Topic: Art & Music

Guest facilitator: Juliane Leonie Amberger

The 18th Conscious Connection of the IQBC deals with the topic of art and music against the background of how we can mindfully connect our feelings with art or music. Participants are welcome to play an instrument in front of the camera or to bring a paper and pens. There will also be an opportunity for mindful sharing of thoughts, feelings and impressions that arise during the open conversation.

Juliane Leonie Amberger is originally from Bavaria, where they went to school and studied. Juliane studied Scandinavian, German, Literature and Religious Studies and is currently pursuing a PhD in Religious Studies. Their passion for teaching people has led Juliane to various institutions, including the Technical University in Nuremberg and the University of Ostrava, where Juliane worked as a lecturer in the Department of German and Cultural Studies, supported by a scholarship. The current Russian war of aggression has not left Juliane unscathed, as she has both Russian and Ukrainian friends. Since activism and “right action” is also an important topic for Juliane, they joined a human rights organization after their year in the Czech Republic, where they works with refugees from Ukraine, Belarus and Russia and helps them to build a base in Germany in the frame of German and integration courses. Thus, Juliane currently lives in Berlin. Since Juliane has been in Plum Village for a longer time and has also practiced there in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Juliane continues the practice in Berlin and currently meets a Sangha there.

Topic: The Arts + Crafts Of Elias VanDette: Creative Expression + Queer Joy

Guest facilitator: Elias VanDette (they/he)

(Part 1 – Art)

The Anatomy Of The Real & Surreal: Realism, Surrealism, & Portraiture

Elias’ digital oil paintings seek to capture the story told by the human body and the complexity of the psyche. His artwork investigates the valley between realism and surrealism, using emotive color and texture in a mixture of styles. Elias explores themes of trauma, healing, gender, and queer identity.

(Part 2 – Crafting)

Crafting Queer Joy

Elias has been creating their whole life, in one way or another. During the stress of the COVID lockdown, Elias picked up fabric crafts as a welcome distraction. They love making colorful and queer inspired miniatures as a way of embracing queer joy. He also enjoys sharing his creations with others to spread queer joy.

Topic: “In the Moment” – Art by a Transgender Buddhist Plein Air Painter

Guest facilitator: Anthony (Tony) Arrien (he, him, his)

Anthony Arrien is a 70 year old “out” transgender man who is a Buddhist/Unitarian.

He is an activist for LGBTQ+ legislation and serves on the Board of GLSEN Lower Hudson Valley and The LOFT LGBTQ+ Community Center in New York, where he does LGBTQ+ trainings for schools, colleges, agencies and various organizations. He has been a facilitator of the transgender peer support group since 2016, which has gone virtual since the pandemic and is now international. 

Topic: Drawings

Guest facilitator: Brandi Noire La Zard

Topic: Creativity and Compassion

Guest facilitator: Jemarc Axinto

Topic: Embracing Your Creativity

Guest facilitator: Ceikaiyia Cheeks

Topic: Doberwomen: Sentient Beings, Bodhisattvas, and Protective Deities. Paintings and Meditation.

Dr. Jampa Wurst

Dr. Jampa Wurst (they, them) aka DJ Jampa Sausage is a coach and counsellor with her own practice, an artist, and a queer Buddhist activist who is currently organizing the 3rd IQBC – together with a global organizing team.

Topic: The Arts of Mindful Cooking

Guest facilitator: Marie Grace Brabandt

HELLO, my name is Marie Grace Brabandt.

Topic: Observe and Participate In Life

Guest facilitator: Ceikaiyia Cheeks

Short summary: In my works of film, I will be showing and talking
about one of my powerful films called “A Warm Touch Is All I Need”.
With this film, I would lead a discussion on what it’s like to be an
observer in life while giving yourself a chance to participate in it
as well.

Ceikaiyia Cheeks is a 25 year old aspiring Film Director from Syracuse, NY. Recently graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor ́s Degree in Film in May 2021, this young tomboy has big plans for her city yet! Lets just hope they can handle her crazy imagination and clumsy nature!

At a very young age, Ceikaiyia only knew Loneliness and Isolation, which tends to fester up every now and then. All she ever wanted was to have a connection. Lucky for her, that special want came in a form of a camera that her grandma gave her back in 7th grade. Having this camera, allowed her to create a gateway to others’ lives. It gives her a chance to express her true self for the very first time! Now equipped with her universal tool for connection and communication, Ceikaiyia plans on not only just showing people, what she can do, but also show herself, what she can do! So look out everyone! A Diverse Film Director is going to emerge from Syracuse and hopes to become a big inspiration to all!

Topic: Music and poetry as part of mindfulness practice

Guest Facilitator: Pia Schäfer 

Pia is a trans buddhist practitioner, trying to find ways and words to spread mindfulness practice to more people, especially the LGBTIQA+ community and activists. She is close to having a master degree in gender studies, is currently doing a 2,5 year training to become a “trainer for mindfulness, resilience and self-compassion” at DFME institute in German, studies psychology (Bachelor) and is trying to center her life around a radical Buddhist practice. She is practicing mainly in the Plum Village tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh and is also inspired by early Buddhist teachings, Vipassana, neuroscience and other teachers, like Lama Rod Owens, Rev. Kyoto Williams and Ven. Vimala. Since this year she started giving courses about mindfulness practice and sharing poetry and music online.
For her music and poetry are very helpful tools in (non-)self-discovery and also great to support people on their way. Join us for this little session on music and poetry as part of mindfulness practice.

You can find out more about her on queermindfulart.com & transformative-achtsamkeit.de @pia_queermindfulart und @transformative_achtsamkeit

Change of topic among the 8thConscious Connection!
Today there will be a change, cuz Stevie can´t share their yoga practice due to their med school schedule. Well, that´s life.
So: Today there will be a meditation with Jampa as facilitator.

Topic: A Candle called Gratefulness.

Love to seeing you there.

Topic: Yoga Practice

Guest Facilitator: Stevie Jiyo Inghram, M.S., C-IAYT, NMS-3 (They/She)

Stevie Jiyo Inghram, M.S., C-IAYT, NMS-3 (They/She) is a Queer & Trans Femme who has over a decade of experience in the yoga and holistic health world. She is a Certified Yoga Therapist, Buddhist Teacher, and Future Naturopathic Physician (NMD) whose primary work is focused on helping to heal the pain and trauma that is pervasive within the queer and transgender communities by teaching practical and sustainable tools or vibrant health & well-being.

Additionally, Stevie is a passionate advocate for the intersection of science & spirituality as they believe that a middle-way can be truly found, one that simultaneously respects the scientific method and caring for the whole-person. Currently, Stevie writes about gender & sexuality for Yoga Therapy Today, a magazine of the International Association of Yoga Therapists and lectures internationally on LGBTQIA+ health for Integrative Medicine professionals. She also serves as the Co-Sangha Director of Daybreak Oneness Ministries an online Sangha associated with The Way of Oneness as taught by Revs Gyomay & Koyo Kubose. Stevie can be found on all social media at both @futurenmdyogi and @queertransthriving.

Topic: The Nine Phases of Qi Cultivation

Guest Facilitator: B. Leavitt

This practice is so profound, important, and interesting, that B invites us to an extra session over three weeks, once a week.

B. is a gender fluid bisexual who holds a 200-hour certification from the Institute of Integral Tai Chi and Qigong and has been leading various practice groups for about 10 years. B. is the father of 2, an attorney and, if you’re not looking, he may eat your ice cream.

The practice is called “The Nine Phases of Qi Cultivation” and is based on Roger Jahnke’s book The Healing Promise of Qi. Using 9 movements to gather, refine and transform qi within the body, the practice is a simple but profound engagement with our internal energetic system. The practice is grouped into 3 “sections” — the earth phase, the human phase and the heavenly phase. 3 is an important number in qigong as it reflects one description of the cosmos, placing the human person as the mediating points between the cosmic energies of earth and sky. The traditional Chinese medicine concepts of jing, qi and shen (bodily essence, energy and spirit) also filter into the 3 sections and support additional possibilities for visualization and focus during the practice. Our time together will (all too briefly) address some of these “theories” underpinning the practice and then introduce participants to the 9 movements, giving a solid basis for a continuing practice.

COME TO ONE, COME TO ALL!

Topic: The Nine Phases of Qi Cultivation

Guest Facilitator: B. Leavitt

B. is a gender fluid bisexual who holds a 200-hour certification from the Institute of Integral Tai Chi and Qigong and has been leading various practice groups for about 10 years. B. is the father of 2, an attorney and, if you’re not looking, he may eat your ice cream.

The practice is called “The Nine Phases of Qi Cultivation” and is based on Roger Jahnke’s book The Healing Promise of Qi. Using 9 movements to gather, refine and transform qi within the body, the practice is a simple but profound engagement with our internal energetic system. The practice is grouped into 3 “sections” — the earth phase, the human phase and the heavenly phase. 3 is an important number in qigong as it reflects one description of the cosmos, placing the human person as the mediating points between the cosmic energies of earth and sky. The traditional Chinese medicine concepts of jing, qi and shen (bodily essence, energy and spirit) also filter into the 3 sections and support additional possibilities for visualization and focus during the practice. Our time together will (all too briefly) address some of these “theories” underpinning the practice and then introduce participants to the 9 movements, giving a solid basis for a continuing practice.

Topic: Qigong and Stillness in Movement

Guest Facilitator: B. Leavitt

B. is a gender fluid bisexual who holds a 200-hour certification from the Institute of Integral Tai Chi and Qigong and has been leading various practice groups for about 10 years. B. is the father of 2, an attorney and, if you’re not looking, he may eat your ice cream.

Qigong is a combination of the Chinese words for “energy” and “work” and encompasses a multitude of practices focused on cultivating and refining the body’s natural energy. B. will provide a brief introduction to qigong and then lead the group in two or three short meditative practices.

Topic: The Founding or Invention of Dharma Rap and its Chance to become People Engaged and Alert.

Dr. Rotraut Jampa Wurst

Dr. Rotraut Jampa Wurst (she, they) aka DJ Jampa Sausage is a coach and counsellor with her own practice, an artist, and a queer Buddhist activist who is currently organizing the 2nd IQBC – together with a global organizing team.

Topic: How Yoga, Dance, Aikido, has Helped me Get our of my Head

Guest Facilitator: Kody Muncaster
Kody Muncaster is a PhD student in Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at Western University as well as a MA student in Buddhist Studies at the University of South Wales. Their research interests include queer and trans communities in Buddhism, tonglen meditation, engaged Buddhism, trauma, HIV/AIDS, and suicide prevention.

Topic: Song and Meditation

Guest Facilitator: James Young, from C.A.L.M

Topic: Meditation, Painting(s), and discussion

Dr. R. Jampa Wurst