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A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation
Queer critique, queer practice: embodied teachings for healing from trauma and social injustice.
Jacoby Ballard provides an empowering and affirming guide to embodied healing through yoga and the dharma, grounded in the brilliance, resilience, and lived experiences of queer folks.
Part I deconstructs the ways mainstream yoga perpetuates queer- and transphobia and other systemic oppressions, exploring the intersections of yoga, capitalism, cultural appropriation, and sexual violence. Ballard also addresses the trauma--complex, vicarious, historical, and collective--perpetuated against queer communities. In response, he offers tools for self-compassion, tonglen, lovingkindness, and grounding, and helps readers explore questions like:
-What is trauma? How is it a product of injustice--and how can healing it create justice?
-The world won't stop being homo- and transphobic, so how do I encounter that in a way that does the least harm?
-How do we love what is uniquely trans about us?
-What are affinity groups, and why do we need them?
In part II, Ballard offers a queer-centered, fully embodied, and equity-rooted practice with meditations, practices, and sequences for processing and healing from trauma individually and in community. He explains concepts like lovingkindness, letting go, compassion, joy, forgiveness, and equanimity through a queer lens, and pairs each with corresponding meditations, practices, and beautiful line drawings of queer bodies.
Enhanced with stories from Ballard's personal practice and professional experience teaching yoga in schools, prisons, conferences, and his weekly Queer and Trans Yoga class, A Queer Dharma is a guidebook, reclamation, and unapologetically queer heart offering for true healing and transformation.
Jacoby Ballard provides an empowering and affirming guide to embodied healing through yoga and the dharma, grounded in the brilliance, resilience, and lived experiences of queer folks.
Part I deconstructs the ways mainstream yoga perpetuates queer- and transphobia and other systemic oppressions, exploring the intersections of yoga, capitalism, cultural appropriation, and sexual violence. Ballard also addresses the trauma--complex, vicarious, historical, and collective--perpetuated against queer communities. In response, he offers tools for self-compassion, tonglen, lovingkindness, and grounding, and helps readers explore questions like:
-What is trauma? How is it a product of injustice--and how can healing it create justice?
-The world won't stop being homo- and transphobic, so how do I encounter that in a way that does the least harm?
-How do we love what is uniquely trans about us?
-What are affinity groups, and why do we need them?
In part II, Ballard offers a queer-centered, fully embodied, and equity-rooted practice with meditations, practices, and sequences for processing and healing from trauma individually and in community. He explains concepts like lovingkindness, letting go, compassion, joy, forgiveness, and equanimity through a queer lens, and pairs each with corresponding meditations, practices, and beautiful line drawings of queer bodies.
Enhanced with stories from Ballard's personal practice and professional experience teaching yoga in schools, prisons, conferences, and his weekly Queer and Trans Yoga class, A Queer Dharma is a guidebook, reclamation, and unapologetically queer heart offering for true healing and transformation.
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 23, 2021
100 people are currently reading
1652 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 27, 2022
I approached this book from a space of curiosity, namely because I came of age in queer dharma spaces that were notoriously white and unaware of how to apply the insights of queer theories to buddhism (or in this case yoga). I also wondered how a white queer/trans person can advance and discuss a conception of queer yoga and dharma as things that have roots in South Asian cultures. I understand it's merely the author's perspective based on their years of practice and as a yoga teacher, but even white LGBTQ people's relationship to queer dharma has been rhetorically fraught for me.
By the end of the book, I couldn't help but wonder why a South Asian queer/trans person wasn't recruited to essentially write the same book. I think it would have read differently it if had been. It probably would have read less of a epistle to other white queer/trans yoga practitioners about how to understand intersectionality in yoga and/or dharma spaces and more of a tangibly grounded approach and perspective on the subject. I also think the incorporation of other qtpoc and BIPOC voices wouldn't have felt so forced. I personally don't want to read about how a white lgbtq person understands the applicability of black feminist theory to solving the problem of overwhelming whiteness in yoga, especially when I think the integration of the two was incredibly surface level and very underdeveloped in many respects. I think an actual articulation of queer dharma delves into things the author can't access by virtue of being white- such as the question of queer/trans ancestors in South Asian communities, the complexity of gender in the postcolony (assuming you accept that thesis).
At some point, the ethics of whether or not we should write a book has to rigorously contend with the desire to write a book. We have to interrogate why we think we're capable of writing on a subject simply because we think lived experience is a solid ground (it's not), we think we've done all the "right reading", or have done our due diligence to make sure qtpoc voices are included (however poorly).
By the end of the book, I couldn't help but wonder why a South Asian queer/trans person wasn't recruited to essentially write the same book. I think it would have read differently it if had been. It probably would have read less of a epistle to other white queer/trans yoga practitioners about how to understand intersectionality in yoga and/or dharma spaces and more of a tangibly grounded approach and perspective on the subject. I also think the incorporation of other qtpoc and BIPOC voices wouldn't have felt so forced. I personally don't want to read about how a white lgbtq person understands the applicability of black feminist theory to solving the problem of overwhelming whiteness in yoga, especially when I think the integration of the two was incredibly surface level and very underdeveloped in many respects. I think an actual articulation of queer dharma delves into things the author can't access by virtue of being white- such as the question of queer/trans ancestors in South Asian communities, the complexity of gender in the postcolony (assuming you accept that thesis).
At some point, the ethics of whether or not we should write a book has to rigorously contend with the desire to write a book. We have to interrogate why we think we're capable of writing on a subject simply because we think lived experience is a solid ground (it's not), we think we've done all the "right reading", or have done our due diligence to make sure qtpoc voices are included (however poorly).
January 17, 2023
This was a bit of a miss for me. I enjoyed how the author explained the practices and tenants of Buddhism and Yoga, but it got bogged down by personal anecdotes. (Some will love this part- but it wasn’t what I was looking for.) I also appreciate the queer aspect and the author’s attempts at reflecting on their place in writing a book about a cultural practice that they adopted. There is much to think about when reading this knowing the author is white.
July 31, 2023
I’m passionate about yoga & currently in teacher training; this read is an amazing resource for my personal and educational practices! I’m sure that I will be returning to this read in the future. This book is well researched, and the author carries you through with a steady pace in each chapter.
I especially loved the Asana Sequences at the end of the book! I recommend all yoga students give this a read! 🌟
I especially loved the Asana Sequences at the end of the book! I recommend all yoga students give this a read! 🌟
December 17, 2022
This was not at all what I was expecting, but it was really interesting! I love learning about anything related to queer spirituality and liberation spirituality so this was a nice addition to that topic, especially since it’s not related to Christianity
May 14, 2022
A complex exploration of yoga for marginalized communities. Jacoby does an excellent job of showcasing marginalized voices, exploring social justice, and supporting the reader through hard realizations. Yoga in the US is culturally appropriate and exploited by capitalism. But it can also be lifesaving to oppressed peoples. A lot of wisdom without claiming all the answers, this book is a thought-provoking critique of white, cisgender, heteronormative, ableist, classist American Yoga and a framework for bringing the world together through transformative justice. This book is for anyone interested in yoga or Buddhism, queer issues, OR social justice practices. Highly recommend!
January 14, 2024
I have complicated feelings about this book.
It felt more like a memoir to me than a guide, though there was good prompts on meditation practices that I enjoyed. The author shines when discussing anger work and how they healed past traumas.
The end had yoga progression and practices, but there were not modifications given for different bodies, which surprised me for how “inclusive “ this book seemed to be. I echo other’s reviews on how the author is white and do wish there may have been some sort of acknowledgment of this, and maybe a reference or space given to/for Asian creators that they learned from or turned to for their practice.
It felt more like a memoir to me than a guide, though there was good prompts on meditation practices that I enjoyed. The author shines when discussing anger work and how they healed past traumas.
The end had yoga progression and practices, but there were not modifications given for different bodies, which surprised me for how “inclusive “ this book seemed to be. I echo other’s reviews on how the author is white and do wish there may have been some sort of acknowledgment of this, and maybe a reference or space given to/for Asian creators that they learned from or turned to for their practice.
September 20, 2022
I'm thankful to get to learn from friends like Jacoby, both on and off the mat. If you practice yoga read this book. If you want to practice yoga read this book.
November 30, 2022
If you are LGBTQIA+ and/or interested in Buddhism or yoga, I recommend this book. It was accessible yet insightful.
February 19, 2022
In A Queer Dharma: Yoga and Meditations for Liberation, Jacoby Ballard (he/they) explores the ethical foundations and practices of yoga and Buddhism alongside social justice activism. He makes a compelling case that they are intimately related and can be in service to each other. This exploration of healing justice interrogates both how we practice yoga and Buddhism in the west and what shapes our movements for collective liberation. Jacoby highlights how their queer identify informs this inquiry, “My queer and trans identities deeply influence my experience of yogic and Buddhist teachings, for I experience both my identity and the teachings as political…Being queer means being committed to anti-opression, justice, and liberation, including how I express my sexuality and gender (pg. 2-3).”
A Queer Dharma is organized in two parts, Part 1: Queer Dharma and Part 2: Queering Yoga. Each chapter in Part 1 begins with a teaching from one of Jacoby’s teachers and closes with a meditation practice to integrate what you’ve read. Topics include: acceptance, anger, compassion, forgiveness, equanimity, joy, and lovingkindness. Jacoby explores each through his lived experience and the wisdom of his teachers, colleagues, and students. The structure of the chapters leaves me feeling held and resourced. I am able to contemplate and wrestle with challenging things. Then I am offered solace and a way to ease my heart by engaging in practice and reflection.
Part Two is a series of essays about capitalism, cultural appropriation, liberation, teaching Queer and Trans yoga, injustice and trauma, and a path forward. Each essay clearly defines the nuances of a problem experienced in mainstream yoga culture, “the colonized form of yoga on Turtle Island that emphasizes physical attainment over spiritual attributes, that is driven by the capitalist pursuit of profit, that is laced with white supremacy and cultural appropriation and resistant to calls for accountability and justice (p. 3).” Jacoby offers us alternatives, options, and ideas for reconciling this harm.
They write, “This is what it is to ‘queer’ something: to critique, challenge, and transform toward something more radical–that is, deeply rooted in truth, love, and justice (p. 117).” He doesn’t pretend to know all the answers and offers us lovingly crafted questions, such as “Who do we become in the midst of heartbreak? How might our potency in the world not be in spite of the oppression that we have endured, but because of it? (p. 194)”
Jacoby speaks of joys and failures, mistakes and imperfections and celebrates our humanity and our ability to do well by each other. The book, in its totality, reads as a love letter to the best of what we’re capable of creating with and for each other, and a how-to manual to develop our capacity.
There’s a gem of wisdom to be gleaned for anyone who reads this book, and I enthusiastically encourage everyone to read it. That said, there is absolute magic here for queer and trans readers. I felt witnessed, held, loved, and fortified by my time between these pages.
A Queer Dharma is organized in two parts, Part 1: Queer Dharma and Part 2: Queering Yoga. Each chapter in Part 1 begins with a teaching from one of Jacoby’s teachers and closes with a meditation practice to integrate what you’ve read. Topics include: acceptance, anger, compassion, forgiveness, equanimity, joy, and lovingkindness. Jacoby explores each through his lived experience and the wisdom of his teachers, colleagues, and students. The structure of the chapters leaves me feeling held and resourced. I am able to contemplate and wrestle with challenging things. Then I am offered solace and a way to ease my heart by engaging in practice and reflection.
Part Two is a series of essays about capitalism, cultural appropriation, liberation, teaching Queer and Trans yoga, injustice and trauma, and a path forward. Each essay clearly defines the nuances of a problem experienced in mainstream yoga culture, “the colonized form of yoga on Turtle Island that emphasizes physical attainment over spiritual attributes, that is driven by the capitalist pursuit of profit, that is laced with white supremacy and cultural appropriation and resistant to calls for accountability and justice (p. 3).” Jacoby offers us alternatives, options, and ideas for reconciling this harm.
They write, “This is what it is to ‘queer’ something: to critique, challenge, and transform toward something more radical–that is, deeply rooted in truth, love, and justice (p. 117).” He doesn’t pretend to know all the answers and offers us lovingly crafted questions, such as “Who do we become in the midst of heartbreak? How might our potency in the world not be in spite of the oppression that we have endured, but because of it? (p. 194)”
Jacoby speaks of joys and failures, mistakes and imperfections and celebrates our humanity and our ability to do well by each other. The book, in its totality, reads as a love letter to the best of what we’re capable of creating with and for each other, and a how-to manual to develop our capacity.
There’s a gem of wisdom to be gleaned for anyone who reads this book, and I enthusiastically encourage everyone to read it. That said, there is absolute magic here for queer and trans readers. I felt witnessed, held, loved, and fortified by my time between these pages.
April 13, 2023
With this book, I am torn. I like the queer incorporation of Buddhism and queer as well as yoga. Unfortunately, the overall reading of it was not what I expected. Incorporating an aspect of memoir w/ elements of how Buddism practice assisted in the life experience. I really liked the meditations and found those beneficial (a larger reason for the star rating).
With that said, I wish the incorporation of dharma talks would have been from South Asian/BIPOC queer Buddhists/yogis. As many quotes and moments of highlighted insight are from those voices. I think if this book had an introduction from Ballard to a queer BIPOC Buddhist/yogi who's experience and wisdom are drawn upon would have shown 1) a larger impact to the reader coming from the own voice and 2) incorporating more of the community. I say this because a major component of this book is shanga/community. Quotes and experiences of others are heavily incorporated in this book so I feel like I would have benefited from those mouths versus secondhand.
As for the yoga section. It was more of a tale about yoga and the eight limbs versus how to incorporate all 8 limbs of yoga into practice and the 5 yamas. Basics are described but learning how to actually incorporate them into an overall practice is important. My overall feel of the yoga section was "Don't just do asana yoga incorporate ALL aspects of yoga, yet I'll just have a brief mention of the other limbs of what they are not how to include them in your practice"
This book had a promise. The potential was there to make it a community effort as a community is a major focus of the queer community as many are rejected from their community of origin or just society in general. And the heavy quotes/wisdom inspired by BIPOC to me is more important to maybe have an interview style or section written by that person versus second hand through the experience of the author.
I also, as mentioned, wished the book included incorporated all aspects of yoga (more than just asana yoga-as 3 sequences are shown-or breath work- as in the second appendix demostrates=as that is just 2 of the eight). I felt like the highlight of what it is but not including how to include a suggestion on how to incorporate it other than just do makes it hard to know where to go from there.
I do belive I will keep this volume, mainly to reflect on the meditations at the end of each chapter of part one, but also because (even as the book mentions) there are so few Queer and Buddhist/yogi books around. Here to seeing if more will be published in the future to further these two things that I hold as aspects of my being.
With that said, I wish the incorporation of dharma talks would have been from South Asian/BIPOC queer Buddhists/yogis. As many quotes and moments of highlighted insight are from those voices. I think if this book had an introduction from Ballard to a queer BIPOC Buddhist/yogi who's experience and wisdom are drawn upon would have shown 1) a larger impact to the reader coming from the own voice and 2) incorporating more of the community. I say this because a major component of this book is shanga/community. Quotes and experiences of others are heavily incorporated in this book so I feel like I would have benefited from those mouths versus secondhand.
As for the yoga section. It was more of a tale about yoga and the eight limbs versus how to incorporate all 8 limbs of yoga into practice and the 5 yamas. Basics are described but learning how to actually incorporate them into an overall practice is important. My overall feel of the yoga section was "Don't just do asana yoga incorporate ALL aspects of yoga, yet I'll just have a brief mention of the other limbs of what they are not how to include them in your practice"
This book had a promise. The potential was there to make it a community effort as a community is a major focus of the queer community as many are rejected from their community of origin or just society in general. And the heavy quotes/wisdom inspired by BIPOC to me is more important to maybe have an interview style or section written by that person versus second hand through the experience of the author.
I also, as mentioned, wished the book included incorporated all aspects of yoga (more than just asana yoga-as 3 sequences are shown-or breath work- as in the second appendix demostrates=as that is just 2 of the eight). I felt like the highlight of what it is but not including how to include a suggestion on how to incorporate it other than just do makes it hard to know where to go from there.
I do belive I will keep this volume, mainly to reflect on the meditations at the end of each chapter of part one, but also because (even as the book mentions) there are so few Queer and Buddhist/yogi books around. Here to seeing if more will be published in the future to further these two things that I hold as aspects of my being.
February 18, 2022
I do not identify as queer or trans, AND this book resonated so much with me.
As a white yoga teacher and searcher for what spiritual practices ground me, I found Jacoby's book so helpful to navigate both familiar yoga philosophy and less familiar Buddhist teachings. I found the stories shared and the examples given, helpful in order to see the philosophy and spirituality in practice.
Jacoby's voice is also so present throughout - kind, gentle, yet firm. I felt like a dear friend and teacher was guiding me through their journey and sharing tips to help me with mine - vs. shoving something down my throat. I'm also a sucker for quotes and learnings from others, and this book is full of those - so you get Jacoby's voice along with his teachers, mentors, and other thinkers and writers that he admires.
This is a book I will be returning to again and again for specific passages, quotes, and chapters. I've already sent it to two yoga students and will likely share with so many more. If you haven't picked it up yourself, yet, run to your nearest local bookshop or online retailer. This is a quick yet full read applicable to ANYONE.
As a white yoga teacher and searcher for what spiritual practices ground me, I found Jacoby's book so helpful to navigate both familiar yoga philosophy and less familiar Buddhist teachings. I found the stories shared and the examples given, helpful in order to see the philosophy and spirituality in practice.
Jacoby's voice is also so present throughout - kind, gentle, yet firm. I felt like a dear friend and teacher was guiding me through their journey and sharing tips to help me with mine - vs. shoving something down my throat. I'm also a sucker for quotes and learnings from others, and this book is full of those - so you get Jacoby's voice along with his teachers, mentors, and other thinkers and writers that he admires.
This is a book I will be returning to again and again for specific passages, quotes, and chapters. I've already sent it to two yoga students and will likely share with so many more. If you haven't picked it up yourself, yet, run to your nearest local bookshop or online retailer. This is a quick yet full read applicable to ANYONE.
April 6, 2023
I stumbled upon this book exactly when I needed it in my life. I believe that spirituality is an essential component for healing from trauma (particularly in a society that actively works to separate our minds, bodies, & souls) yet I’ve grappled with how to ground myself in spirituality when Christianity doesn’t speak to me & the colonizing of Ireland leaves me without a community with whom to practice the faith of my ancestors. I previously shied away from Buddhism & often yoga, out of fear of appropriation, but A Queer Dharma gave me concrete ideas about how to lean into the fullness of these practices, while continuing to ask the hard questions (who’s getting credit/money for this Buddhist workshop, where can i find a yoga teacher that teaches beyond the asanas, is this studio promoting inclusivity, how is yoga in India being used to support Hindu Nationalism, etc).
The first half of the book focuses on Buddhism & meditation, with each chapter focusing on a specific subject (forgiveness, lovingkindness, etc), while the second half of the book focuses on yoga & working toward decolonization. Jacoby Ballard does not shy away from “calling in” important critiques of how both Buddhism & yoga have been appropriated in Western spaces - but instead of saying we must stop these healing practices, the author lights a path forward for how to do so in a way that honors their wholeness and roots AND make them safe spaces for ALL. This book is not about giving all the answers, it’s about identifying the questions.
The chapters on anger and forgiveness genuinely changed my life as I was reading them. They helped me recognize that the daily anger I hold onto about the injustices we face generally makes me FEEL powerful in the face of it all…but holding onto it actually saps my energy & makes me unhelpful in the long-term fight for change. A Queer Dharma reminds me that releasing the anger & moving forward with boundaried compassion is the key. And, forgiveness allows us to learn from the mistakes we inevitably make along the way. Joy truly IS an act of resistance.
Also, if you don’t identify as queer (I don’t either) - this book is still a must-read!
The first half of the book focuses on Buddhism & meditation, with each chapter focusing on a specific subject (forgiveness, lovingkindness, etc), while the second half of the book focuses on yoga & working toward decolonization. Jacoby Ballard does not shy away from “calling in” important critiques of how both Buddhism & yoga have been appropriated in Western spaces - but instead of saying we must stop these healing practices, the author lights a path forward for how to do so in a way that honors their wholeness and roots AND make them safe spaces for ALL. This book is not about giving all the answers, it’s about identifying the questions.
The chapters on anger and forgiveness genuinely changed my life as I was reading them. They helped me recognize that the daily anger I hold onto about the injustices we face generally makes me FEEL powerful in the face of it all…but holding onto it actually saps my energy & makes me unhelpful in the long-term fight for change. A Queer Dharma reminds me that releasing the anger & moving forward with boundaried compassion is the key. And, forgiveness allows us to learn from the mistakes we inevitably make along the way. Joy truly IS an act of resistance.
Also, if you don’t identify as queer (I don’t either) - this book is still a must-read!
December 26, 2021
There is so much wisdom in this book, I had a hard time not highlighting the whole thing 😂. definitely one that I will be returning to as I grow in my own practice - in teaching and learning, evolving in my experience and understanding of yoga.
I have to admit, I almost felt like giving up yoga entirely for the past few months because of how turned off I am, by teachers who aren’t teaching skillfully or with trauma mindfulness, of how it’s been appropriated and used in the US to serve purposes I don’t agree with, or how disconnected it feels from its source. But I really appreciated how Jacoby addresses all of these problems within mainstream yoga and asks for social justice advocates and people who care to keep your criticism and use it to transform the practice & push it to be more community oriented and inclusive. I’m grateful I still get to learn from him and highly recommend this book.
I have to admit, I almost felt like giving up yoga entirely for the past few months because of how turned off I am, by teachers who aren’t teaching skillfully or with trauma mindfulness, of how it’s been appropriated and used in the US to serve purposes I don’t agree with, or how disconnected it feels from its source. But I really appreciated how Jacoby addresses all of these problems within mainstream yoga and asks for social justice advocates and people who care to keep your criticism and use it to transform the practice & push it to be more community oriented and inclusive. I’m grateful I still get to learn from him and highly recommend this book.
February 18, 2022
Brilliant, deep, and NEEDED! Jacoby is an insightful, compassionate, and tender-hearted teacher. As an author, Jacoby’s brilliance as a life-long student and activist shines through. Reading this book has given me the perspective of the teachings of yoga and Buddhism through a queer lens. This book encourages us to ask the hard questions and dig deep into our responsibility as teachers and practitioners to give equal attention to all the limbs of yoga, not just the physical postures. It asks us how do we do so in a capitalistic system without cultural appropriation and without the exclusion of black and non-white, queer, trans, fat, and disabled bodies? How do we honor the South Asian cultures that have carried these practices for thousands of years? A Queer Dharma should be required reading to both those new to the Dharma and those looking to deepen their connection. Jacoby’s book is an essential addition to the yoga and Buddhist literature of our time.
February 19, 2022
A Queer Dharma is by far one of the best books I’ve read in my life. Jacoby put so much time, energy, intention, and love into this work of an art, and it shines through. Not only did I learn so much about myself through his stories and shares, but I learned so much more about yoga and social justice as well. This book kept me grounded during an intense time of transition, and helped me continue to discover and affirm myself as a queer person. I will keep turning back to this book and re-reading it for the rest of my life. Please support Jacoby (and yourself, tbh) by purchasing and reading his book.
December 8, 2024
The author does a wonderful job of explaining how yoga practices “off the mat” can inform social justice activism. The author’s own intersectional identity as a trans practitioner and parent is shared gracefully, contributing to the depth of the discussion. Yet, the structure of the first half of the book was a bit hard to follow - lots of insightful commentary and personal stories that could have been better organized. The second part of the book was more actionable and where I feel I learned the most. A very approachable read reviewing decolonizing yoga, challenging the capitalist takeover of the industry & then specific pranayama techniques to gain control of the nervous system.
June 18, 2025
in general, one of my least favorite things is the last chapter of almost every nonfiction book that comes out anymore. I always think of it as the call to arms chapter, but every single one of those chapters is so basic and half-baked and tedious to get through. after hearing this author in a podcast, I really looked forward to reading this book, but I have to say that the entire book reads like a repetitive, monotonous call to arms chapter. I feel like this type of writing is kind of a cancer among millennials and I just pray to the universe that they may be healed from it. I feel like this book had more potential, but it needed a strong editor.
February 18, 2022
Really love A Queer Dharma. It’s a soulful combination of dharma teaching, queer love letters, critique, invitations into accountability, and tools to form deeper relationships with yoga and one’s self. I appreciated Jacoby’s approach as an antiracist white queer person; I was able to see myself and my values reflected back to me as a reader, as well as find plenty of opportunities to grow into greater integrity with the ancient yogic teachings and their modern expression. This book is not just for queers! It’s a book for all humans striving to live life with their whole heart!
July 3, 2023
This book is so powerful. Particularly for those who may not be “bought in” but who are curious about justice work and holding themselves accountable to the systems of harm in which we all exist and perpetuate. It is concrete and direct. If you are ready to listen, you will find incredibly useful steps for bettering your practice and partnering with accomplices in community to better practices across racial/sexual/and class lines, while cultivating protection from those who are not ready, nor meant to work with you in creating a better world.
December 20, 2023
I appreciate the equity lens with which Jacoby Ballard wrote this book. It transcends the LGBTQ+ community in recognizing that our liberation as oppressed peoples is bound together, whether we are marginalized due to race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, or other differences. Ballard’s perspectives on trauma are personal and insightful. Additionally, I continue to apply the information on cultural appropriation to my own studies in the reiki energy healing practice. I am keeping this book on my desk to reference it regularly!
January 15, 2022
Beautiful weaving of Buddhist teaching and the modern queer liberation movement. Reading a just a small chapter a day has definitely improved my outlook and the practices they share are easy to implement into daily life.
February 18, 2022
A Queer Dharma is a must read for everyone, no matter how you identify. Living in this world is hard and Jacoby shares teachings and meditations to help us live more skillfully. He calls us in to get curious, heal and be better humans. I am so grateful for Jacoby and this book.
February 18, 2022
A Queer Dharma provides a beautiful fusion of queer theory, Buddhist spirituality and real practical suggestions for how to build a better world: both internally and externally. Jacoby approaches this subject with both integrity, humor and honesty. A must read for teachers and lay folk alike.
February 26, 2022
This book cracked my heart open and filled up dark spaces that I didn’t even know were there with hope and possibility. Thank you Jacoby for holding space for these conversations and dreams! A must read for anyone who facilitates yoga and/or community programs.
April 14, 2022
I couldn’t get through it because it felt more like an autobiography than a book about yoga and meditation. Maybe white people should not speak on things that are not ours. Next time I’ll find something by a nonwhite author.
Read
January 23, 2023Technically by Goodreads standards probably a DNF, but I read to the conclusion and stopped before the notes and appendix section. I am done. Nope. 0/5. Anything worthy of annotating could probably be found in a book by one of the other people that was mentioned.
January 25, 2023
A cool queer approach to dharma and yoga but felt a little self-serving and tone deaf at times (e.g. comparing George Floyd’s “I can’t breathe” to the potential of pranayama in marginalized communities). I will go back to it to revisit the author’s amazing thoughts on anger and forgiveness.
Want to read
November 12, 2021I'm excited to read Jacoby's book!
February 23, 2022
This book is a gift for queer people and non-queer folks alike. I came to reading this book as a yoga practitioner and a student in a yoga teacher and social-emotional facilitator training for educators, as a queer and trans person, as someone seeking my own sense of wellbeing and as a professional providing wellbeing services to others. A Queer Dharma took me on a self-reflective journey into my relationship with yogic and Buddhist principles, social justice, and the cultural appropriation of yoga in the U.S./West, and I know that I'll gain deeper wisdom with every read.
July 30, 2022
Very moving, knowledge interwoven with stories. Easy to read and well researched. I will read this book more times to better absorb it.
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