apnl 5*2002
CULTURE
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...................... ▼ .......................
n the evening of March 15, in a large
classroom on the second floor of Portland
State University’s Great Hall, a group of
about 30 gay men gathered together to do
something people from all over the world and
from many different religions have been doing
for hundreds of years.
Chairs were stacked to one side, a strand of
Christmas lights wound its way around the
perimeter, and a huge, circular piece of fabric
was laid out in the center of the room, envelop
ing most of the floor space. A single, white path
wove itself through the pattern of the flexir cov
ering, looping hack and forth on itself through
the dark color surrounding it— like a maze with
no dead ends— eventually
ending at the round patch of
solid white at the center.
A brief intuxluction by the
events facilitators invited
each member of the group to
begin the path when ready
and asked that all respect the
mood of silence and contem
plation. The overhead lights
were dimmed, and the sooth
ing, relaxing sounds of Sikh-
derived New Age music waft
ed through the air.
One by one, the men
began to traverse the path
silently, each in his own time
and at his own pace, stopping
for varied periods upon reach
ing the center. Then each
made his way hack along the
path to the place he began.
A maze of emotions
a psychotherapist who
identifies spiritually as
Pagan-Wiccan— began
to brainstorm ways for
gay men specifically to
explore their spirituality.
“Mostly, I’ve done
things mixed— gay,
straight, men, women— and I think I’ve
learned from the women’s community
what can happen when women come
together,” Stutesman says. “Women
have told me the power they’ve experi
enced from that, and gay men have
been afraid to do that for some reason.”
Gay Men’s Labyrinth. Walk offers
an exploration of spirituality
by
C h ristoph er M c Q uain
experienced it metaphorically, as an allegorical
clarifier of the paths of their lives.
The labyrinth used at Portland’s gay men’s
walks is based on a 13th century mcxlel from a
French cathedral, hut the labyrinth is more a
state of mind than a physical entity.
There have existed labyrinths so vast and
t’s called a “Labyrinth
Walk,” a meditative/
contemplative act that has
After the walk, men share their experiences
been used as a spiritual prac
tice throughout the centuries
complex that they only can be seen in their
by people of multifarious beliefs. According to
entirety from the air, but one also can simply be
co-facilitator Dale Rhuxies of the Interfaith
drawn in the sand. It needn’t even be walked,
Spiritual Center, it’s perfect for gay men inter
necessarily— Portland artist Collin Fellows carved
ested in connecting spiritually outside of their
a miniature topographical wcxxlen labyrinth for
own religion or outside of religion altogether.
the gay men’s group so that anyone who might he
“I think that it’s great for gay men to come
physically
unable to walk the labyrinth could
together for spiritual practice,” he says. “They
experience it by manually tracing the path.
can remain in their own traditions with their
own practices hut still come together. It’s such
*he event is the fruition of a panel on les
an accessible practice.”
bian and gay spirituality that took place
The labyrinth itself can he interpreted and
several years ago as a supplement to the
practiced in almost any way the walker desires.
annual National Coming Out Day service at
After the men completed the walk, they
First Congregational Church. After that meet
formed a “wisdom circle” wherein each partici
ing, RhixJes— along with Jon Murray of Com
pant was invited to share his thoughts on the
passionate
Heart Sangha; Dan Stutesman,
experience. Although facilitators stressed there
director of American Friends Service Commit
is no right or wrong interpretation of the
tee s Gay and Lesbian Program; and Dan Mills,
labyrinth, most who spoke seemed to have
Dale Rhodes (left) and Dan Stutesman help lead
participants on the Gay M en’s Labyrinth Walk
He suggests there’s an internal pressure to be
inclusive, as gay men tell themselves and each
other, “We should include other people; we
don’t want to discriminate.”
Stutesman adds: “I’ve been to gay and lesbian
religious meetings that were mixed, and then the
men and women have separated for different rit
uals...but in trying to remember how much I’ve
ever been to that’s men only...it’s rare.”
Murray, a practicing Buddhist, notes that
the concept of the labyrinth fits well with the
Buddhist tradition of walking meditation.
“What has been important to me," he relates,
“is the comforting quiet and sharing with men
in an entirely different way than I have usually
experienced. We men have our quiet, gentle
and spiritual sides which seem to rarely be
accessed, particularly in a group environment.
There is a palpable kindness
between individuals on their
separate but connected paths
along the channels of the
labyrinth.”
As a Pagan, Mills appreci
ates the open spirituality the
walk affords. “Labyrinth
walkers aren’t required to step
into any particular doctrines,
dogmas or religious belief sys
tems,” he explains. “Instead,
one steps into who and where
one is at this particular
moment and comes to
embrace this as the spiritual
path. For gay men raised in
the same competitive, male-
dominant culture as straight
men, this is not always easy.”
Mills also emphasizes the
breadth of the walk’s effect
both personally and culturally.
“Most all of us have integrat
ed negative cultural religious
messages which undermine
our very right to a spiritual
self...this is what makes the
gay men’s labyrinth walk so moving. To see gay
men from all walks of life bravely stepping onto
the labyrinth with whatever it is they carry is a
reclaiming event of earth-shaking magnitude.”
Rhodes and Stutesman hope to continue the
labyrinth on a quarterly basis. “It’s not a church
service, it’s not a political event, though it does
serve a political purpose in bringing the commu
nity together,” Rhodes claims. “I think it’s a real
ly great thing when we ca n .. .just be with our
own brothers. I think it’s empowering.” |H
For information about the G ay M en ’ s LABYRINTH
WALK, «sit uvHU.hornetou7i.aol.com/dhrho5/fxige.html
or e-mail Dale Rhodes at Holylistenmp@aol.com.
C hristopher M c Q uain is a Portland free-lan ce
writer.
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