What Makes You Bloom: Cultivating a Practice for Connecting with Your Divine Self

Queer theologian and spiritual teacher Kevin Garcia invites readers to reevaluate deeply held beliefs about connectedness, belonging, and love in the refreshing and affirming What Makes You Bloom. Garcia shares personal anecdotes of growing up gay in a conservative, Southern evangelical Christian church. The process of deconstructing their faith did not come easy, and Garcia leaned upon wisdom in other traditions to overcome the fear and trepidation of being isolated and losing all they cherished. Garcia models their path in identifying a solid and virtuous sense of purpose.

I engaged with the book from my vantage point as a cisgender woman of color who became disillusioned by the exclusionary tenets of a Christian missionary institution. As a social justice educator and community organizer, I appreciated how Garcia used their platform and privilege to call out the toxic threads of homophobia, racism and capitalism intricately woven into the white American church.

Moved by Garcia’s message of connection and alignment, I was inspired to learn more about their ministry. They are embraced widely by LGBTQIA+ folks and allies who may have had mentally traumatic experiences as part of a congregation and are looking for ways to connect with God and divinity. Readers would appreciate the down-to-earth, accessible, and practical guidance toward somatic and spiritual practices.