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Spiritual beliefs and practices are becoming more popular all over the world. Many people prefer to explore the world outside and within without the confines of an organized religion. Gay spirituality is also gaining in popularity with groups and gurus appearing everywhere.
Spiritual practitioners have many reasons for choosing their path. The emphasis on material possessions and technology are not sufficient for everyone. They want to establish a deeper connection to the planet and the forces of nature. Spiritual practice is for many a more positive way of connecting with the Divine than organized religion as that emphasizes fear. Spiritual philosophies concentrate on love and the power of positive feelings.
Organized religion causes problems in the minds of some gay people because of its condemnation of the lifestyle. Religious forces are an important factor in shaping moral beliefs and even laws in many places. This has led to societies where gay people can be ousted and threatened or at least suffer disapproval. This often translates into self hatred and denial in homosexual individuals. Some people feel there are similarities between spiritual practice and coming out as they both require self knowledge and lead to self acceptance through introspection.
For many people it is no surprise that gay spirituality is popular as gay people have often entered professions which involve caring for others. Many have become nurses, charity workers, ministers and priests. Often homosexuals choose not to have children and so have more time and more emotional energy for helping others.
The trauma of AIDS and its effect on gay men may also play a role in the growth of gay spirituality. Many young men have seen their loved ones; friends and peers die a terrible death at a young age. Death and the fear of it has always been a motivating factor in religious and spiritual belief.
Gay spirituality manifests itself in as many practices and types of belief as all spirituality. As homosexual relations are not about procreation but the giving and receiving of pleasure and expressions of love gay tantra is one of the most popular practices. It increases consciousness through meditation and intense focus on the present moment. To compliment this there are also workshops which focus on other ways to achieve intimacy besides sex. Other types of spirituality practiced by gay people include shamanism, healing such as Reiki, paganism, meditation, working with nature and drumming and singing.
If you would like to learn more about gay spirituality there is a wealth of information on the internet. Many groups have formed to encourage spiritual practice in the gay community and they hold meetings, workshops and retreats. You will also find details of books written by gay spiritualists with philosophies and practices relating directly to gay people. Many websites have chat facilities and other features for online communities so that you can share thoughts with others.
Spirituality of all kinds is growing and gay spirituality is no exception. There are lots of groups and types of practice available to join or even advice on ways to follow an individual path.
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