For the full moon in March 007, my most favorite faeries & friends were sitting around singing in Sanskrit together, a rather old sight, bonding over this holy chant from India. For the last several years, my friends and I have been chanting in different homes each month for the full moon, this time was at Bunni's place. Caesar, a friend of Willi's, brought this amazing blue ceramic lingam that he made himself, and it created this lovely centerpiece on the altar, it really seemed to coalesce everyone's energies together in a way that was new and fresh, bringing us all together in ways that we could remember, but at the same time, hardly imagine. On top of that, for a queer group to be bathing this magnificent lingam, this manifestation of fertility, creativity, and sex, was really probably the most over the top and fabulous thing I've ever seen, and that's saying a lot. I had put out in the call to bring your lingams and "get yer lingam on", and it apparently worked! But really, I had no idea that it was going to be such an ecstatic and revolutionary experience. It was a good sigh, when during our opening chants, we were singing "Shiva Shambo" and in walks two of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Sisters Timothy and Randall. On top of everything else, it is such a distinct blessing to be a part of this merging of consciousnesses: Sisters Faeries & Hindus, O My!!!

I had only before been to one other ceremony where there was a lingam being bathed, and that was a few weeks prior at Ammachi's ashram for Shivaratri. Now that lingam too was beautiful in its way, in fact the lingam for Shivaratri was intricately carved and golden, but still, it was really nothing compared to the size of this one, not to mention being so up close and together equally with everyone connecting so intimately, this time. My friend John commented afterwards that it was becoming noticable how much closer our community is becoming because of this monthly ritual. That was nice to hear, and something I've been observing too, with great joy.

It was without a doubt the best chanting ever, at least for me in this lifetime. It was really the cream of the crop in terms of participation and who showed up. It felt like this time everyone contributed significantly with the altar, the quality of singing, the connected feeling in the room, and the willingness to be present for this merging of queer and Eastern consciousness. It was certainly the most psychic chanting event I have ever been to. One of the other things about these full moon chanting circles that I like the most is how everyone has an equal voice, it is very participatory, and so while I am facilitating things, I also try to do this as humbly as I can and then get out of the way and let the group energy manifest how it will in that moment, and it's different every time, that's for sure.

In this case, there was this fantastic archetypal drama being played out involving all of creation and destruction, not to mention disagreement over how the lingam is to be bathed. That sure added to the good story and made the evening more complete and entertaining.

More and more, in the context of these full moon chants, this observing of the forces of nature is happening over time, and in this passing of time merged with tradition, there is this lovely subtle energy that becomes more apparent, something really deep and conscious, aware and magnificent, magical even. It's like, I can't help but notice how much the full moon dominates my consciousness if I let it, and then I can feel so connected with the cycles of nature, all I have to do is just step out of the way and let these archetypal forces take over.

The next evening, as if this full moon could get any better, Bunni, Three, Sinnergee and I went to the top of Telegraph Hill to watch the full moon eclipse, we even chanted some more at this holy sight. Then we went to Ginger's Trois to watch the Chinese New Year's Parade with all the other girls. I just love my life and am so grateful for such good friends and good times lately.

My next chanting event will be happening on Tuesday Mar. 20 at the Empty Space Art Gallery & Healing Center at Laguna & Grove in SF. This will be to celebrate the spring equinox. We will be sharing vegetarian potluck, chanting the Gayatri Mantra 108 X, and then, I will be DJ'ing a Bollywood Dance Party, this I am very excited about. For more info, check out my website at www.omstyleyoga.com. Namaste.