in a row now. The first time, I told you I had a book to give you on the subject, and all was well. The second week, I paid for your counseling services, and in a moment of enthusiasm, you spoke very dismissively about "that gender stuff" as you literally waved your hands as if shooing it away, presuming you were talking to a cisgendered woman. I was in a bit of shock and found myself speechless. The next week, I brought you The Gender Book, hoping it would help you understand the vastness and beautiful nuances of this topic. Again, you said something dismissive about gender and again you waved your hand as if it were a fly in your face. It was then I came out to you as a person who does not identify within the gender binary. Though I sensed some mild resistance at first, you quickly began to adapt this new information to your understanding of gender. Right on!

When you complained of men being dismissive to women's issues, such as rape and sexual predation, you were expressing your own gender awareness and experience. Please consider showing other genders the care and support you want men to show women.

I found the topic of gender to be a serious area of insensitivity in your otherwise considerate and informed services. I have great confidence that you will inform yourself further on this subject, as every person you meet has a gender identity, whether they have explored this and defined it for themselves yet, whether it is static or fluid, whether it is cisgender or agender or the many countless and multiplying identities that people are claiming and reclaiming for themselves.

I am here for you if you have any questions, wish to discuss this further, want some recommendations on resources. There's a lot out there on this evolving issue, and I am grateful to be of service.

With love and respect, Jaina Bee

Who we are

CAYA Coven's Beyond the Binary was established after the business meeting held at our annual coven retreat on September 21, 2013.

The consensus of that discussion was that a Genderqueer/Genderfluid group would form to explore practices and mythologies related to the experience of being Genderqueer/Genderfluid.  

 

And so came together the charter members of the Third Gender Circle. With great joy, we introduce ourselves:

Q'desha Yansumi Diwata
I am the High Priestess of Musical Ecstasy, ordained in two traditions within CAYA Coven - The Bloodroot Honey Priestess Tribe and the Wildflower Tradition. Among other things, I am a cisgendered, pansexual, woman of color.  It is my dedication to the Goddess Lilith and my work with Her that drives me to work with my fellow Priest/esses to help co-create sacred, safe spaces for all beings.

Gatekeeper Jey

Melissa ra Karit
I am a genderqueer Ordain in the Wildflower Tradition. I am the Priest/ess of the Body-Temple, holding the sacredness of our bodies as a central tenant of my spiritual practice and service. It is my hope and intention that we will co-create more spaces for trans* and other gender variant pagans.

owl of love  
As a bisexual being, i self-identify as genderqueer and genderfluid, driven on the dynamics of my partner(s) and those around me. Feminine & Masculine are both necessary and in a ratio that always is in flux. My hope & dream for us is to practice our unique ways of being in a safe space with generative, uplifting language while connecting with the Divine (Deity and mortal) all along the prisms of gender & sexuality.


Jaina Bee
I am an Ordain in CAYA's Wildflower Tradition, dedicated to Kuan Yin, Ganesh and Hermes. I see great potential in the concept of metagender. My privileged status as one who can be completely open and out about my gender identity and my Pagan spiritual practice keeps me ever mindful of the responsibility I have to serve those that cannot be so. May the Ancestors and Divine Ones guide my actions for the benefit of all beings.