Embracing “Messy” with K Kriesel — a chaplain & textile artist who blends Catholicism, Wicca, & queerness - a podcast by Avery Smith

K Kriesel (they/them or she/her) is not afraid of "messy," with a spiritual life that blends Catholicism and Wicca, and holds space for time adrift. 

K has broken away from a variety of groups that proved too limiting to uplift the most marginalized, including any feminism that prioritizes white, cis women. As they search for a spiritual community built with people like them in mind, K serves as a chaplain and creates the kind of queer Catholic art they want to see in the world. You can contact K and view their work at kkriesel.com or @kkrieselart on Instagram or Facebook.

Click here for an episode transcript.

Click here for K's Google Doc of Nonbinary spiritual resources.

Talking Points:

0:00 - Intro material

4:01 - K's youth: moving from an abusive Catholicism to a more open version, with room for Wicca

9:34 - Studying feminist & queer theologies; grappling with the limitations of feminism — too white, cis, upper class

21:42 - K's gender journey — comfort characters as a kid; claiming lesbian as their gender

25:07 - Coming out, and breaking away from spiritual community until they can find one that's been structurally non-gendered from the start

27:51 - Experiences as a nonbinary chaplain — including some advantages to being openly queer

38:34 - Time for Catholic griping! Disillusionment with feminist Catholic organizations for prioritizing white, cis women

48:48 - And yet...the things K still cherishes about Catholicism — not the bureaucracy, but the traditions

58:54 - K's art! Family support; creating the queer Catholic art they want to see in the world

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Blessed  Are the Binary Breakers is part of the Rock Candy Podcast Network. Find more shows at www.rockcandyrecordings.com.

This show's theme song is "Aetherium" by Leah Horn. This episode also makes use of "The Encouragement Stick" by Doctor Turtle.

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith