Pride Powers

Rainbow flag with blue skies and clouds behind it.

Pride Power: Symbolism in the Pride Flag and Unity's Twelve Powers

by James Masters

Image of a woman wearing glasses, standing in front of a wall, with the pride colors painted horizontally on the wall and the paint going over the woman's shirt.

The Pride Flag

The "Pride Flag," known today as a symbol of LGBTQ+ pride, emerged in the 1970s through the creative vision of Gilbert Baker. Commissioned by the influential gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, Baker sought to craft a unifying emblem for the gay community. Collaborating with his friend Lynn Segerblom, they devised an original design consisting of eight vibrant colors, each representing an aspect of the community's essence.
Over the years, the Pride Flag has undergone various iterations, adapting to the evolving needs and aspirations of the LGBTQ+ community. While recognizing the continuous evolution and increasing inclusivity of the flag, we will focus on the original eight colors. By doing so, we acknowledge the transformative power of the flag as a symbol of unity and acceptance. It serves as a reminder that our world is beautifully diverse, and representation plays a vital role in fostering understanding and respect.

The Twelve Powers

At Unity of Springfield, we aim to honor characteristics symbolized in this flag. The Unity tradition also has a colorful and rich tapestry of wisdom known as the Twelve Powers, representing innate spiritual faculties that reside within everyone. Unity teaches that these Twelve Powers hold the potential to empower individuals and guide them towards a life of profound purpose and fulfillment.

Unity of Springfield draws inspiration from the teachings of Charles Fillmore, specifically the concept of the Twelve Powers. These spiritual faculties, as elucidated by Fillmore, offer a framework for personal growth and empowerment. By intertwining the meanings of the Pride Flag's colors with the wisdom of the Twelve Powers, we embark on a profound journey of spiritual practice and self-discovery.

Throughout this series, we will embark on a journey to explore the profound meanings behind the colors associated with Pride and the corresponding colors attributed to the Twelve Powers. By viewing these colors through the lens of spiritual practice, we seek to uncover deeper personal insights and foster a greater understanding of ourselves and the world around us.


Your Pride Powers

The Twelve Powers

Pride Resources

Image of the words "Unity," the pride Unity logo, the word Pride multiple times in rainbow, and image of a diverse group of people holding a pride flag, the word resources, and the words Unity of Springfield.

  Prayer

image of a woman with her hands on her heart

Affirmations

Image of a woman facing the sun with her arms reaching to the sky

Meditation

Image of a woman by the water meditating