Originally Posted on October 12, 2011
We just picked up 2 gigantic bags of exorbitantly-priced and very quality outdoor gear from Patagonia, who generously donated to this newborn baby nonprofit! Thanks a ton, Patagonia! Zenyu proudly introduces the “Lemonhead Lending Library”, named after Zenyu’s 13-year-old Beagle mascot. For all those folks of color who don’t have access to raingear and warm underlayers–we gotchu! Hit us up before one of our monthly hikes or Spiritual Wilderness Retreats and we’ll outfit you the best that we can!

Originally Posted on September 29, 2011
Zenyu is an out and proud community partner for this amazing event: Imani Uzuri in concert!  Email us (zenyuseattle@gmail.com) to get tickets because it’s going to sell out!! And also it’d be really fun to get to sit next to you, you Beautiful Being you! 

IMANI UZURI Accompanied by musicians Marika Hughes (cello) and Neel Murgai (sitar and daf)

Posted on September 15, 2011
“First, their whole spiritual practice should be enveloped by the principles of metta (lovingkindness). Then they should be taken out into nature, into beautiful forests or mountains. They must stay there long enough to realize that they too are a part of nature. They must rest there until they too can feel harmony with all life and their proper place in the midst of all things.” – Buddhadasa, Thai Buddhist monk and philosopher

In many spiritual traditions all around the world, people journey into the wilderness for contemplation and (re)connection to the Divine.  In honor of the profound healing that we have personally received from the gifts of the Great Mother (Nature, Wilderness, whatever you wanna call Her!) and excited from the success of the first hike this past month, we are thrilled to announce that we will be organizing a monthly hike for People of Color on the 3rd  or 4th Saturday of every month.  The date will depend on organizer schedules and the unique gifts of each season (for instance, the September hike may be the 4th Saturday in order to catch the stunning fall foliage in the sub-alpine ecosystem).

We will be exploring and wandering through the mountains, rivers, and ocean wildernesses of the Pacific Northwest, primarily Washington, but forays and longer wilderness retreats in other states and Canadian provinces will also be dreamt up and then miraculously manifested in the future.

The goal of these wilderness adventures is to bring healing to communities of color through the Original Path: communing with each other and (re)connecting to All Living Beings by being out in nature, feeling the precious gift of your body.  There will be no preaching and no dogma, though we do ask that all who choose to come adopt, at least for the day, an attitude of nonviolence, openness and respect.  This is nonviolence in thought, word and action toward ourselves and others (individuals AND groups of people).  In other words, please don’t talk sh@$ about yourself or anybody else in the presence of the Mother!

COSTS: 1) gas money ($5-12 each time, depending on how many folks come and how far we venture)
2) if you have the means, offering to drive when you can
3) dana/love donation for organizing costs (so I can eat)!

Posted on September 15, 2011
It’s been over a month since the epic first annual Spiritual Wilderness Retreat for People of Color rocked the wilderness of Mt. Rainier.  On the weekend of August 5-7, 2011, 13 enthusiastic folks of color gathered to hike to a secluded mountain ridge, practice yoga, meditate, engage in deep dialogue about spirituality, build beautiful community, eat lots of delicious food, give impromptu tarot card readings…and play cutthroat games of Uno (while still remaining nonviolent, of course).  Stay tuned for a Winter 2012 Spiritual Wilderness Retreat!

Posted on September 15, 2011

MISSION:
Zenyu is a small, Seattle-based, multicultural organization that cultivates the holistic well-being and leadership of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Inquiring (LGBTQI) People of Color through meditation classes, wilderness excursions, and spiritual retreats. We support long-term social change by developing solution-centered leadership based on compassion, mindfulness and co-operation among marginalized communities.

To see all past blog entries, click here, or please go to:http://zenyuhealing.wordpress.com/latest-news/