Sexuality and Spirituality. Why sexuality is a taboo for most religions? Why should we repress something that was given by God to us in the name of, we don’t know why? Our conversation this week is about how do you exercise your sexuality in a sacred way, and also to understand why society and religion tends to repress this important part of our lives.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Paulo
DON’T WORRY ABOUT YOUR ENGLISH. BUT IF YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE, POST IN YOUR MOTHER TONGUE (PORTUGUES, ESPANOL, FRANÇAIS, ETC.).
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http://www.mlahanas.de/Cyprus/History/AphroditeOfCyprus.html
Sexuality and Spirituality is interwoven with my country’s culture and civilization. We, till these days, celebrate Spring with flowers Festival. Religion, Greek Orthodox and the small communities [the population of the whole island in just 700,000] has turned people very ‘strict and family traditions and ties are a characteristic of our life. ‘Homeland, Religion and Family’ are the pillars of our life. So’, in a way the Erotic Rituals that took place in Ancient times at Paphos and Amathus sanctuaries are just in … our ..subconscious. ;-]
When I was a teenager we had to keep our virginity until marriage, in Church. Men/boys were allowed/or … prompted to .. prove that they were ‘men’. So Aphrodite’s tradition was continuing, but under new .. terms!! This about ‘Pandemos’Πανδημος Aphrodite.
URANIA.Ουράνια Aphrodite is the Spiritual Love.
Since we are three bodies in one [Spiritual+Psychical+Material], I think that with full Harmony between the three we can express our LOVE fully and achieve .. perfection and ecstasy, Happy are the men/women who have experienced the UNITY, man+woman= ONE.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Yes spiritual ecstasy, where do we find it Thelma? In Thelema?
Love and Admiration,
Heart
xxx
Hello friends,
This subject reminds me of a joke I’d like to share. There’s been a change in the blog, the writing is in bold… how fitting to the subject, bold sexuality!!
Ok so the joke; A man goes to an Indian reservation to do research on a tribe. You can envision Castaneda… haha JK.
So he goes and he sees an Indian with One feather on his head piece and he asks ‘what does the feather represent?’
The Indian says, ‘one feather, have one wife, fuck only wife’
So he moves on and sees a man with two feathers and he asks again what the two feathers represent, and the Indian says,
‘two feather, have one wife one son, fuck em’ both!’
Then he sees a man with three feather and asks what the feathers represent, and the Indian says
‘have one wife, one kid one dog, fuck them all!’
So he keeps going and sees Indians with 4 5 6 10 20 feathers until he get to the Chief, and he asks
‘Chief, you have So Many feathers, from your head all the way down to the floor, what do all those feathers represent?’
The Chief says ‘I Fuck Everybody!’
and the guy says ‘How Hostile’
the Chief replies ‘Any style, doggy style, cat style, goat style’
shocked, the guy says, ‘Oh Dear!’
and the Chief replies, ‘No Dear, asshole too high, run too fast!’
:D
:DDDD
Thank you Carolena!! It is very funny, you made me laugh…
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
:D
Hehe. I haven’t heard it before! Funny. I was thinking yesterday, sex in our bedrooms. But much more sex in our heads, what goes on in our heads…. and yes styles… and on floors, in front of fire place, on kitchen counter, in cars, in hammocks, perhaps Annie does it on the roof?
Love and Admiration,
Heart
Ha ha, tough one.
Most of the time… looking from history!
Nothing new under the sun is there…?
Dear Carolena,
that was so nice i laughed so much. In fact i am still laughing.
God bless for that i needed so much to laugh.
Very, very funny this one.
Beware from the Chief than! hahahahah :D :D
My religion forbid adultery because to protect the descendants so it won’t be ruined by a wrong way, or the easy way to say is to protect the wholiness/ a true family tree, and adultery can ruined it, so sex can be attained only by marriage.
Right, this is the ideal . Than, we need to work on it a bit.
I have a headache.
I did not understand, dear[est] Paul, what you were saying… and then I re-read above and saw .. Camilla’s name!!
I like it when you are in .. good moods! .. We were dead a long time!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
I think spiritual ecstasy is very like sexual. There is a feeling with the climax of either that to me is very similar. Spirituality and sexuality go together and should not be in conflict
I think too that way. With sex we can arrive nearer to God, both because in a way having sex make us sort of immortal, we live in part in our children( result of sex)…Than because if we do it with the right person, our half, soul mate, we restore the unity.Than, I guess indeed that the real pleasure make us “leave” a bit the real world, passing into the dream realm for few seconds.
Much love
Alexandra
i only have a simple view about sex. GOD gave sex to human as a gift.
i believe sex is holy, between a man and woman who commit to each other, and should be creative. but when sex was done to benefit only on one side, and become selfish, it became unholy.
why does most religion consider sex as taboo, because most of the time, we picture sex as a way to please one side of the relationship. this is why the porn industry is a big hit, including internet porn.
people are addicted sex fantasy, because they were manipulated by the way the industry pictured sex.
just a view from an independent indonesian hiphop artist. :)
online online, online online, …i like your song…..
I agree Saykoji.
I don’t believe religion considers sex taboo, otherwise we wouldn’t have been told to go forth and multiply. But sex can too easily be changed from something beautiful to something sleazy or to something potentially dangerous.
The hip hop artist is You???
Nice your thoughts, you are a pure soul, I like that.
Love
Alexandra
For me, the connection that exists between two humans embracing, if made lovingly, is a connection endorsed by God. The feeling of a heart bursting with light and warmth could not be anything but sacred.
Yet, this is only my experience. It seems that for many other teenagers like myself, sexuality is a cheap knock-off, it mimics the faux-sexuality and faux-sensuality presented through all media – I believe the effect of the Media on modern sexuality is just as compelling as the historical/religious effects. Ariel Levy’s “Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture” explores this sad reality and is a confronting read, but for those who may not have a chance to read the book, I will share some lines which illustrate the way modern sexuality has been cheapened by the media:
regarding the Girls Gone Wild phenomenom: “”Debbie got naked for a hat.” Besides her new GGW hat, 19-year-old Debbie Cope was wearing a rhinestone Playboy bunny ring, white stillettos that laced up in tight X’s up her hairless calves, and wee shorts that left the lowest part of her rear in contact with the night air… On the preceding night she had done a “scene” for GGW, which is to say she pulled down her shorts and masterbated for them on camera in the back of a bar. She said she felt bad for “not doing it right” because for some reason she could achieve orgasm.”
It is this type of culture, where sexuality is not for personal spiritual bliss but instead for the entertainment of others, that is more destructive than religion, in my personal view.
I think that sexual ecstasy is one of the most fulfilling spiritual experiences to be had, and is common to all humanity.
Question2: exercising own sexuality
I am more physical and expressive than the average woman, and I’ve been exuberant about myself since very young (I remember even at 8-9 years). I grew up in a very strict environment re:sexuality, with parents never displaying public affection, and kissing scenes forbidden on tv even when I was a teenager (I would watch Beverly hills when I was 16, and my father would turn off the tv on a romantic scene). Witnessing how taboos and narrow mindedness can destroy a person’s entire identity and self-worth in several tragic incidents, I promised myself at an early age not to have any taboos in that area. Of course, this does not make finding the communion of reciprocated love any easier…
In terms of expression, reality can have its grim moments for a single woman that is still dreaming of love. I do not place my sexual identity in an interaction with a partner, but within myself, so with another I do express myself, take what is given to me and give what is accepted, but take everything as flowing through me, modifying me and yet not altering, but only adding to my personality.
(I thought most people think the same way about their sexual personality, but I was shocked to discover most don’t. Most people will define themselves by their sexual experiences, even though 1. part of that experience did not depend on them, 2. you can always create new experiences and alter what bothers you. For example, part of my college psychology practicum I interviewed an imprisoned rapist, that was convinced he could only get pleasure by hurting women sexually. ‘it’s just the way I am’ he said. A few years ago, when I interviewed a SM, he confessed he cannot enjoy vanilla (romantic) sex anymore. ‘I can’t go back, I’m sensorially re-wired, so why bother trying’. I was shocked in both cases by people affirming not a preference, but fatalism in front of their sexual development)
What I don’t get about the whole sex thing is the sinning/guilt connotation added to variations/playfulness on the theme. Do people like cooking the same ingredients and eating the same tasting food all their life? No, we try new spices, different cuisines, and love to experiment with recipes, the same way we love our favorite dish. And by that I do not necessarily mean different partners, but willingness to explore all the ingredients you and your partner bring to your kitchen. This imposed guilt takes curiosities or preferences and transforms them into burdens. because I am open about the others sexuality, and always keep the sensuality in it, most men&women I interact with (to be also read: talking about sexuality, there is more about sexuality than just the act) find me therapeutic and I’ve heard them often say ‘wow, I feel so liberated!’.
~~~
Paulo, for the previous questions you shared your thoughts with the rest of us. Normally we hope for the same honor on this one. :)
There is no way for me to understand WHY the expression of sexuality was SO negatively judged by some religions.
What comes to my mind, is that by repressing one of our basic instincts, some rulers could convert easier the mass into puppets. If these rulers have decided to repress something more important and imminent, like food, first of all we are talking about slavery, so the mass would protest. But, the repression of the sexual instinct hurts the soul and those pains are not visible.
As far as I am concerned, I see NO connection AT ALL (in that negative way that is implied), between religion and sexuality and, therefore, my sexual life is determined by my needs and of course my mate’s needs. It feels normal, natural and plain to me.
Love to all…
There is a book called ‘Parenting for a Peaceful World’ which at some point discusses the notion that religious control of our sexuality was a deliberate act to stop the practice of leaving unwanted children on exposed hills to die. There was a time when a whole host of similar dark age practices were stamped out by organised religion. There was a time not so far back in our history when raping, murdering, beating and abandoning children was not considered a criminal act, until the church put a stop to it. One of the solutions included the creation of church run orphanages, another one was to control sexuality.
So perhaps we are just experiencing the tail-end of a middle-age solution to infanticide and it is time to move on and address the issues that the “solutions” have left as our legacy.
Dear Daniel.
Good post. the repression by religion may have served a purpose in those middle ages where technology and science were not even written in fictional stories. The meaning of the ‘repression’ may have changed over time and the actual crux lost.
love,Laxmi
illuminating daniel !
religious practices were started in a diffrent age and their appropeiteness should not be judged by today’s scale, but whether to contunue withtthem, we need to evalute whether they serve any purpose now. i hope chaps who decide about what to continue and what to leave have enough knowledge and wisedom in such matters.
love
Hola Paulo, no he querido leer los comentarios que anteceden porque no quiero hablar en respuesta a alguna postura en especial, quiero ser lo más honesta conmigo misma en mi respuesta.
Soy una presbiteriana practicante, creo en Dios sobretodas las cosas y por lo mismo creo que la Biblia es la norma de fe y conducta que nos lleva a vivir una vida de acuerdo a Su voluntad, expresada a través de las palabras de Jesucristo.
En base a lo anterior creo que tanto la sexualidad como la espiritualidad son parte integral de mi persona, de mi ser que es tanto espiritual como carnal.
Así que la sexualidad es la entrega que hago de mí misma a otra persona por amor, no concibo el sexo por placer, sin amor, como un acto egoista de satisfacción física, así que sea dentro o fuera del matrimonio (estoy hablando de dos personas solteras que deseen convivir sin casarse, no de adulterio), creo que la entrega sexual es lo más hermoso que puede haber, es una entrega perfecta, un darse sin sentirse culpable, mancillado o rechazado (en el caso de no ser atractivo físicamente)
Lo malo del caso, es que encontrar una pareja que piense como yo, es lo díficil, así que no puedo entregarme a alguien de quien no esté segura que corresponde a esa entrega.
Saludos y bendiciones.
¡Hola Paulo!
Sexuality and religion… Such a opposite things in our world.
Unfortunately it can bring many problems in psychic and religious life. I am catolic but I can´t understand, why Church says that sex is such a big sin. This is the bigger reason for my doubts in my fairh.
Sometimes I have days, when I think like Atena in church at the beginning of “The Witch of Portobello” – some kind of mutiny.
I am 21 years old, I have no girlfriend. Surely I could have, but I don’t wanna TRY to love somebody only because she loves me. And girls, whom I love, don’t love me. So far I just passes girls on the highway of love…
So I don’t practise sex with girls but… I masturbate. And in conection with Church’s words, it is very hard to live with that “problem”.
In Your books, You treat masturbation like normal thing. I try to think like You think, but Church lets me hesitate again and again… It could be very hard to live in this way.
But deep in my soul I feel, that sex in every its variants, is something which Creator has given us and we shouldn’t be ashamed of that.
Love,
Przemek
Blending sex and spirituality lifts the whole person up to a higher plane (of understanding/awareness/healing of spirit/and love) while blanketed in a union so intense and raw that the inner knowledge of being soul mates is all that exists. Therefore, the two cannot be seperated in a life of purpose. Sex and spirituality, united, give life, for the electricity in sex is generated within the spirit.
I agree with you and I think the same. There is no vs. between sex and spirituality. It is the strongest connection among two people where they share a common Aura and chemistry and electricity.. it has to be pure and healthy for both partners otherwise it becomes an illness..sex and spirituality united give life!
Lots of greetings to you, with love M.
Question1: sexuality-religion
Personally, I think sexuality is a taboo because it works wonders with mass control, and it used to work wonders with birth control as well in the past. It’s still used it this restrictive way
1. to make you fear you will not be OK if you express yourself sexually, and from this fear you will seek out to follow the rules that make you ‘feel ok’ in the eyes of the world
2. because parents were not thought themselves to be open and exploratory about sexuality, and most just passed on same rules and beliefs for generations
3. for the same reason as the ‘train tracks’ motif in ‘Zahir’, that we as a culture used to pass on not only traditions, but also knowledge and ways of identifying ourselves without thinking them through. All of us can remember many times when we were told ‘that’s the way it is’, or ‘that’s the way it should be’. (another example is the keyboard configuration. it was passed on from the typewriter, and it was specifically designed to SLOW down the person writing so it would match the speed of ancient typewriters. Meanwhile, technology has evolved, better keyboard-alphabet configurations came along, proven to speed up your typing capabilities, but they all fail getting market buy-in. why? because that’s not how we’re used to have our keyboards:))
Sexuality is a favorite to control because it’s part of who you are, because it is not just thought/intention (like a prayer) but it is ACTION. And I’ve just discovered recently that action is a tool even more powerful than hope. why does any religion need a communion ritual? because it’s an act, it’s not just a saying ‘we belong here’, you eat, you chew, you drink, you disperse substances all through your body that you give a certain meaning with your mind. if it’s so powerful, why does it need to be re-conditioned every month? Because, like every accessory that does not initiate inside you, needs to be reinforced and re-attached. Sexuality is in the same way, a relationship between a ritual of your body that you mix with a meaning in your mind. Sadly so many people willingly borrow others meaning or an institution’s meaning for their own acts and their own expression.
And once you agree a part of your identity (and in case of women, a part of your value as a woman , re: the ‘damaged goods’ stigma) is determined by rules made by others, soon everything else falls under the same triggers. I feel better if i dress decent than if i show cleavage, i will secure if i marry a stable church man than if i go around with different men regardless of their habits or their religion, i will react better to the messages in the sermon made to reward the Pavlovian doggie inside my mind and shameful if i stray away from their rules. That’s how they get the whole of your persona, not just sexuality. And I believe simply because religion is an industry. like immigration, like unions, etc. they need people, rules and rituals to continue to exist. and they cannot do that by solving your issues, but only by maintaining your issues. (don’t get me wrong, i am not disregarding the wellness brought by the sense of a community, or the immense ease they give to people by offering a purpose in life. Some will take that versus the anguish of purposelessness in a heartbeat, I, even though i admit falling in the pits of meaningless and purposeless is an inferno, believe it is worth the individual fight for personal meaning). But i digress.
Η θρησκεία δεν στρεφόταν πάντα ενάντια στην σεξουαλικότητα,
μάλιστα σε κάποιες χώρες της αρχαιότητας όπως στην Αίγυπτο και την Ελλάδα υπήρχαν ναοί αφιερωμένοι σε Θεές.
Εκεί οι πιστές, οι ιερές ακόλουθοι προσέφεραν τις σεξουαλικές υπηρεσίες τους, την παρθενία τους το κορμί τους σε κάθε πιστό που επισκεπτόταν τον ναό, ως ένα είδος σημερινού τάματος κατά τη σύγχρονη αντίληψη.
Πίστευαν πως με αυτή τη πράξη εξασφάλιζαν την εύννοια της Θεάς και μάλιστα θεωρούνταν ιδιαίτερα τιμητικό για αυτές. Ήταν ιερές πόρνες κατά τη σημερινή αντίληψη.
Όμως πέρα από μια καθαρά βιολογική ανάγκη και κοινωνική επιτύγχαναν ένωση με το θείο. Η ενέργεια της σεξουαλικής ένωσης, οι συνθήκες και οι λόγοι τέλεσης της προσέφεραν στις ακόλουθες μια άλλη αντίληψη της πνευματικότητας που στις μέρες μας με την επίφαση του αυστηρού καθολικισμού και ορθόδοξης εκκλησίας φαίνονται ανηθικες και μιαρές.
Η στιγμή της ερωτικής πράξης είναι η στιγμή κατά την οποία το αρχετυπικό θυληκό ενώνεται με το αρχετυπικό αρσενικό, είναι η στιγμή που όσο καμία άλλη υμνεί την ένωση αντιθετικών στοιχείων αλλά με σκοπό την ένωση.
Ένωση σωματική αλλά και πνευματική που παράγει ενέργεια σε μια προσπάθεια επαφής με το Θείο και επομένως ότι πιο κοντά στην προσευχή άλλωστε πρόκειται για δύο διαφορετικές μεθόδους αλλά με το ίδιο αποτέλεσμα.
Η εκκλησία σε κάθε μορφή και δόγμα καταδιώκει την σεξουλικότητα αυτό δηλαδή πο κάποτε οι παλιότερες θρησκείες εξομοίωναν με τη προσευχή και τη σπιλώνουν ως μιαρή, ανήθικη και αυτό γιατί η ένωση απαιτεί τη συμμετοχή της γυναίκας που στην ανδροκρατική αντίληψη των ιδρυτών της εκκλησίας είναι τουλάχιστον απρεπές, δεν μπορεί ένα κατώτερο πλάσμα να αγγίξει το θείο.
Η γυναίκα κατά εκείνους συμβόλιζε την λαγνεία, την αμαρτία, την πηγή κάθε κακού τι δουλειά μπορεί να έχει με το θείο και την πνευματικότητα και γι αυτό την εξοβέλισαν και παράλληλα φρόντισαν να καθιερώσουν ως αντίληψη ότι η σεξουαλικότητα πρέπει να εξασκείται καθαρά μέσα στα πλαίσια του γάμου και για το σκοπό της τεκνοποίησης και μόνο.
Βέβαια αυτό δεν εξηγεί και γιατί αφού το σεξ είναι μόνο για διαιώνιση του είδους ο Θεός το έκανε και τόσο ευχάριστο.
I am approving this comment but the Greek readers should let me know if everything is ok. Thnx
Γεια σου Μαρια,
ενδιαφερουσες οι πληροφοριες που παραθετεις οσον αφορα την Αρχαια Ελλαδα και Αιγυπτο. Μονο σε ενα σημειο στεκομαι. Αυτες οι γυναικες που προσφεραν την σεξουαλικοτητα τους σε καποιον επισκεπτη, δεν αναλωνονταν κανοντας διαρκως ακομα και μια τοσο ομορφη πραξη;
Παντου πιστευω πως χωραει το “παν μετρον αριστον” ή “η χρυση τομη” εστω…
Αν ξερεις κατι σχετικο, γραψε μου σε παρακαλω…
Μαρια καλημερα,
αν και σου απαντησα χθες το βραδυ, το συστημα φαινεται πως καταπιε και αυτην οπως και αλλες 2 απαντησεις που εγραψα.
Σου εγραψα λοιπον, πως ειναι πολυ ενδιαφερουσες οι πληροφοριες που παρεθεσες και μονο σε ενα σημειο στεκομαι: εαν οι γυναικες αυτες προσφεραν την σεξουαλικοτητα τους τοσο συχνα και ισως με ατομα που δεν ηταν με καποιο τροπο συνδεδεμενα, δεν υπηρχε κινδυνος να χασουν αυτο το κατι που μας δινει το σεξ.
Πιστευω πως παντου βρισκει εφαρμοφη το “παν μετρον αριστον” ή εστω η “χρυση τομη”.
Αν εχεις πληροφοριες ή καποια γνωμη επανω σε αυτα, γραψε μου σε παρακαλω…
We are not all in the same situation, some use sex to fund a large family that will bring them more money or a better survival, others find satisfaction, some a way to sell your body or being a slave to a large global market and be exploited by him, others are hysterical illness or having to think about sex, as in meat or money.
Surely everything depends on the context, no wonder that some religions consider taboo something so pleasurable that can claim that God conceived as a miracle, for the devil snatched it with the pleasure of orgasm.
Honestly, I try to live my sexuality in all its sensual, without taboo more than my partner and with the information we have today, living it with control and respect that every pleasure brings, using protection so that no good comes from something unexpected and misunderstood they call “blessing.”
—
Since I read the book “Brida”, sometimes, in bed with my lover, I think of that moment where the Wizard and flange are given to pleasure, a pleasure respectful and warm, and loving it.
I would like to know in which way unfaithfullness would noT be a betrayal against your partner?
You commit yourself to someone, you share something fantastic and still there are moments of temptation to those other “appels”. Some excuse themselves with that they have different sexual needs, others that love is immeasurable and can not be kept in a bottle.
Love is freedom, love is forgiveness, love is tolerance –
but since when would love be betrayal? The day you do something behind someone elses back you commit an act of dishonesty.
Even Jesus was pretty hard on this, read Mattheus 5 verse 27-32.
note- I write “behind someone elses back” – the few couples who have reached an agreement to give each other total freedom with everything that means of dropping of jealousy and limiting cultural taboos are of course not included in my question.
Very tough question, Josephine.
What I know, is that every action has its consequences. Even you cheat, even you are cheated. Even it is told to the partner, either it isn’t.
Children need their parents together and loved, in order to become healthy and mature adults; and not (the parents) separated and sharing their love and time to other lovers. That implies monogamy.
If you go out and take a walk however, you will see people that are very beautiful or handsome (in their own unique way), that you could want to indulge in a sexual incident with them. That’s polygamy.
For me, the first example is extremely strong. So, for what type of relationship are we talking about? What age? When? Does this “betraying” incorporates children also?
For me “:cheating” is betraying, irrelevantly to any excuse. The point is how deeply you care. How this will change your life. How this will improve or destroy your relationship. How this will improve or destroy yourself.
The TRUTH is relevant and it depends on so many factors, every single moment. I am afraid ONLY YOU can reply to yourself for such important question. Your heart will guide you…
Unfortunately, very painful personal experience is needed sometimes…
It’s not cheating if you invite your partner to join in :)
for me it is shouldn’t be contradiction rather a flow of events…
Spirituality comes first before sexuality…
let me say the two school of thoughts coexist in creation of God and in the mind of men…
it maybe true religion will repress first…but of course sexuality outside the context of marriage is a sin, in the eyes of God and eyes of moral man…
true they are existing already but..like I’ve said religion must come in first in order for the sexuality to be sacred; morally and legally right.
Indeed, God gave our sexuality to enjoy it but it doesn’t mean we will abuse it by doing it outside the marriage. I might also add that religion must not remove sexuality in the mind of man, rather they must EDUCATE human, why did God let sexuality dwell in our being.
therefore we can say that sexuality shouldn’t go alone but it is a byproduct of marriage guided by the religion.
Creo que es porque la religión es masculina. El dia en que ambos aspectos sean considerados cambiará el rumbo de la historia, hay tantas cosas que transformar en este sentido.
Una religión para todos sería perfecto. Una religión que recogiera lo mejor de cada una ya existente sabiendo que el hombre lo que quire es evolucionar, basada en el respeto y el progreso espiritual, esto modificaría a una sociedad porque no primaría el dinero.
El hombre está maduro para este cambio ya se sabe que no todos tienen la misma evolución pero una sociedad como célula conjunta trabajando para el bien común cuando establece unas normas son para el progreso a pesar de que a muchos de esta manera se les lleve a remolque. Acaso no son así los Arquetipos que son los que abren puertas y entoces los demas pueden lograrlo? Pues una sociedad a modo de Arquetipo tiraría del resto.
Claro está que lo dificil son los poderes ya establecidos que no querrán perder su poder.
En el sexo algo está cambiando en estas nuevas generaciones, la mujer se siente más libre ¿Acaso no tienen el mismo derecho que los hombres? Los hombres llevan siendo libres durante toda la vida Y nosotras las mujeres hemos tenido los condicionantes de la sociedad que nos ha marcado mucho.
UN Beso Paulo
Rosa, no entiendo por qué tú dices que la religión es masculina, ¿es que tú crees que está destinada sólo para los hombres? Realmente no hay división, en Su palabra Dios dice que con Jesucristo, no hay judío ni griego, esclavo ni libre, varón ni mujer, porque todos somos iguales ante sus ojos.
Si tú te sientes en desventaja, revisa tus conceptos porque podría ser que la principal machista, seas tú.
Además tener relaciones sexuales a diestra y siniestra no hace a las mujeres iguales a los hombres, las hace prostitutas, igual que a ellos.
thanks for putting this connection…from the quote of the week ..into words…
xxxxx
Estimado Hildegarden sé thougths tuya, eres una felicitación libre de las mujeres.
Kises para usted y gracias por su respeto.
Reading about secret societies I came across the term ‘sacred sexuality’. One of the beliefs here is that Jesus was married to, or had an intimate relationship with St. Mary Magdalene, and they had a daughter together, which ended up in southern France, and which blood line is carried on till this day. If this is true or not, we can always take new looks at how Christianity or other Religions teach about sexuality and family values. Paulo Coelho once said; ‘The Eternal Light has a Master Plan’ and I believe he might chose not to reveal anything about sacred sexuality, in our dear novel ‘The Alchemist’. As I understand it, the secrets of alchemy, is to search wisdom (Sophia), some form of alchemical and esoteric knowledge that is communicated through sexual initiation. The way I understand Alchemy, it means a Personal, Spiritual and Sexual transformation, where sacred sexuality happens when a wife and husband are made one, as through of one body, and/or when reaching oneness with the Divine and the universe. So what are those magical sexual secrets concealed in alchemical teaching? Does this lead us to Hindu Tantrism and Islamic Sufis? A cult of love, Sufic tantrism, apparently took root in Provence and surrounding areas, with rituals venerating the feminine principle. Dear Paulo, will we ever see a Alchemist II, where Santiago and Fatima will take us on a sacred sexual journey?
http://www.sacredsexuality.us/history/page2.html
Love and Admiration,
Heart
Heart, we are all the same, yet different, so a little bit of Santiago and Fatima must exist in Maria in ‘Eleven Minutes’. :-)
With love, Daniel
Buena Idea Alquimist II y el sexo sagrado.
Gracias Corazón que me gusta mucho todo lo que usted dice.
oh… one more to add to the list for normal/madness…
the one about girls having to cut their hair after a certain age… and about keeping it short until one dies..
as if long, grey flowing hair on a woman is wrong…
odd.
;o)
but then hair is linked to one’s sexuality…
why is it nuns cut their hair short on making their vow!?
Goods Thougths
I believe in the religion
Of Love
Whatever direction its caravans may take,
For love is my religion and my faith.
Ibn ‘Arabi
Religions were made by people while this world was made by God. The truth is, according to science, that even though we would like to think that Homo Sapiens is an evolution of the human being which can have logical thinking, our wishes and actions are still driven by some primitive insticts in our subconscious. Religion says that when you are “perfect” you have to have nothing to do with the animal side of you. I don’t think that that is humanly possible (I am not doubting the existence of saints-who knows, maybe their sexuality was zero or something). We all have needs which we need to satisfy. Satisfying them is not a sin, but abusing them may be, but who am i to say that. I think that sexuality with the right person for one can be great. Being with someone is about respecting them, and that respect makes one flourish. I guess attraction plays a role in it.
<>
Absolutely splendid…like the rest of your post.
You say: <>
I believe, it is JUST you; and you are “your opinion” and you are “your thoughts” and that’s what we need here…
Really nice, Effie….
Some truth you said now. I think that many of the Church rules are people ideas, added after the original text. Some of the rules are of no use, but in the most parts the Church offers a guiding line. If we say nobody is perfect, lets not accuse Church too much. Church is made up by people, as we are.
“Будут двое одна плоть:тайна сия велика”.(Св.Павел) Человек верующий(мой случай)вооружён.А колеблющегося,желающего знать почему? и как?,возможно,убедят слова Густава Майринка:”Заключив брачный союз со своей “второй половиной”(в земной жизни почти всегда скрытой) получаешь возможность приобщиться к немыслимым магическим энергиям и обрести отныне право на реальное бессмертие своего Я,остановку колеса рождений,восхождение на ту божественную ступень небесной иерархии,на которую не ступит ни один смертный до тех пор,пока…”
“Будут двое одна плоть: тайна сия велика”(Св.Павел)
Таинство Брака.
Спасибо, Ирина, за мудрые слова!
Wonderful subject!
From the minute one know
by experience
what sacred sex is -
one`ll love to speak about it!
Guess very few happen to
find this treasure;
Making love
in one heart & one spirit.
Gods heart is
like an merciful ocean of love
and He happily gives us this
wonderful gift, where
sexuality & spirituality
becomes one – Sacred sex*
Let`s surrender & enjoy ;)
w-w-l
When we love, dance and let our inner energies flow, we sometimes discover things that are not consistent with the “reality” that the religions want to feed us with. I therefor believe that the repression of sexuality/spirituality is based on the desire to control people, because he who benefits from controlling people is simply afraid of what people can achieve when they are free to express and live out their lusts and passions.
Thank you for the inspiration Paulo
Love
Emilios
paolo, I agree that sexuality is extremely repressed by religion. I distinguish between spirituality and religion. Religion, being a man made doctrine, has every reason to repress sexuality. First of all, sexuality is empowering. Knowing that you can attract, merge and experience physical union,bring forth children as an expression of the union is taking the fundamental premises of life into your own hands. Organized religion never wanted the masses to experience individuality or empowerment because that would cause them to abandon religion and embrace spirituality. Spirituality would be the search and communion with the Divine from ones own heart and soul – with no need for dogma and prescribed rituals. Another aspect of sexuality that also caused organized religion to put out constraints is the fact that the climactic peak achieved during sexual union is actually a spiritual experience as well as a physical one. It is said that the spirit actually experiences a brief state of transcending – timeless and spaceless – during that moment. That is one of the spiritual truths that creates enlightened states, definitely not advantageous for organized religion! All of the constraints, the guilts, the taboo are all ploys to keep society “carnal” – just focusing on the physical, and to keep them in fear that they committed something wrong. The guilty and the troubled are organized religions best customers. So much for sexuality – quite a provoking topic! love your blog!
Just an idea…
Probably because religion started when Adam and Eve left heaven all covered up and shameful;
Not all the people may have felt the same way(who knows what other idea some would’ve had :-)) in those circumstances
Their idea of shame was carried by religion out of supidity or just to control people
The human beeing is a powerful force released throughout all his senses but been kept with the guilt of his natural instincts the human can be controlled and not as powerful and free
Just imagine Adam and Eve in heaven before the good-bad knowledge, before things been separeted in that’s good – that’s bad! Natural,free, no guilt, no tags attached and sexuality will be a door towards your spirituality.
If God is Love, sexuality based on love is one of the most spirituality experience.
Wonderful opinion!
Our will should always combine sexuality to love
that how we keep this pure Spiritual Experience “SACRED” ..
Hi Michael,
How lovely your reply! It’s my first reply, indeed!
Although my English is not very good, I think you’ve understood it.
Thanks.
Irene
Dear Paulo:
Sexuality = The most basic way to express LOVE…
Spirituality = The highest way to give & to receive LOVE…
I was thinking about your question : Why Spirituality is so regressive as far as sexuality is concerned? It’s hard to have something to say, but everything as a result of our own choice & our own free will…
NAMASTE, Candy Graff
Religions, especially monastic ones, like monastic Buddhism, treat sexuality as a taboo, for an obvious practical reason, they couldn’t afford having children to lead a monastic life. However, for the lay person, raising a family was often considered a sacred responsibility, such as in Judaism, lay Buddhism, Hinduism etc. However, the hindus and buddhists still viewed sex as something to excercise control over, and to be had only on certain occasions.
We all know that sex can become an addiction, like every action performed blindly to avoid facing “reality”; the pitfall is that sex is such powerful that addiction can lead to depression and impotence.
We all know that we possess two types of sexualities, the first type directed towards a group of people, or a sort of organ etc. Most people will experiance this. This is connected with S&M and I think this is the reason why sex is discouraged in many religions.
However, when you fall in love, the sexuality is directed towards a single or a few persons, and this isn’t repressed by religion, why, it is sort of encouraged and superimposed until the person falls in love with the whole world from the love of a single person–practised in Sufism, Mysticisms and Vaishnavism.
Yet another mystical use is in Tantra, in the Left-hand Way, in Buddhism, Hinduism and even in Gnostic Christianity, here reputedly, sex is used as sacrament and communion. I can’t tell much about it because I don’t really know this.
Well, sex doesn’t seem to be repressed in every kind of religion, does it? It is repressed in general order, for control of population and to prevent addiction.
Read “Eleven Minutes”, People!
Hmmm, I just remembered a text I read, about the writer hystorian of religions Mircea Eliade, who during a voyage in India had a revelation, while observing a group of women paying homages to a huge Falus, male sexual organ. I dont remember all the details, but from that image Eliade started his theory of symbols.
E’ semplice, Paulo!:-)
Nella VERA spiritualità NON è giudicato l’atto sessuale in per se, ma il fatto di farlo CON LA PERSONA SBAGLIATA, la persona che non rappresenta la nostra VERA ALTRA PARTE, e con questo ci allontana dalla volontà di Dio. Dio è nostro Padre, e Dio Padre pensa solo IL MEGLIO per i Suoi Figli)
Gesù perdona ADULTERA dicendole: “Vai e non peccare più!”.
Ma SIAMO e resteremo TUTTI adulteri finché non troviamo Colui o Colei con il quale DIO ci ha uniti ancora prima di nascere, ovvero; IN SPIRITO!
Come erano i matrimoni di IERI? Decidevano GLI ALTRI (spesso genitori degli sposi)….e UMANAMENTE sbagliavano…
Come sono i matrimoni di OGGI? Decidiamo NOI…e UMANAMENTE sbagliamo…
Come saranno i matrimoni di DOMANI? Deciderà DIO (se Gli permetteremo, se ci lasceremo guidare da Lui. Chiamiamolo anche INTELLIGENZA UNIVERSALE)
Solo così potremo essere sicuri di non sbagliare più, perché DIO NON SBAGLIA, perché Dio ha la visione più alta e più ampia di tutti noi piccoli esseri umani. :-)
Cara Gina Re,
Non penso che Dio giudica la nostra sesualita, Dio non e uno cativo, ne uno supreficiale. Se noi siamo i suoi figli e sbagliamo (tutti figli sbagliano prima o poi) non e la sesualita che ci alontanera da Lui.
Non penso che domani Dio decidera per noi, il dono piu grande che ci ha dato e la libera scelta non la schiavitu !
Love
Luce
Speriamo bene…
Sexuality and force of its passion and carnal universe is just oposed to spirituality. That is probably reason why it is taboo for most of religions.
Religions tend to overide what makes them loose the power over people or single persons. Parents comply with their teachings to keep children “safe” but…..it returns like boomerang.
Paulo, as you so correctly said the sexuality is God given and Men have put their fingers and teachings in it for their purposes and mostly non valid ones.
This is my opinion and it always was though I am from catholic (church going) family. I never felt obliged to repress or feel guilty for my sexuality.
If my opinions and convictions were accepted or not is completely different thing.
Love
Luce
This question has interested me for a long time and it is wonderful to read different views on it. I feel sex is tabood in many religions because it is an act that can break all barriers. Sex proves that we are all humans and it really doesn’t matter what religion your partner belongs to. This in turn challenges the boundaries and demarcations that religions impose on us.
Sexuality is intrinsic to all the living beings, including humans. It is inseparable, even by religions. It has to be accepted to master it. Suppressing it can never make things good.
Yes, suppressing it is asking for trouble!
Thank you for bringing this up Paulo….I am hoping to find answers from other readers…..I cannot understand why there is so much repression on sexuality by for me the Catholic Church….I can remember growing up the dreadful fear that was put into us re our sexuality and I think a lot of people of my time didnt really discover their true sexuality in all its wondrous glory until maybe in their thirties….
All the while the clergy and nuns were sexually abusing young children in their care….
It bothers me intensely as I have no answers for it….Except of course now I do not have any fear and live honouring my sexuality…..
with love to you dear Paulo xxx
Dear, all
It is concerned with energy’s flow in our body.
Spirituality is concerned with source of powerful energy’s flow in human’s body.
When we have spirituality, our body can remain in perfect energy condition, in natural energy flow. And while the period, we can use another sense, not five senses.
It’s incredible sense.
Spirituality is concerned with spirit’s energy.
Sexuality is concerned with body’s energy.
When we can hold spirituality, spirituality & sexuality is totally united each other.
Why should I say about that? The rest imagination is up to you.
And spirituality’s regress is a different matter with sexuality.
I didn’t write on it yet, it is like drama in human’s inner world. It is incredible drama to unexperienced people.
I’m not the Light. The Light doesn’t last endless. One day the Light is declined. We bury the body in a grave. It is sleeping like a death.
Thank you for your reading.
The most important thing is the belief on the truth “We are huge on based on love.”
Maybe I misunderstand you. I think we are all part of the Light.
“We are huge one based on love.” – correction
Wow! Alexandra!
Thank you for your reply.
I was speaking about spirituality. Of course, I think we all contain the Light.
But, “to know” is different with “to feel”.
Because we can go toward the Light with spiritual sense, my mention was a story about “Avatara”.
The meaning of “I’m not the Light” is the meaning of “I’m not Avatara now.”, although I was like Avatara while the period with the Light.
After university graduation, I didn’t almost write in English.(It’s concerned with one of Paulo’s list?) Did you understand the meaning of my words, I wonder?
If so, thank you.
Hug and love
Supia
This is the most exciting and potent theme ever! I really do have to sit down and think for a long time. Then buckle up and write!
I am Catholic and just recently married. In preparation for marriage, my wife and I were introduced to a series of public addresses given by Pope John Paul II that comprise what he calls the Theology of the Body. Now condensed into a document, these teachings from Pope John Paul II try to explain the purpose of love and sexuality in marriage. Although the Theology of the Body contains a wealth of information, I would like to touch on a few things that I found quite interesting. First is that, the Catholic church does not see sex as evil. Rather, it encourages sex. This is in the context of marriage of course. On the wedding day, the couple is not truly married in the eyes of God until they consummate that marriage. The belief is that God gave us sex to be enjoyed between two married people so that they can show their eternal love for each other and so that they can bring new life into this world. The marriage of man and women in the church is meant to be a living sign of Christ’s love for the Church. Christ gave his life on the cross to save us. In the same way, married couples are supposed to sacrifice of themselves for the love of the other. The act of sex in marriage is equivalent to saying “I love you, I love all of you, I give myself completely to you, and I love your children, and your grandchildren.” It is said that married sex is the best sex because both people are giving entirely of themselves. Also, The Theology of the Body stresses the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP). There are many benefits to NFP. First it is completely natural and healthy. Second it is just as effective (if not more) than common forms of contraception. The married couple knows exactly when they are fertile and can thus choose to have sex to have children, or choose to have sex to not have children. Of course, on the days that they are fertile, they must chose to abstain which strengthens their will power and increases their responsibility and respect for one another. Sex outside of marriage is frowned upon for many reasons. The main reason is that the two people have not made the commitment to each other and to God. They are not giving themselves fully to one another as Christ did for us. When sex is outside of marriage, something is always being held back. Another important note is that married couples are encouraged to pray for passion in their marriage. I think this is marvelous and I can honestly say that it works. God wants the married couple to be passionate for one another and have a fulfilling sexual relationship.
This is my take on the subject. I look forward to hearing what others have to say.
Thank you, was interesting. I think also sex between husbands is better because avoid problems as ilness, or of a child born without parent. I think all rules are settled for our best, not in order to create a feeling of a guilt.
Hello Steve,
I really know where you are coming from but I just wanted to add that the SymptoThermal method of Family Planning has it’s limitations.
1. It is not suitable for women with irregular menstrual cycles.
2. A slight rise in body temperature (mimicking ovulation) often occurs with women after restless nights (nursing sick children etc) or when suffering from a slight infection.
However, as you pointed out, it can be a powerful tool in achieving a pregnancy – and I can bear witness to that (spot on every time!)
I am still very concerned about the Catholic church not allowing the use of condoms in Africa, where so many people are dying of HIV/AIDS!
Best wishes for a happy life.
Wonderfully put, Steve!
Just out of curiosity, is the catholic church still wonderfully permissive and understanding with single people (in their 20′s, 30′s, 40′s?) and with divorcing/divorced couples?
What about girls abused when they were young? Are they worthy of becoming a partner or are they ‘damaged goods’?
Thank you.
hi Steve,
All i can say about the Catholic church, if they really care about the sacredness of sex which is God’s idea of pro-creation, then perhaps they should have a program in which they can teach the poorest and ignorant millions of their members about the responsiblity of having limited numbers of children that they can afford to feed, clothe and educate and most of all to provide decent homes…
When you go to impoverish countries like my homeland the Philippines, the Catholic church’s influence that resulted in more poverty and unwnated starving children would hit you hard on the face.. What is the Catholic church doing about this huge problem of the twisted notion of ” going forth and multiply “?… why don’t they go and educate couples who can’t even feed themselves and yet they enjoy the gift of sex and pro-create innocent humans that will become victims of poverty and ignorance?…Isn’t is more sinful to pro-create victims than using contraception available so that they may enjoy God’s gift of the sacredness of sex?..
Sex becomes yuk when it creates misery..”Sin” is comdemnation…and millions are miserable and condemned to live in poverty because of the influence of religions and how they use sexuality to gain power over their members…Of course the church would wish for their members to keep multiplying at any cost for them to remain the dominant organized religion…
Have a wonderful day…and i really love your view on sexuality between married couples..Unfortunately tho, the millions out there who are under the control of the Catholic church are not as knowledgeable and educated like you are…
Wonderfully explained.
This is a great topic, thank you Paulo for sharing with us such wonderful topics.
It’s a great topic, and very deep. Why has religion repressed sexuality. What a great question, first thing that comes to mind is for control. To have control over the people, in the name of God, the people must fear God in order to obey, otherwise control is difficult in the absence of fear. So they used whatever means they could, and sexuality, well, there is a lot of energies there.
Sex has become taboo for many reasons. Well, it’s something that can make a person feel extremely good. It is quite natural, but a sensitive subject. Even young children start to discover that their private parts make them feel a certain feeling at a young age. And if they touch themselves there, they are told, don’t do that, that’s shameful to do in public. I think I’m sidetracking. I guess because it’s difficult to pinpoint.
Anyhow, I think though, there is something to be careful and protective of, not necessarily fear it, but we must be cautious because spiritually, sex unites the souls, we loose ourselves in the other person, and vice versa, we bond with the others’ energies, and with our souls, goes our emotions and thoughts and if we don’t have a good relation with the other, it can be disastrous and extremely painful. Sexuality is very powerful, no other feeling can match that of the feeling of an orgasm. Who knows what Really happens on the soul level. For sure we loose it and attach with the other person, forming a bond, becoming one. It’s so very intimate on every level, and playing around with energies.
I don’t know, this makes sense right now. Maybe I’ll have some more thoughts on it later.
Hugs and kisses
I think sexuality is “repressed” by most religions because it’s the core of our animal instinct and religions (pre)tend to elevate men to a higher level – litteraly escape from their animal condition.
I was born in an atheic family, yet with a strong catholic and protestant culture I realized, and though my father, grand fathers and their (male) friends always have been very open about sexuality being a nice part of their life and a nice and healthy thing, I could also feel the taboo your talking about in the background, transmitted by my grand mothers and my mother as well, they would just be very shy about it, so it had to be something a bit shamefull somehow…
I constructed myself in between those 2 poles, now I’m 34 years old and have a bit of distance to look how sexuality is in my life:
it is divine, but also I can hardly make love with someone I hardly know or who I feel is a bit “superficial” or not respectful. Often when I tried it it has been a deception. I While my few real boyfriends would told me (2 of them), making love with me was like being in paradise.
I think this is because I consider my body is sacred, and making love is a sacred moment. And if I may say, a moment of union between “both” our animal and divine essences.
When I don’t have a boyfriend I love, I tend not to have sex more likely, and it doesn’t cost me a big effort. Such as I won’t eat awful tomatoes in winter and prefer to eat the delicious tomatoes we find now. It makes them even more delicious;)
I don’t think all religious people reject sexuality, many of them do, but some of the greatest did talk about sexuality – Maurice Zundel says beautiful things, though he had many pressures from his hierarchy.
Basicaly I think sexuality is a problem for people who reject their animal part, who see it as negative and not constructive or divine.
Nice post.I think sometimes taboo is created by parents, who did not know how to talk to their kids about sex. Their parents deed same. I agree sex must not be cut off from spirit, we might find the right way to live a perfect mixture of both.What about Circe, the famous witch that transform men in pigs??? Is the best metaphor for the “dirty sex”, sex without love, sex that only get a person near to animality.
it is said that in regions with predominant catholic population like italy or latin america, the “official” rules for sexuality are very restrictive, but “inofficially” nobody cares about the rules, because you can go to church and confess on sins afterwards…
ha ha, indeed, Latin lover term says something…
Hello Every One
I’ve grown up Catholic, where we have to wait for marriage to explore sexuality. When in reality most explored sexuality before marriage. Frankly, this society tends to pretend to keep up appearances. The relationship between spirituality and sexuality is that it does not perform sexual exploration in full between two people, would say the same that have not yet explored spirituality. However, when sex takes place only through the flesh, this becomes an enemy to the soul and spiritual growth does not help.
For my part, I have sex with a person for meat, is carried out by a feeling for that person so it is a way of expressing their feelings towards that person through sex, so they say that when two people love each other, can pass any test of temptation and delay long enough for the union of his body into one. That’s why, the Bible says that man and woman will be one body.
Please read more about this topic in this link:
http://sexoysalud.blogspot.com/2007/03/historia-de-la-sexualidad-de-la.html
The social organization through kinship and family and also the social economy have impacted heavily on the most private of human beings: their sexuality, regulating the sex, pleasure and reproduction, including the forms of expression of love.
Human sexuality is historical, contextual. The hegemonic sexual cultures authorities have been based on philosophical, religious and medical and have built our ideas and policies around sexuality and varied, although some issues do not seem to ever have happened.
The expressions of the cultures of sexuality through the ages are many, from prehistoric times, with Venus auriñaciences of prehistory and graffiti Paleolithic caves of Abri Castanet, vulvas representing more than ten thousand years.
It seems that when they were hunter-gatherer societies, the cycles of the moon, identified with women, were of paramount importance, but when they became farmers, it became important to worship the sun and the gods, men, beginning to devalue the women, as revealed by studies Hedgestone Celtic monoliths.
well the Beltane celebration is supposed to represent everything sacred about sexuality…
but seeing some of the modern day performances, I would say they have lost the plot about what sacred actually consists of…
Ancient Egyptian Sexuality
” …Revel in pleasure while your life endures
And deck your head with myrrh. Be richly clad
In white and perfumed linen; like the gods
Anointed be; and never weary grow
In eager quest of what your heard desires -
Do as it prompts you… ”
– Lay of the Harpist
…………………..
Someone last week mentioned sacred prostitution also… i am still intrigued how so..!?
Thank you so much for bringing up this topic. Lately I have been wondering about what is ‘Sacred Sexuality’ and have searched to find out more about it. I hope this week we can explore our wonderful sexuality and try to find an answer to why there is so much shame and problems with sex, especially in connection with religious well meaning ‘advices’, but perhaps mostly in what goes on behind the four walls, in our bedrooms if you will.
Let’s begin the conversation….
DEAR PAULO, I DONT THINK THAT WAY.maybe for certain religions?
I am protestant, and is quite ok. I never noticed too heavy restrictions. Maybe more in other religions…I know for priest required chastity in Catholicism.Maybe I am ignorant in the matter…I will follow others comments, now I lack information.
Yes, that was my thought also. As a Catholic I was next taught that sex was taboo – just the misuse of it.
I think most people can recognise when sex is taboo, – obviously if its in the context of incest, rape, paedophilia, to manipulate, to self satisfy with no regard for the other’s feelings.
When I was around 14, 15 years old. I started to see grown men 2 to 3 times my age undressing me with their eyes and this is a very unpleasant feeling. It’s that lustful side of sex that could be considered taboo (I don’t mean lust/love between man and wife). I also started to hear stories from people close to me who had been molested.
Religion needs to warn people because people can be very wicked. I don’t see it as suppression. Religion doesn’t stop you from having sex with your husband or wife – it just warns you not to ignore the heart and soul of the person you are married to, don’t treat them like a sex machine.
I believe that the sexual act between 2 people is one of the most powerful, emotional experiences we can have on Earth. Although it brings great pleasure, it also has the power to hurt and to destroy like nothing else can. Perhaps this is why most religions teach us to repress and contain our sexual desires to one relation only (marriage). In that way, we are actually protecting ourselves and making for a less chaotic world. Just an idea. One more idea: If sex WASN’T so taboo, would it be as fun???!!! ;)
~N
Olá Paulo, bom dia!
Bom, esse é um ponto polemico, como de costume. Eu acho que cada pessoa tem que fazer/sentir o que é o correto e seguir esse caminho, desde que isso não atrapalhe ninguém. As religiões são retrógadas, acredito eu, por conta do período que elas surgiram, milhares de anos atrás, feitas por homens com evolução psicológica pequena, ou então a sua menssagem foi adequada para a sua época. Por mais involuídos que sejamos, acredito que o mundo hoje é mais civilizado do que 2 mil anos atras, e da mesma forma a mentalidade das pessoas. Com relação a dinamica, sexualidade e espiritualidade, acho que elas não precisam ser necessariamente caminhos separados, podendo haver uma união sublime entre ambos, aonde um complemente e intensifique o outro.
Abraços grandes!
perfect, perfect topic for this week’s forum… thanking you so much for inviting readers to share their ideas here. i think it is so important because sexuality seems to be so tied up with the control of society… and as an individual, one reaches a point where you wonder how much all this control is counter-productive to spiritual development. I also wonder if the control is done in the name of evil, since evil exists as a possibility.. rather than freedom to live being adhered to… based on fact that good exists… ie: we end up worshipping the devil more than god… through trying to enforce stringent rules and customs, norms etc… to civilise humankind society. I argue though that it serves the complete opposite purpose… to create a society held together by fear, domination, control, mistrust….
and this is where my thoughts on sexuality and spirituality lie right now.
whilst the above ensures that risk is minimal and mistakes not repeated… by placing boundaries etc… building life surely but slowly…
one must wonder at the creative energy lost in society at this time… its a very unfulfilling era for mankind maybe.
and how insular and incestuous almost we have become through being modelled as clay according to backdated modes of being…
Sometimes i feel as if my sexuality has more to do with Joe Blog the stranger on the street than it does with my own body…. and that is because control over our bodies begins early on… as soon as we start to socialise and enter gender issues. how much power lies with those , ahem, at the top of the pyramid… and surely, if energy is yin and yang, then it is about time that balance could be restored.
its a tough question but important to discuss this topic of the week. i am certainly looking forward to reading other readers responses.
Sin or Salvation: The Relationship Between Sexuality and Spirituality in Psychotherapy (Hardcover)
by Amy Mahoney (Editor), Oliva M. Espin (Editor)
I disagree, not because a body is not nice. But as birds use wonderful feathers, we use attires. We use that to express our personality.I had occasion to see wonderful male naked body. Ok, I go crazy first times. But if I see each day all time even the most wonderful body start to become common, boring, annoying…Better creating some sort of mystery, that we feel curiosity, desire.
Hi sis!
Your point about nudity is wonderful. Let me give you a great link where nudity is explored in connection with religion. I remember reading it, and they started out by telling of how there used to be nude parades in Greece of young athletes in public. It surprised me, as last I visited your country, nudity is forbidden. So what happened?
http://www.experiencegrace.com/bible_society_and_nudity/bible_society_and_nudity.html
Love and Admiration,
Heart
See Paul, you said it. ” drop slowly to the floor”. Is more interesting than being already naked…
Much love
Alexandra
So, dear Paul, something like Salome’s dance and the seven veils.. The first … Strip-tease!! ;-] and then …. men say … OMG!!!!
It seem that men and women react differently to .. nakedness! ;-]
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Γεια σου Annie,
i agree to what you wrote about nudity.
Nudity meaans also innosence, return to an early stage of time when none of us didin’t have to wear clothes because we simlpy didin’t need any.
Adam and Eve realised their nudity only when they sinned.
That means that clothes made to cover not only the parts of our body but our soul also.
Nice athmosphere…We use candle lights dinner…
“Some last week mentioned sacred prostitution”
If you find the entry where someone metioned this, please let me know. Thanks.
Dear Catherine and everyone,
I think that might have been me. It is a very interesting subject which has fascinated me for years.
I was referring to the Hieros Gamos, the Sacred Marriage ceremony performed by the High Priestess and Priest (or King & Queen) in Mesopotamia, (Inanna and Tammuz), later in Babylon, with Ishtar and her priestesses who worshipped sex and the great mother and Ancient Egypt and Greece. (Wicca also uses this in symbolic form in a ritual context (Chalice and Athama).
Thousands of years later as soon as patriarchy became more prevalent, this ceremony became less of a religious or ritualistic enactment where both the male who would visit the temple to choose a Priestess, and then would take the role of the God and the Goddess,to eventually become the pitiful form of prostitution we see today. (Why won’t anyone give these woman their rights, it is disgraceful?)
Even in the hebrew bible there is a differentiation between a Zonah, common prostitute and Kedeshah (Priestess or consecrated female).
So sex was considered to be a sacred act in ancient times, the holy of holies…! How that concept has fallen!
As it is such a vast subject, I can refer you to a book called The Sacred Prostitute : Eternal Aspect of the Feminine by Nancy Qualls – Corbett which I have attached a link to here for you to preview:
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rTfBtcdjbuoC&dq=sacred+prostitute&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=PAi4SoDzCJ_bjQeFy5GwDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false
Enjoy!
XXX
i’m afraid my memory is not what it was…
but about two weeks ago someone brought it up… that prostitution historically was actually a sacred act…
i think one linked to worship.
but, as of two weeks ago, this was news to me -
The pimps probably thought that one up lol.
Hi Theresa,
Actually my wife and I use a method called “The Creighton Model.” I believe it deals with some of the disadvantages of the SymptoThermal method you mendtioned. I’ll spare you the details. You can look into it if you like. My wife and I are very please with it and it has proven to be extrememly accurate.
And yes, I agree with you on the issue in Africa. The Catholic church has its stance on contraception and it doesn’t want to make any exceptions. They are hoping for a more fundamental change, the way people understand and approach sex. This however, isn’t feasible in many cases (such as Africa).
God bless
Hi Anca,
Thanks for your reply. My expereince with the Catholic church has led me to believe that they do not reject anyone…no matter the circmstances. Maybe your experience has been different. I don’t know.
It should be noted that becoming a priest or getting married are just two examples of holy vocations. The Catholic church is also welcome to single people. For single people can also devote their lives to the Lord. The same goes for divorced couples or abused young women. The church will not turn them away. I think the church does have issues with divorced people trying to get re-married. I’m not exactly sure of their reasoning behind this and I don’t necessarily agree. However, the Catholic church will not turn any of these people away.
Thank you
Paulo, I think it’s just fine.
It refers to the sexuality in ancient Hellas and Egypt and the positive way that sexuality was seen at that time.
Then, it refers to the Christian judgement against sexuality…
Hi Paulo,
it seems that Annie was faster than me, but her answer was not visible last night I replied to you… ;-)
There is one problem however, irrelevant with the above post. I noticed that there is a change at the font of this post and yesterday I wrote a couple of things to some people here and for some reason, my posts were disappeared after 2 minutes (I don’t think it had to do with cencorship).
Please just take a look, in case there are more of the same incidents…
Hello Paulo,
have i done something wrong to the system or something for reading in my language? Because if you wan’t it in english i can write it to you no problem it will be my pleasure. i wrote in greek language by my foolish mistake with the computer.
As for the problem with the system you ask we have some problems
with love
maria-dove.
Very nice than, I see,thank you.
Thats true, and I notice it when going to pool…All of a sudden lot of ugly women and girls, while dressed they hide so well their bodies.
I say about that wrong perspective created by a too agressive presentation of naked, nudity all over, in media, or adds. My father search about tv schedule, and on the page theres a naked woman…Ok, for him, but what if my nieace, or other kid find all that??/And is not about naked, about what they express, sex for sale…You know what I mean. This is the annoying part. For example in the entertainment industry one hardly find a girl who is not showing here body, with sexual connotation… I must mention Madona? Poor woman, at her age, is forced to act as a young girl, but I think she is already ridiculos.Why avoiding a elegant dress??
?
Love
Alexandra
Thank you, I try to find them.
Dear DFF just to answer to your question ‘what happened’?? The answer is ‘Religion, Church’ but also … WISDOM! As Adam has said: ‘we realised we were .. naked!!’
I also feel and believe that ‘shyness’ is a virtue!!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
thanks for your reply Yannis,
I came to think of Brida. At one point she has “sacred sex” with the wizard, but her boyfriend don’t know about it and I doubt she ever told him afterwards too. For a moment she was even so fond of the wizard she wanted to leave her boyfriend.
I also came to ask myself when it is that we’re not living in total freedom anyway, to make any choices (and take the consequenses) of our actions. I could say that out of respect and affection to my partner who lives in fear of “loosing” my love, I choose to control my actions.
For the sake of family-life with children there must be a great deal of women turning a blind eye to what their husband is doing.
Dear Yannis,
Good reply. I totally understand the part /question about ” Does ‘betraying ‘ involve children also”.
It shouldn’t when you think of it logically, but somehow children do feel betrayed. I think it arises from their need of security , need of unconditional and constant love. Maybe loyalty to the parent(who is betrayed).
Maybe in a evolutionary way , two parents commited to each other , means better chance of survival to the child.
love,
Laxmi
What I have written above is this:
———————————-
“Religions were made by people while this world was made by god”.
Absolutely splendid…like the rest of your post.
You say: “Who am I to say that?”.
I believe, it is JUST you; and you are “your opinion” and you are “your thoughts” and that’s what we need here…
Really nice, Effie…
PS: I hope my phrases won’t disappear again! }:-)))
“next” never
Thank you for sharing. Was a nice interesting post, I agree.
Love
Alexandra
Γεια σου Γιάννη,
χθες ξαφνικά το σύστημα δεν έπαιρνε καμία απάντηση από όσες έστειλα δεν ξέρω ειλικρινά τι συμβαίνει.
Τελοσπάντων οι γυναίκες αυτές ήταν νεαρές στην ηλικία, κυρίως παρθένες που οι γονείς τους τις είχαν “τάξει” κατά τη σημερινή έννοια ή ήταν εθελοντικό δηλαδή οι ίδιες θεωρουσαν ότι με αυτό το τρόπο υπηρετούσαν τη θεα.
Είναι πολλά αυτά που αγνοούμε προς το παρόν σχετικά με τις τελετουργίες και τη χρησιμότητα τους στην αρχαιότητα καθώς οι αντιλήψεις σχετικά με τη έκφραση της σεξουαλικότητας ήταν πολύ διαφορετικές από τη δική μας.
Ενδεικτικά αναφέρω τις Μαινάδες όταν τελούνταν η γιορτή προς τιμή του Ορφέα στην Θράκη.
Να μην σε κουράζω όμως με αυτά.
Ως προς την ερωτησηση περί ανάλωσης θα πρέπει να πω το εξής είναι δύσκολο το ξέρω ως προς τη σημερινή αντίληψη αλλά για εκείνες οι γυναίκες ήταν κάτι σαν διακονία, αυτό ήθελε η Θεά.
Οι άνδρες που πήγαιναν εκεί μην ξεχνάς πήγαιναν σαν πιστοί της Θεάς, έκαναν και οι μεν και οι δε τη σεξουαλική πράξη αλλά ήταν μέρος της τελετουργίας που τελούνταν με μυσταγωγικό τρόπο, πάντα το βράδυ από όσο το ξέρω, ώστε να διατηρηθεί και ένα είδος ανωνυμίας (δεν είχαν ηλεκτρικό φως).
Ως προς το ρητό “παν μέτρον άριστον” που προσωπικά πιστεύω είναι η επιτομή της ελληνικής φιλοσοφίας και συμφωνώ με αυτό θα πω το εξής: κάποιοι υποστηρίζουν ότι αυτές οι γυναίκες δεν παντρεύονταν αλλά έμεναν όσο μπορούσαν να εξυπηρετήσουν τη θεά οπότε μάλλον με αυτή τη άποψη διατηρούνταν μια μετριοπάθεια στη όλη στάση.
Προσωπικά εαν θέλεις την άποψη μου για εκείνες τις γυναίκες και τη πρακτική τους, ή οποία σεν έχει σχέση με τη προσωπική μου στάση στη σεξουαλικότητα θα πω ότι στην ουσία έκαναν την σεξουαλική πράξη χωρίς να διαχωρίζουν σε ωραίους, νέους, άσχημους, γέρους, πλούσιους , φτωχούς και ελεύθερους πολίτες και δούλους καθώς όλοι εφόσον ήταν πιστοί μπορούσαν να μετάσχουν και οι ιέρειες δεν μπορούσαν να αρνηθούν.
Δεν είναι πολύ οικουμενικό αυτό? Την ίδια προσφορά σε όλους αδιακρίτως κάτι τέτοιο δεν λέμε ότι πρέπει να κάνει και η εκκλησία σήμερα? Δεν είναι κατά κάποιο τρόπο μια συμπεριφορά, δηλαδή της προσφοράς χωρίς διακρίσεις για να είμαι πιο σαφής, που προσπαθεί να αγγίξει το τέλειο και άρα το θείο?
Συγνώμη πρέπει να είπα πάρα πολλά.
Γιάννη, Μαρία και ¨Αννη και ¨Εμη, εδώ είμαστε μιά μικρή ..Ελληνική κοινότητα!! Η γλώσσα μας και το αλφάβητο μας είναι μουσική και .. κέντημα!!!
Σίγουρα όλοι ξέρετε ότι στην Κύπρο, στην Πάφο και Αμαθούντα, υπήρχαν τα ιερά της Αφροδίτης όπου ασκείτο η Ιερή Πορνεία.[ Καλά περνούσαν οι ... πρόγονοι!!!] Ο Χριστιανισμός τα άλλαξε όλα.
Χαιρετισμούς από την Κύπρο.
Με αγάπη,
Θέλμα xxx
it is possibly not published yet… but soon i read.
i was just interested to see the text already written surrounding the topic matter ;o) so haven’t read it myself…
And wonderful piano performance too…’Original sin..I don’t think so..’
Dearest Annie, the Sinuality …well I prefer your singing and your songs. One thing I noticed she is playing on a Bósendorfer piano. Almost as good as a Steinway!!! In the Musik Akademie of Vienna they had two Bösendorfers in every room! Paradise!
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
thank you kathleen :)
“otherwise we wouldn’t have been told to go forth and multiply”
there is the catch ! if what u said is true, and my memory of sciptures too say the same, if it’s true, then sex is given for a purpouse, only when sex is used for that purpose it’s being used validly, if sex is used for anything other than ‘to multiply’ then it’s misuse right, then it’s a temptation. now where do we stand !
love
Ty for the translation sis. Important words.
Yes Daniel. I was thinking the same yesterday. However can S&M have anything to do with sacred?
Well then I am all the above :) Must admit I am very cautious about hiking nude in the desert here, with the American laws, not to be DEPORTED hehe.
Well ladies & gents, before you have been swimming naked in the Mediterranean ocean, you have not experienced what SWIMMING ecstasy is :)
And let us not forget, for a woman it is VERY enjoyable to see a man dancing too! Paul get ready…we want to see you dance, you pick which style, waltz, salsa, break dance, tango… need I say more?
Thank you Pandora! Thank you. See, I believe we need to get back to our roots.
Love and Admiration,
Heart
an absolutely fascinating topic, Pandora …
i had no idea really…
though, thinking now..
think of all the young boys whose parents or whoever… pay for them to lose their virginity with a prostitute…
this still today a popular practice!
it certainly is a long way from sacred.
The Beltane festival
The Beltane festival in Edinburgh was a bit of an eye opener…
lots of painted naked folk
mass orgy in tippee tent on town hillside…
The festival was recently revived..
the newspaper warns of nudity and “unhibited behaviour”
If you – perhaps like Brida? – enjoy a celebration of sacred fire… then there are theatrical roles to take part in…http://www.beltane.org/
I have friends who have taken part…
though personally i don’t plan to ever return!
………
This fire festival follows a very familiar theme to the one of collecting fire and distributing its light around the village.
For instance, recently in Ghana, the fire festival took place…
many see it as an event for liberation…
but the other strange point in Ghana was how all dialogue seemed to aim to establish identity and orientate oneself to each other based on some kind of Adam/Eve narrative…
It was also strange how popular pornography has taken off in ghana… and how most of the images are of western women… who are usually seen as immoral.. and yet the men are happy to download images of white ladies onto their computers….
Sexuality and Spirituality – chapter 3
;o)
Thank you Pandora I like very much this history.
Hazel,
I hear what you are saying and I agree with you. I am Catholic which means I believe in the teachings of the church. That doesn’t necessarily mean I agree with everything the church does as a human organization. It isn’t perfect, of course, because we’re all human. You brought up an important point about providing more education to people. However, to put the entire responsibility on the shoulders of the church isn’t the best solution. It really needs to be a collaborative effort between the church, governments, and other organizations. I feel the church does a lot with the limited resources they have. Perhaps if there were more missionaries, nuns, and priests, more progress could be made.
I think the main problem is that the church tries to have universal policies for all humans. Like a “one size fits all” apporach. This, however, isn’t always feasible, especially with such a diverse world.
Thank you
Wonderful, thank you Annie.
Yes, church is made up of people (who aren’t necessarily priests). But religions are made by people who ignore or haven’t seriously thought about the impacts of it on people. Maybe all they wanted was control and they do get it. But they aren’t the only to fool people. And yes they are human beings but they need to consider their fellow men.
Γεια σου Thelma,
δεν ξέρω αν θέλεις να σου γράφω ελληνικά ή αγγλικά πες μου όμως.
Τώρα έμαθα ότι εσύ και η Annie είστε Ελληνίδες μάλλον το διορθώνω όπως θα έλεγε και η καλύτερη μου φίλη που είναι επίσης Κύπρια, Κύπρια-Ελληνίδα.
Ο ναός που αναφέρεις και χαίρομαι γι αυτό είναι ένας από τους ναούς όπου εξασκείτο η “ιερή πορνεία”.
Οι πρόγονοι περνούσαν όντως καλά γιατί είχαν τελείως διαφορετική αντίληψη για την σεξουαλικότητα και την έκφραση της.
Έχεις δίκιο ο χριστιανισμός τα άλλαξε όλα γιατί θεωρήθηκαν παγανιστικά στοιχεία σύμβολα και τρόποι μιας άλλης θρησκείας και αντίληψης που δεν καταδίκαζε τις ηδονές και τη φύση του ανθρώπου αλλά τις διαμόρφωνε με μετριοπάθεια και μάλιστα σε εξευγενισμένη μορφή βεβαίως έφτασαν να εμπνεύσουν ολόκληρο φιλοσοφικό σύστημα είμαι σίγουρη ότι γνωρίζεις τον Επίκουρο.
Ελπίζω να μην σε κούρασα.
Ελπίζω να τα πούμε σύντομα.
Thank you, Μαρία! Ι think it would be better if we ‘speak’ English here, so that everybody would understand us, especially our loving host, Paulo Coelho! He has offered us his books, his Blog but most of all his daily presence and .. company here.
As I read, Maria, it seems that you know much more than me about our religion and philosophy.. Thank you for giving me sources for knowledge.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Dear Thelma,
thank you you are very kind but i don’t really think i know more than you do.
I never meant to be direspected to our dear Paulo Coelho, i thought i wasn’t doing any harm writting in my language.
It’s OK by me. Do you think i should write the same post in english too for everybody to understand in sort of fix the damage?
With Love
Maria-Dove
I was not yet …. initiated to …. Thelema, dear BFF Heart!!!!
If they could …. promise that, I may would … consider it!!!! ;-]
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Smiling. Well, the essence of it is to do what thou willst, isn’t it? So, ultimately it means to go to the core of our desires and just go for it? But, perhaps there are rituals/methods they practice to reach to a divine level. This would be worth considering, yes ;))
Giggles,
Heart
xxx
Lil sis… it is amazing what a man will do for you with the promise of sex, so Annie, I am sure the climbing would not be an hindrance, rather even more sexiting :) And if not, there is always the park…just make sure not to get caught by the authorities! (which in America is called bush-wacking…American police used to drive up to parked cars and bush-wack young couples having sex in there)
Oh, and Carolenas joke gave me another thought…now we can understand why Paulo likes feathers!;))
Love,
Big sis.
me too having a good time laughing… hiking ecstasy is definitely a possibility…just make sure to wear something on your feet, not to have those jumping cacti ruin your pleasure ;))
Querida Mirian tu y yo pertenecemos a generaciones diferentes por eso no entiendes lo que quiero decir.
Mis conceptos están bien porque es mi experiencia, lo que he vivido y lo que me ha enseñado la sociedad que por supuesto no es la misma en la que tu naciste gracias a Dios.
Soy libre de expresar mis pensamientos tanto como tu.
Un saludo
If you consider it only logically, it is not cheating indeed. But human has both logic and emotions, so we cannot “separate” each one.
It is exactly what you said: better chances of survival. And nature always promotes that. So, does nature promote monogamy?
Animals can be either monogamic or polygamic. I have read somewhere that if a female mammal has sex with many males, the strongest spermatozoon will prevail, promising powerful offsprings. For that reason both males and females should experience polygamy.
But, wait a minute…Who is going to take care of the child, except its mother? She needs a (strong) male to bring food and protect her and her baby. That’s monogamy.
Unless you live in a pack and, no matter who the father is, all the females and males will welcome a newborn! But,…we don’t live in packs.
As I said, it is you that chooses for yourself and your relationship…
well i try to be an unconventional hiphop artist. so many people focus so hard to be like american hiphop. it’s not that i dont want to, but i like to do things with values. i absorb the good things from hiphop, and i filter the bad ones with my family values.
i am married and i have one son. and my family are one of my best teachers about life :)
thank you.
Yes, only thing to do is using the common sense.
Ha ha, try to ho out naked in the middle of the winter…lol
I am not against nudity, but I only try to say that must be in the right moment.
Concordo Luce.
spesso mi capita di rendermi conto che in realtà siamo totalmente liberi, e che Dio accetta anche i nostri sbagli e li tramuta in cose positive (ad esempio apprendiamo qualcosa).
ciao
Love.
Chris
Luce, Luce… (mi chiedo COME MAI più di una persona con la quale comunico ultimamente si fa chiamare “LUCE”?!?! Una di loro ha anche ammesso ieri la propria “cecità”) Hihi.. :-D
Se leggi meglio quello che ho scritto troverai che io NON ho scritto che Dio giudica la nostra sessualità, ma ADULTERIO.
Poi NON ho neanche detto che Dio sia cattivo ne TANTOMENO superficiale.Ho scritto che Dio è nostro PADRE AMOREVOLE e NON Padre Padrone!!!
E’ VERO che Dio ci ha dato IL LIBERO ARBITRIO, ma è anche vero che noi, esseri umani, siamo portati a ERRARE. (c’è lo abbiamo nel nostro DNA! ;-)
Gesù di Nazareth nella veste del Maestro, ci ha insegnato che la LIBERTA’ arriva da Dio, e la SCHIAVITU’ dal Demonio (Satana significa AVVERSARIO della vita degli uomini). Eppure quando Gesù ci insegnava di pregare: “PADRE NOSTRO, sia la volontà TUA…”
VUOI FORSE DIRE CHE GESU’ CI INSEGNAVA MALE?!?!?
Se ti definisci atea IO RISPETTO PIENAMENTE la tua libera scelta, ma allora non metterti di discutere sulla SPIRITUALITA’ perché gli atei non credono nelle cose del “altro mondo”; o sbaglio?!
Per quanto riguarda il PERDONO DI DIO, vorrei ricordarti che insieme a Gesù, sulle altre due croci erano giustiziati due MALviventi.(AFFLITTI forse dal MAL DI VIVERE?!)
Uno di loro HA AMMESSO LE PROPRIE COLPE ed è stato subito perdonato, un’altro DERIDEVA Gesù, dicendogli: “Se tu sei il Figlio di Dio, scendi dalla croce per dimostrarcelo!”
Parlavi di LIBERA SCELTA? Questa, se vuoi, è la DESCRIZIONE PIU’ ADATTA del LIBERO ARBITRIO, ma c’è anche la storia che MI SI ADDICE di più; è la PARABOLA DEL FIGLIOL PRODIGO!!!
Love and Peace! :-)
Firmato: Figliola Prodigo ;-)
Thanks Laxmi, I think the crux of a lot of things has been lost with time. What I don’t get is the reluctance in many religions to revise their teachings, or even question old beliefs, as though by letting go they will lose something?
With love, Daniel
sinister sex :)
sinister sex is what you do to get through life as fast as you can without having to think of what makes sense and what doesn’t. Sinister like party people, sinister like workaholics, like consuming and using way too much.
I didn’t like so much that book (a matter of choice again). Moreover, finishing it, I formed a bad idea of Brida. I don’t remember what I didn’t like exactly, because it has been more than 2 years, I read it…I think!
For some deep reason that I can’t explain, if a girl like Brida was coming in my life and I was able to sense what I sensed for her, reading that book, either I would leave her or I would stay in the relationship having in my mind that there is an “expiry date”.
I am afraid that if I try to analyze further the “why” for the above, I shall confuse you.
The subject of freedom is extremely difficult to discuss. What is freedom? When it stops? If it stops to a point, then does it lose its sense of freedom? What is that point and, consequently, where is that absolute freedom?
Someone was joking once:
If someones decides to become a “loser” in his life and he indeed manages to become a loser, then what is he? A loser? Or a successful man?
Think about it. The above phrase negates itself. Maybe the same happens with the sense of freedom.
I think, only one rule applies to (almost) everything. The Gold Cut! Too much “love” could become imprisonment. Zero “love” is hate. The gold cut for “love” is the “unconditional love”.
And also, the “gold cut” is very subjective, according to each one’s personality. YOU and only YOU can define, acknowledge and adapt YOUR gold cut.
Back to your post at the last paragraph: I totally disagree. Why should a woman turn a blind eye to her husband’s cheating? And why should a man turn a blind eye to his wife’s cheating?
What’s the point?
To keep the marriage from collapsing?
But this task was “assigned” to both of them.
Why should just one endure such situation? What about his/her mental health?
For the sake of their children?
But the children shall realize it sooner or later.
Why should those children be brought up in such neurotic environment?
Take care, Josephine!
Thank you for your reply. I base my judgements on scientific evidence provided for me by reputable Health Organisations given through the International Media.
For example:
http://www.unaids.org/en/knowledgecentre/resources/featurestories/archive/2009/20090319_preventionposition.asp
http://www.cdc.gov/condomeffectiveness/latex.htm
http://www.who.int/features/qa/71/en/index.html
It is obvious that HIV ( the virus responsible for AIDS ) is sexually transmitted as by other methods. Most experts believe that the risk of getting HIV can be greatly reduced if a condom is used properly (need for education on the use of this method in deprived areas of Africa.) It may not be 100% effective but it’s better than nothing!
I think the plant “Suderlandia Fructosate” may be very effective, but it would probably take years to get FDA approval! There is no time – people are dying of AIDS now!
Thank you for your reply.
You make a valid point regarding the cost of medicines. However I do not agree that anyone should be given a drug, plant origin or otherwise, unless it has been approved, after clinical trials, for fear of long-term side-effects.
You could argue that if a person is dying, the benefits of giving ‘Suderlandia Fructosate’ outweigh the risks. However, is this legal?
Today, the results of a study on a Vaccine for HIV have been published and this is a big breakthrough in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/16113
A new wol born! How cute!!
Annie… you too funny girl!! cracked me up! The babys’ a dreamer!
So sweet of you Supi! And this video is a great idea! Paulo’s right, we should upload our videos, it would be great seeing everyone, and imagine if we counter comment with a video response as well, that would be crazy, a great reality show! :)
I’ll check out those links, thanks Supi, although today I can’t do it, today I am having a bad hair day, and tomorrow doesn’t seem likely either because today I did something that I have NEVER in my life done before! I cooked food that was not tasty. I was in such a hurry, I barely cooked it under 5 min. There were some beans and I can really feel it now, so I’m a bit bloated HAHA….
I’m so incredibly busy, I have millions of things to do. Well, I’m getting ready for the film festival, and it’s all just so exciting… Paulo thank you so much for such an incredible opportunity and experience! There are so many treasures on my road, so much I have learned entering your world through your books, and your writing. And The Witch of Portobello, Thank you So Much!
Kisses everyone!
Hi Rosa…you probably say you like the idea of the Alchemist II, the rest I don’t understand. Of course, Paulo would never discuss his future book projects with us, so we’ll have to wait. I haven’t read the Biography, ‘the Magus’ yet. Have you?
Giggles @ Rosa
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Thank you Daniel. Great seeing your face
Hi Daniel,
I know this was for Annie. I just want to say I like your video comment a lot…and your ‘in and out…and the whole world’ very beautiful. Also make me think about ‘up and down’, I believe dreams about stair cases, symbolizes the ascending into sexuality.
Love and Admiration,
Heart
How many ice creams did you eat?
Nice to see you again.
Love
Alexandra
Gracias Daniel, me gusta mucho verte.
Heyyy… great video comment. I don’t see any slips. :P And Daniel – there is no such thing as “perfect”. Keep that in mind. Even when You strive for it. It does not excist.
I must say, I love the flowing of the videocomments.
Thanks!
Love,
Liina
Beans, beans the musical fruit
the more you eat the more you toot
the more you toot the better you feel,
so let’s have beans for every meal.
(believe this is Mexican lyric :))
Excuseme mi Inglés no es bueno. I read The Magus yes, I like very much, is Paulo´s life and I read The Song of Magus write for Herica Marmo in Brazil is a very good book.
By the way Paulo say that he wont to write to “Sacred Sex” I hope the One day write some book about this teme.
Kises for you
And Excuse my spanish Hola! I want to learn Portuguese as soon as I know for sure if/when I’m going to Brazil!
Oh, the Song of Magus isn’t translated to English yet? So here is another reason for learning Portuguese.
Great..he must do it..write about Sacred Sex…When you read this weeks comments, and also notice all the regular bloggers who haven’t said a beep this week, we can understand what a huge taboo it is for so many people. We have great responses this week, and I am more curious about this than ever. However, very few actually go into self disclosing anything about their own sexuality, so it must mean we consider it a private topic. I really believe primitive cultures are ahead of us in this case, where much even sexuality is shared and celebrated. Are you saying that you want to write about this topic too Rosa? Are you a writer too?
Kisses for you too Miha!
Heart
well i got it wrong.. my family clan motto is Dread God.. not the surname itself. But coming from a Scottish background, to dread God was a sign of reverence and respect and duty to the Lord. Religion in Scotland has always been a solemn affair… not quite the liberal expression of exhuberance that i witnessed in Ghana, West Africa. But i think i am more attuned to the conscientous, refrained and contemplative atmosphere of my own country’s church service… in a ghana church i couldn’t get used to dancing and clapping in the aisles.
For me, the motto really means to remember God… and his awesome power, which both heals and destroys…
it is a sign that humankind is endowed with grace and opportunity… and that this carries responsibility.
The only fear that comes, is when… or rather ‘if’ the devil calls out to our souls and we neglect the will of God.
that is what the motto of dread god is saying to me.
So, as long as i am faithful and trusting in myself and my own faith… then fear is not an issue.. because i am a child of God and it is my part to respect the will of God.
beautiful lines i agree ;o)
may your late 20′s be consumed by love as your sole occupation my dear ;o) x
Ahhhhhh, Annie!!!
Fish! Fish! FISH!!! :)
If I were the Little Mermaid (with a human head and torso and the tail of an aquatic animal such as a fish) I’ d look…quite sexy!!! At the same time, my tail = love and SELF-SACRIFICE.
“(…)The Little Mermaid cannot bring herself to kill the sleeping prince lying with his bride and, as dawn breaks, throws herself into the sea. Her body dissolves into foam, but instead of ceasing to exist, she feels the warmth of the sun; she has turned into a spirit, a daughter of the air. The other daughters of the air tell her she has become like them because she strove with all her heart to gain an eternal soul. She will earn her own soul by doing good deeds, and she will eventually rise up into the kingdom of God.” /”The Little Mermaid” by Hans CHRISTian Andersen/
When I was a child, I told to my mother that I were a fish that breathes air. Ooohh! Such a Labyrinth Fish I am today! :D
AND: FISH – Ichthus (ΙΧΘΥΣ, Greek for fish) = Jesus Christ, God’s son, Savior…
hehe… what if the four women had two men each and had headache, we are up to 1/32 or if the four women had four men each and headaches, wouldn’t it be 1/64 ;D
suddenly arithmetic seems a romantic subject
Excellent ! I’m laughing…so fun…thank you o))
According to some statistic the proportion between men and woman in the whole world is 1 man to 7 woman.
Now I can see what is it for.
Mother nature has thought even about those “if” eventualities…:PP :D Not fare anyway.
….
Or what would happen if he suffered “erectile disfunction”… and couldn’t deliver even 1/64th
Expensive in the divorce court…!
Ho-Ho-Ho
“and my family are one of my best teachers about life :)”
so true i have found it to be so too !
love
yes u should ! only for underatnding part, till we understand it no damage done u see !
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