The most beautiful part about living in San Francisco is being surrounded by all its diversity. It doesn’t matter what you’re into: BDSM, polyamory, coding, coffee or avocados. You name it, and you’ll find a community that digs it too. Open-mindedness and unconditional acceptance are essential ingredients in this city’s melting pot. Thanks to those two components, many famous, sometimes even religious, subcultures have emerged here.
OK, yes, some have been dangerous—even fatal. But putting the Peoples Temple aside, there are multiple groups that make this city their stomping ground. So what are these modern-day subcultures doing in San Francisco with those who aren’t afraid to march to the beat of their own drum? Here’s a short list.
Nicole Daedone, the founder and leader of orgasmic meditation (also known as “om-ing”), founded San Francisco’s OneTaste in 2001. Since then, it’s expanded to 10 cities across the country. Its headquarters are located on Market Street right across from the Twitter building.
What exactly does honoring the female orgasm entail, though? Well, it’s quite literal. A woman takes her bottom layers off and gets situated in her “nest”—a combination of pillows and blankets. Her partner puts on a pair of latex gloves, and after receiving some “training,” performs the 15-minute “meditation.” An introductory course costs $195—and a membership is $95/month.
The curious reader can learn more about it here. I won’t judge you. I promise.
The Table (The “Start-up Church”)
Some start-ups happen in the tech industry, and others happen in religion. It should come as no surprise that there is actually a “start-up church” in this city. That could be a strategic recruiting tactic, though. Hey, they know their audience. Regardless, according to its website, The Table is an intersection of “San Francisco, Jesus and you.” This church’s early days began in an art gallery and have now expanded to weekly Sunday gatherings on Page Street.
Hidden in the dark depths of San Francisco meet-up groups, one can find the secret society of Bay Area Skepticals. Associated with the San Francisco Center for Inquiry, members are encouraged to defend “reason, science and freedom of inquiry in all areas of human endeavor.” Basically, their mission is to question everything that might seem a little out there—like paranormal activity. Truth be told, it’s likely that a few of these members are already in your friend group.
Then we have the Bay Area Humanists. According to their website, the purpose of this organization is to promote “an ethical, democratic, naturalistic life stance that prioritizes reason and scientific and critical thinking.” In need of an intellectual sanity check? Find a humanist. Their principles are based around naturalism. Members value passion, equality and reason. Interested members are asked to pay dues and submit an application, and be approved by a board of directors to gain membership.
A personal-growth organization that has been called “cultish” by some, their purpose is to help members create positive shifts in their lives. Located in North Beach on Broadway Street, its members attend a forum (cost: $585) where they’re guaranteed to experience emotionally heavy “breakthroughs.” Some Yelp reviews are filled with gratitude; others are from scorned victims who want their money back. It’s unclear what really goes on during this three-day, 12-hour boot camp, but there’s only one way to find out.
San Francisco Bay Area Pastafarian Society
Do you love pasta? Like really love it? So much that you would do anything for the almighty Flying Spaghetti Monster? If you’ve answered yes to all three questions, the Pastafarian Society is probably for you. An organization of pasta lovers from all walks of life, this group asserts that the Flying Spaghetti Monster created Earth and that pirates were the first Pastafarians. The open group even welcomes gluten-free people.
I could add yogis, foodies, Burners, winos and more to the list, but we’d be here all day and night. That’s because everyone in this city is passionate about something, from the pyromaniacs in Dolores Park to the slack liners in Golden Gate Park. And where there lies a strange passion, there lies an open community, at least in San Francisco.