by Tom Kovach
Reading the extended interview with Joesph Kramer in Don Shewey’s Daddy Lover God: a sacred intimate journey, I found that the Body Electric School started in January-February 1984. I knew the year but had not known the month, so Happy Anniversary Body Electric School.
I often reflect on the seed Joseph planted: the many people nourished by it when others had forsaken them during the AIDS crisis; the tens of thousands who found joy and liberation in their bodies, self-acceptance, intimacy, community, and personal and spiritual healing.
And in doing so, I have thought of the roots of the school: Tantra and Taoism with insights of Western sexology, psychology, and neurobiology; the power of Eros that feeds these roots and spreads to give new life to so many; the way that those who have been a part of the school have so frequently gone on to help others. So here we are 40 years later in our Anniversary month. Here is a challenge and wish. Whether you are new to Body Electric or a longtime alumni, come back to an event this year. Enjoy the community, and relive the experience that has bonded you to the school over the years. They say the best gift is an experience. So here is the wish: that we all stretch and invite one friend, partner, or family member to experience a BE workshop. What a gift that would be for them and us.
We have a lot to celebrate! There are many special events this year:
- The return of Power, Surrender, and Intimacy for Women and All Genders.
- The PSI at Easton with a tribute to our special guest and founder of the Power, Surrender, and Intimacy, Harry Fadis.
- Our first Celebrating the Body Erotic 3 featuring Joseph Kramer’s trance-dance erotic massage.
- Collin Brown, former director of the school, guiding us through a 16-week look at Gay Soul.
- A 40th Anniversary Tantra Retreat in Costa Rica with Mark Fleming at Blue Osa.
- At Easton Mountain, the weeklong intensives Dear Love of Comrades and Erotic Temple, featuring Steve Schwartzberg and Craig Cullinane, and Sacred Intimacy Training, with Mark Fleming and JoJo Bear.
- First-time all-genders intensives, Sacred Intimacy Training at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center in New Mexico along with Healing the Wounded Healer.
- The return of Wild Honey for women.
- Online, weekly Mindfulness Meditation and Yoga with Shai.
- And plans for men’s and women’s CBEs for people of color and more Queer Eros events too.
We will cap off the celebrations with a 40th Anniversary Gala in Palm Springs, November 8-10. The banquet will feature Joseph Kramer, Annie Sprinkle, and many people who have helped build and grow the Body Electric School over the last 40 years. Look for an announcement with more details and a way to sign up soon.
Moving Into Intimacy
Moving Into Intimacy is a creative physical workshop exploring the inner and interpersonal worlds of embodied pleasure. It’s an effort to answer questions like: What is intimacy? How can we successfully create more intimacy in our lives? And how does intimacy connect to our sensual bodies and our Eros?
Announcing the Allan Armus Scholarship Fund
by Tom Kovach
Many of you have heard of the passing of Allan Armus. It personally hit me hard, as I was very fond of Allan, and like many of you had been in workshops with him. He went to more workshops and intensives than any other alumnus. Not only did he attend over 50 workshops, but he also embodied the beginner’s mind in each one he went to, no matter how many times he had taken the class. Generous with his time and energy, Allan believed in making donations to help others into the work. We have decided to honor his spirit by naming our scholarship fund after him.
Last year we awarded 156 scholarship applications, meaning 156 people were supported in coming to a workshop they would not have otherwise been able to. We have already had nearly 20 applications this year. The scholarships are limited to one per person per year, for tuition only, based on need. But the need is great, and limited funds mean that we sometimes can’t provide the amount of support people request.
You can support the Allan Armus Scholarship Fund by becoming a member or making a donation and designating it as “for scholarships”. To meet the needs of the fund and those it helps, our goal is to raise $40,000 for the school’s 40th anniversary. Please help us reach this goal by contributing whatever amount feels good to you.