As the publisher of this journal it is not a little difficult to admit that often I am none too sure of my own spiritual practice. Sometimes I journal, sometimes I work with a sacred pipe, sometimes I dance ecstatically, sometimes I take a walk. Sometimes I meditate. I've worked with sacred medicines. Sometimes these things fall by the wayside and I am left with a spiritual practice that entails nothing more than getting out of bed every morning and putting one foot in front of another. Sometimes I circle back and pick something up again.

What, in the first place, do I even mean when I speak of things “spiritual”? The phrase is usually “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.” But what, pray tell, does that mean?

That is the subject of this particular issue of White Crane, but really it is the subject, the purpose and the mission of our existence and has been since the inception of the journal fifteen years ago.

A healthy spirituality, to White Crane’s editorial thinking, involves individual journeys, knowledge and appreciation of history and traditions, and, at the same time, a willingness to question the received wisdom of authority. We have always believed the best way to achieve this is by presenting as wide a range of choices as possible in the marketplace of ideas, rather than standing for any particular dogma. Some of us find comfort and solace in the structure of existing institutions, established religions, working to support these in their particular theologies as well as change them when human tendency to error can be identified. Others find an ability to pick and choose among many different theologies. Some of us are monotheistic; others are polytheistic or even nontheistic. All are reasonable and illuminating ways of understanding our existence as human beings in the context of creation. All too often the differences have been the source of the greatest conflicts humankind has ever known, something all too with us these days. But there is strength in diversity…a garden planted with only one plant or one flower will never be as exhilarating and inspiring as the one planted with a riot of color, shape and texture.

While we exercise a certain amount of editorial judgment over what we publish (usually measured by readability and more often by the limits of real time and real space than any other criteria) we are not involved or interested in presenting prescription. We mean to be descriptive, believing that by offering readers sufficient information, you can make up your own mind. Frequently I find that I either disagree with or have a different point of view from the writers we present. Neither Dan nor I (nor did Toby or Bob) present any particular agenda other than choice. As an illustration, there has been on-going discussion about whether we should call the Book Review section a “review” in which the reviewer is free to criticize the content of a particular book, or “books we recommend” where the implicit understanding would be that we actually endorse the content.

Over the years I have personally participated in a wide range of traditions, having been honored to be invited to attend various Native American ceremonies, travel to the Amazon, and work with Harry Hay and the Radical Faeries. I have been privileged to meet with people involved in other exciting efforts like Easton Mountain, Gay Spirit Visions, Spirit Journeys and Manifest Love as they have created sanctuary for gay men. All have provided me with a deeper understanding of spirit, ritual and traditions, some of which I have incorporated into my own personal practice. All have made it crystal clear that the idea that there is one monolithic “gay spiritual community” is more and more beside the point if not outright futile. We are as diverse in our seeking as we are in our lives. The only true criteria that needs to be applied is: does it work for you? Does it make you feel more connected to yourself, your community and the world?

Everyone needs to discern what works for them in the context of their own life and go for it. There is a tendency in our society to believe that anything done in the name of “spirituality” is good and beneficial, but this is not the case. Wariness is a necessary tool in the search.

The wary and wise in this issue include author Fenton Johnson, who speaks about his newest book Keeping Faith: A Skeptic’s Journey. Donald Engstrom, a witch, and one of the original founders of RFD, offers a view of the spiritual in the daily routine of living. Chip Krolik remembers his first profound experience with Dave Nimmon’s Manifest Love. New York choreographer John Ollom dances with words. Jay Michaelson, Alfred DePew, Bob Barzan, and Sunfire join in this talking circle of ideas.

Now White Crane hopes to continue our work in new and exciting ways. Please take a minute to read the Special Announcement about White Crane Institute. For now, we hope you enjoy the contents of this particular issue as it enters the archive of materials that constitutes the 15 years that the Journal has worked to record and present the discussions you have come to rely on from these pages.