| Sex Sex is a word that elicits a response from nearly everyone. For some it is an attraction or turn on. Others may find it a subject to be avoided or hidden. One theme for today's talk is that sex is not a four-letter word. In fact the separation of the populace from their bodies and natural functions is a tool to tame the savage beasts and minimize personal power. It dethrones the individual for the benefit of the greater good. Society at an early age cuts children off at the waist. Any thing "down there" is dirty, nasty, or evil. Don't look at it, don't touch it and for heaven's sake don't play with it. For many in the shaman's universe your personal power lies in the area between your navel and your groin. Even for men, it is in the place of the womb. This is the place of creativity, the spot where our male and female parts meet. In Eastern religion this is often known as the second chakra. It is my contention that we can only come into our power, be fully integrated and live the mission of messengers of love when we have recaptured our birthright. This can only be done after we have assailed the towers of worldly power and claim our bodies as our own property. This is not a proposition of promiscuity. For many taking their power involves a vow of abstinence. The issue is making the decisions and choosing in accordance with our own will. From this place of personal empowerment we transcend the limits and controls of this world and take the throne of our lives. The Continuum Some people choose to constrain their sexual energy and redirect it into other activities. One of the examples of that is the Shaker community. They were known for services that involved trance states that produced wonderful songs of praise and power. They also practiced complete abstinence. Men and women lived separately. They also focused on high quality detailed workmanship. Their claim was that the energy of their work was the redirection of their natural desire. At the opposite end of the spectrum is the ancient Hindu practice of Tantric yoga. It uses the sensations of sensuality to purify the soul and bring a person into balance. It is practiced not as a source of physical pleasure but as a modality of worship. Draw a line between the two. You can drop a pencil on any point between them and find someone that uses sexual energy in that fashion. Sexual ecstasy has long been equated to mystical experience. Many mystics describe their encounters with the Divine as making love to God. They also use the metaphor of bride and bridegroom. The Sufi poet Rumi says that the way you make love is the way God will be with you. Our Fears and Beliefs We listen to music about sex. We buy things because they are sexy, and may still deny our own sexuality because of fears. Fear can be a very subtle control mechanism. It can lay hidden for long periods of time. Only when we push too closely to the entrance of the treasure cave will the dragon rise up with its roar of fire. For other people fear is a low-level constant presence. In tests with infants, it was determined there were only two natural fears; fear of a loud noise and the fear of falling. All other fears are learned responses. Parents, teachers and religious leaders too often use fear as a trigger mechanism to control undesirable behaviors. Our belief systems fall into two categories in regards to fears. We either believe something to ease our fears or we can hold concepts that reinforce fears. A belief in Heaven eases our fear of death. Regarding the second type, Hell is the perfect example. In spite of the sexual revolution forty years ago, we are often given misconceptions as children or young adults. The feelings of sex being dirty or evil prevent us from seeking out accurate information. We fire a Surgeon General because she speaks about masturbation. |
| Thoughts, Reflections & Musings |
| On Sex |
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| Thoughts, Reflections & Musings |
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| from Sex and the Shaman February 8,2004 (Part 1) |
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