Queering Spirit

PLEASE NOTE THIS WORKSHOP IS PART OF QUEERING SOUND'S FUNDRAISER FOR RHIZOME, THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE RHIZOME. THE WORKSHOP IS OFFERED AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE BUT IN ORDER TO ATTEND THIS WORKSHOP YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED A TICKET TO THE FUNDRAISER .

Nervous systems burn out when in a state of constant arousal trapped in binary boxes. Nervous systems heal when we find a balance in our physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Because of the weaponization of identity politics by religious institutions and restrictive dogmatic systems of oppression many in the Queer community (and society at large) are not only tuned out from our own spiritual health, but also carrying spiritual wounding.

During this 90-minute workshop we will cover how to identify blocks or wounds from harmful religious or spiritual conditioning or past experiences and how to heal those wounds autonomously without denying your inherent divinity, we will discuss the power of belief (primarily belief in self through radical self-acceptance) and how to access it within yourself, and we will conclude with a Queer affirming journey outside of the binary and into our rainbow heart space in an act of self-devotion.

Kali Smith-Paterson (she/they) is a lifelong spiritual seeker, with a BS degree in Psychology, an MA in Teaching, and is also trained as an Our Whole Lives Lifespan Sexuality Education Facilitator. Raised in the coal dirt of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, Kali was baptized Lutheran and frequently attended Presbyterian and Catholic services, but as a closeted queer adolescent, she felt inherently rejected. As a young adult, she settled on Unitarian Universalism for a decade until a near death experience in 2018 led Kali to a spontaneous spiritual awakening; she realized that no dogma or teaching could connect her to Source the way her own inner guidance could. This experience changed Kali and she set off to intuitively follow her dharma path full time.

She has had Reiki attunements in both the Usui and Shamanic traditions at Greater Washington Reiki Center, learned about somatic- and plant-based medicine integration through Embody Lab, how to access the magic in this realm from Katrina Messenger at Two Rivers Sanctuary, the importance of pacing in nervous system regulation and how to read the energy systems of the body from Mimi Iklé-Khalsa at Heartwaves Healing Institute, how to support the heaviness of death and dying through guided meditation and the art of holding space through death doula training with INELDA, how to heal a soul after death in a psychopomp workshop with Druid shaman Monica Coyote, gained the legal right to act as an ordained minister through the Universal Life Church, and much more from the many teachers the universe grants in her day to day.

is a volunteer-driven multifaceted arts festival of LGBTQIA+ artists/allies held annually in Washington DC during late May or early June. QUEERING SOUND features vibrant + unapologetically queer, non-binary + post-gender talents – from the DMV region, across the nation + internationally – who push outside + beyond the socially - accepted boundaries of contemporary sound + vision. Over the past 25 years, QUEERING SOUND has presented well over 100 artists at nine local venues + online.

is a nonprofit community arts space located at 6950 Maple St NW, in the Takoma neighborhood of Washington DC. We are dedicated to promoting creativity as a force for personal empowerment and community engagement. We also strive to provide a home for non-mainstream programming in the DC area.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rhizome DC - Art Learning DIY Culture, 6950 Maple Street Northwest, Washington, United States