It is with a mixture of sadness, gratitude, and excitement that we announce that on June 1, 2015, we will be closing Zenyu Healing in its current form.  In the past four years as a formal nonprofit project, we have introduced countless Queer and Trans* folks of color in Seattle and across the country to the rejuvenating powers of Nature, meditation, healing ritual, and community. Through monthly meditations, wilderness excursions, workshops, and healing ceremonies, we have been blessed to support the holistic growth and development of many leaders in our communities and in the process have ourselves been transformed.

Leading Zenyu has given us a beautiful opportunity to know ourselves as leaders and to trust the power that is born from following one’s vision. It is this trust that inspired us to answer a deep inner calling to attend graduate school with the intention of returning to Christine’s homeland of the Philippines.  We will begin graduate school this fall at Brandeis University in Boston, where we will both pursue a dual MBA in Nonprofit Management/MA in Sustainable International Development.

These degrees will help us to fulfill a dream and vision of working in the Philippines on issues close to our heart: poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, sustainable and locally-based economic development, and climate change mitigation.

We want to extend a deep bow of gratitude to all who have helped to make Zenyu Healing what it is and who have supported us in ways too numerous to count. We thank all of our board members, committed volunteers who helped us with everything from organizational development, legal issues, financial sustainability, event coordination, rubbing our backs, etc; our donors, participants, first-time skinny dippers, ancestors, and all the other amazing folks too numerous to mention.  Thank you for supporting us in this great adventure. Our hearts have been touched and transformed by you.  Thank you for your inspiring generosity, trust, grace as we made mistakes, fierce love, and humor. 

We hope you will join us for at one of our last TWO Meditations and Sound Healings, open to everyone, on Monday, May 11, 2015 AND Monday, June 1, 2015 from 7-9pm to say goodbye, honor all that we have built together, and celebrate new beginnings.

In the name of healing and justice,

Christine and April

King County Courthouse Candlelight Vigil
March 5, 2015 4:00-6:00 p.m.
City Hall Park & King County Courthouse

Zenyu is honored to once again support this annual event on Thursday, March 5th, that will honor lives lost to domestic and sexual violence. We will be opening this healing space with prayer and meditation. This annual event is hosted by API Chaya, an organization that provides domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking services to Asian, South Asian, and Pacific Islander communities. This vigil will honor the lives of Susanna Remerata Blackwell, her unborn child, baby Kristine, Phoebe Dizon, and Veronica Laureta, who were shot and killed at the King County Courthouse in 1995 by Susanna’s estranged and abusive husband.

The vigil theme “Kapwa”, is a Tagalog term meaning the shared interconnectedness among and between beings. By seeing the self in others, we are able to wholeheartedly support our communities while taking accountability for the violence existing in our world. Kapwa seeks to provide the vigil as a transformative and healing space of understanding through celebrating our communities' legacy of resilience and survivorship.

For more information check out:https://www.facebook.com/events/961144037238661
 

Monday, December 15, 2014
Ceremony goes from 7pm-9pm, Doors open at 6:30 pm
PLEASE NOTE VENUE CHANGE! Mt. Baker Lofts Community Room
2915 Rainier Ave S. Seattle WA 98144
www.zenyuhealing.org
ALL ARE WELCOME
Suggested Donation: $5-20 (no one turned away for lack of funds)
ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE HANDS UP UNITED

As some of you have been following our not-that-interesting-in-the-way-of-sagas saga, Zenyu has been trying to plan our annual retreat at Icicle Creek Canyon for the past 3 years. In 2012 we were waylaid by wildfires in the surrounding area, and in 2013 the road washed out, but alas, this year we were victorious!! With a smaller-than-usual group this year of 6 participants, we enjoyed an intimate time sharing stories about our ancestors, opening to the healing powers of nature on a beautiful hike at Icicle Gorge, creating delicious s'mores, and playing our ever-popular icebreaker "Questions In a Hat" (far more interesting than it sounds) around the campfire. 

Zenyu is excited to offer the 4th Annual Spiritual Wilderness Retreat for People of Color September 19-21, 2014. Yoga, guided meditation, gorgeous hiking opportunities in the world-famous Icicle Creek Canyon and the Enchantments, bonfires under the stars, and delicious food will be offered throughout the weekend, as well as ample time for solitary reflection and exploring. It has been a time of Great Change and there is no better place to seek healing and clarity than in the powerful presence of Nature, and with other like-hearted people. We will be camping and will have no access to cell service, electricity or other distractions, giving us a rare chance to reflect and go inward in healing community with wonderful people. For those who are new to the outdoors, this is a gentle introduction to the wilderness. We expect good weather, fall foliage, and a powerful healing adventure.

WHEN: September 19-21, 2014. Participants should plan to leave Seattle by 9AM on Friday, Sept 19 in order to get the most out of our time away. We will return by 8PM on Sunday, Sept 21.


WHERE: Ida Creek Campground in the Icicle Creek Canyon near Leavenworth, WA. We will be hiking nearby as well as in the world-famous Enchantments region of the North Cascades.

COST: $85-185 sliding scale ($85 covers the basic cost of food, accommodation and organizing costs but no compensation for leaders). Limited work-exchange scholarships available.

REGISTRATION: Spots will fill up quickly so please email Christine Cruz Guiao at christineguiao@gmail.com to receive a registration form. A non-refundable (but transferable if we find someone to take your spot) deposit of $50 is necessary to hold your space. The remaining balance will be due August 31, 2014.

DEEP ROOTS: 
An evening of spoken word, dance, ritual, and multimedia theater 
Featuring Climbing PoeTree, MissTANGQ & an interactive ritual led by Zenyu 
Tuesday, May 6th, 2014
7:30pm, Doors open at 7pm
Hiawatha Artist Lofts Community Room
843 Hiawatha Place South, Seattle WA 98144
Suggested donation $10-25, no one turned away for lack of funds
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/656086
ALL AGES   ALL ARE WELCOME

Zenyu Healing is proud to present “Deep Roots”, a soul-stirring evening of spoken word, dance, ritual, and multimedia theater featuring Climbing PoeTree, MissTANGQ, and Zenyu leaders. The evening, which highlights queer and gender-nonconforming women of color, will open with an interactive ritual to celebrate our ancestors* and the creation of a community altar. As we honor all who have gone before us, we will also answer our sacred call as ancestors to future generations. This once-in-a-lifetime event kicks off Zenyu’s 2014 Heritage Project, a groundbreaking new leadership development project that will engage emerging community leaders from diverse racial backgrounds, including people with European ancestry, to collectively explore our rich cultural heritage and ancestral identities. This process will inform and reinvigorate our leadership in community change, and racial justice and political work. Join us in what is bound to be a deeply meaningful and magical evening of beauty and spiritual connection.  

*We define ancestors not just by blood, but include all those who have loved us into being (i.e. your grandmother, 2nd-grade teacher, a childhood animal companion, a beloved tree, etc.) and/or who have blazed the path of love and justice with fearless vision and leadership (Audre Lorde, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc.). We invite all who feel called to bring an item symbolizing your connection to those who have gone before you for our community altar.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Climbing PoeTree (Alixa Garcia and Naima Penniman) is a performing duo from Brooklyn, New York, that explores the intersection of arts and activism by interweaving spoken word, hip hop and award-winning multi-media theater. With flawless cadence and impeccable lyricism, Alixa and Naima weave together their voices to tell powerful stories of love and liberation, state and personal violence, social, environmental, racial, and sexual justice, woman's empowerment and human transcendence.

MissTANGQ (Hua Meng Yu) is a synasthetic artist, youth worker, food justice activist, and magical nerd. She loves to sing on her bike, make playlists and plot what she's going to eat next. Dancing is her favorite form of space travel. 

ACCESSIBILITY INFORMATION: 
*We ask that you do not wear scented/fragranced products (e.g. perfume, hair products) or essential oils the day of the event in order to make the event accessible to those with chemical injury or multiple chemical sensitivity.
*Hiawatha Artist Lofts is wheelchair-accessible.  
*All ages space.

A Fundraiser for POC Yoga and Zenyu
OPEN TO ALL
Saturday, March 29th, 2014
Technology Access Foundation in Lakewood Park
605 SW 108th St, Seattle WA 98146
Zenyu and POC Yoga are excited to offer "Renewing Body and Soul with Yoga, Meditation, and Sound," a one-day retreat that will take place on Saturday, March 29th, 2014 at the Bethaday Learning Center in Lakewood Park, Seattle.  Yoga, guided meditation, sound healing, and delicious healthy food will be offered throughout the day, as well as time for collective ritual that will prepare us for the coming of Spring. This one-day retreat is a rare chance to nourish our bodies and souls and to reflect on the passing of winter in the presence of healing community with wonderful people.  Folks of all abilities and ages are welcome.  

WHEN: Saturday, March 29th, 2014, 9:30am-4pm

WHERE: Technology Access Foundation in Lakewood Park, 605 SW 108th St, Seattle, WA 98146

COST: $75-150 sliding scale. This is a fundraiser for Zenyu and POC Yoga, two community organizations dedicated to the health and wellness of marginalized communities. Please help us keep this work sustainable by paying at the top of your payscale. Limited work-exchange scholarships available.

REGISTRATION: Spots will fill up quickly so please email us at zenyuseattle@gmail.com to receive a registration form or download it here. A non-refundable (but transferable if we find someone to take your spot) deposit of $50 is necessary to hold your space. PRIORITY DEADLINE: Saturday, March 8th, 2014
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ABOUT US: 
Zenyu’s mission is to move the movement by developing inspired queer leaders of color who understand the inherent connection between spirit, earth, and our collective demand for social justice. The only organization of its kind nationwide, Zenyu cultivates the inspired and embodied leadership and holistic well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning or Intersex People of Color (QPOC) in Seattle to lead social justice movements and concrete efforts for community change.  Through workshops, training, community meditations and healings, and spiritual wilderness excursions, Zenyu works to create and support social justice movements that are healthy, sustainable, and spirit-centered. 

POC Yoga is committed to cultivating healing spaces that center the needs of people of color through accessible yoga classes.  Our spaces are sliding scale, LGBTQ friendly/affirming and flexible for the needs of individuals with diverse abilities.  We exist to address the trend towards financially inaccessible and homogeneous yoga spaces.

Hello friends,
On New Year's Eve, Zenyu Healing held a joyous fundraiser called "Shine", which highlighted our community's talent, love and dedication to social justice. This fundraiser represented a crucial part of our budget for the year. Sadly less than 2 days later, Zenyu's office (also our home) was robbed and we lost all of the money we made from the fundraiser as well as both of our organizational computers.

A core group of 8 volunteers lovingly put in over 2 months of work, often using their own money to cover expenses, to make this event a success. Over 100 people came to celebrate with us that night and contributed generously. We are asking for your help to help us recover the money we raised from the event as well as our two organizational computers. Please find our GoFundMe campaign here:http://www.gofundme.com/61bw0c

Thank you so much for all of the love and support that has been pouring in. We are grateful for whatever you can share with us. We would also greatly appreciate if you could pass this on to friends and family. 

With love,
Christine, April, Emil, and the Zenyu Family

SHINE
2013 Zenyu New Years Party
December 31st, 2013
8 pm - 2 am
Hiawatha Artist Lofts Community Room
843 Hiawatha Place South
Suggested donation $20-$75

Zenyu joyfully invites you to a fun and meaningful celebration of community, spiritual connection, and social justice. Save the date for what is bound to be another unforgettable Zenyu New Year's Celebration! We're going big this year! In a much larger location, we will still have our beautiful intention-setting ceremony (co-hosted with the amazing Christa Bell) and will also be adding incredible performances from The Nature & Orbè Orbè, fortune-telling by Suma, delicious food, donation libations, dancing, food, fashion show, glitter booth and more! We are also looking for volunteers so please contact us at zenyuseattle@gmail.com to take part in this amazing project!

Featuring:
New Year ceremony led by Christine Cruz Guiao & Christa Bell
Performances by Orbè Orbè & The Nature
Zenyu Fashion Show
Glitter Booth
Photo Booth
Psychic Readings by Suma
The unveiling of Zenyu's new mission and vision statements

Food and beverages (beer, cocktails, and mocktails) available by suggested donation
Families welcome/family friendly/all ages
Wheelchair accessible

·         8 pm – Doors open
·         9 pm – Ceremony
·         10 pm – Musical Performances  
·         11 pm – DJ and dancing