The Spirituality of Gallaudet
Okay folks, I’m coming out…out of the broom closet, that is. I am about to make a confession which while known to some of my friends and peers, isn’t exactly public information.
I am a Deaf Pagan…a Deaf Witch (Perfect timing for such a confession, eh?).
To be more precise, I am a Third Degree Wiccan High Priestess – to the best of my knowledge, the first and only culturally Deaf woman here in the United States to hold such a title.
Why do I mention this? Because as a practicing Pagan and a member of the Deaf Culture, I have found myself often fascinated by the parallelisms that exist between these two communities. Granted, there are some major differences between the two which have caused clashing at times; but nevertheless, putting such differences aside, as I study the history and the struggles of both the Deaf Community and the Pagan Community, I find a number of commonalities that we could share and learn from one another.
These commonalities particularly surfaced over the past few weeks, as I would read the various blogs posted in regards to the protest at my alma mater, Gallaudet University. As I struggled to better understand the issues behind this protest, and the actions taken by both the administration and the GUFSSA, I found myself going back to the teachings of my spiritual path for guidance.
And in doing so, I think I have come to a deeper appreciation of just what this protest was really all about.
Perhaps the greatest insight came from the writings of one of the Pagan Community’s best-known and well-respected leaders – Starhawk. She is the author of many books about Witchcraft – including the classic publication The Spiral Dance…considered a must-read in the Pagan Community. But it is one of her other books that I wish to quote from, a book which I feel really hits home with what happened at Gallaudet. This is a book entitled Dreaming the Dark, which was first published in 1982. It’s a well written book, and as one reviewer stated, “should be required reading for anyone involved in social justice activism.” Starhawk knows of what she writes – she has been involved in many different protests over the past 25+ years, and arrested on several occasions. She has written of such experiences in a number of her books, including this one.
In the epilogue to Dreaming the Dark, Starhawk explains that
this is a book about bringing together the spiritual and the political.
BAM! Right then and there, I suddenly understood. At the heart of the matter, the Gallaudet Protest was about bringing together the spiritual and the political. The Protest was a crossroads where paths of spirit and action joined together to create a single trail that many (although not all) members of the Deaf Community felt compelled to follow.
Now, when I talk about the spiritual, I am not referring to religion. I’m not talking about which church you attend, or what God you worship.
Rather, I am talking about the spirituality of Deafhood – of the thoughts and beliefs and ideas and concepts and struggles and dialogue that define a process by which Deaf people identify themselves and their existence in the world. It is this spirit of Deafhood that defines the Deaf community, a community which has looked to Gallaudet as a symbol of such spirit for nearly 150 years.
Defining the spirituality of Deafhood might cause one to conclude that the Protest was indeed all about the debate of “not Deaf enough.” On the surface, this might seem to be the case, but if we explore deeper, we find that the issues go much further than that. At the heart of the matter is not the question of what is Deafhood, but rather what one chooses to do with it. The individuals of Gallaudet University must ask themselves – “now that I know what I believe, what do I do with it?” That is not such a simple question…nor does it have any simple answers.
What makes Dreaming the Dark such a challenging book for many Pagans is that it presents a harsh but honest ethic: that if you believe in and follow the Pagan Path, your spirituality will demand that you act, and work to bring about change. And change is never an easy thing to deal with.
By the same token, the GUFSSA was confronted with that demand to act, and that need to bring about change. It is a need that is linked to a growing realization amongst many of its members that the world of oppression, the world of domination, cannot sustain our inner lives, nor our lives in community with each other.
The context by which Starhawk brings about such change is political activism. However, she is quick to point out that activism
…tends to involve the risk of bodily harm or incarceration…and to put one into contact with extremely unpleasant people, whether they are media interviewers, riot cops, or at times, your fellow activists. Not only that, it generates enormous feelings of frustration and rage…
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? 135 individuals were arrested on Black Friday; there were allegations of harassment by members of the Gallaudet DPS; conflicting information was fed to the media, with the result that news stories often contained inaccuracies; members of the Deaf Community traded angry barbs with one another as they expressed thoughts regarding the protest; and certainly emotions are ran high during the time.
So why would anyone in their right mind want to engage in such behavior?
Because if we look at this recent situation from that spiritual perspective, from that whole sense of the spirituality of Deafhood, the spirituality of Gallaudet University itself, then we must acknowledge that spirituality isn’t always about feeling good. Spirituality is also about challenge and disturbance, about pushing our edges and giving us the support to take great risks.
It is a mistaken assumption that spirituality must be about calm and peace, and conflict is thus unspiritual. If this be the case, then the spirituality of Deafhood would insist that we sit back and act like passive victims as we endure oppression, discrimination, prejudice, mistaken assumptions, and downright hostility from an unknowing and sometimes uncaring world.
I highly doubt that any of us could accept such a definition of Deaf “spirituality.” If we did indeed see ourselves as passive victims, there wouldn’t be so many Deaf advocates in the world. Indeed, there wouldn’t have been a protest at Gallaudet back in 1988, and there wouldn’t have been one in October of 2006.
Virginia Beach (the person, not the place!) is known as Reverend Ocean a Wiccan High Priestess and ordained Pagan Clergy. She has spent most of her adult life showing identification to name skeptics, and confusing travel agents while attempting to purchase airline tickets. Although Virginia has lived in the East on a few occasions (including five years as a Gallaudet student), she was born and raised in the Midwest, and currently makes her home there. A lover of all things Celtic, Virginia is saving her pennies with hopes of a trip to Ireland in the near future. When she’s not reading up about the Druids, Virginia can be found browsing in antique shops or buying yet another piece of handmade pottery to add to her already vast collection.
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“At the heart of the matter is not the question of what is Deafhood, but rather what one chooses to do with it.”
Well said! I would also like to elaborate on that point. It is not only what the choices are that we make, it is also about the choices we are making unconsciously. For a while now, a lot of us have not reexamined our beliefs about being deaf. I see people stuck in the old d/Deaf paradigm. This protest exposed those fissures in the deaf community and inflamed them.
I have spent a lot of time the last few months thinking back to my childood and present day, my experience as a deaf person. I’ve been both deaf and Deaf, an non-user of ASL, user of ASL, completely rejected the deaf community by choosing to be “hearing”, then totally embracing it to the point I rejected the hearing community.
Now, I am something in between, two cultures, two languages.. what am I? What kind of deaf person am I now?
That brings me to the part about “Spirituality is also about challenge and disturbance, about pushing our edges and giving us the support to take great risks.”
Absolutely. When women give birth, they experience a lot of pain and are sometimes physically injuried as well. Yet, there you have the product. How will we nuture it? What will it become?
Hm.. thanks for the thoughts.
BTW: curious– any kind of deaf-specific pagan stuff on the website out there?
Thanks for your kind words, Starry.
I can identify with what you say..for I too am one of those “in-between” folks, and I have also spent a lot of time these last few months thinking about what that means.
As far as your question regarding deaf-specific Pagan stuff out there, I haven’t seen anything in the last year or two. There used to be an on-line group called Deaf Pagan Network of which I was a member (and leader), but I have since left the group and from what I have seen, it’s pretty much gone non-existent. I don’t know if there are other groups out there that I am not aware of, but none of my fellow Deaf Pagans have indicated anything. Most are either members of larger Pagan groups which are not “Deaf-Specific” or they simply practice solitary and aren’t involved with anything on-line. If I find anything I will be happy to pass it on.
Ocean
Virginia Beach.. I am so thrilled to see Deaf Wiccan High Priestess cuz I am Deaf pagan. I was involved in pagan as solidary since few years ago. I have a friend who is my deaf pagan moderator. We searched for other deaf pagan through website.. hardly to find one.. :) Now you just come out of the closet.. now I found you hee hee.. way to go.. I hope we will see some deaf pagan network on website someday. Cheers!!
Now, I am something in between, two cultures, two languages.. what am I? What kind of deaf person am I now?
i am “in between” too — ive always chosen to see it as being bi-cultural. as both, the hearing world and the Deaf world are part of me and make me who i am, i cannot reject one or the other.
psst: virginia, great post!
psst: amanda, thanks!
I only see Jane as the “Abe Lincoln” martyr. She worked to liberate the deaf communities from the grips of dependence only to be shot down by the dependency confederates. She will be replaced by another abolitionist and the battles will return.
Rich, stop this! You know, this is not that topic… ;)))))))
Virginia…kudos to you for “coming out of the broom closet” and illustrating so beautifully this concept of spirituality of Deafhood. As a hearing person with a physical disability, I have been honored with being included in the Deaf Community many times, whether because of my willingness to learn American Sign Language or perhaps because of my acceptance of Deaf Culture, without question (because, well, basically because it’s not for me to question). It is this spirit of Deafhood of which you speak that I have only been able to express in mere glimpses when trying to explain Deaf Culture to those who are hearing who do not understand. As a Pagan, studying to be Clergy, who strives to find ways to enable people to realize that understanding each other as humans of many cultures, is not as comfortable a task as we’d all like it to be, but that it still remains a necessity, I thank you for your words.
-Kimber
Thank you, Kimber.
It is nice to see the diversity that exists here at DeafDC and amongst the commenters. If my writing has something to say to people of all communities, then I shall indeed be very pleased.
I too am a Deaf Pagan. I am proud for you to come out of the closet as a witch (does that make it a “broom closet”?)… anyway.. I wish I could come out and tell people, but society where I live is very religious (baptist) and especially evangalized in the Deaf community… so i don’t feel comfortable to make any public declaration of my spirituality. Any suggestions?
I’m glad to see another Deaf Pagan. I knew several pagan interpreters in DC and VA and so I was very involved in two covens there before I moved to CO…very difficult here, but no worries, I’ll move back to DC in January. Glad to see there’s more Deaf Pagans than before! (I practice celtic shamanism.)
I am thrilled to see that other Deaf Pagans have stepped forward and acknowledged themselves here. It’s good for all of us - both the Deaf Community and the Pagan Community - to see that Deaf Pagans do exist, and that there is a need to create resources for us. Perhaps at some future time, I can talk about how we set up such resources, or at least a way for us to network with each other. It does appear that we need the strength and support of one another.
However…not wanting to appear rude or insensitive or whatever, but I would like to suggest that we focus on the content of this blog, and of the blogs to follow - this is Part One of what is expected to be a trilogy of blogs looking at the Gallaudet Protest from a Deaf Pagan perspective. As I understand from the DeafDC administration, Part Two will be posted Tuesday morning (on Samhain/Halloween!) and I am currently working to try and finish writing Part Three as quickly as possible so it too can be posted hopefully on Samhain as well.
I’d be interested in receiving your feedback regarding what these blogs have to say and what your opinion of their contents are - especially since as fellow Deaf Pagans, you have a better understanding of the perspectives that encouraged the writing of such.
By the way, I am known in the Pagan Community as “Ocean” and from one Deaf Pagan to another, I wish you all a Happy Samhain
Bright Blessings,
Ocean
I am yet another deaf pagan, and am glad to see some of us are continuing to believe in what we are.
In regards to Deafhood…I need to think abt that, because lately, my experience with that hasn’t been too positive. I sometimes feel like I am being coerced into the “deafhood” mentality and don’t appreciate that. If I don’t agree with a philosphy then I’m not well received. It may simply be the result of an overly eager ‘evengelical’ type of group but doesnt sit too well with me. Prefer to stick with the pagan journey I have been on for over two decades.
And you’re right…spirituality doesn’t always mean calm and peace. To me, it means seeking the truth, regardless of how difficult or painful it is, at least it will set me free and I can continue to move forward.
Thanks for sharing….
This is an interesting comment, because as I understand it, deafhood is a process of accepting yourself the way you are. You mention a “deafhood mentality” that you don’t appreciate. That implies coercion or pressure, exactly the opposite of how I perceive it. Please do elaborate if you can.
To do a comparitive analysis between the Spirituality of Deafhood and the Spirituality of Paganism…
Pagan Spirituality is generally viewed as polytheistic - it allows for many powers, for many images of the Divine. It is a belief that there are many ways of seeing Divinity, many aspects and facets of such.
By the same token, I believe that the Spirituality of Deafhood also is and needs to Polytheistic - that it encourages diversity, rather than sameness. We do not and should not try to coerce everyone into following that same mentality, that one philosophy. If we are to grow and bond as a community, then we must recognize that each of us has our own path to find.
But simply walking away from the community because you don’t like the scenery isn’t the answer. Don’t be afraid to blaze your own trail…the more we spread out and go in different directions, the more ground we can cover.
The Spirituality of Deafhood shouldn’t be about walking a narrow strip, but about embracing that diversity and recognizing that with such comes a strength and resilience and adaptability…all of which are necessary if we are to survive.
Virginia, could you explain me, please, what diversity has to do with politheism?? Is this not a mix-up of two different things?
Deafhood is not a religious movement. People keep their faith as personal and not as community concern. One’s religion does not define one as person. However, one’s contribution to the Deafhood movement may define one’s own Deafhood.
If you are a Wiccan, it is just a thing. But if you achieve Deafhood, it is you life. Am I wrong?
Diversity can be defined as “the presence of a wide range of variation.” By the same token, Polytheism embraces that concept of variation also, in that it believes in that same concept of multiplicity, as opposed to monotheism, which believes in one god. When looked at from this way, then one can make the argument that Polytheism is indeed a diverse spiritual belief, allowing for those many aspects and many facets…allowing for that variation.
No, I don’t think this is a mix-up here. The point that I was making is that we should apply that same “polytheistic” view point to Deafhood. I’m not referring to its religious aspects, but rather to its embracement of that belief in variation, in multiplicity…of not looking at Deafhood as being one singular experience, one singular philosophy, one singular belief…but as being as rich and diverse as the Deaf Community itself.
I never said Deafhood is a religious movement. However, I do believe it has a “spiritual” component to it, and it is this sense of spirituality that I attempted to analyze in my article.
“People keep their faith as personal and not as community concern.” This might be true for some, but there are many who in fact do move their faith out into the community and work to better that community in the name of their faith. How many faith groups do you see who in fact do get involved with such community and social concerns as hunger, homelessness, substance abuse, child welfare, etc. ??? For that matter, how many get involved in such political issues as abortion or same-sex marriages…or even peace or environmentalism?
Certainly there are those who prefer to keep their faith - their spirituality - as private and personal, and that is their right. But as I commented above, there are others who believe that their spiritual path - be it Pagan or other - calls upon them to act, and work for change.
“One’s religion does not define a person.” Hmmm…not sure that I can agree with you on that one. I think there are are a lot of people out there who do in fact define themselves by their spiritual beliefs. Notice how many folks here defined themselves as Deaf Pagans?
“One’s contribution to the Deafhood movement may define one’s own Deafhood.” First of all, correct me if I am wrong (since truthfully I have not attended any of the Deafhood presentations)…but I wasn’t aware that Deafhood was being touted as a “movement.” It was my understand that it is an individual process…but it is this process that moves each of us forward to bond with one another as a community. And yes, we all have something to contribute to that community.
“If you are a Wiccan, it is just a thing. But if you achieve Deafhood, it is your life” Hmmm…I have a feeling that the thousands of Wiccans around the country would debate you on this statement. I hardly think we refer to it as just a thing. In fact, for many of us it is in fact a way of life. I identify myself as a Deaf Pagan - a member of both of these communities. Sometimes they merge together beautifully, at other times they struggle with one another. Paganism/Wicca is just as much my life as Deafhood is. As for “achieving” Deafhood, I don’t know if it’s something you exactly “achieve” - like some kind of goal to aspire to. Rather, I see it as on-going cycle by which we continue to grow and develop, to learn who and what we are.
Woww, I am learning from you, Virginia. For me religion is intimately related to a concept of the Divine that is beyond the everyday experience. Nevertheless I acknowledge that our monotheistic God revealed Itself to us accross the historical time through polytheistic images. I tend to believe that 21st century is beyond the polytheistic stage, but I respect everybody’s opinion in this question.
For me Deafhood is more on the everyday experience level. You are right, Deafhood is a process. Still, it will grow into a movement, because colonization cannot be overcome on the individual level and self-actualization will remain a dream for many in the Deaf community withour a collective and protective mindset that helps them.
Saying in a simplified way, self-actualization is an achievement of the Deafhood process.
I am amazed to hear that there are many Deaf Pagans, and many of them embrace the Deafhood concept. I would be glad to learn more about the mutual relationships between Pagans and the Deaf and, in particular, Deafhood.
While I am not a pagan, I enjoyed reading the comments herein. I’ve known some neo-pagans and individuals who share many of the same beliefs and have always enjoyed being with them.
I’m glad that you all have found each other. It’s always nice to have other people you can share things with.
Enjoy!
Deaf Pagans rock! Happy Samhain everyone! I’ll be masked and dancing tonight around the fire…Virginia, in two other of Starhawk’s books, the Fifth Sacred Thing and Walking to Mercury did you notice the characters all knew some ASL?
Indeed I have, Joseph!
I have some wonderful stories of meeting and working with Starhawk - during a ritual that she led, I actually taught her and all the participants how to sign one of the chants. Not to brag, but I like to think I played a role in her recognition of ASL and incorporating it into her books (although I am sure there have been other Deaf people involved as well!)
I didn’t see her again for a couple of years, and then we met up at another Pagan conference, where I again led the signing of the chant…and then had the amusing opportunity of teaching Starhawk the sign for “bullshit.”
I also have a copy of The Fifth Sacred Thing, which I purchased at this conference. On the inside cover is written: “For Ocean, with delight in meeting you again, Blessed Be, Starhawk.”
The part I really liked in this blog is the bringing together the spiritual and the political.
If any of you attended the Eberwein/Lentz/Gertz presentation on Deafhood a few weeks ago, you’ll remember them mentioning an intuitive attraction to other deaf people. I don’t know how best to describe the Paddy Ladd sign they used, but just imagine signing stomachs talking to each other.
In this case, I’d like to think the deaf collective (deafies of all backgrounds) suddenly gathered in a political action. The gathering and revelation itself is the spiritual part.
Events have taken a horrible toll on my views of the last weeks, but I always felt better whenever I saw people in the community banding together to rally, to discuss, to process.
“intitutive attraction to other deaf people”.
Hmm. yeah.. now you mention it. That’s true. Deaf people tend to be drawn to each other. We’re like natural allies, birds of a feather.. and this intense connection causes us to fight.
Think about it, there are those anti-protesters who claim to hate what the protest stands for, they claim they don’t want to be part of deaf culture, and they complain about discrimination they’ve experienced from other deaf people.
yet… they’re here. They keep coming back. YOu see them at gatherings, both in real life and online. They can’t pull themselves away.
Interesting thought. I wish I could’ve attended that workshop but I’m not a local.
Allison this is very true! The Gally protest hammered together such a Deaf unity all around the country (even around the world) that may be unique in history. It is up to us what would we do with this unity. What should we??
One direction can be building a permanent unity around Deafhood. Deafhood will grow beyond the individual dimension looking for contact points with the collective soul of the community. The ideas of Deafhood can generate a movement, a point of crystallization, where the Deaf community will come together. It definitely would develop dimensions in collective thinking and political action.
“I am amazed to hear that there are many Deaf Pagans, and many of them embrace the Deafhood concept. I would be glad to learn more about the mutual relationships between Pagans and the Deaf and, in particular, Deafhood.”
This is a quote from testing_the_truth.
It looks like this is our opportunity, my fellow Deaf Pagans.
I invite you to step forward and share your own views on that mutual relationship between Paganism and Deafhood, and how you have - successfully or not so successfully - merged the two into your own unique experience of “Deaf Spirituality.”
I’d love to hear from you!
Ha-ha! Good point. You threw the ball back to me. Thanks! You know I am not Pagan. I try to understand Deafhood spirituality as a collective mindset working in the Deaf community, without Divine intervention. However, I find your arguments intriguing and I will surely follow your mini series of thoughts as you are publishing it at DeafDC.com.
[…] Virginia Beach, in her guestblog trilogy (of which parts one and two have already been posted), talks about how the spiritual experience of this protest has the potential to acheive real positive change in a political arena. […]
O_O holy smokes……
???
Care to elaborate, Punky?
For the Deaf Pagans who came out of the broom closet here at this post and expressed their appreciation for my discussing my spirituality…
Thank you.
I now have a special announcement to make:
I have just created a new blog site called Deaf Pagan Crossroads. This is a blog that discusses the merger of Deafness and Paganism - how we combine our identity as D/deaf persons with our practice of Earth-Based spirituality.
This is a public site, and you can find it at http://www.deafpagan.com
This site is for everyone - Deaf, deaf, hard of hearing, hearing…and for all spiritual paths - Pagan, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist…
Any and all are welcomed to come and join and post your comments, etc. All that I ask is that you come in love and trust, respecting all and harming none.
Blessed Be,
“Ocean”
Deaf Pagan Network is still existing. Nice to see this conversation on other sites. Seems it is time for deaf pagans to meet up!