I wanted to share this quote about queerness from spirit of intimacy by Some Sobonfu the wife of Malidoma Patrice Somé who is the author of ritual the current book im reading she says:
” The words “gay” and “lesbian” do not exist in
the village, but there is the word “gatekeeper.” Gatekeepers
are people who live a life at the edge between two worlds
the world of the village and the world of spirit. What
they do, they dont like to communicate to anyone. It is
their right to keep what they do to themselves. Every
body in the village respects that because without
gatekeepers, there is no access to other worlds.
The gatekeepers stand on the threshold of the gender
line. They are mediators between the two genders. They
make sure that there is peace and balance between women
and men. If the two genders are in conflict and the whole
village is caught in it, the gatekeepers are the ones to bring
peace. Gatekeepers do not take sides. They simply play
the role of “the sword of truth and integrity.””
Just thought that was interesting queersness just a few more things i thought was interesting.
• gatekeepers have “one foot in all the other worlds and the other foot here,” and the “vibration of their body is totally different from others”.
• “Now as to their sexual orientation, nobody cares about this question, they care only about their performance as gatekeepers.”
• gatekeepers are not perceived as “the other” and are not compelled to form a separate community to survive. Instead, they are encouraged to fulfill their inherent role and contribute their gifts to the community’s benefit.
• They possess insight into both genders, allowing them to help men and women understand each other more effectively in daily life. For instance, a group of women might consult a male gatekeeper for village issues, and a female gatekeeper might join a men’s circle for similar purposes.
• This perspective on homosexuality different from the West, because all sexuality in the village is considered “spiritually-based”.
• Gatekeepers are crucial for maintaining “alignment between the spirit world and the world ” as they are “the keepers of the keys to other dimensions” and without them, “the gates to the other world would be shut”.
• Their knowledge differs from that of mentors and elders because gatekeepers have access to all dimensions and can open any gate, often being called upon by elders for assistance in understanding the spirit world or opening specific gateways.
• Some states that gay and lesbian individuals in the West are often very spiritual but disconnected from their spiritual role, which might lead them to seek other ways of self-definition and to appear as if they do not have a unique purpose.
• Some also mention that gatekeeping is part of one’s life purpose, declared before birth, and is developed through rigorous training to prevent the misuse of its power. It is not a role sought for power or sexual orientation, and a true gatekeeper is responsible for the entire village and tribe.