LGBTQ+ Holiday Message
The Courage to Release
November’s theme has been the spiritual ability to release and let go. The holidays have a way of stirring the pot — memories, emotions, expectations, grief, joy, and everything in between. All of this makes the power of elimination (release and letting go) essential.
But release isn’t always clean or graceful. As Rev. Maggie Alderman reminded us on Saturday, “So much of what I’ve let go had claw marks on it.” Many of us know that feeling well.
The Process of Letting Go
It’s important to remember that the goal is not to rush through the process. Spiritual principles and practices can be deeply supportive, but they can also be misused to bypass the very real experiences unfolding in our lives. When we’ve faced trauma, the expectation that we should instantly “let it go” is not only unrealistic — it can be harmful. Healing takes time. It unfolds. And we honor that process, rather than forcing it.
Trauma and Healing
Trauma often occurs when something was too much, too fast, or too soon, and when we simply didn’t have the support or resources needed to process it. Many in the New Thought community carry real wounds. According to the research done by the Faith and Trauma center, people that identified with the Unity movement scored highest on negative religious experiences. Release, in these cases, isn’t a one-time spiritual achievement — it’s a gentle, ongoing unwinding. The aim isn’t perfection. The aim is simply for life to be a little more spacious today than it was yesterday.
Even evolution itself takes time. Biological evolution has unfolded over millions of years — why would we expect our spiritual evolution to happen rapidly? We are all equally spiritual as expressions of divine love. Bypassing does not make us any more or less spiritual, but it can have a direct negative impact on the way we experience life.
Louise Hay once said that life is like a school. Some people seem to be in kindergarten — things come easily, privilege cushions their path, and they float through life with minimal friction. Others of us? It’s like we’re in grad school. Our lessons are more intense, but our capacity for empathy, understanding, and love deepens in ways that profoundly shape our lives. Unfortunately, our culture often mistakes the kindergarteners for the enlightened ones — but the truth is usually the opposite.
While release is an innate spiritual ability, most of us need help along the way. We’re not meant to do life isolated and alone. The purpose of Folx with Faith is to ensure that our communities have real, meaningful spiritual resources — not clichés, not platitudes, but genuine support for the real experiences we bring to the table.
Co-Regulation and Healing
As we continue exploring the power of release, we also recognize that healing requires connection. Dr. Stephen Porges’ work in polyvagal theory reminds us that
We cannot self-regulate until we’ve been able to co-regulate. ~Dr. Stephen Porges
Coregulation is the process by which our nervous system calms, steadies, and finds safety through connection with another regulated, supportive person. It’s the foundation of emotional stability, because humans are wired to settle and heal in relationship rather than in isolation.
We need people. We need support. We need community. Healing is never meant to happen in isolation.
To support you through this season — especially if the holidays bring up grief, stress, dysregulation, or complicated family dynamics — we’ve compiled a list of resources you may find helpful.
Helpful Resources for Healing, Support & Regulation
Crisis Services
- Trans Lifeline: A peer-run support line offering confidential emotional support and resources from trans adults who deeply understand the community’s lived experiences. 877-565-8860
- The Trevor Project: A 24/7 crisis and support line for young people providing affirming emotional care for LGBTQ+ people navigating distress, identity stress, or suicidal thoughts. 866-488-7386
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: A nationwide, free crisis line offering immediate emotional support for anyone experiencing mental health distress or suicidal ideation. 988
LGBTQ+ Support Services
- LGBTQ+ National Hotline: A peer-supported hotline offering compassionate listening, guidance, and resources for LGBTQ+ adults facing emotional, relational, or identity-related challenges. 888-843-4564
- National Youth Talkline: A supportive space for LGBTQ+ youth to talk with trained peers about relationships, identity concerns, and emotional stress. 800-246-7743
- National Senior Hotline: A warmline specifically for LGBTQ+ adults 50+, offering emotional support, community connection, and resources. 888-234-7243
LGBTQ+ Compitent Therapy
- Therapy Den LGBTQ+ Directory: An inclusive therapist directory that helps LGBTQ+ adults find affirming, trauma-informed mental health professionals.
- Psychology Today’s “Navigating Holidays and Hometowns as an LGBTQ+ Person”: A therapist-written guide offering grounded strategies for LGBTQ+ adults navigating hometowns, family dynamics, and holiday stress.
Spiritual Support
- Unity Prayer Ministry: A 24/7 prayer ministry offering confidential spiritual support, prayer, and affirmation for anyone seeking comfort or clarity. 816-969-2000
Peer Support
- White Flag App: A free, anonymous, 24/7 peer-support app that connects people with others who have lived experience in similar mental health struggles.
Somatic & Nervous System Regulation Resources
- Johns Hopkins Medicine Somatic Self-Care Resources: Offering a variety of practical exercises and resources to support the body and wellbeing.
- Tara Brach — RAIN Practice: A compassionate mindfulness process for working through difficult emotions without bypassing.
The power of elimination may look less like releasing old habits and more like releasing the belief that you have to do this alone.
We grow through connection. We heal through relationship. We become whole — or rather, we remember our wholeness — through the gentle unfolding of our lives.
The words healing, whole, and holy share the same root.
- Holy is what we already are.
- Whole is what we have always been.
- Healing is simply the process of uncovering that truth.
May this season bring softness to your heart, spaciousness to your spirit, and a reminder that you are held, supported, and never alone.
Join the Conversation
We will not be hosting a Folx with Faith gathering in December, but we will be back in January. Visit our events page for details.
About Folx with Faith
At Folx with Faith, we celebrate the diverse ways people embody spiritual zeal and other divine attributes. Our mission is to create safe, affirming spaces where queer people can explore spirituality, heal from religious harm, and live as authentic expressions of divine love. Through courses, blogs, community gatherings, and local chapters, we empower people to engage their spiritual powers, like zeal, to transform their lives and their communities.
How You Can Support Our Mission?
You can help us fulfill our mission by donating to Folx with Faith or starting a local group. It is our mission to create safe spaces to explore and experience spiritual wholeness. Folx with Faith supports the queer community, fostering a celebration of our authentic beings and empowering us to make a difference in the world. If you would like to contribute to this mission or would like to start a local chapter, please let us know. You can contact us or use the links below.
Have a question? Feel free to contact us. You can also sign up for our Newsletter to get the latest from Folx with Faith!
Find or start a local group.
Inclusive Communities
Our A New Thought on Gender course supports leaders in understanding the lived experience of trans and gender-expansive people so they can create safer, more affirming spiritual environments.
Places of Belonging
Belonging is created through intention, education, and the willingness to transform outdated systems. This course equips leaders with tools to build structures, language, and practices that welcome people fully as sacred expressions of the Divine.
Self-Guided Learning
The course is fully self-guided, allowing learners to move at their own pace while engaging with video lessons, reflections, and practical tools. Featuring leading voices like Chris Paul “Rainbows” Farias, Ben Greene, Rev. Dr. Christie Love, Rev. Jacquie Fernández, and James Masters, LUT. These materials blend personal story, research, theological clarity, trauma informed ministry, and best practices for trans-affirming ministry.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
James Masters (he/they) is a member of Unity Church of Overland Park, where they actively teach classes and participate in community events. They are a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) in the Unity movement and have been deeply engaged in spiritual study since 1999, and the New Thought/Metaphysics movements in 2005.
James is a contributing author for the bestselling anthologies The Courageous Heart, Enduring Wisdom, and The Grateful Soul. They are a artist and personal coach specializing in spiritual and relational development, guiding others toward deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
Beyond their work in spiritual education, James has a strong commitment to social justice and community service. They helped establish an all-genders shelter and regularly volunteer to support those experiencing housing and food insecurity. Their knowledge of technology and unwavering compassion for others make them a valuable force for positive change in their community.
