Liberation, Memory, and Pride A Full Moon Devotional for Via Transformativa

Invocation

As David loved Jonathon,
we love from our soul, our heart, our being.
As Isaac sought his soul,
we seek the truth within us.
As Simeon Bachos rejoiced in the Spirit,
we rejoice in the powers of life.

Blessed be the children of the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth.
Blessed be those who find their family in love and living.
Blessed are those persecuted for the sake of love,
love of self, love of others, and love of truth,
who know in their heart and in their bones,
who they are, who they love, and how they live,
for they shall sing with the voice of truth,
drowning out the lies of the ones allied against love, truth, and healing.

The Sacred Moment

Today, the Flower Moon rises full, pulling tides and truths alike to the surface. May we feel the call to justice, to transformation, to healing, and to celebration. In this sacred brightness of the Full Moon, we walk the path of the Via Transformativa: the way of change, the march of justice, track of living love into form. The world aches for healing, and transformation begins not just in systems, but in souls.

This is a moon to act, to bless, to become.

Theme: Liberation and the Spirit of Stonewall

This Pride, beneath the full moon’s watchful gaze, the need for liberation rings out louder than ever. Our community stands under assault, from laws that criminalize us, to violence that tries to silence us, to a culture that wants to erase our existence. Yet I remember the power of being seen. In 1996, I watched The Birdcage in a dark theater with my friends, stunned to see our stories on the big screen. Since then, our victories have been hard-won and always fragile, each step toward freedom greeted with fierce backlash.

But the revolutionary spirit of Stonewall calls to us still. The folk at Stonewall were not born as icons or heroes; they were simply tired. Tired of submitting to the state, tired of surviving in the shadows, tired of letting anger and exhaustion turn inward. Their defiance became our unity, and from their uprising we inherited Pride itself: a commemoration and a call to action. Today, we need unity and defiance again if we are to secure true liberation.

The full moon of Pride reminds us of the Via Transformativa: the path of liberation, transformation, and celebration. This moon is not just a witness. It is a beacon: drawing forth the energies of change, justice, and freedom that we so desperately need. It shines on us as we walk this path together, reminding us that transformation is both struggle and joy.

If I could offer you encouragement, I would say: Freedom is stronger than fear, stronger than exhaustion. Our yearning for liberation binds us to each other, shelters the weary, and strengthens us as we care for one another. The threats we face are not new, but neither is our resilience. Our legal freedoms are young and the fight ahead is daunting, but every day that we get up and live openly, lovingly, and in solidarity with one another is an act of defiance. Every day we claim our space, we push back against the powers of control and isolation.

We cannot be free while any among us remain oppressed. Our movement is strongest when we embrace all our people: bisexual and pansexual, tomboys and tomgirls, every gender minority and every part of our rainbow family. As more wake up to the truth that they are not alone, we become a shelter and a force.

Let the words of Harvey Milk ring out within you:

“It takes no compromise to give people their rights. It takes no money to respect the individual. It takes no political deal to give people freedom. It takes no survey to remove repression.”

Liberation requires resolve. We must stand for one another, for every community facing injustice. We defend women and children, stand up for all races, ethnicities, and nations. We speak against genocide, racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia. In solidarity, we find our liberation. If we leave none behind.

Let the moon’s light wash away your fear and anxiety. Feel the strength of those beside you, near and far, seen and unseen. Together, we have won before, and we will win again. Hold fast to compassion, hope, and wisdom. With these as our guide, we can bring others with us, leading them out of the shadows of bigotry and into the light. The dawn is coming, but we must hold on together until the first rays break the horizon, then we’ll race toward the victory we have earned, as one people, free at last.

Practice: Water of Pride, Waters of Kin

The practice for this full moon of Pride invokes our ancestors of land, milk, and blood to grant us strength, courage, and protection.

Preparation:

• Fill a clear vessel with water to place under the light of the Full Moon.

• If doing this in community (in person or online), invite participants to bring water and a list of names: queer ancestors, personal icons, beloveds, living or departed, whose courage, love, or advocacy sustains them.

1. Invocation

Begin by reading the invocation above to set the spiritual tone.

2. Naming the Waters

Hold the vessel of water. Speak aloud (or invite each participant to speak) the names from your prayer:

May the courage of Marsha P. Johnson be with us always, 
and the fire of Sylvia Rivera fill our words.
May we have the focus of Larry Kramer on our cause,
and the brilliance of James Baldwin in advocacy.
May we organize with the power of Bayard Rustin,
and the mother of Pride, Brenda Howard.
May we sing the songs of freedom with Gladys Bentley
and speak with the transgressive humor of Moms Mabley.

Pause to let the resonance of these ancestors settle. You can invite others to add their own names; ancestors, mentors, loved ones, or those lost to violence, struggle, or silence.

3. Circle of Names

Go around the circle (or, if solo, speak aloud):

• “I honor _______ (name), whose courage/love/joy has shaped my journey.”

• Encourage everyone to share, and if virtual, invite comments or chat messages.

• As each name is spoken, imagine their energy or spirit shining into the water, making it a vessel of collective memory and blessing.

4. Charging the Water

Hold the water up to the moonlight. Say:

“By the light of this Full Moon,
by the memory and presence of those named and unnamed,
by the living hope of Pride,
may this water carry courage, healing, truth, and love.”

Let the water sit in the moonlight for as long as possible.

5. Use of the Moon Water

When you return to the water, you can:

• Anoint yourself with it before a difficult conversation, protest, or creative act.

• Sprinkle it on sacred space, altar, or Pride symbols.

• Share it with others in the community, symbolically or literally.

• Pour a little on the earth in gratitude, returning the blessing.

Closing Blessing

Spirit of Liberation,
Be with us as we rise together.
Grant us courage to face the night,
Compassion to lift each other,
And hope to carry us toward the dawn.

May we remember the struggles and victories of those who came before.
May we stand in unity, leaving no one behind.
Let the light of justice and love guide our steps
Until freedom and peace blossom for all.

So may it be.