Exploring the frontiers of gay consciousness with ROBERTO BLAIN

Return of “The Call”

Greetings, readers. I know I promised that in this column I would share some of the more transformative experiences I had during my New Mexico vision quest. Although I loathe to break my word, I have to renege. A “lifeline opportunity” has presented itself, and I have decided to follow Machiavelli’s advice and let the ends justify the means. A workshop devoted to helping gay men find their calling is starting in Los Angeles in early August and I want to let the community know about it in case anyone leading a life of quiet desperation as a result of holding themselves hostage in a soul-crushing occupation wants a way out.

Around the year 2002, while a member of the Los Angeles Gay Men’s Medicine Circle, my writing partner Dr. Donald Kilhefner, a founding member, encouraged me to develop a workshop to add to the Circle’s curriculum. I accepted his invitation, and in turn invited a friend and kindred spirit, Jason Mannino, to co-create and facilitate the workshop with me. Jason and I delivered “The Call: Realizing Your Mission, Grounding Your Vision” for several years with a fair amount of success, based on feedback and results. A few years ago, when I began co-facilitating The Midlife Awakening workshop with Don and Jason, I pushed the pause button on The Call, with every intention of reviving it some day. That day has come.

I’m not sure whether revived or reincarnated is the proper term, but in any case The Call is back, this time being co-facilitated by original scribe Jason and a new co-facilitator, Johnny Burke, an educator and someone whom I very much admire for his sensitivity and depth. I understand that, like the Matrix, the new Call has been “reloaded.” Jason and Johnny, both of whom are enrolled in the Masters in Spiritual Psychology program at the University of Santa Monica, have reworked it with some of the USM learnings and I’m told it has a number of powerful new elements. I recently interviewed them together to get the skinny on the new and improved The Call workshop.

Roberto: If you could encapsulate the purpose of The Call workshop in one or two sentences, what would you say?

Jason: The Call is an eight-week, one-night-a-week journey designed to assist gay men in realizing—or rather, remembering—their life’s calling and bringing it to life. Participants discover the unique gifts they are meant to share and begin constellating the authentic dreams they are meant to manifest in this life.

I know that The Call is a reprise of the workshop you and I co-facilitated years ago. What results do you feel participants received from that workshop, as an indicator of what they might receive from this one?

I’m happy to be able to say that quite a few men who participated in The Call subsequently reported that their lives altered significantly as a result of the workshop. Examples include transitioning to more rewarding livelihoods (a big one), going back to school (another big one), becoming actively involved and contributing through new kinds of volunteer work, getting involved in committed relationships, and even adopting children. It seems the introspection and reflection generated during the workshop resulted in a number of powerful intentions and “calls to action” for many of the men. Quite a few created wonderful, lasting friendships out of this work.

Do you think everyone has a calling?

Jason: I believe that we all possess unique gifts and talents [that] we are “called” to share and in so doing serve humanity and make the world a better place for everyone. It’s a win-win because by fulfilling your calling you positively impact those around you while becoming more engaged, enlivened, and conscious.

I couldn’t agree more. In his remarkable CD entitled Ancestralization, initiated African elder and author Malidoma Patrice Some teaches us that we each have an important life calling and that we need to get going on it. He warns us not to get sidetracked with other pursuits because we are given just enough energy in this life to accomplish our calling. He cautions us that anyone who doesn’t pays a huge price.

One sees the casualties all over the place. As a result of our society’s failure to provide us with direction, wealth accumulation and partying [becomes] the central organizing principles. Absent a fulfilling, meaningful livelihood, it represents empty calories. Conversely, when people are engaged in their calling they tend to be much happier. When we experience and come to know ourselves as authentic beings, we begin to see others at this level also, and when we begin to see others from this place, we experience more peace and love.

Johnny, I realize you’re new to The Call. Of the many things you could be doing with your time, why The Call?

Johnny: When I was very young I lost my voice and could not express myself. As a third grade teacher, children have made it possible for me to become more authentic. The opportunity to help others in their authenticity very much appeals to me. Several years ago I had a transformational experience when I attended The Midlife Awakening workshop Don and you co-facilitated. I knew that I might want to facilitate a similar kind of workshop some day. I was very happy when Jason invited me to co-facilitate The Call. Jason and I attend USM together and we are acquiring powerful insights and tools that we want to take out into the world. We are very aligned around our vision of what is possible for gay men.

So, what happens during the workshop? What do people get and leave with?

Jason: Well, because the workshop is fairly experiential, I hesitate to share the agenda. I will say that participants engage in a series of carefully constructed exercises and activities designed to unlock what James Hillman refers to as their “soul’s code.” The group acts as a sort of powerful refracting mirror that puts each participant’s inauthenticity in high relief, albeit in a safe environment. As the weeks progress, more of who participants really are begins to reveal itself, “vision seeds” are planted (or maybe they’re already there, and just need cultivating), and participants develop a sense of possibility and commitment. Oh, and there’s added value; attendees have an opportunity to become part of an ongoing community called “The Call Reunion.” This is an ever-expanding group of ex-Call participants who meet once per quarter to connect with one another, share developments, and provide support, camaraderie, and kinship. To some, this represents a welcome drink of water in a city parched from lack of relational, emotional, and soul sustenance. We recently opened up the group to graduates of The Midlife Awakening, which has created an interesting and dynamic mix.

Readers: Make contact, get tuned in, and get going on exploring and manifesting your calling. The Call runs from Weds., August 6 (7:30-10 p.m.) through Weds., September 24. To register, contact Scott at Gay Men’s Medicine Circle, 818/400-2432. Location is a private residence in Hollywood. For more information please visit www.gaymensmedicinecircle.org. Jason Mannino is a Los Angeles personal coach available for one-on-one and group sessions (www.jmannino.com). Johnny Burke has been an elementary school educator for 10 years and holds an MA in Education. He has been involved in the healing arts for many years and is a Certified Massage Therapist who specializes in psycho-structural balancing.

Roberto Blain is head of talent acquisition at USC, on the executive team of c3 transmedia, and co-facilitator of the Gay Men and the Midlife Awakening workshop. Contact him at roberto@consciouscreativity.com.