I Surrender to the Sacred Ways and Walk the Inner Places: Donovan's Poem. (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Machado, Silvio
• Other Names: Carlson David Lee guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Qualitative inquiry. Volume 26:Number 10(2020)
• Page Start: 1244
• Page End: 1247
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: LGBTQ -- queer spirituality -- spiritual identity -- poetic inquiry; Social sciences -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 300.72
• DOI: 10.1177/1077800419898488
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1077-8004

Abstract

The following is a poetic transcription presented as a 12-part poem. The author constructed the poem from an email interview conducted with "Donovan, " a 61-year-old, White, gay man. The interview was part of a larger study on the experience of LGBTQ+ identity as spiritual identity, which focused on individuals who believe their LGBTQ+ identity is imbued or imbues their life with spiritual qualities. Donovan is a monk in a tradition that blends Hinduism, Buddhism, Native American Spirituality, and Paganism and that honors the "Hayamoni, " a Pali word for Two-Spirit people. The narrative poem reflects his perspective on the experience and meaning of LGBTQ+ spiritual identity in his life. The poem is presented without a literature review in an effort to privilege Donovan's lived experience and perspective.