Thank you to everyone for creating a wonderful space for all! 
20 years of the Queer Spirit Circle
The first Queer Spirit Circle met in early 2005 in Stockwell, south London, in the group room of a squatted Victorian hospital - the Ann Mccall Maternity Hospital, occupied at the time by an artist's collective, who held open days and events that the local community loved. I led the circle along with lesbian friend Ana, with the intention set for it to be a space for spiritual queers to meet each other and make ritual. Around 16 people came to the first circle, where we spoke about our spiritual interests and flew together on a meditative journey through the dimensions – we even felt our minds merging into the same journey. Anna brought creative ideas to each circle, we made things, we sang, we created shrines, went on shamanic journeys … and we drummed. Over time the drumming became the focus as we realised the power of rythmn and dancing at full moon – power to release stuck energy, express emotions, connect us to spirit, bringing healing, balance, well-being.
Once Lambeth Council evicted the artists and demolished the derelict building to build new flats, the Circle had to move. Circle regular (since the very first one) Jose Rainbow invited us into his warehouse apartment off Old Street, where he had lived with a collective of creative party queers since the late 1990s. The (hard-)partying days over, the spacious loft gave ample room and total comfort for the, still young and forming, queer spirit circle – 30+ people would gather regularly for a full moon drum and dance ceremony, followed by all night playtime in the lovely, comfortable space.
Occasionally the Circle would pop up outside in a park, or at a squat or queer rave. We had an amazing circle late into the night on 11/11/11 at a squatted shopping centre in Camberwell where we were all extremely energised after taking dried fly agaric that had been harvested at Folleterre Faerie sanctuary. There was so much dancing and wooping!
When Rainbow relocated to Hastings the Circle moved to its new and still continuing home, the Wheatsheaf Hall in Vauxhall, a Victorian community hall that has the atmosphere of a medieval church or banqueting hall. Our first gathering at the Wheatsheaf was for Winter Solstice 2012 – our launch was billed as an 'End of the World Party', at which dozens of us made a dancing ritual to symbolise the conclusion of the world of division and separation and to welcome the new world of love, oneness and light. We have been celebrating the arrival of the new unified paradigm at every meeting at the hall since.
Over 20 years the circle has fulfilled its aim of being a meeting point for gay, lesbian, bi, trans and friendly straight queers: a regular London social-spiritual event but also a way into exploring Radical Faerie gatherings for some, a signpost to the Queer Spirit Festival (which first met in 2016 and had its 5th event last year in Devon) for many, and also simply a space to come have some sacred fun – Shokti casts a circle to kick things off, inviting connection and intention, free expression and playful prayer – then together we co-create a musical journey, an offering into which we pour our emotions, our hopes and any shadows and fears we wish to transform. We meet to attune ourselves to seasonal and lunar cycles, and to affirm the interconnectedness of life and the role of queer beings in the many fields of connection – all of which brings wellness! We honour that queer ones held sacred roles in traditional cultures the world over, including the Celtic, and through our rituals reclaim those powers for use in the today.
Queer Spirit Circle begins its 13th year at the Wheatsheaf Hall on Saturday February 15th.
