~Eye-Magi-Nations Creations~
...& The Infinite Exploration of Love, Life & Self
~*~The Exploration of Sexuality in Spirituality~*~
On Amethyst Wings She flies through the night,
Igniting your fire and bringing you light.
Don’t look too deep, just look within,
Beyond all the rules, beyond all the sin.
It is only then you will ever understand,
The very simple ways of living in this land.
For inside of yourself is the only Temple you need,
To hear and see the messages that you need to heed.
Live a Peaceful, Loving & Enlightened Life.
Not one of greed, violence or strife.
For what you put out returns threefold one day.
It doesn’t matter to Whom…
Just kneel & pray.
© 2003
Discovering Your "Sacred Self"
The Sacred Self
To practice and live with Sacred Sexuality, one has to first learn to view ones self as sacred, and to view ones self as sacred, one has to have an idea of what sacred is to you. Everybody will have their own opinion of this, but the foundation and core of sacred will hold the same basics, so we will touch on some of these views and how to reach the point of finding the sacred in self and helping define this for yourself.
The first thing you need to know is that nobody can find this for you, nobody can totally define this for you, and it takes work....self work. This is a process, just like everything else, and the Wisdom and Knowledge that it takes to define this in ones self will then unfold as you yourself work through this process. Others can guide you, support you, help you and listen to you...but in the end, everything comes from within. The more work you put into finding your sacred self, the more answers will unfold for you. The harder you work, the more persistant you are, even in the hard times, the more the sacred and the meaning of it, will unfold for you.
The first step is defining the sacred self for yourself, then you can decide how you are going to carry this with you into your daily life 24/7. How do you want others to percieve you? What way do you wish to be viewed? And do you just talk the talk, or do you actually walk the walk also? It's one thing to speak of your beliefs, to speak of what you believe in and wish to be, but it is another to actually live in the terms with which you speak. If you do not recognize the beauty in yourself, the sacred in yourself and believe that you too can be a sacred being, then that thought energy is going to emitt outwardly and you will unconsciously be sending that message out to others. Think about it, one can usually tell how one feels about themself after spending just a few minutes with someone. It doesn't take long...there are key words, there is the way one carries themself, the tone of their voice, how they dress, keep their house...there are several signs and messages one can find to know how someone feels about them self. Maybe try to take a look at what your own message is.
Another step is working through issues of the past. If one has not truly done the work that it takes to get rid of outdated issues, or old judgements and resentments, then the sacred self is still going to be buried beneath all of that, and no matter how hard you try, it isn't going to come forth, you are not ready for it. This is why I say it takes work, hard work. It takes persistance. You cannot just call it quits everytime your Path puts an obstacle before you. Those obstacles serve a purpose. A purpose of building strength, a purpose of "cleaning house" within yourself. Those old outdated thoughts and negative energies have to be cleared before you can see the sacred within yourself. You have to endure the pains and struggles of cleaning yourself to build the strength to carry and walk in your sacred shoes. Everybody falls at one time or another, but it is a choice whether you stay down, or get back up and keep moving forward through your work. And everytime you get back up and continue to move forward, the stronger you get and the closer you get to discovering and/or recognizing the sacred within yourself.
A few questions for you to ask yourself to help in this area would be:
1) What grudges or resentments from the past do I still hold and why? Do they serve to positively enhance my life, or are they holding me back from my growth?
2) What work can I do to help get past these grudges/resentments?
3) How do I view myself and what energy does this bring into myself and my life as a whole?
4) How do I wish for others to view me and what am I doing to bring this forth?
5) Do I depend on myelf or do I depend on others to validate who I am and how I feel about myself?
It takes first and foremost, depending on yourself to get where you want to go. If you don't believe in yourself, why should anyone else believe in you? If you don't Love yourself, why should anyone else Love you? What kind of message are you sending out to others if you don't believe in or Love yourself? Look at how you dress, how you take care of yourself, how you carry yourself, how you talk about yourself. Then also take a look at how you treat others, talk about others...this also speaks volumes about you. If you really believe that you carry a sacred soul, then you treat everyone with a certain level of respect. You will not need to talk down about others to make yourself feel better about yourself. No matter what, everyone deserves a certain level of respect...at least the respect of "If you have nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all". Words, actions, thoughts...all carry energy within them and an aware sacred soul will at all times try to spread a positive energy wherever they go and in all they do.
Energy plays such an important role in Sacred Sexuality and one needs to be constantly aware of what sort of energy they are carrying within them and emitting to others. This is true in ones entire life, on all levels and at all times, but if you wish to truly work with sacred sexuality, then you need to learn to walk in awareness in as much of your day as you possibly can. You need to work with the frame of mind that you are building your energies for something much bigger than you, for a healing purpose for yourself, your loved one's, and All. One needs to learn to walk not just for themself, but for others as well. One grows to understand that the healthier they are, the more positive they are, the "lighter" that they are...the more positive energy also finds a way into their life.
Others will begin responding to you in a more positive manner, dark days or feelings will become less and less common for you because you will be able to get through the difficult days with a little lighter feel and mind-set and know that they will pass. Therefore you will be enabled to serve with a continued positive and lighter energy. The more you do this, the more pleasing you will be to be around and brighten those around you. Are you seeing the cycle of how this works? What you put out...returns to you three-fold. So why would anyone want to put out negative energy, if it is going to return to them?
This is why, it all begins with you. Try taking a look at the questions posed above and answer those for yourself to see what your view is. And remember, practice makes perfect. Walking in awareness doesn't happen over night. Be easy on yourself and if/when you fall, allow yourself to get back up and keep moving forward. You don't need to sit and stay and sink in the muck around you. Everyone makes mistakes...they are part of your learning experiences too.
All of life is a sacred experience and you are cheating yourself to think otherwise. You are forever evolving, you are forever learning, and you are forever experiencing life. You are also cheating yourself if you do not see the sacred in others and in their experiences as well. You have something to learn from everyone that you run into, and it is up to you to view it as such. By seeing the sacred in everyone and everything and every experience that you have, then you are also recognizing the sacred in yourself. You are bringing and invoking the sacred energies into your own life. Again, what you emitt out into the world and to others, returns to you three-fold. So when you recognize the sacred in others, this enables you to recognize the sacred in yourself and recognize the positive in even the most difficult of times or days.
Of course then this also leads into and effects your sexuality. You will start to feel better about yourself, you will begin walking with more confidence and awareness of how you effect others, and the more positive you are...the more positive others are towards you and this builds strength and confidence in yourself. You will bring this Light and Love into your sexual nature and sexual life and begin to see how this effects this aspect of your life also and you can begin to build your sexual relations in a more Sacred manner. As you begin to recognize the sacred in your partner, you will be eager to build this sacred being and empower Them to be all that They can be and shine as bright as They can, and you will recognize that you can play an important role in this happening. The more sacred you see and treat Them...the stronger the sacred becomes in Them. The stronger the sacred becomes in Them, this also returns to you. Again, this is a Dance...a Power Exchange...and a Sacred One. This enables you to serve your sacred, use your talents and energy to enhance not only your life, but that of which you serve as well. Merging of your entire life and self at all times. Walking in awareness of your Sacred Self and serving this 24/7, through yourself and others.
~In Peace, Love & Service Of~
Through the Glorious Milky-Way I swim with de'lite,
The Prayer of Constant Arousal
i happened to run across this great site this morning and i can relate with almost everything that is written here! Sooo...i'm again going to post some things here for great reminders & helpful 'notes to self'.
They are from "the submissive wife" website
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The Prayer of Constant Arousal
It is clear to me that to participate in this world, I must be awake and ready on every level of my being—body, mind, heart and soul. Indeed, the prayer of constant arousal means that not only the body, but the mind, heart, and soul are also aroused. As participants we are guided in ways of connecting these aspects of our lives. As they are all connected, when one is aroused, they all become aroused. This realization often surprises newcomers to this project.
In the beginning, it is so easy to lose focus and forget. That's natural; after all, how many of us have lived in a constant state of arousal before coming here? Simple but effective means of making sure that focus is not lost can be used to help remind you to come back, to "check in" with your consciousness and to return to a state of passionate watchfulness. You may leave simple notes for yourself with simple messages or even with just a word that can help remind you. You may choose to wear a bracelet or some other type of jewelry to help remember. In the very beginning, one simple thing may be enough, such as wearing a skirt without panties, but as you become accustomed to one way, it is likely that more will required.
The important thing is to focus on doing your best and not letting yourself become discouraged if your arousal is not constant. You must have some faith and keep trying despite any difficulties that you may experience. It is my belief that this is pleasing in and of itself. It is a way of letting go of control and opening oneself to the possibilities.
The Prayer of The Body
The Prayer of the Body
Of course, there are many experiences that elicit this response. It's often different for everyone. Standing in front, of a lilac bush, holding a baby, playing with a puppy or kitten, being the recipient of a kind gesture, or helping someone are all things of beauty that can stir one to love.
Through our senses, our mind, heart, and soul are stirred to love.
How can one love or pray with one's body? Obviously, you can do so by placing yourself in situations where your senses are stimulated. Taking time to walk in nature, to listen to music intently, and to eat good food are all ways that utilize the senses of the body. With intention, they are prayer. If you listen and if you're open, you can hear God.
For example, your work can be prayer if it's performed with love and intention. Or you can put your body in certain postures or positions or by making certain gestures. In many cultures, people bow or genuflect as a way to acknowledge God in another person or to simply show respect. In my church, for example, upon entering the building, I pause for a moment, dip my hand in holy water and make the sign of the cross, which is a prayer in which I use my body. When I reach a pew, I genuflect toward the tabernacle, to acknowledge Jesus.
During the mass, we alternate between standing, sitting, and kneeling. Each posture denotes different attitudes. Standing denotes praise, sitting is an open posture that promotes listening, and kneeling is a posture of penance and reverence. Before the gospel reading, we make the sign of the cross on our forehead, our lips, and over our heart as we say, 'May God be in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.' We often lift our hands as we pray the Our Father and we shake hands or hug as we make the sign of the peace. Some people strike their breast for emphasis during the Eucharistic prayer. When we go to receive Communion, we bow before Jesus. After mass, one may light a candle as a prayer. Upon leaving the church building, we dip our hands in the holy water again and make the sign of the cross.
Another way of praying with one's body is through meditation, where you gently, effortlessly still your body. Your breathing and all your bodily functions seem to slow and quiet. You are open and you take whatever presents itself. You are given a feeling of love and gratitude, a feeling of being lifted up. Meditation promotes awareness and perspective throughout one's day. It provides rest and nourishment for the body.
Yet, another way of praying with your body, and one we use in our disciplines here, is to maintain a high level of sexual arousal for extended periods of time. Remaining watchful enough and focused enough to do this can be a form of praying without ceasing, as Paul calls us to do in one of his letters to the Thessalonians. The mind (which is part of the body) works together with the body to achieve this high level of arousal. The principle is not unlike using breathing, posture or other natural meditative techniques to harmonize the mind and the body.
As with all forms of prayer, praying with your body by maintaining a high level of arousal requires discipline, time, effort, focus, experience and especially grace.
Is this lust? Yes. But it is a lust for obedience, for surrender, for peace. It is a holy desire. When I am praying with my body this way, I gain greater clarity. I am more fully realized as a woman. My heart opens up, I am filled with love, and I gain perspective. I feel connected to my neighbor, to God and I feel a tremendous sense of gratitude for the guidance I have been given.
And as with other forms of prayer, there are times when I experience moments of grace. I have been lifted up almost like an instrument and instead of being the one who is praying, I have felt I had become the one being prayed. My body became the vessel, filled with the Holy Spirit. I have had a feeling of being transported; it was intense and it was wonderful. There was a sense of union. Truly, it's difficult to describe these moments. But I can say that they are a gift and that they cause me to feel love. It is incredible. from "the submissive wife" website
Naturally, these moments often seem to lead to a strong, transcendent, almost meditative orgasm, although having a strong orgasm does not necessarily elicit these experiences. My mind and body help bring me there, to that edge—and then it is as though I am lifted, used, filled, i
And so the journey through this instruction goes...even when I have experienced the fruits of discipline, obedience, even of physical prayer, I can still get distracted. It is as though I must make up my mind and then live accordingly. I must do what it takes to stir myself to love, always praying for guidance, and praying that I am always guided with wisdom."
