Reflection
Embodiment :: LGBTQIA+, Gender & Reproductive Justice
“Blessed are you, NAMELESS AND INFINITE, who made us in your image and reminds us that all bodies are sacred and holy.”
These words from Queer Morning Blessings - a creation of healing and ritual by Dori Midnight & Randy Furash-Stewart - are an adaptation of the Jewish tradition of Birkot haShachar, or Blessings of the Dawn. As Dori Midnight writes in describing their creation, these blessings were born out of a “deep longing for a morning practice – something to ground us, hold us, delight us, center us, awaken us to the miracle of life, something that will remind us that we are alive, that being in a body is a gift, that will be a resource for the rest of the day, no matter what we must face.”
Grounding ourselves into a deep gratitude for the miracle of our bodies - however they look, move, and interact with the world around us - includes not only a celebration of our individual physical beings, but also a deep reverence for the intimacy of our connections. After all, our bodies do not exist in a vacuum - we physically interact with countless structures, systems, and communities each day that impact, and are impacted by, our flesh, bones, and spirit. For some of us, these interactions are predominantly empowering moments of welcome and respect. And for some of us, we encounter confusion, denial, and outright rejection as our norm.
As Unitarian Universalists, we have historically embraced the breadth of our lived experiences of the world as a faithful teacher, crossing the permeable barrier between sacred and profane to deepen our embodiment of liberating and life-affirming holy truths. From the development and use of the Our Whole Lives Curricula in our sanctuaries and classrooms, to (re)naming ceremonies celebrating self-proclaimed identities, to accompanying our siblings receiving essential reproductive care - our faith has a rich history and ongoing commitment to lifting up the sacredness of all bodies. Even, and especially, when those systems, structures, and communities with which our bodies regularly interact violently try to tell us otherwise.
This week, as we remind ourselves of the miracle of our individual and collective bodies, let us find ways to embody for ourselves some of the most essential truths of our shared faith. May our private and shared rituals reflect Love’s teachings that:
All bodies are sacred.
All bodies are worthy of the particular care and resources they need to thrive.
All bodies are connected to systems, structures, and communities that they can reshape into life-affirming and liberatory reflections of love.
“Blessed are you, WEAVER OF BEING, who shaped the human being with wisdom, making for us all the openings and vessels of the body. It is known that we are miracles and all bodies are miracles.” - Queer Morning Blessings
May we remember and live into the values of our faith, embodying our collective power as we create communities of care, affirmation, and celebration.
In spirit and practice,
Rev. Ranwa Hammamy
Congregational Justice Organizer
Side With Love