One word that could summarize my spiritual path as a queer woman is edgewalking. I'm not afraid to cross forbidden boundaries of consciousness. Authoritarian religions once intimidated me into avoidance, but I've shaken off their restrictions on freedom of consciousness. It was the direct access to my queer consciousness that taught me the value of edgewalking, which had so often been trashed by authoritarian religions and held in little value.

I am wondering if the ability to repeatedly accept radical consciousness expansion into new areas of experience (like Shakespeare said, “poets, madmen, and lovers”) is reflected in the brain's neurology. Childhood learning forms certain neural pathways to facilitate thought along certain lines that tend to remain fixed in adulthood. Those of us who are not bound to rigid ideologies but stay fluid and open in consciousness like children may have a wider variety of neural pathways set up.

In preparing material for a possible Queer Spirit workshop, I've been reflecting on how the experience of living queer can open a person's consciousness to edgewalking, shamanism, magick. Also, recent scientific discoveries have shown that gay, lesbian, and transgender people have neural structures corresponding to these types of queerness. Queer spiritual tradition is my central concern… but I would also be interested in finding out whether the structure of my brain corresponds to not only my queer identity but my generally unconventional modes of thought in all areas of life. My embrace of shamanistic magick, which feels so natural and appropriate a response to existence.