Bi-spirituality

[smokey]

So... we all know the physical aspect of bisexuality... and those of us who have emotional relationships as bi's (as opposed to purely sexual ones) know the emotional aspect...BUT do you think there is a spiritual one as well? And, if so how would you describe it?

[Lorcan]

I'm not sure what you are looking for as a response to you're question, but i take a stab at it.

If you look around at the world and see it's dualities:female and male, creation and destruction, logical and emotional, etc. you get the idea that the entity who created it (if you believe in such things) must have both parts too. Must be both "female" and "male".

But then not all people see it that way, so I don't know if that's a bisexual take on spirituality. ???

Well that's my :2cents:

[smokey]

That is a beginning. How does your bisexuality affect how you view the world? For me there is no seperation between the physical and the spiritual, between the the sacred and the profane and I feel that feeling of continuity is a manifestation of my sexuality and vice a versa.

[twodelta]

That question is almost as hard to answer as "What does Bi mean?". I'm sure the answer to that question is like the answers to the Bi question. The answer that You get will be a little different from each person. As far as I'm concerned, whether I'm Bi or Str8 really has nothing to do with it. First, I'm at peace with who I am. I believe in the worth of all living things. I believe that we are all connected to each other and to everything. Two good places to look for those answers on the internet is - http://www.uua.org (http://) whick is for the Unitarian Universalist Association. And http://www.uupa.org (http://) which is for the Unitarian Universalist Polyamory Association. There are others, but these are probably the best concerning spirituality and the GLBT community. - Dave :three:

[shameless agitator]

Well, I'm a nihilist and I don't think my orientation has anything to do with that. Hell I was a nihilist before I figured out that I was bi so I know my orientation has nothing to do with it.

[ambi53mm]

One concept of my spirituality is based on the view that I inhabit two realities one physical and one non-physical. I inhabit these realities simultaneously with my consciousness, focusing on which ever it finds itself at a particular given point within that frame of reference. Within this physical reality I have the limitations of time and space and I occupy a physical body that is subject to those limitations. In a non-physical reality I also occupy bodies that don’t necessarily always adhere to those limitations. Whichever form I happen to be in, I consider to be my dominant form and those forms that are not easily within my focus I consider to be passive. There are times where I’m able to blend these realities, for example, maintaining lucidity within a non-physical reality or allowing one of my others selves to occupy time and space or, to come to the forefront of physical reality.
These collective selves are all me. I create these realities. Some of these are manifested as masculine and some are feminine but the source is the creation of my spiritual self. I am spiritually and physically a blend of the masculine and the feminine. This physical body I inhabit in the here and now was created from both the masculine and feminine. It is the combination of two sexual genders. I am aware of both energies within myself and by that reason I am bisexual. My sexual orientation is a result of separations that I was conditioned to accept long before my intellect had the ability and reasoning power to discriminate. The struggle has always been to integrate those energies within, and to slowly retrieve those bits and pieces of my soul collective that have been fragmented by the early rape of my spiritual self. That is my spiritual journey as a bisexual…and I’m still working on it.

On the other hand…I could just be “dust in the wind” :bigrin:

Ambi :)

[twosides]

So... we all know the physical aspect of bisexuality... <snip> ...BUT do you think there is a spiritual one as well? And, if so how would you describe it?

and

How does your bisexuality affect how you view the world?

All right! Deep thoughts!

Of course there's a spiritual side to bisexuality. Everything is spirit filled, or has some form of life force (for those who steer away from God talk). And as I followed my lifes path, being guided by my non-physical senses, I was able to experience the expansion of my sexual awareness. That is a gift that I thankfully accept from my Creator.

Even though it took me a long time to find out where to pick up that gift, I always saw the world from a similar perspective as I do now. - There's all kinds of peoples. And that makes the place and the people very interesting.

[gentlepen9]

When I realized that there was such a thing as bisexuality, my spirituality made a lot more sense to me. I've always been drawn towards the idea of a bisexual/androgynous diety, the balancing of yin and yang in Taoism or the union of masculinity and femininity in spiritual alchemy. For me I feel that there is a spiritual aspect to my bisexuality. I've never been the kind of person who leans too far to the left or right in much of anything. I've always been a middle of the road person and on top of that I'm a Gemini. So I'm not at all surprised that I'm bi. I can't necessarily pin point how my bisexuality affects how I view the world. I've always been "bi-spiritual" in a sense (if I can call it that) so I think my natural disposition to think dually/fluidly or however you want to put, has affected my sexuality

[ophelia_in_red]

Well, I'm a nihilist and I don't think my orientation has anything to do with that. Hell I was a nihilist before I figured out that I was bi so I know my orientation has nothing to do with it.
Like you, I grasped philosophical long before sexual security. However, I feel now that my bisexuality serves to enhance and strengthen my passionate believe that, since the universe is devoid of any inherent meaning, it is up to me to enjoy and make the best of every opportunity available to me. My sexuality is as much a part of my politics, philosophy and personality as it is about who I choose to engage in romantic relationships with.

That said, I wouldn't associate my bisexuality with spirituality, because I don't really believe in the latter per se!

[Sparks]

My sexuality and love with God are joined. I love Him, and He loves me. Period the end. :2cents:

[Herbwoman39]

My spirituality is, in some ways, separate from my sexuality. I believe that all gods are one God. The Divine, in my relationship with him/her/it is similar to a multifaceted chandeliere crystal. The Divine shows the facet that makes the most sense and is the most comprehensible to that particular person or group of people. I believe that this is why we as humans have so many "gods".

How does this relate to my sexuality? My view is that the Divine is either male or female but also neither and both at the same time. This, to me, explains the bisexual nature. There is duality or integration as needed for diferent aspects. We are learning to integrate similarly.

I also believe in reincarnation, which adds another dimension. I believe that time is not linear, but stacked with everything happening at the same time. Just as the Divine is Infinite, so the core energy that makes us who we are (a soul, if you will). I believe that some people can or have connected on an unconscious level with those timelines in which we are another gender. Either that or those other timlines have connected with us so we are influenced by our other selves to be more evolved and begin to integrate both our male and female aspects to become a whole being. Not just two halves of a whole.

[Tynary]

wow deep question. I can be spiritual but I'm not religious. I think bisexuality has a more majestic spirtual side to it. I like andrgenous things for the same reason. Its seems to be something higher like ancient Gods would do in mythology (well they did do it). I like to write. I wanna be an author. I write stories about creatures who exist as humans but have this dark vampiric side and this angel side which can manifest itself physically. three main characters are bisexuals. It has highly spiritual links. yes I think bisexuality can be deeply spiritual.
one can be physical without being emotional or spiritual and i guess u cud be emotional without be physical but to be spiritual i think that has physicalness and emotion in it.
ok i've given myself a confused headache so I'll stop for now.

[darkeyes]

Far b it for me ta say that some fold do talk pretentious bollox. Ne that knows me knows wot me thinks of religion an spirituality and me has the gr8est respect for the personal beliefs of ne1 who is or is not religious an feels themselves somehow spiritual.

Sumtimes tho, me listens an reads wot peeps say an sumhow think they sound fancy an their intellectual twaddle is meant 2 cow us lesser beins into submission as thickos an densos. Now me aint thick, an me no denso, am prepared to accept as genuine the personal beliefs of ne1 an every1 as genuine an respect ther right ta speak it an argue it an try an convince that its who they r. But I duz wish that wen they do it, they make it both readable (hehehe..an this is readable?? o well ya knows wot me means) an more 2 the point easy ta follow, not cos necessarily the content of wot they say is not, but cos the vast majority of folk r raised an learn on a far more simple plane an r switched off by wot they c as the psuedo-intellectually "superior" psycho-babble, or if ya like, in Brit speak, poseyness of sum peeps..

Now I have a more simple view, easily followed, I am bisexual. I like an fancy members of both sexes. I love and have loved intimately members of my own sex, physically if you prefer, as well as members of the opposite gender. Analysed my sexuality as best I could all over a few years when I was a teenager and accepted finally I am me, and decided to take the simple view of, Hell so what? No fancy intellectualisation of it. Merely acceptance of what is and cant be changed.

It may sound contradictory for an athiest 2 say that soul mates for instance do exist. I do believe that. But not in the spiritual sense that many think. Merely that true soul mates are so closely linked, so emotionally bound to each other, are the same and only in death can they be parted. The memory of the surviving soulmate or mates, cos yea, I think we can all have more than 1, retain the link until he, she or they die..an then..thats it. The link breaks, but thankfully we hav no knowledge of it. Its for life only sadly but since we knows eff all bout it, wy shud we lose sleep an fret ova it?

[Tynary]

ok darling chill no need to crush our fantasies thats all they are for me perhaps. if you want a simplistic down to earth atheist version of what i was babbling about (I'm atheist as well and also believe in soul m8ts, altho nt there being ne person for one they cud be like several soul m8ts for one person) the simplistic version is I just like writing and fantasising about gorgeous angels and vampires who like girls and boys I think its sexy and romantic and makes good reading end of story. I'm only spiritual if the mood suits hun.

[darkeyes]

ok darling chill no need to crush our fantasies thats all they are for me perhaps. if you want a simplistic down to earth atheist version of what i was babbling about (I'm atheist as well and also believe in soul m8ts, altho nt there being ne person for one they cud be like several soul m8ts for one person) the simplistic version is I just like writing and fantasising about gorgeous angels and vampires who like girls and boys I think its sexy and romantic and makes good reading end of story. I'm only spiritual if the mood suits hun.


Me cool...jus hates posin prattle desinged ta conmuse an show off. Wosnt includin u babes at all. We all has fantasies. Prob is wen peeps try an over elaborate an start talkin cobblers bou wot it all means. x

[canuckotter]

It could be a consequence of living with feet in two different worlds and trying to find a place somewhere in between them, but whatever the cause, I've known a large number of bisexuals (not counting the "gimme sex now now now!" folks) who have a strong tendency to see all sides of any issue. As a result, among the bisexuals I've known, there's a tendency to be more accepting and forgiving of differences. That also tends to drive them away from absolutist faiths, so Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all can start to feel very confining and restrictive to bisexuals even when the church they belong to is accepting of queer members. A lot of the bisexuals I've known have spent some time learning about pagan faiths, but some traditions of pagan faith are so formalised and ritualised that they become as rigid as the most strict Catholic church... In the end, most bisexuals I've known (including myself) seem to have ended up in a weird sort of agnostic and deeply spiritual state, where they like various aspects of a number of different faiths but are unwilling and disinclined to commit to any one.

[DiamondDog]

yeah I'm agnostic.

[darkeyes]

In the end, most bisexuals I've known (including myself) seem to have ended up in a weird sort of agnostic and deeply spiritual state, where they like various aspects of a number of different faiths but are unwilling and disinclined to commit to any one.

duz kno methinks wot ya means babes..don agree wiv ya entirely cos me still athiest cow. Not agnostic cos me chucked out idea of God or Gods long time go. No religion meets me needs. Atheism don entirely but it closest me got. We born, we live, life is a bitch, we die. Seems if not ok but sensible 2 me.No fairy stories of wondrous supreme omnipotent bein can ansa the questions me has an so me rejects em all. Duz agree most bi's seem have some spiritualism...some questions which hey cant ansa an feelins that we didnt jus come by chance cum from the mire.., lotsa questions bout wether ther is a god, a creator or not. But thats true of most folk an don think it restricted 2 bi's. Everyone has questions bout why we here, who put us here. My ansa only is we here cos we here, by chance of chemistry, an it pointless 2 fret an worry bout not knowin the ansas. Its as least as good an ansa as ne story we get from holy books written by geezers a few thousand yeasrs go. Me don know for certain..me just guess Cos howeva much we question...we jus aint gonna know..

So me rejects all faiths an jus get on wiv livin me life!

[twosides]

Well said canuckotter. A big gold star for that one.

and darkeyes - i'm sure you've heard of "the glass half empty or the glass half full"? I hope that you're able to see the latter. I like to keep a positive mental attitude and that helps me get through all the bulls**t in life. ---------But don't worry, I'll give you a gold star as well. :bigrin: :bigrin: :bigrin:

[coyotedude]

Traditionally in some parts of Indian Country (that's Native Americans, not folks from India!), some of the elders and medicine people talked about "two-spirit" people. You'll still hear that term among Indian queers today.

Lots (though by no means all) of the tribes recognized that male medicine/spirit power and female medicine/spirit power were not the same as male and female gender. A man can have strong female medicine, and a woman can have strong male medicine. It was believed in the old days (and is still believed by some today) that this led some men to be bisexual or gay and some women to be bisexual or lesbian.

In lots of tribes, this was not necessarily considered a bad thing. In fact, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals were considered by many to have very powerful medicine. (That could be good or bad; powerful medicine people of any sexual orientation were valuable but sometimes also feared.)

For me, I believe what I was taught. I believe that all people have purpose. I think that Creator (or God or whatever name you want to use) put gays and lesbians and bis and trans folks on earth for a reason. I sure as hell don't pretend to know what that reason is, but I really don't have to. I think that what makes us bi or queer or whatever is complicated, but I do believe in the medicine. It's not necessarily mystical woo-woo stuff, either; it's just part of who I am, no more and no less.

One footnote: Unfortunately, too many folks in Indian Country today have accepted the prevailing American attitudes about sexuality. (People who think that Indians have not assimilated American values have no clue, my friends. Indian people have picked up lots of bad habits and attitudes from their fellow Americans.) Still, there are people in Indian Country today who remember the old ways and old attitudes and try to pass them down to the future generations.

Peace

[shameless agitator]

Ok wanted to make a correction. I just realized I was misusing the word nihilist :eek: How embarrassing. I was thinking it was synonymous with existentialist. Basically I'm an ahteist with no belief in a metaphysical universe. I do however still believe in morality.

[anne27]

I know this isn't exactly what you meant with the question, but I often feel my relationships with women contain more of a spiritual connection than with men. There is a bond there, perhaps of shared experience- I really don't know, but it rises above mere sexual desire, love, or companionship. It's a thang of spirit.

OK, it's early and I have yet to have caffeine, so maybe I'm not making good sense yet. :rolleyes:

[smokey]

Some excellent responses here. I relate a lot with what herbwoman said and Canukotter has hit on an interesting thought...equating agnosticism with spirituality...in many ways agnosticism is the most honest approach there is...I do not know. There is a quote I read in Utne Reader a few years back. I forget who said it but it went:

"I am an agnostic. I am not arrogant enough to be an atheist."

It takes a lot of balls to assert a negative (there is no God) but in all reality belief in a God (or Goddess) does not mean that you are by necessity spiritual, nor does the disbelief of one mean you are not. Spirituality is found in how one relates to others and the universe.

Spirituality for me means being in tune with my own personal inner life and that of the greater world (including others) and how I experince my place in it. God is an abstraction for me though i do believe that there is a conciousness inherent within the fabric of the Universe...No I experince the divine the this world and my bisexuality with its currents, ebbs and flows roots me in it.

Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven surrounds us but we do not see (a paraphrase for the literalists among us) which is much like the Buddhist attitude as well.

"It is breathtaking just to be here." Rilke

[Tynary]

I know this isn't exactly what you meant with the question, but I often feel my relationships with women contain more of a spiritual connection than with men. There is a bond there, perhaps of shared experience- I really don't know, but it rises above mere sexual desire, love, or companionship. It's a thang of spirit.

OK, it's early and I have yet to have caffeine, so maybe I'm not making good sense yet. :rolleyes:

actually for some reason even though I lv looking at girls and love sex with them I would like a relationship with one I have a more spiritual connection with men. but I think that is a reaction to bad experiences with women. I went to an all girls school from age 3-13 and I left hating women for along time. I hated many of my old friends and exgfs. I prefer male friends as in i could not be one of those gaggle girls who go round in a group. I can hav ethe odd female friend who I like but never a best female friend. If I was true deep friends with a girl it would mean something sexual. cas I was so put off female friends. But I need male friends. yes need.
perhaps it is not a spiritual connection with men and more a reaction to the awful situation i was in. I dunno wat did it but its a weird nagging abnormal issue. its getting a bit better tho.
I have had and have a deep connection for my part with a guy who i lv so much as a friend and more. I lv him with my very soul and dunno if i cud get that with a grl or other man. *sigh* maybe I'm just insane. :confused: yeah I often imagine a beautiful spiritual relationship with a woman and it feels nice but I guess I'm scared. Not scared of being bi more scared of being emotionally close with a woman. I wonder if in time i'll meet someone who will change that *sigh*

[anne27]

... yeah I often imagine a beautiful spiritual relationship with a woman and it feels nice but I guess I'm scared. Not scared of being bi more scared of being emotionally close with a woman. I wonder if in time i'll meet someone who will change that *sigh*

I've always had really good guy friends, too and hung out with 'the boys' most of my life. I had girl friends, but never 'girlfriends'. That happened much later in life for me. I was a real late bloomer. I was 37 when I realized I had a thang for women. Even then, I thought it was just a sexual thing and women were for 'fun sex', not relationships. I kinda went wild and let my lust have full reign for a while. Then my first real "relationship" with a woman knocked me off my feet and just about drove me insane. I about lost my soul when it ended.
I'm in another relationship with a woman right now and it's just starting out. Keeping my fingers crossed this time and taking it slow. It's an emotional and spiritual connection and it's fantastic.

But I have news for you, I don't think you EVER get over being scared, hon. At least I haven't. *soft smile*

[Chaia]

It could be a consequence of living with feet in two different worlds and trying to find a place somewhere in between them, but whatever the cause, I've known a large number of bisexuals (not counting the "gimme sex now now now!" folks) who have a strong tendency to see all sides of any issue. As a result, among the bisexuals I've known, there's a tendency to be more accepting and forgiving of differences. That also tends to drive them away from absolutist faiths, so Christianity, Islam, and Judaism all can start to feel very confining and restrictive to bisexuals even when the church they belong to is accepting of queer members. A lot of the bisexuals I've known have spent some time learning about pagan faiths, but some traditions of pagan faith are so formalised and ritualised that they become as rigid as the most strict Catholic church... In the end, most bisexuals I've known (including myself) seem to have ended up in a weird sort of agnostic and deeply spiritual state, where they like various aspects of a number of different faiths but are unwilling and disinclined to commit to any one.

This is so very well said! I believe that you are describing me, here. After searching through many of the most known religions, I find that I am just...spiritual. I would say that I believe in the divine interconnectedness of all things. That includes all people--all colors, all cultures, all orientations, all religions, all classes, all genders, all ages. Remembering it is sometimes difficult, but when I do keep it foremost in mind, I find I am a better person.

[Bi-ten]

Cool post,

So many angles of the same fundamental questions, does God exist, why are we here, who should we be, what does it all mean, is there something special about the bi-spirit?

Having read a bunch of spiritual literature along with what some here may describe as intellectual 'psychobabble' I think I have some answers...so get ready here it is folks!

Q1 Does God exist? Yes
Q2 Why are we here? To find God
Q3 Who should we be? Ourselves
Q4 What does it all mean? Nothing, everything
Q5 Is there something special about bi-spirituality? I believe the answer is yes.

Let me elaborate in on Q4, because I think the first 4 are simple enough. In fact it doesn't really matter if you believe God exists or not...there is nothing any of us can do to change it.

Here is a quote that I think sums it up quite nicely,

"In sleep, you do not know whether you are a man or a woman," he said. "Just as a man, impersonating a woman, does not become one, so the soul, impersonating both man and woman, has no sex. The soul is the pure, changeless image of God."

You see, what we are in the end, are souls within flesh. The soul does not care about the sexual concept, sex is merely the need of the physical body...a really really fun need, but a biological need none the less! So my point here is that all beings are tuned into the vibration of the soul, the closer you are, the less you believe in the boundaries of the flesh, and the more you are open to bi-spirituality. Bisexuality is therefore the free physical manifestation of our bi-spirituality!!

You may then ask me, then why aren't all beings bisexual, since we are all bi-spiritual. Well I don't really know, except to say that we may be afraid due to social expectations and conditioning, or we may not be close enough to the souls vibration, or we may be so close that sex becomes meaningless compared to the bliss of God's love.

That's my 2 cents!
:2cents:

[AndrogynousLuv]

I love this. There's not really much more that I can add that so many of you have already addressed that I feel the same about. I have always felt a spiritual connection with my sexulaity but never quite knew how to assess that or put it into words...and I'm not sure I can do it now.
But, there is no doubt in my mind that our sexuality is based in spirituality. The crude, the crass though seemingly in a lower state are part of the total experience as well.
As has already been pointed out, the Universe, or God, or whatever you label you choose to attach, is both female and male....but ultimately, I think it moves beyond that. Though both these energies run through us regardless what side you fall on (meaning what sex you are), I think it's what we must move beyond. Being bi is a step in my opinion towards that direction, but it's only a step. Because even that reality can be a snag on the way...female/male are only aspects of a greater realization. But since we are in these bodies, these shells, it's our vehicle for transmission but also for transcending. None of us is one way or another completely though physically we are either woman or man. I feel it an illusion and it is easy to get lost in such things and yet at the same time it is through our sexuality that we can have an opportunity to get free of all the limitations as well....I've said more than I should perhaps.......