The Many Paths Gathering Space is a welcoming, dedicated space for spiritual practice, ritual, reflection, support, connection, and breathing space, for Creating Change conference-goers of all (or no) faiths, traditions, and spiritual paths.

At Creating Change 2026 in Washington DC, the Many Paths Gathering Space is in Columbia 3 and many spiritual events will also be taking place in Columbia 2.

The room is open Wednesday 11am–11pm, Thursday through Saturday 8am–11pm, and Sunday, 8am–11am. Stop by for spiritual practice, to chat with a Spiritual Care Team member, or to just take a quiet break from the conference.

Stop in any time for: 

  • Art as spiritual practice: draw, color, make paper cranes, create plastic woven bracelets, or otherwise feed your spirit with creativity
  • Visiting the community altar and/or stations for writing a prayer, letting go, receiving a star blessing, and more
  • Exploring the wall of Queer Saints (scroll to bottom of page for more on this)
  • Engaging in your own spiritual practices

Schedule of Offerings

All offerings are open to all!

Muslim Dohr prayer
Wed 1/21, 12:30-12:45pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Asr prayer
Wed 1/21, 3-3:15pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Maghreb prayer
Wed 1/21, 6:15-6:30, Columbia 3
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Interfaith Empowerment Service/Vigil
Wed 1/21, 6:30-7:30, Columbia 2
This year’s interfaith service will focus on collective care in a world filled with constant crises. As we find inspiration from our our traditions and practices, we are creating a space that clearly demonstrates radical hospitality and solidarity between traditions and communities.

Sing In the Revolution
Wed 1/21, 8:00-9:00pm, Columbia 2
Sing in the revolution with us! When we sing, our hearts beat as one. Singing is both calming for our nervous systems and community-building. Together, we will raise our voices to familiar and easy-to-learn hymns, protest songs, queer chants, and soulful melodies pulled from traditions both sacred and secular, led by Rev. Lauren Bennett, Zr. Alex Kapitan, Rev. Candy Holmes, Randall Furash-Stewart, and others. All voices are welcome—the revolution is full of imperfections and so will our singing, clapping, and cheering. View/download the songbook!

Muslim Isha prayer
Wed 1/21, 8:15-8:30pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Buddhist Meditation
Thurs 1/22, 8:15-8:45am, Columbia 3
Start your morning by grounding with a 20-min silent mindfulness meditation, led by Teo Drake. All are welcome; no experience necessary!

Muslim Dohr prayer
Thurs 1/22, 12:30-12:45, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Asr prayer
Thurs 1/22, 3:00-3:15pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Maghreb prayer
Thurs 1/22, 6:15-6:30, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Isha prayer
Thurs 1/22, 8:15-8:30pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Buddhist Meditation
Fri 1/23, 8:15-8:45am, Columbia 3
Start your morning by grounding with a 20-min silent mindfulness meditation, led by Teo Drake. All are welcome; no experience necessary!

Afro-Orisha/Global Indigenous/BIPOC and Self Care
Fri 1/23, 9:00-10:15am, Columbia 2
This space is for those who practice global Indigenous-based / African-based or non-Abrahamic spiritual practices. Our ancestral practices nurture and support us daily. Let’s gather for a quiet morning with your favorite tea, coffee, or bring a piece of candy for your ancestors. Breathe deeply, care for ourselves, and support one another. This space is for quiet discussion or deep breathing. Bring something for the altar or just bring yourself. Led by Penelope Williams.

Jummah Prayer Service            
Fri 1/23, 12:00-2:00pm, Columbia 2
The Muslim Youth Leadership Council will host a gender and sexuality-affirming prayer space for Muslim attendees. The space will be trauma-informed and invites participants to show up and pray (or not!) in whatever ways feel most comfortable, affirming, and spiritually authentic. Led by ramish nadeem.

Muslim Asr prayer
Fri 1/23, 3:00-3:15pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Sound Healing with Drums
Fri 1/23, 3:30-4:45, Columbia 2
Join Anthony Rios for a shaman’s drum healing circle and connect with your divine spirit in a safe, guided meditation.

Shabbat Service
Fri 1/23, 5:30-7:30pm, Columbia 2
Through song, poetry, prayer, and ritual this service will enter the Jewish Sabbath as a time of rest, celebration, connection, and reflection. Whether you are religiously Jewish, culturally Jewish, or Jew-ish, theist, atheist, or anywhere in between, you are welcome in this space!

Muslim Maghreb prayer
Fri 1/23, 6:15-6:30, Columbia 3
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Isha prayer
Fri 1/23, 8:15-8:30pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Queer Bible Stories with Rev. Sex
Fri 1/23, 9:00-11:00pm
Settle in for story time! Come chat with Rev. Sex (aka Rev. Alba Onofrio) about gender-bending, same-gender loving, and all sorts of other queerness in the Bible. All welcome! Feel free to drop in anytime.

Buddhist Meditation
Sat 1/24, 8:15-8:45am, Columbia 3
Start your morning by grounding with a 20-min silent mindfulness meditation, led by Teo Drake. All are welcome; no experience necessary!

Muslim Dohr prayer
Sat 1/24, 12:30-12:45, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Muslim Asr prayer
Sat 1/24, 3:00-3:15pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Name/Gender/Pronoun Blessing Ritual
Sat 1/24, 3:30-4:45pm, Columbia 2
Who you are is real, valid, and worthy of celebration! Come join a ritual of affirmation (or re-affirmation) of your whole, true self—whether you’re newly claiming a name, pronouns, or identity or have been living as your authentic self for decades. Led by Alex Kapitan and other members of the Many Paths Spiritual Care Team. All are welcome!

Muslim Maghreb prayer
Sat 1/24, 5:15-5:30, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Catholic Mass
Sat 1/24, 5:15-6:30pm, Columbia 3
Come experience a queer Catholic Mass, consecrated by Rev. Jason Carson Wilson. All are welcome!

Radical Faerie Heart Circle
Sat 1/24, 5:30-6:30pm, Columbia 2
Heart Circles are a tradition of the Radical Faerie community where participants speak and listen in heart-centered space. Designed for those interested in Radical Faeries, Queer Spirituality, and Nature Spirituality.

Muslim Isha prayer
Sat 1/24, 8:15-8:30pm, Columbia 2
Drop-in space for daily prayer

Holding Space for Survivors of Spiritual Violence
Sat 1/24, 8:00-10:00pm, Columbia 3
Religion has too often been weaponized against our communities, and many of us have scars to prove it. This will be a drop-in space for loving on each other in healing ways, held by Rev. Alba Onofrio and Teo Drake. All are welcome.

Buddhist Meditation
Sun 1/25, 8:15-8:45am, Columbia 3
Start your morning by grounding with a 20-min silent mindfulness meditation, led by Teo Drake. All are welcome; no experience necessary!

Ecumenical Christian Service
Sun 1/25, 9:00-10:15am
Join us for an interdenominational devotional space for Christian participants and interested observers from any background.

Queer Saints Project

What—or who—is a Saint? Who gets to decide who is or isn’t one? Are they only for Catholics, or are there Saints in other religions? The word “saint” shares its roots with the Latin word “sanctus” meaning “holy, consecrated” and while the criteria for being recognized as a saint does differ from path to path, almost all belief systems hold certain individuals as “sacred” or “set apart” in their traditions.

While not a belief system or a religion, Queer Culture has plenty of Saints—special people who stand out, who stood up and spoke out at some time or another, whose memory embodies some of the values and virtues that many people under the 2sLGBTQIA+ umbrella hold dear. Unlike many faith traditions, we do not require our Saints to be (or appear to be) perfect or pure. If anything we find the opposite; we celebrate the flawed authenticity that is essential to our Humanity.

The Many Paths Gathering Space invites you to join in an ongoing art project wherein we recognize and celebrate these Saints, in all their forms and varieties. Come draw, doodle, paint, or just meditate on the meaning of Queer Sainthood with us!

The room is open to all for spiritual practice, reflection, art making, and breathing space during any unscheduled time. All offerings are open to all. You are welcome. You are beloved.