tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84277248571742525032024-02-18T23:12:52.266-05:00Waking ErosWaking up our bodies and minds to every possibility of connection and love in our relationships.
All we want to do is love and be loved.Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-74448867015020168832015-06-23T21:23:00.000-04:002015-06-23T21:23:39.564-04:00Moving...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Introducing <a href="http://www.wakingeros.com/" target="_blank">www.wakingeros.com </a>2.0...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHjJ4jM64jD6AA3szUC2jrv7eDSrwBNJexxfbSS_WdOg9luyMViry0o_KcQ6EyCYq_LirOuw7skNiSndy16Bj7NXathNTeKtbtZyURO5eeLmSbUxMG5UUDJ-3CoKA-s1D-8cVZa0Ifsc/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-06-23+at+9.17.38+PM.png" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
All my writing will now be continuing over there... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please come join me.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Isaiah</div>
Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-43369651817646431792015-02-01T13:33:00.001-05:002015-02-01T13:33:56.426-05:00Divining the Masculine - Part 2 - The Lover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQzPGj2GrqbGtodBAgHQ5LCYxChW70qBZeNZCEuXFPBuT6yJqVToThxgYkPvfWK2X_TISP5WeUarmVVqH-TsZcCk0ijcPr68qTnHqgy2DUkw6GBE37W-yOWsh8bWt5_RI_At_S3OQkW4/s1600/Gi4bkjGip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQzPGj2GrqbGtodBAgHQ5LCYxChW70qBZeNZCEuXFPBuT6yJqVToThxgYkPvfWK2X_TISP5WeUarmVVqH-TsZcCk0ijcPr68qTnHqgy2DUkw6GBE37W-yOWsh8bWt5_RI_At_S3OQkW4/s1600/Gi4bkjGip.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
The phallus, penis, cock, dick, member, pecker, prick, putz, tool, shaft, johnson, schlong, woody, manhood has always stood as a sexual symbol and the symbol of life-force itself. There are many stories and beliefs from ancient human history which say that blood is the carrier of spirit, energy, the soul and when the blood entered into the penis and made it erect, it was incarnating spirit into flesh. This resulted in the union of human life and the holy, of the cosmos and God and was always creative and energizing. With this different perception of life... new forms and new combinations of opportunities and possibilities were born.<br />
<br />
How many forms and types of love are out there? The Greeks talked about "agape", a non-erotic love and what the Bible calls "brotherly love." The Greek God of Love, Eros, was also talked about in both a limiting sense of a phallic or sexual love and in the more precise modern day definition of an expansive sense of love as the bonding and uniting urge of all things. The Romans also had a God of love, Amor, or Cupid as we know of today, which was defined as the complete union of one body and soul with another. These forms of love, along with others are the living expression of the Lover energy in human life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYRhxsohjFJuwicuOpMley5OrRm9qClwGHDopcQsz94bMIgfmXFUMvWhCGC3XEGcvYJuEZmHK1XVIcaNlUPFm2w4DDBnkmlPyRt0gm1DQtVyZ-gRra6wCA4X2S1N06crEHIbYzm3ZWzk/s1600/2e2e21995b7d73de37d00a6835b2d147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYRhxsohjFJuwicuOpMley5OrRm9qClwGHDopcQsz94bMIgfmXFUMvWhCGC3XEGcvYJuEZmHK1XVIcaNlUPFm2w4DDBnkmlPyRt0gm1DQtVyZ-gRra6wCA4X2S1N06crEHIbYzm3ZWzk/s1600/2e2e21995b7d73de37d00a6835b2d147.jpg" /></a></div>
The Lover is the archetype of the display of healthy embodiment and being in one's sensuous pleasure and in one's own body without shame. The Lover is deeply sensually aware and sensitive to his physical surroundings in all its splendor and is connected to them all, drawn into them through his sensitivity. His sensitivity leads him to feel integrated, compassionately and empathetically with them. For the man accessing the Lover. all things are connected to each other in the most mysterious ways.<br />
<br />
A man feeling the impact of the Lover wants to feel everything, physically and emotionally, and wants to be impacted by everything. He recognizes that everything is connected and thrives on the connectedness he feels with the interior world and in the exterior world with his powerful feelings of his relationships with other people. Ultimately, he wants to experience the entire spectrum of sensual experience in everything. Not only should the lover a symbol of the joy of life in his capacity to feel at one with others and the world. He must also feel all of their pain. Other's may be able to avoid pain, but the man in touch with his "Lover" must endure it as he feels the pain and suffering of being alive-both for himself and for others.<br />
<br />
There is a shadow and dark side of the "Lover". A man who is caught in the shadows of the lover will be caught in destructive habits and patterns of not putting any limits on his sensual and sexual experiences in this vast universe that we live in. The addicted Lover says, "The universe holds a never-ending supply of pleasures, why should I limit my access to it?". He becomes a victim to his own sensitivities and becomes enmeshed into the sensations.<br />
<br />
We can get caught in the fire of loving, immersed in the misery and the joy of our own cravings that we become unable to step back and act from a distance, unable to come back to ourselves, to detach and observe our feelings from a distance. Many lives and relationships are ruined because people cannot distance themselves from damaging partnerships and relationships. Whenever we feel ourselves caught in an addictive relationship, we had better beware, because the chances are very good that we have become victims of the Shadow Lover. A man possessed by the addicted Lover is really a man possessed by his own personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. He is devastated.<br />
<br />
The addict as shadow of the lover is a byproduct from childhood into adulthood. The child became absorbed into the Mother and is still within the Mother, and is struggling to get out. It has become so<br />
painful that in order to break free he must destroy the alluring and enchanting "feminine" beauty that is keeping him from experiencing his manhood. This need to detach from and to contain the power of the "feminine'' may also account for our masculine sexual perversions, especially those perversions that show up in unhealthy sexual activity and in the violent sexual humiliation of women.<br />
<br />
In the shadow of the lover, men will learn the advantage of boundaries the most difficult way. He will learn that his lack of mature masculine formation, lack of discipline, his resulting infidelities, and his authority issues will surely get him into trouble. He will be fired from his jobs, and the women in his life who loves him dearly will eventually leave him.<br />
<br />
What happens when we feel that we are out of touch with the mature masculine Lover in all his fullness? We are then possessed by the powerless lover. We will be living our lives in an asleep kind of way. We will "feel" have a lack of enthusiasm, and be missing the aliveness for life. We may have trouble getting up in the morning and trouble going to sleep at night. We may find ourselves increasingly isolated, alienated from our family, our co-workers, our friends, our lovers and our own desires.<br />
<br />
Men who are habitually possessed by the powerless lover are consistently depressed. They feel a lack of connection with others and are cut off from themselves. When we ask what they are feeling, they will have absolutely no idea... He may say, "I don't know. I just feel I'm in this cloud." This often happens when the powerless lover is getting so close to really ''hot" material. What happens, is that a shield goes up between the conscious Ego and his feeling.<br />
<br />
When we are allowing the fullness of the Lover into our lives, and keeping our Ego structures<br />
in tact, we feel connected, alive, compassionate, empathic, energized. and romantic about ourselves, our intentions, our purpose, and our successes. It is the Lover, properly accessed, that gives us a sense of meaning-a connection to spirit. The Lover is the source of our longings for a better world for ourselves and others. "I have come to bring you a passion for living, that you might access it more generously."<br />
<br />
The Lover maintains his access to feeling the real life situations of our fellow human beings struggling in a difficult world. Our negative self talk, degrading our vitality and our "innate goodness" begins early in our lives. Many of us may have so repressed the Lover in us that it has become very hard for us to feel passionate about anything in our lives. The trouble with most of us is not that we feel too much passion, but that we don't allow ourselves to feel our passion much at all. We push away our feelings of joy. We don't feel able to be alive and to live our lives the way we wanted to live them the way we imagined them being from the start. We may even think that "feelings" and, in particular, our feelings, are annoying obstructions and wrong for a man. We CANNOT surrender our lives... we need to live our lives more abundantly and, only then, will we be able to empower others to live fully, perhaps for the first time in their lives.<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-16662484729666172432014-12-21T20:40:00.002-05:002014-12-21T20:40:49.706-05:00Divining the Masculine - Part 1 - The Disappearance of Masculine Ritual Processes <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01WPM0tIofMEvrJNOt8jFriqkbS1DXk9sXZGk9oy5Hz750_Q5EKlkAbMv3e6P9EVtT4prQCIfVmgTHsNcuWT7f-PCZy73yOs8gRPSQ0n_qyluWs-vt9NePX-jkUDmeyrT6lg1MuW_rbk/s1600/shiva.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01WPM0tIofMEvrJNOt8jFriqkbS1DXk9sXZGk9oy5Hz750_Q5EKlkAbMv3e6P9EVtT4prQCIfVmgTHsNcuWT7f-PCZy73yOs8gRPSQ0n_qyluWs-vt9NePX-jkUDmeyrT6lg1MuW_rbk/s1600/shiva.jpg" height="200" width="193" /></a></div>
Recently, I have experienced friendly and intense discussions with clients and close friends about "divining the masculine" and what that might mean. With all the talk out there about women coming into their "divine feminine" power and sexuality which is so incredibly beautiful and crucial to the evolution of humanity and I want to support that evolution in anyway I can. At the same time I find it just as important to bring the conversation around the divine masculine more into the light. <br />
<br />
The ideas which are so pertinent and relevant to this conversation are the philosophies and archetypical descriptions presented by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Warrior-Magician-Lover-Rediscovering/dp/0062506064/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406311874&sr=8-1&keywords=king+warrior+magician+lover" target="_blank">Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette in their book, King, Warrior, Magician, Lover.</a> Moore and Gillette present a jungian introduction to the evolving masculine. We need to remember that men have been responsible for the industrial revolution, the suppression and maltreatment of women, the rape of the land through agriculture and bio-engineering, and the feminine got disgusted enough to start the feminist movement because they were not happy how men were exercising their immature masculine power. Homo-phobia is also a big area that needs to get addressed which keeps us separated from each other in a hierarchal structure. It is my intention to help men take responsibility for the destructiveness of the immature masculine and help them evolve into the mature, divine masculine. <br />
<br />
The evolution of the divine feminine has well taken off as we watch (and even hope for) Hillary Clinton decide to run for the US Presidency, Margaret C. Whitman as CEO of Hewlett Packard and even Drew Faust as President of Harvard. What does that mean to the mature, divine masculine and how does it play out for the men on the planet? How do men walk the path in their own mature divine masculine along side the women who are in their own divine feminine? What is that going to look like? This isn't about superiority or suppression, patriarchy or matriarchy, feminism or competition. This is about finding balance and integration and polarity with the intent to best support each others' growth with love and compassion, with the good of the whole as the goal. We need to become even more intimate with each other's challenges and suffering to witness the goodness that pours out of all of the pain so we evolve together. Change is happening and it's a new holy chapter in the human evolution. We all need to get on board!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://soulselfliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/masculine-feminine-balance3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://soulselfliving.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/masculine-feminine-balance3.jpg" height="320" width="304" /></a></div>
<br />
Since the invention of agriculture, the expansion of capitalism and the industrial revolution men have been in engaged in high degrees of forward movement (a masculine trait) and competition with each other to gather more food, money, land and therefore prestige (or a false sense thereof) due to their presumed success. The good of the human collective ("inclusion" is a feminine trait) was hardly ever the main goal, mostly personal gain. Don't get me wrong, this was and still is a vital part of our human evolution, even today. Since modern science and a technical world view has come onto the scene we have lost our contact with the great mystery of life and life's circumstances in exchange for something more tangible. The fact still remains... our existence, life and death is the great mystery and there is no way around it.<br />
<br />
As a result of all this forward technological movement, men have lost connection to ritual, ceremony and traditions. Men are no longer hunting together for food in their tribes with the inclusive intention of feeding the tribe through the winter. Right now men are sitting in their business circles with main objectives of making profit for themselves. All of this has left men with feelings of disconnection and isolation from their male counterparts. First, we have lost the sacred space component of initiating boys into manhood for joining the military. Second, wisdom from our elders have been lost because we are not hearing the stories from our forefathers being passed down to future generations of men in these sacred containers. <br />
<br />
We have lost our connection with the land, with rituals and traditions that have been a long defining part of understanding what it means to be a man as nature, not separate from nature. Men need to expand their understanding to the divine relationship to power, to sexuality, while living in life's mystery and all the while, supporting each other through this learning process. <br />
<br />
Many of us seek the generative, affirming, and empowering father (though most of us don't know it), the father who, for most of us never existed in our actual lives and won't appear, no matter how hard we try to make him appear. We have lost connection with our ability to feel our deepest emotions of grief, sadness and shame along with the healthy ways of expressing them. Many boys are growing up with an absent father, not absent in the physical realm but, emotionally absent because we have not been taught to feel, only to suppress those feelings. "Stop your crying...big boys don't cry", is a common theme. <br />
<br />
In order for a mature masculine to come into being there needs to be a death or a symbolic death and a re-birth, like the death of boyhood and a birth into manhood. Symbolic death is always a vital part of any initiatory ritual, the boy Ego must "die." The old ways of being and doing and thinking and feeling must ritually "die" before the new mature man can emerge and be born. Effective, transformative initiation rituals/ceremonies does away with the Ego and its desires in its old form and resurrecting a new, subordinate relationship to a previously unknown and mysterious high divine power or God. The power of mature masculine energies always develops a new masculine personality that is marked by calm, compassion and clarity of vision.<br />
<br />
We are right in the middle of a dilemma, lacking adequate role models of mature men, and in need of societal structures in conjunction with encouraging support systems for bringing about ritual processes. Instead, sadly, it's ''every man for himself", and it is not sustainable anymore. Most men will fall by the wayside, with no idea of what we are supposed to be doing as a man or what went wrong with our masculine desires. There is an underlying sense of anxiety, on the verge of feeling impotent, helpless, frustrated, put down, unloved and unappreciated, and often shame and insecurity of owning our strong, powerful, masculine energies. We can feel that our creativity is being attacked, that our initiative is met with hostility, that we are ignored, belittled, and not knowing how to transcend the past. So then we cave in to a brutally competitive world, making our work the highest priority while trying to keep our relationships afloat, always feeling like we are losing energy, or missing the mark and feeling isolated.<br />
<br />
As I am a student of evolving human life's process, I believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. It's this good news for men (as well as women) that all we want to do is share the goodness for the benefit of everyone.<br />
<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong2217351832" name="gsSong2217351832" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=22173518&style=water&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=22173518&style=water&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Michael%20Jackson%20Man%20in%20the%20Mirror" title="Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson on Grooveshark">Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object>Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-47467130647774653462014-08-22T12:44:00.000-04:002014-08-22T12:44:19.119-04:00A Walk In The Park....<a href="http://0.static.wix.com/media/11f74c_1fbb99a403224f830ad7541fbc678d96.jpg_1024" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://0.static.wix.com/media/11f74c_1fbb99a403224f830ad7541fbc678d96.jpg_1024" height="320" width="247" /></a>Glorious days in Maine when the summer sunlight dims earlier in the day and makes the radiance of openness even more glorious. <br />
<br />
It just wouldn't be the same without being greeted by the saucy Water-monkies in their chic hats.<br />
<br />
Sexy summer garb donning all the beautiful people, appreciating being alive, the joys of the simplicities when automobile parking is a breeze :-) <br />
<br />
Being served pleasure in service to the greatest becoming... madame sunset glaring through sunglasses making known the end of the day where our perspectives are demanded to shift.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GviFrdhLUKkZV3ojgWjZ54wqgqmqGuXSOe0HSNr3P4YRFSKfRGrp-ntED2_EjGyzHKpWhkZTVALRz-cJg6qTS2qynOH7Q1BVSTxMFdu9L-oWzUBMFOgTTMZtaIyEdttbMDqj2PYyzrM/s1600/beer+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5GviFrdhLUKkZV3ojgWjZ54wqgqmqGuXSOe0HSNr3P4YRFSKfRGrp-ntED2_EjGyzHKpWhkZTVALRz-cJg6qTS2qynOH7Q1BVSTxMFdu9L-oWzUBMFOgTTMZtaIyEdttbMDqj2PYyzrM/s1600/beer+041.JPG" height="226" width="320" /></a>The hint of a tilted smile spins the perfect beginning to the most attentively and appropriately planned, fashionably late, evening.<br />
<br />
<br />
Fruits of the sea spread in ritz cracker irresistibility... a delicacy to all and nobody could ever disagree!! <br />
<br />
Dusk falls upon the convergence of the Salmon and Cocheco in shades of orange and purple. Life is alive on the waterfront.<br />
<br />
Ruthie Foster beckons as a detour from the perennial gardens that the beloved knows are some the beauties of the earth. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.protectkitterywaters.org/img/frisbees_gundalow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.protectkitterywaters.org/img/frisbees_gundalow.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></div>
Strawberry Banke met Madame Gundalow this evening as a reminder of life's past and simpler ways of life... while the USS Miami screams from across the water telling us how far we've come... and how far we still need to go. A soft whisper in the ear... "Balance", says Prescott P., revealing her sexy curves so very graciously,<br />
<br />
at every step...<br />
the brush-by of a new body...<br />
the freshness of intrigue...<br />
two left feet...<br />
taking it all in...<br />
the great mystery...<br />
anything is possible!... <br />
Do palms only meet upon contractual agreement? <br />
Pinch me?...<br />
Oh, wait just a minute...<br />
<br />
The formal garden demands full attention with her choreography of water and colored light dancing with the birds in the pond.<br />
<br />
Wisdom of ancient trees downloading valuable messages while God delivers an invitation to live your best life...<br />
<br />
Love is all it is. Love is all you are.Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-12082195279547386412014-08-01T14:07:00.000-04:002014-08-01T14:20:18.653-04:00Death is Eros - A Hospice Love Affair<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigihrrLiTWckS6axKuxg1k76Ugtk2WhMZioA5ADSQMobT9AS2KTIhIGWjmSAg4qAwdHOA4MYqxhSN7TeqnzNupU3YolOltpwwgKJ9OozZEWU5J7Zv8gGiOPJdBXhUcodZ1ye3coZR_m4/s1600/OncePrickedWITHCOLOR.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigihrrLiTWckS6axKuxg1k76Ugtk2WhMZioA5ADSQMobT9AS2KTIhIGWjmSAg4qAwdHOA4MYqxhSN7TeqnzNupU3YolOltpwwgKJ9OozZEWU5J7Zv8gGiOPJdBXhUcodZ1ye3coZR_m4/s1600/OncePrickedWITHCOLOR.png" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
The dying process was, and continues to be a curious fascination and something always drew me in closer to try to understand some realm of the mystery. Dealing with loss and grief around the dying process has long been a part of my life. Witnessing, encouraging and being with feelings of grief, sadness, shame and anger from others when someone close was dying was always an easy thing for me. When others displayed resistance to be present with their feelings and present with the dying, it made it feel more of a natural place for me to operate from. This witnessing strengthened my ability to stay and be present with whatever was happening in my own emotional state and be present with others around me who were going through their own individual process. The time had come for me to spend more of my time with the dying and supporting the death and dying process for the families through Hospice work. Never in my life would I have anticipated having such a love affair like I am about to tell you about...<br />
<br />
After many years of being a hospice volunteer I received a call from my coordinator saying they had a unique opportunity for me. I enjoyed getting those phone calls from hospice, when they found a client or a family who desired someone to come into their home to have conversation. I was presented with a very different situation... “Alice"…a 98yr old Jewish woman, lived in her own apartment, still had her complete wits about her, wasn’t afraid of speaking her mind and clearly expressed her desires to stay and live out her last days in her own home. The call came as Alice had just fired her previous volunteer. This volunteer reported back to Hospice that Alice’s apartment was little cluttered and dirty and placed a judgment on Alice’s living situation that should have been different then it really was. As it turned out, there really wasn't an issue after all, only the volunteer’s lack of better judgment to respect Alice's needs. When Hospice came in to investigate, Alice immediately got upset with the accusations from her volunteer and promptly fired them. After the investigation, Alice was asked if she wanted to try another volunteer and she had special requests after this situation…this time, Alice wanted a young and handsome man to come over to her home. It just so happened that I was the youngest hospice volunteer and just so happened to be a man. After I got the details of the situation I immediately knew this was an assignment for me, so I called Alice and arranged a time to pay her a visit.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFA0N43b34YJ1WsKwwp5I-dNoFZYdW0WUZ8n9aW3-YpC509x69QQ6TgOBhT-0VSKYSWm5PMTAjbEayLv0c7ie0Yflanwvk6jL47hwT7LcL8ETvKWqqeE2pVPoMHVU_3K-72_I1sv5GGg/s1600/hospice-live-sky-and-road-cropped-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFA0N43b34YJ1WsKwwp5I-dNoFZYdW0WUZ8n9aW3-YpC509x69QQ6TgOBhT-0VSKYSWm5PMTAjbEayLv0c7ie0Yflanwvk6jL47hwT7LcL8ETvKWqqeE2pVPoMHVU_3K-72_I1sv5GGg/s1600/hospice-live-sky-and-road-cropped-2.jpg" height="197" width="320" /></a>Promptly on time I arrived at Alice's apartment, was greeted by her caregiver, got introduced to Alice and was invited in to sit down. Immediately I could feel in the air that there was chemistry between the two of us. After talking for only a few minutes we discovered we had a lot in common, we both grew up in Jewish households, had an appreciation for music and dancing, loved spending time in the Catskills, and visiting Boston and New York City (where Alice grew up). Alice eventually moved to Maine with one of her five, yes FIVE, husbands she wound up burying over the course of her life. Alice made it really clear to me that she was going to be around for a while and wasn't ready to go, no matter what anyone might have said to me. Alice had a zest for life that was unmatched by even some of the young people in my life, which was such a turn on for me. What humored me a lot was that Alice wanted to make sure I understood there was no way I was ever going to be able to keep up with her stamina for life. “Remember how many husband’s I buried”, she said. I always conceded while telling her that I could only do my best and try to go at her pace. “You can try, but remember the other men in my life couldn’t do it”, Alice would say. Alice didn’t waste any time deepening into the intimate spaces of her life during my first visit with her. Alice said she wanted me to do most of the talking the next time I came over. As I was soon to leave, I asked Alice "When do I get to see you again?"... And she proceeds to tell me how busy she is in her life and isn't sure when or if she might have the time to see me. Resorting to a behavior that I am not familiar with...begging… "But, Alice, I would really like to see you again”, and after going around a couple times in my begging fashion, Alice conceded and allowed me to set up a time to come and see her the following week.<br />
<br />
The commitment I make to my clients is to visit them once a week for at minimum of a couple of hours. Building a rapport, let alone an emerging intimacy like in this case with Alice, takes time and I pledge my devotion to make the connection happen! So, off I went to see Alice again. The time I spent with her this time was about listening to her life's disappointments. Alice was disappointed with her family, with the rabbi’s at the temple’s she has paid dues to, disappointed that her husbands left her alone, unfulfilled expectations in her caregivers and even with the bigger hospice picture. After listening to her for what seemed to be a long while I questioned her, "Do you really want to take all this disappointment and resentment with you to the other side?", and by me asking that question opened up the floodgates, "YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING YET", and off Alice went on additional rants about more disappointments in her life. It was then I realized what I was supposed to be doing with her. I was there to be a conduit, to receive Alice’s downloads of her life so she could at least minimize them inside her mind and let them go as she needed to into the universe. Following that realization…I sat in my chair, restructured my posture, put my two feet firmly flat on the floor which allowed her words and energy behind the words to pass through my body as I asked questions to try to get her to download even more of her anger, resentments and disappointments so she did not have to hold on to those negative energies anymore. It was such a holy and sacred way for me to be serving Alice as a receiver of her life’s disappointments, I was honored. My dance with Alice continued week after week, playing hard to get and being too busy to make additional plans to see me and making sure I knew there was no way I would ever be able to keep up with her.<br />
<br />
My visits with Alice continued at least once a week and after about a month, evolved into sometimes twice a week. There were a couple of times I entered into Alice’s apartment when the hospice nurse was leaving and was told she would not make it through the weekend. I still came inside, sat by her bed, held her hand, told her I was there with her as she squeezed my hand back. Alice's words were true, she was not ready to go and pulled through time and time again. During the next month or so, Alice experienced a series of mini strokes and every time she pulled through and came back home with very little evidence of having a stroke. It was obvious to me that God was not ready to have Alice just yet because she had some sort of unfinished business. <br />
<br />
My connection and deepening intimacy with Alice continued as she made sure when I came over it was first to meet her family and then to hang out while her family was there. Maybe Alice was showing off her new "boyfriend" or maybe it was because I was providing some degree of comfort for everyone around because it was so stressful for the family to interact with each other in a loving and compassionate way. Alice scheduled my visits with her when she knew her family would be there and when I arrived, gave me center stage as she asked whoever was there in her home to clear a space so I could sit close to her. This was not a traditional hospice volunteer assignment and everyone in the room knew there was something more going on then just a hospice volunteer paying a visit. Alice continued playing hard to get with me and I played along. <br />
<br />
Hospice would call me pretty regularly asking why I wasn't going to see Alice? My initial response was smiles and laughter thinking that maybe Alice was really workin’ it to get me over to see her more and wasn't able to tell me to my face. Imagining my laughter was confusing to hear on the other end of the phone, and after explaining myself, Alice was calling hospice as she was having ongoing memory issues to contend with following the strokes she was having. Alice was not remembering that I may have been there on the same day she was calling or that I may have been on my way over to see her. It was worth a good laugh and on the inside because I knew I was having this beautiful, erotic love affair with Alice, feeling her desire and longing to be with me. I was experiencing the adoration, love and commitment we had to each other through the final days of her life. It was really sweet!<br />
<br />
Alice has her 99th birthday and was excited about celebrating with everyone in the building and she could care less about what people would think about me coming in to celebrate with her. Alice insisted on celebrating her life along with me, so she throws herself a party. Alice invited me to be there and, unfortunately, I was unable to go. One of the protocols in hospice is that we are not supposed to receive or give any gifts. I broke the rules and brought her a small bouquet of flowers before her party which went off without a hitch and was a sign that God was still not ready to take Alice away. From that point on I felt an increased commitment to Alice and would see her twice a week. I continued to be present through another series of mini strokes, through disagreements with her family and through a challenging time when her granddaughter came out to be a paid caregiver for her. It was obvious that there was tension between the two of them. <br />
<br />
Another couple weeks went along before my phone rang, yet again, from Hospice. My eyes rolled in my head with a big smile as I anticipated what the familiar conversation was going to be. How wrong was I! Alice suffered another stroke and this time she needed more specialized after care. I got a call from the hospice social worker and she told me of the situation and asked if I could come over. I dropped whatever it was I was doing at that time and went to be with her. What happened was a shock to me, Alice was admitted to St. Joseph's hospice suite... WHAT? “Uh Oh”, was my immediate reaction. A Jewish lady who was super clear she wanted to be at home and her family just admitted her to a catholic assisted living facility...OMG, I’ve never seen Alice this pissed off before in all the months I spent listening to her anger and disappointments. She was so pissed off that her entire family was there, the hospice social worker as well as the hospice volunteer coordinator. As soon as I walked in, Alice immediately called me over and wanted me to be at her side. When Alice’s anger had subsided, it was agreed by everyone to get all the necessary supplies to her home ASAP and she would get back there as soon as those supplies were in place. Alice was somewhat relieved while she asked me to take down the crucifix that was on the wall across from her bed. Little things do make all the difference sometimes. I told Alice I would come to visit her in a couple days after she got settled back at home and she was ok with that.<br />
<br />
I arrived at Alice's apartment a few days after the incident at St. Joseph’s and was greeted at the door by the hospice nurse, once again telling me they didn't think she was going to make it through the day. I looked at them out of the corner of my eye with a look of "yea, right...not again?” yet this time they were serious. There was a brand new caregiver there who was not just new to the family, it was also her first ever assignment and was brand new to caregiving work. There was also a close friend of Alice's in the room, the granddaughter of the 5th husband she buried, ShariLyne. As it turned out, ShariLyne was the one who took Alice to all her doctors’ appointments, to the grocery store, picking up her medications, etc. and she was the one who did a lot of the day-to-day necessities for Alice. I realized later that ShariLyne played an integral role in Alice's life and especially during the last months of her life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpiqwPqlLnrbQ57UfTBKm2d_qfX_5WRtgQE2Kym-PtZ4VV095h-Zpj7ezV8p9lfowaxUq0FN7i-809JeHq0y665njCIXc82OOgdnRUj54Vs4jxidnMi2u8omPlFo0deGWnAUDsL9WMVY/s1600/gpag17.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpiqwPqlLnrbQ57UfTBKm2d_qfX_5WRtgQE2Kym-PtZ4VV095h-Zpj7ezV8p9lfowaxUq0FN7i-809JeHq0y665njCIXc82OOgdnRUj54Vs4jxidnMi2u8omPlFo0deGWnAUDsL9WMVY/s1600/gpag17.gif" height="320" width="310" /></a></div>
After walking in, Alice was all setup in her bedroom with all accouterments to keep her comfortable in her last days of life. She was going through periods of breathing and not breathing (called "apnoea"). Alice was visibly unconscious. I pulled up a chair, grabbed her hand and started talking to her. I told her that she was home just like she wanted to be and that I was there with her and I wasn't going anywhere, I was right where I wanted to be and did not want to be anywhere else. I spoke to Alice and reflected on our time together, the love we had for each other, how much I appreciated her tenacity for life, and the dancing we were doing together no matter what our age differences may have been. It was clear to me right then that Alice was well on her way to transitioning to the other side. I could feel the emotions welling up inside of me as I was holding her hand and hearing the low tones of the bit of conversation going on in the other room. Alice took her final breaths and passed on.<br />
<br />
The new caregiver was a little freaked out by Alice's passing and mentioned she had formal "protocol" following the death of a client. I asked her to wait a minute because Alice deserved an honoring of her life as I felt her presence still in the room. We all stood there around her bed and held a vigil, saying the things we needed to say to remember the beauty of the woman she is and and paying homage to such an amazing being. It was an amazing and magical time to be able to experience the deep appreciation and love for Alice while in attendance at the exact time of her death. After everything was said that needed to be said, the process was started, the phone calls made and people started to arrive… family, hospice, the ambulance and it was then I knew it was time for me to leave. I walked to the elevator, down to the ground floor, into my car and I lost it… all my emotion came rushing out of me, the tears and wailing poured out and I didn't think there would be an end to it. I was paralyzed in my grief and sadness and I did not know where to go or what to do. I was fortunate enough to pick up my phone and call a couple of friends who I told what was going on and was able to land with them and they were able to hold me in my grief and my experience. Thank you Rosemary and Thank you Sharon!<br />
<br />
I received a call from hospice the next day checking in on me and was so sweet. Being able to experience someone’s death like that is a rare occurrence for anyone and an even rarer one for a hospice volunteer. Alice's family communicated through hospice that they wanted me to say a few words at her funeral and be a pallbearer. Everyone recognized the role I was playing with Alice at the end of her life and honored me with a beautiful gift to be able to have more intimate closure with the family funeral rituals and ceremonies rather than on my own with hospice. I was grateful to the family for that offering. I continue to tell this story about my love affair with Alice to new hospice volunteers and others who might be interested.<br />
<br />
My love and deep admiration continues for Alice, for hospice, for the people who are drawn to the work and I take a lot of pleasure keeping Alice alive through telling this story.Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-74500146607799088552014-07-19T13:12:00.003-04:002014-07-19T16:25:17.351-04:00An Evolution Into Post-Conventional RelationshipWhat relationship type do you adhere to? Conventional monogamy...open relationship... polyamory... relationship anarchy... non-monogamy... and what I am going to call... post-conventional relationship? With all the talk out there about how human beings aren't meant for monogamous relationships, there are many other labeled options. Each one of these options is beautiful and each has their own rules and path, but you have to know what some of the rules are before you choose to enter into them. However, should you decide you want to engage the post-conventional, you are saying you want to live on the edge. You don’t want to take yesterdays discoveries for granted because you want to include your important learnings of the past and transcend into tomorrow's learning and re-engage the fullness of every moment. That is not for the timid or weak of heart.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC-9qjsNKZjqCiHh4bub-R-933kWOFpviTy38uOIujmyEqajE8-I33DQpSASNuohkx9wvFpIV_bROVOgtN1pXAhZYomGS2Pt-vCkX3Aj8xjZu5zMjcv5L7HfbUAHI66Ti6tV3GLfTmOY/s1600/relationship+diagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSC-9qjsNKZjqCiHh4bub-R-933kWOFpviTy38uOIujmyEqajE8-I33DQpSASNuohkx9wvFpIV_bROVOgtN1pXAhZYomGS2Pt-vCkX3Aj8xjZu5zMjcv5L7HfbUAHI66Ti6tV3GLfTmOY/s1600/relationship+diagram.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://reflectionsfromleanne.blogspot.com/2011/07/love-lust-or-lasting-friendship.html" target="_blank">Reflections From Le Anne</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A question that continually arose in my head ...what is the difference between the conventional (monogamous) relationship and a genuine post-conventional relationship and what are some of the key distinctions? The nature of classical polyamory today can be described as an escape from commitment. Why do I have to be with you when I can be with another person? Or, I don't have to be with you because I have another. To be involved with more than one person in an intimate relationship means to be more committed, and not less. The key distinction and an essential piece here is <b>commitment</b>. The big difference between polyamory and genuine post conventionality is that there is a deep commitment to the other and that commitment is demonstrated as an essential responsibility to each other's growth and unfolding. If you’re willing to actually step up to this way of operating in a post conventional relationship, then, from each person you are involved with, you are committed to be working on a different dimension of your life and be committed to working on a different dimension in their life. There is a commitment to be involved in each other's lives and I am holding a piece of your story and that you are holding a piece of my story. The commitment means that I have something to learn from this person and I have to be willing to be impacted by them in the most profound of ways. The commitment means that you are committed to the emergence of the other's story, supporting and encouraging their evolution into the highest and best version of themselves.<br />
<br />
If you are committed to being involved as a sexual lover; remember that being a lover means to be a giver. To be a giver is to be committed to the growth of the other. Sexuality and our contact with each together is part of that commitment. We agree to not just do casual sex, because when you do casual sex, in the end, there is a greater exposure and vulnerability that in someways goes bad because sex is never just sex, sex is holy and a sacred contract. Sex is ethics and ethics is not casual. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTsw4nElR0Gicvfh2bKfHMwV16Fe7Vc95wFIPBwn0TsRQjgD0b59crlOYqL3useR8QSzSZK5pfJDYwboEwTEA8Apbb_i-K-fXHQ-w2pKVRhWG4VSq3rqhHVesyOvAWHwN6iM14aG7sk0/s1600/polyamory-its-complicated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTsw4nElR0Gicvfh2bKfHMwV16Fe7Vc95wFIPBwn0TsRQjgD0b59crlOYqL3useR8QSzSZK5pfJDYwboEwTEA8Apbb_i-K-fXHQ-w2pKVRhWG4VSq3rqhHVesyOvAWHwN6iM14aG7sk0/s1600/polyamory-its-complicated.jpg" height="140" title="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFZ8gTe1x9E5NfJK7vb05vaNIDOIYuH_IM2J7jSXiNVDMHm1mt0SUTP6wismildUTbScNkZR3JeTrfDdufbG6QUG8Jnvj0w7DHcxMBCt-r58f7XVoNlQ7P6I05iO-iQQ4xIV7KP1ldR8/s320/relationship+diagram.jpg" width="200" /></a>I've been curious to explore and dive even deeper to this area of commitment, to discover and possibly even figure out (or even create) some of the answers to what commitment means and what levels of commitment are involved inside of a post-conventional relationship. If you are involved (or deciding to become involved) in a genuine post-conventional relationship that says you are even more committed...not running away from the hard stuff, with a commitment to the self and a commitment to the other. <br />
<br />
The first key aspect of commitment is time. If I’m involved with you then I’m committed to giving you a certain amount of time and we have to negotiate to decide what that amount of time is. This time commitment could mean that we write once a week, visit each other once a month or even twice a year, it might mean that we are together for a certain amount of time as long as we have that certain amount of time available. When the agreed upon or the right amount of time is not available anymore then we close down that dimension of the commitment. Lets say I want to be intimately involved with five people, I have to be willing to be committed to five people and each of them at a different level. This is why it’s hard to be committed to 20 people, we just don’t have the time. Post conventionality is a higher level of obligation, a higher time commitment then classical conventional monogamy. <br />
<br />
The second aspect of commitment is saying you are willing to open yourself up to the new revelations that every day presents to us and not basing yourself in the precedent of yesterday. Sexual permissions of yesterday are not sexual permissions of today. Just because we had a sexual relationship yesterday doesn’t mean we will have one today. Another revelation, which isn't so profound, is that there are different stages of life. You can have a stage of life where you are profoundly post conventional and then you can move to a stage of life where you say that you are not going to do the post conventional anymore and want to move into a classical monogamous relationship. This isn't because you aren’t interested in the post conventional or that you shifted your position, but because at different times of life, different expressions work differently, both for better and worse. <br />
<br />
The third aspect of commitment is creating ease, grace and drama free transitions. We negotiate our time commitment to each other, deciding what we are going to be doing together and then an issue comes up and someone gets busy… and there isn’t time anymore. Then what? You need to keep checking in, you need to create a spaciousness, you need to be relaxed, at ease, with a lightness around these transitions…no trauma no drama. You don’t create false drama; you are in the presence of the moment, holding it seriously and lightly. You have to look very carefully at what exactly the gift you are giving and what the gift you are receiving in every single relationship that you have to help make the transitions happen.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
The fourth aspect of commitment is to be willing to liberate the other when you are not able to give to that person what they need. You are continually re-engaging the relationship, that is why it always requires commitment. You also have to be responsible enough to end the sexual aspect of the relationship when its time…we negotiated a container for the sexual part of our relationship for period of time, now we don’t have a container for it anymore and we don’t let the sexual engagements become a perpetual habit. In addition, when the negotiated amount of time is not available then we close down that dimension of the commitment to possibly renegotiate another agreement.<br />
<br />
At a certain point in any type of relationship, you can see that the relationship begins to have a life of its own and we become committed to working through the issues that come up. If both people are committed to working things out then that changes the game. You have to work out what the sacred tradeoffs are. These tradeoffs or concessions happen in every relationship in order to create or get to the higher and unique “we” of the relationship. The relationship needs to be allowed to develop into the unique “we” and at the same time, the relationship needs to support the individuals. For example, if someone in the relationship isn’t willing to play, say in the realm of post-conventional or BDSM or anything else, are you able to liberate the other to play? Consider what desires and gifts you are bringing to the table. What desires and gifts is your partner is bringing to the table. How you are giving to each other. And asking, are we growing? We need to answer those questions in every single situation, whether monogamous or not.<br />
<br />
I believe we all try to figure out how to do all of our relationships well, in a compassionate and loving way. Our individual desires are continually evolving and growing and changing. Let's do the best we can to put our ego's aside to support each other to become the people we want to become within the sacred container of a 'we' space, no matter what type of relationship we choose to operate from!<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong2639913353" name="gsSong2639913353" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=26399133&style=wood&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=26399133&style=wood&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=New%20Order%20Bizzare%20Love%20Triangle" title="Bizzare Love Triangle by New Order on Grooveshark">Bizzare Love Triangle by New Order on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-67920830062776222632014-07-15T21:36:00.001-04:002014-07-26T11:23:43.010-04:00The BDSM Mysticism - Domination and Submission<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsdSRhswNfxBN3nQaJhHOFK9XvoNzeNTpTno_hCKP_d4aGbsJNj3PfQ7pjX5UBDxIHqbO5WC5P9gSicWumyNdN9nfwcl7Ev_DbIpBLlGVm24bgu2XvM9tmhLFp0lAuMySJgQehb_K1Pc/s1600/bdsm_collar_back2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsdSRhswNfxBN3nQaJhHOFK9XvoNzeNTpTno_hCKP_d4aGbsJNj3PfQ7pjX5UBDxIHqbO5WC5P9gSicWumyNdN9nfwcl7Ev_DbIpBLlGVm24bgu2XvM9tmhLFp0lAuMySJgQehb_K1Pc/s1600/bdsm_collar_back2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
We live in a culture of sexuality where people can be confused around their desire to engage in the acts of dominating/submission (d/s). Some people swear by the d/s lifestyle and others are
disgusted by it. Others love the energy when they are playing with d/s and at the same time are ashamed to admit that they love it. It's my belief that everyone has this attraction, in one way or another, either to domination or to submission or to both and maybe you're not sure what to do with your own attraction. We need to be able to engage in the conversation and to liberate the spiritual aspect of domination and submission, in order to give it a loving context and place it in a sacred framework. My intention with this writing is to create a depth of love and compassion, an identification and a deeper understanding in this form of sexuality. What value is in the dominant/submissive? Why is it important or not important? How do we engage domination and submission in the realm of the holy and the sacred? Do you know where you find your relationship to domination and submission?<br />
<br />
Before I get started, I need to so briefly introduce a framework of the psyche in transpersonal psychology, as presented by Ken Wilbur (Wilbur 1986), called the full framework consciousness model. Within this framework, consciousness/development is considered to contain three principal stages: the pre-personal (subconscious motivations), the personal (conscious mental processes), and the transpersonal (integrative and mystical structures) levels of consciousness. The pre-personal level of consciousness is characterized by an undeveloped level where the person has no firm sense of identity with no real ego structure established. The personal level is characterized by a beginning sense of rational-individuated-personal selfhood where the individual experiences a sense of identity and autonomy with a healthy ego structure. The transpersonal level of consciousness include those stages of human development that go beyond ego and self actualization toward self transcendence. There is much more to say about this, and I needed to establish this basic understanding as I will be using these terms moving forward. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6JkVNhnuPnWOvQDptRr87NTTrKQDnOMvA5GcmcuK8cNo_SvQgdbnvyfPfn1PQaVWmTA7qSyjnzoX5IhXsnCGHmObysmEHGoh60K7AaHRJs8_9MDauXmx5Zyh5obEXnF-xVNb6-TW2hQ/s1600/rope-bdsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB6JkVNhnuPnWOvQDptRr87NTTrKQDnOMvA5GcmcuK8cNo_SvQgdbnvyfPfn1PQaVWmTA7qSyjnzoX5IhXsnCGHmObysmEHGoh60K7AaHRJs8_9MDauXmx5Zyh5obEXnF-xVNb6-TW2hQ/s1600/rope-bdsm.jpg" height="320" width="236" /></a></div>
First let me talk about submission...the act of relinquishing, giving up control, a dimension of surrender. There is a deep and profound longing for humans to surrender and in this yearning there is an aspect which lives in the light and also a dark or shadow element. In the shadows of surrender, there are specific times, certain people and in certain places where it would be inappropriate to surrender. There are people who you shouldn't surrender to. When you have to cross over your own personal boundaries or when its a violation of your own personal integrity then surrender isn't a good idea. There is apart of us that wants to deeply surrender because we want to give up responsibility, which is a movement from the personal to the pre-personal, where the desire to surrender comes from the abdication of selfhood, an abandonment or sort-of betrayal of the self. The dark or shadow side of surrender is when you are unable to stand in your personhood, in your ability to respond from your free liberated being to life's choices. <br />
<br />
There is a second dimension to surrender which actually has a positive connotation…your not moving from the personal to the pre-personal but your moving from the personal to the trans-personal. This happens when giving yourself up to a higher law, to a higher will or to a higher vision. "I surrender before God". (The God you don't believe in, doesn't exist) And you to make sure that God is not some home made created idolatry or lower vision in the skies. You have to make sure it’s generally a higher vision. You have to be careful that God isn’t hijacked with some form of un-evolved consciousness. Having said that, there is a form of surrender that is highly positive. That’s beautiful surrender!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><u><b>Tripping Over Joy by Hafiz</b></u></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>What is the difference between your experience of Existence and that of a saint?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>The saint knows that the spiritual path is a sublime chess game with God</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And that the Beloved has just made such a Fantastic Move, that the saint is now continually tripping over joy and bursting out in laughter and saying, “I Surrender!”</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Whereas, my dear, I am afraid you still think you have a thousand serious moves.</i></div>
<br />
There is this moment where the beloved/life/divine incarnate says, I just made a great move…SURRENDER! And you still think you have 1000 serious moves and you refuse to surrender. That’s being locked in the shadow of personhood, a contraction of ego…the inability to surrender is our illusion, isn't it? Let's release that illusion for a higher level of love and consciousness.<br />
<br />
There is this fierce desire that we have to surrender and is sometimes very hard to access. So one of the places we can access surrender is in sexuality. In sexuality, we use sexual surrender...remember…you can only surrender to a person you trust, you surrender in love, you don't surrender in fear. Right? You play out the game of surrender in order to access that energy in which you give up the contraction of the small self in order to let your wider deeper self emerge. This is what I'm calling, the descent for the sake of ascent...<br />
<br />
Let me get a little more precise of how this happens. This happens through a profound and mystical process called …Yeridah - <b>ירידה </b>(Descent) for Aliyah - <b>עליה</b> (Ascent). This precept tells us that sometimes we must descend into lower spiritual realms in order to ultimately ascend to greater spiritual heights. This means you descend into the energy of domination and fear in order to ascend and experience a wider sense of self. People do all kinds of role play, acting out some sort of coercive scene or another, which can be part of the play in sexuality. What's the attraction to doing this? Through the energy of decent, the primal energy through the darkness, you bypass the personality, and are attracted to the experience of the self beyond the narrow and sometimes contracted boundaries of the personality, the ego and the separate self and then wind up ascending and experiencing the wider, transcendent self through these acts of submission. That’s what the deep attraction is. People are ashamed of engaging in these acts, because we are taught that we have to be in control. Everyone doesn’t want to be giving up their personality or their persona or their separate self…because that’s considered shameful in our society. But actually whats happening is we are looking for a way to access this wider space of self so we are descending for the sake of ascending.<br />
<br />
There's a shadow side to this…you get stuck in the decent. In the end, you don’t feel loved, seen or recognized. You have to be very careful not to get stuck. In order to not get stuck, you should do domination mutually and you need to change rolls, called "<a href="http://wakingeros.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-dance-of-dominancesubmission-and.html" target="_blank">the switch</a>", so you don’t get into a relationship where one person is always the dominator and the other person is always submitting. By willing to trade rolls, you loosen the strictness of it and you are each able to taste both sides. It is then, you realize, they are actually rolls as opposed to solidifying into fixed negativity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX55VRLhWbSNn5ezMY47Yspose5hV80hJ9vxx7_sHNkWlNigMIMZEJQPs6lv8X07tkC9yTHjV_Z0wcSmeIdVn1RFYBE6YPjhK3lXYMfpqLK6XNqDRcJMcS_h-7JyyCzQFEq7iYJzbHIgs/s1600/domination-seo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX55VRLhWbSNn5ezMY47Yspose5hV80hJ9vxx7_sHNkWlNigMIMZEJQPs6lv8X07tkC9yTHjV_Z0wcSmeIdVn1RFYBE6YPjhK3lXYMfpqLK6XNqDRcJMcS_h-7JyyCzQFEq7iYJzbHIgs/s1600/domination-seo.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></div>
Now for the domination side of the equation, which might even be a little more complex. The attraction to domination is power. If people don't have a clean and clear relationship to the goodness and positive aspects of power they might be ashamed of claiming their power. The liberal community, in many ways, has made the human relationship to power negative. In part, because the liberal community has been motivated by "good" perceptions toward life and ways of being. Power has often been abused and has not regularly been put into the light with a positive regard. Here is an example, students have abused their power over their teachers by making a false complaint, which is abusive. Teachers can also abuse their power over students. In short, power is often negatively used. There are abuses of power and we need to be aware of them.<br />
<br />
However, power by itself is not a negative, power is attractive, a divine quality and needs to be used well. Power is an attribute of "the divine" such as a "higher power" and it's beautiful. There aren’t many places where we can access that sacred divine quality of power and when we can, it's exciting! Touching that divine quality of power is thrilling because we have often become disconnected from power and we need to reconnect to that energy and offer it up in all its positive expressions.<br />
<br />
Domination is a way to access that power without hurting anyone (nonconsensual) because of the sacred agreement and the container is one of love. Both the dominant and the submissive are accessing power. The person who is dominating is accessing their own power and the person who is submitting is accessing the direct contact with the others' power. Contact with power is exciting, like the concept of high voltage electricity, an aliveness. It's important to reformulate our relationship to power in more positive terms and not only negatively chastise power. Domination is the ability to access power, and to access it in a way that we realize its essential and sacred quality. It's exciting to access divinity and divinity is about power. Can you feel the power of the big bang? Can you feel the power of molecular biology in all of its amazement? The power of millions of miles of neural pathways in the human body?<br />
<br />
What the person who is dominating is pushing for, is to see the other person in their true, raw, unadulterated vulnerability. But since the dominator doesn't often know how to look for that person in the rawness of their authenticity, its easier for the dominator to meet the other person when they are wearing their ego mask, because sometimes it's too difficult, too powerful to meet the submissive in their rawness of their own authenticity. So the dominator is seeking a way to see the submissive's true essential self by removing their own ego mask, and we remove the ego mask, not by upgrading or up-leveling the person, but by down-leveling or downgrading the person.<br />
<br />
There are only two ways to move out of the personal realm of consciousness, either up to the transpersonal or down to the pre-personal. If you don’t know how to tenter into the transpersonal realm of consciousness, transcending the separate-self - ego-self, then you go down, regressing back into a pre-personal state of consciousness. What we have to do is make a deliberate conscious choice and access the energy of domination and submission and the pre-personal and say ok...I'm going to go down to the pre-personal, to regress, in order to descend for the sake of ascent … only to go up to the trans-personal, only in order to meet that person in their naked authenticity and their fierce vulnerability through love and not through fear.<br />
<br />
There are a couple core ideas I would like you to take away from this. First, engaging in acts of domination and submission should be created in a loving context, in a sacred and holy environment where the submissive has complete control to act and operate from their own personal boundaries, values and integrity. The second idea I'd like you to take away from this is that you need to move between the dominant and submissive so you don't get stuck in either role. Always move between them so you can feel each dimension at play. We will have a tendency to be more comfortable in one of the roles and changing roles will provide good learning about ourselves in the face of resistance to move into that role. Move between them because you want to access both sides of yourself as a dominant and as a submissive. All you will do is grow, and it'll be a beautiful thing!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong3035070227" name="gsSong3035070227" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=30350702&style=wood&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=30350702&style=wood&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Crosby%2C%20Stills%2C%20Nash%20%26%20Young%20Cathedral" title="Cathedral by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on Grooveshark">Cathedral by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-83736226231963240412014-04-26T16:02:00.000-04:002014-04-26T16:02:05.244-04:00Relationship as Spiritual Practice<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Modern-day relationships are challenging and
full of opportunities for increased personal awareness and growth. As our
society enters a time of transition from the ego and the thinking mind to
body/heart connection and personal enlightenment, we are experiencing and
experimenting with different ways of being with our and each other's pain. "Being"
with our (and the other's) discomfort/pain can bring up all kinds of conflict,
such as defensiveness, blaming, and even shaming the other for how we are
feeling instead of owning our own experience.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSdBLQPLBYx6Yri-Wlpbf3t8llac5D2mQsxjrgfEHgdy4ytHP_Xuts6IbnhcweFrPDeO1XF5_j83zs8Cb9IiViu1ku_st6X_mOzG2-yIPrQr_lMKmqtndAGGaQnvSO-SYiXvmXHWPs4c/s1600/relationship1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSdBLQPLBYx6Yri-Wlpbf3t8llac5D2mQsxjrgfEHgdy4ytHP_Xuts6IbnhcweFrPDeO1XF5_j83zs8Cb9IiViu1ku_st6X_mOzG2-yIPrQr_lMKmqtndAGGaQnvSO-SYiXvmXHWPs4c/s1600/relationship1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A deep, loving and intimate relationship brings
up, as a matter of course, all of our love wounds from the past. There is no
surprise when some of us who claim to be "spiritual" use our sense of
spirituality to try to remain above the pain and discomfort that these deep
relationships bring up, so we don't have to deal with the relational woundings
of our past. When these woundings of the past are not dealt with directly,
however, they have a tendency to show up as "shadow" and we continue
to behave and act in our old protective states to keep us from re-experiencing
the pain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Relationships will never evolve without dealing
with these wounds, and there is nothing more perfect to heal those wounds than being
in a loving relationship. It is important to realize these woundings are
relational in nature and that the only way to be free of them is to feel them
completely and have a full-on conscious experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">When your partner behaves in a way that
expresses anger or disappointment or even any kind of unconscious behavior, I
would invite you to take a look at how you may be receiving this information. Can
you relinquish the desire to "fix-it", let go of any
perception/judgment you may have about their experience, not get defensive, and
simply receive the information knowing your partner is showing you a place
where they have been hurt?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">People are either loving us fully or showing us
where they have been hurt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">The only way to gain access to the bountiful
fruit that an intimate relationship can bear, is to get rid of our conditioned
defensive patterns. By staying in old patterns of defensiveness, we limit
the depth of intimacy that can be experienced in our relationships. As our
protective ego lets go of our defensive nature in the face of wanting to love
well, we can experience the desire of raw human connection and intimacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT93tfX-ae88RPdCoa2d0mG_-9_FeARgqFN4Rj1u9A-zXkuQQtBVxPvtG_Jmkh8pGm9H99vBKRV4IOTtapPV2gD1dAzTX99m_u89PdI56j8GXF8OMKXTk7fp6RljIs6lIqgRn8WpryuI/s1600/tumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT93tfX-ae88RPdCoa2d0mG_-9_FeARgqFN4Rj1u9A-zXkuQQtBVxPvtG_Jmkh8pGm9H99vBKRV4IOTtapPV2gD1dAzTX99m_u89PdI56j8GXF8OMKXTk7fp6RljIs6lIqgRn8WpryuI/s1600/tumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg" height="212" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">We need to allow all of our
old constructs and our ego's defensive frameworks to come apart. It's not until
then that we begin to find our most perfect imperfection at the core of our
being. In order to grow as spiritual beings, we need to welcome these
dirty/messy parts of ourselves to the surface. Their presence is not the ego
making some bad or some unnecessary, horrible mistake. Rather, they are
providing the invaluable "grist for the mill" that makes our
transformation possible and even probable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">What does it take to have a relationship as
spiritual practice? All it asks is for you to become involved in some sort of
engagement with people, whether at work, in a support group, with a friend or in
a love relationship. Be aware when you feel the need to argue or take
hold of a position of being "right". It is at that moment you
are operating from ego, from a sense of small self and letting go of the
relationship. You need to have a default position but that position can't
be blocking you off from other, even higher and more expansive possibilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">You can only be what you are willing to become.
You can only become if you are willing to shift positions and perspectives --
to be able to hold a position and be able to give up that position in order to
be open to possibility. You cannot hold a firm position of being right and at
the same time find a spiritual path to connection and intimacy in relationship.</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>JA</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
<w:UseFELayout/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="276">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">In conclusion, the path to loving well
necessitates dropping all of our egoic, self-centered agendas, old stories, and
fears, so that we may see the other with "fresh eyes" and see
"the raw, perfectly imperfect other, the sacred other,” just as he or she
is. It is only then, when we embrace everything that stands between us,
that we can enter the realness of our relationship and the realm of
unimaginable possibilities.<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong2848928731" name="gsSong2848928731" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=28489287&style=wood&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=28489287&style=wood&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Tim%20McGraw%20I%20Know%20How%20to%20Love%20You%20Well" title="I Know How to Love You Well by Tim McGraw on Grooveshark">I Know How to Love You Well by Tim McGraw on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object></span>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-_waeXpIXJIE%2FU1wQDvyFISI%2FAAAAAAAAA-M%2FR6f5hDqJt-0%2Fs1600%2Ftumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT93tfX-ae88RPdCoa2d0mG_-9_FeARgqFN4Rj1u9A-zXkuQQtBVxPvtG_Jmkh8pGm9H99vBKRV4IOTtapPV2gD1dAzTX99m_u89PdI56j8GXF8OMKXTk7fp6RljIs6lIqgRn8WpryuI/s1600/tumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT93tfX-ae88RPdCoa2d0mG_-9_FeARgqFN4Rj1u9A-zXkuQQtBVxPvtG_Jmkh8pGm9H99vBKRV4IOTtapPV2gD1dAzTX99m_u89PdI56j8GXF8OMKXTk7fp6RljIs6lIqgRn8WpryuI/s1600/tumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHT93tfX-ae88RPdCoa2d0mG_-9_FeARgqFN4Rj1u9A-zXkuQQtBVxPvtG_Jmkh8pGm9H99vBKRV4IOTtapPV2gD1dAzTX99m_u89PdI56j8GXF8OMKXTk7fp6RljIs6lIqgRn8WpryuI/s1600/tumblr_mb023ofFiz1racnzro1_500.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSdBLQPLBYx6Yri-Wlpbf3t8llac5D2mQsxjrgfEHgdy4ytHP_Xuts6IbnhcweFrPDeO1XF5_j83zs8Cb9IiViu1ku_st6X_mOzG2-yIPrQr_lMKmqtndAGGaQnvSO-SYiXvmXHWPs4c/s1600/relationship1.jpg" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSdBLQPLBYx6Yri-Wlpbf3t8llac5D2mQsxjrgfEHgdy4ytHP_Xuts6IbnhcweFrPDeO1XF5_j83zs8Cb9IiViu1ku_st6X_mOzG2-yIPrQr_lMKmqtndAGGaQnvSO-SYiXvmXHWPs4c/s1600/relationship1.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-mHMI_W_Gl_I%2FU1vvPoVmv2I%2FAAAAAAAAA-A%2F5dWI2o3OEmI%2Fs1600%2Frelationship1.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSdBLQPLBYx6Yri-Wlpbf3t8llac5D2mQsxjrgfEHgdy4ytHP_Xuts6IbnhcweFrPDeO1XF5_j83zs8Cb9IiViu1ku_st6X_mOzG2-yIPrQr_lMKmqtndAGGaQnvSO-SYiXvmXHWPs4c/s1600/relationship1.jpg" -->Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-85535364164469937452014-04-20T15:13:00.000-04:002014-04-20T16:13:45.343-04:00Stopping The Proliferation Of Our Erotic Disembodiment As I was growing up in the urban area of Chicago and coming into myself as a sexual being there was little opportunity for me to consciously learn how to accept myself as an erotic creature. As an adolescent teenager, there were lots of confusing and beautiful sexual desires in my body and I was feeling the peer pressure to not be left behind in sexual experimentation. I realized at a very young age that I possessed a high sex drive which I had no idea how to contain, express or own as my own life force. It took a destroyed marriage in order for me to look closer and unpack the meaning of my own erotic embodiment and how I can own it as mine and be able to express myself as an erotic creature on this planet. I've come to believe that how I've been able to express my erotic self, my sexuality and my embodied vitality has directly effected how I can live into the uniqueness that I call my own unique self. Until I was able to really own my erotic nature I was not truly able to live into the truest gifts I have to offer the world. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-NJZCnPKJOXnKUOeV6HdjJg4Kwsm3Yg41bBlp-aVm299KhzTFtFDZYusvvcr4kEjkrXWFp3eJKuKNr-dXX2Yyrls4DkocbEeSky5aCFb6q1Ec3dX90ma584FgSIagZHf4_XW2Lxdf0o/s1600/McNamara-EmbodimentFIGA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-NJZCnPKJOXnKUOeV6HdjJg4Kwsm3Yg41bBlp-aVm299KhzTFtFDZYusvvcr4kEjkrXWFp3eJKuKNr-dXX2Yyrls4DkocbEeSky5aCFb6q1Ec3dX90ma584FgSIagZHf4_XW2Lxdf0o/s1600/McNamara-EmbodimentFIGA.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://integrallife.com/integral-post/three-facets-embodiment" style="text-align: start;" target="_blank">Robert McNamara</a><span style="text-align: start;"> does a fabulous job describing <br />embodiment from an integral perspective in this diagram.</span></span></h4>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Finding our erotic embodiment means to be living into our fullest expressive capacity. Without owning our unique nature of ourself, which includes our thoughts, desires, patterns/habits, stories of origin, life's experiences, we will have a tendency to fall into using masking behaviors which keep us from serving the world in which we were meant to serve. In order to offer our truest gifts to the world we need to find and express our own erotic embodiment by transcending and <b>including</b> our entire past and not get caught up suppressing our desires of how we want to live. By working <b><u>with</u></b> our life's experiences and woundings we can find a new relationship with them and not have them run the show anymore. I don't believe we will ever leave our past behind and be able to say "I've worked through that stuff, why does it keep showing up again and again?", we will only find a new way to relate to those stories moving forward.<br />
<br />
As we embrace "The Great Mystery" and our life's old experiences and stores we can create the lives we want to create for ourselves. By looking at our lives from an insider perspective it can help give us a clearer picture of the direction we want to go. It's important to remember "we are not our thoughts"; so being able to observe ourselves from an outside perspective is another important aspect of embracing our most unique self. Creating a sacred autobiography has a profound effect in accomplishing both dimensions of the inside/outside. Once we can be able to look at ourselves from these two perspectives, we can start leaning into the changes we want to put into our lives. We've now looked at our patterns/habits and love ourselves for them, as they have served us well in many ways, and begin to lean into new behaviors where we have been fearful experiencing in the past. We've gotten comfortable in these old patterns, found a sense of safety in them because we know how the story will eventually play out and then we realize they have run their course and it's time for something new. Establishing our new behaviors are part of "The Great Mystery" because we do not know how these new behaviors will turn out. It's a beautiful and scary place to be for the first time and a necessary step to find the most unique expression of who we are in this world in order to find the gifts to offer into the world.<br />
<br />
Bodily, mental and emotional movement cannot be left out. We find people in our lives to learn from who are farther along on "the path" we want to take than we are who will help us grow...all we can do is grow, and it will be beautiful. I searched for the best erotic embodiment educator I could find, <a href="http://www.sexologicalbodywork.com/doku.php" target="_blank">Joseph Kramer</a> and learned as much as I could from him. While I was going through this erotic embodiment process, I needed <a href="http://www.hetimaine.org/HETI/hetistaffSRA.html" target="_blank">Stephen Andrew</a> to teach me the art of being compassionate and accepting of myself as I worked through old paradigms of how I viewed myself and created a new way of living. Yoga and meditation was and still is such an important part of my embodiment practice and I have amazing teachers to thank. This was the only way I could stretch out of my comfort zone and still love myself for my mistakes and successes. <br />
<br />
I've been gifted the honor and privilege to teach and guide many individuals that their erotic embodiment is theirs to own, to understand, to live into and to express into this world. This is something I do not take for granted. I really appreciate the courage it takes for someone to want to make the shift from their old erotic/sexual patterns into something more reflective of their truest selves. Shifting personal perspective and practices in our eroticism and embodiment is incredibly powerful and will not only benefit us as individuals, but, everyone in relationship with us...including the planet. By changing our perspective and creating a new version of our unique erotic expression allows us to open up to outrageous loving in the fullest expression we can find. <br />
<br />
Blessings to your mysterious journey.<br />
<br />
I Long To Hold The Whole World In These Arms...<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong4094697593" name="gsSong4094697593" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=40946975&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=40946975&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=Jennifer%20Berezan%20Song%20For%20All%20Beings%20Chant" title="Song For All Beings Chant by Jennifer Berezan on Grooveshark">Song For All Beings Chant by Jennifer Berezan on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-67169470529151269152014-04-13T16:06:00.001-04:002014-04-14T10:06:26.103-04:00Completing The Circle With Tantric Principles (and a free class)<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rkdTYllOv-4ycrqKlXsogcOJwG-6mWzb3BRKr7_YTGG5wbPOTHaH1f_IF2SMzxlAKMgUTiRdW8IZypmrxB5WYq3MtHVNQUzdttAZ2Z84NDentuIV28mlUH31N_oFS2M7aU-1Ydtipd0/s1600/5108292.jpg" height="320" width="225" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Connecting lineages which I have become a part of has become such an important part of my evolution. When I saw an offer from one of my teachers <a href="http://www.sexologicalbodywork.com/" target="_blank">Joseph Kramer</a>, to give a free class to my readers, I could not pass it up. This connects the lineage and completes the circle from teacher, to practitioner, to readers. Then, I saw how I could expand the circle and include my tantric lineage of <a href="http://radicalhealing.com/" target="_blank">Rudy Ballentine</a> into the erotic and sexual education offered by Joseph. My hope is that you all find some take-away material to enrich your life with.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
What is Tantra? Ask that question on Google University and get 100 different answers from; right handed, left handed, <span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Kashmir Shaivismsm, California Tantra, Sky Tantra and many more. The lineage I've been trained in is based on seven living tantric principles...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">1. Everything is an Experiment </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">2. As Within, So Without</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">3. Tapas & Spanda</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">4. Multiple Realms of Consciousness</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">5. Inner Marriage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">6. Ascending & Descending Energy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">7. The Healing Power of Pleasure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Tantra is about unity and balance. Because of this, Modern Western or Neo-Tantra has become focused on what Westerners need the most to restore unity and balance … sexual healing. The goal of Tantra is enlightenment, although, having a 30-minute orgasm or hours of sex can be regarded as a great perk. Because of this, many students seek Tantra for sexual development rather than the enlightenment. Nonetheless, no matter the intention, Tantra practices and principles will benefit the student in both ways, as Tantra brings together mind/body/soul/spirit into harmony. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Here is the completion of the circle, free access to Tantra Lovemaking for Couples class. <i><span style="color: #444444;">(This class contains videos of explicit sexual acts, so if you are not desiring to view, please do not click on the link) </span></i> As many people are looking to expand their erotic/sexual awareness and their capacity for pleasure (see #7 of the tantric principles), I introduce the </span><a href="http://refer.ccbill.com/cgi-bin/clicks.cgi?CA=931235-0000&PA=2439673&HTML=http://www.eroticmassage.com/node/1399" style="line-height: 22.5px;" target="_blank">"Tantra Lovemaking for Couples"</a><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"> class (Username and password = tantralove) where you will have access for 3 weeks (until May 3, 2014) after this blog gets posted. <a href="http://refer.ccbill.com/cgi-bin/clicks.cgi?CA=931235-0000&PA=2439673&HTML=http://www.eroticmassage.com/node/1399" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to access the course, at the top right corner is the login where you enter u</span></span><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">sername/password, which are both = tantralove. Then you scroll down the page to access the "Tantra Lovemaking for Couples" class" to "view" the videos. (I realize the interface is not completely intuitive)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSz9Q0C6K9Q6aRVRktGPscftCTJ2qmuenc_0kM8_9NCIWvsUuRag5MHHFsozLOXzi10j7vc6fCEG3l_C6qL3ep1apVqjVZ6BnRROdpZq2RhA6jkInXJG6LKvqpQ1tIIose1YaFkNJuEE/s1600/ancientsecrets_med_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSz9Q0C6K9Q6aRVRktGPscftCTJ2qmuenc_0kM8_9NCIWvsUuRag5MHHFsozLOXzi10j7vc6fCEG3l_C6qL3ep1apVqjVZ6BnRROdpZq2RhA6jkInXJG6LKvqpQ1tIIose1YaFkNJuEE/s1600/ancientsecrets_med_0.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In <a href="http://refer.ccbill.com/cgi-bin/clicks.cgi?CA=931235-0000&PA=2439673&HTML=http://www.eroticmassage.com/node/1399" target="_blank">this class</a> you can learn about...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Extending and expanding sexual orgasm</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Freeing the female orgasm</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Yogic ejaculatory control </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Using breath to build and control sexual energy</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Full body and valley orgasm</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Awakening the Saspandana (female G-spot)</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• Ancient techniques of Imsak, Kabbazah, and Karezza</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 22.5px;">• The use of ritual in lovemaking</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">•</span><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 22.5px;">The ancient Tantric philosophy of Sacred Sexual relationship</span></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 22.5px;">Of all the learnings in this class I would recommend ejaculatory control, using breath, the ancient techniques and rituals in lovemaking. The instructors in this class are Margot Anand, Nik Douglas, Charles and Caroline Muir, David Ramsdale, Robert Frey, Lori Grace, and Suzie Heumann, some amazing erotic explorers of our time. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's an honor for me to share this generous offer from Joseph and connect the lineage of The New School of Erotic Touch with the tantric </span>principles<span style="font-family: inherit;">. Please feel free to share this with all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
In Breath and Pleasure...<br />
<br />
Do What You Do To Feel...Down In Your Body Is Where You Find The Rhythm </div>
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong409123147" name="gsSong409123147" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=40912314&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=40912314&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=E-Motion%20With%20Julie%20Blue%20And%20Joseph%20%22Pepe%22%20Danza%20E-Motion" title="E-Motion by E-Motion With Julie Blue And Joseph "Pepe" Danza on Grooveshark">E-Motion by E-Motion With Julie Blue And Joseph "Pepe" Danza on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-51657365835510618772014-03-31T13:50:00.003-04:002014-03-31T13:50:45.460-04:00My Erotic Journey Into The Internet, Once Again...The long arduous hours of web programming with the intention of hitting a larger audience to ultimately bring people together face to face, to have more fulfilling lives and relationships and, to end suffering. What I'm trying to give doesn't need a shopping cart because my offerings aren't products. My offerings and invitations are all the same concepts I study, practice and teach in my own life. We will journey together finding and creating our most unique selves possible which will require individual practices, the sangha and group work. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_sF9mDWBZ9tx-i92Wc9VGL8O5-2C5z0BuECm8zgwVS3KHTXnOEeqe6F34nSH4xWD0tDpVP0z-gLzhXD_iyB3Yg3ftohUprPR7bKF-AYnaFyvpFkXuknygwVAO22buUNm0isi_zvRqFI/s1600/5057488707_897e84a972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_sF9mDWBZ9tx-i92Wc9VGL8O5-2C5z0BuECm8zgwVS3KHTXnOEeqe6F34nSH4xWD0tDpVP0z-gLzhXD_iyB3Yg3ftohUprPR7bKF-AYnaFyvpFkXuknygwVAO22buUNm0isi_zvRqFI/s1600/5057488707_897e84a972.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
As you've journeyed your way into Waking Eros through the internet, my intent still remains the same even after many, many hours invested in becoming loving friends with my computer once again...to practice the art of loving well...to give our most unique gifts in becoming the most outrageous lovers we can be in this world....through all of our interactions in all our relationships. <br />
<br />
Welcome to Waking Eros 2.0<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-60954755972379376002013-09-01T14:56:00.001-04:002013-09-01T14:56:34.126-04:00The Dance of Dominance/Submission and The "Switch"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOMMwO7meFF3ZmW_Lv3U7kxQqTLUzSQLci2ZuQF6NszKPtHc1-wpcETnKxlqyYorss0uwoUOkLV9MryHwHGfDOJKmD94TbhVDuHyeZiSrabU_iHAQtoZ_ruylqpudxLgu80mDbVwPCUo/s1600/Dominant_to_Submissive_RS_by_8TwilightAngel8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOMMwO7meFF3ZmW_Lv3U7kxQqTLUzSQLci2ZuQF6NszKPtHc1-wpcETnKxlqyYorss0uwoUOkLV9MryHwHGfDOJKmD94TbhVDuHyeZiSrabU_iHAQtoZ_ruylqpudxLgu80mDbVwPCUo/s1600/Dominant_to_Submissive_RS_by_8TwilightAngel8.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a>It's been too long since I created the time to sit and write my thoughts out. The last half a year has been an intense and incredible time. During this time I've witnessed and created many a kinky scene and have learned a lot. There has been lots of my own discomfort being at kink parties where there is alcohol/drug use, and witnessing people engage at a level which has been disturbing for me. I find it important to be able to write about my thoughts with the intention to expose others who are playing in the BSDM/Kink scene to some other possibilities of engagement. <br />
<br />
People love to play in the land of dominant and submission. It's a conversation that has gone on as long as animals have been on the planet. There is always a pack leader, alpha-male and the competition to be on the "top". We see this played out in the wolf pack, lion's pride and even in the primate species. We, the human race, are also primates with an increased brain capacity which allow us to better relate to each other from a compassionate and loving place. We are creating intentional power exchanges in our dominant/submission scenes and even in other environments where people are paying to submit to a Pro-Dom.<br />
<br />
Most of us usually operate from a more submissive or a more dominant arena in our regular day to day lives, it's just a natural part of being human. Some of us want to be told what to do and others want to be telling others what to do. Using BDSM and creating a Dominance/Submission "scene" is an amazing opportunity for us to explore the opposing forces where we are not used to living in. There are people out there that claim to be the dominant and others who claim to be the submissive in our relationships and do not "switch" to explore the other side. I want to invite the importance for people to explore the opposite energy in which they would normally operate...especially the people who are taking a position in one way or the other.<br />
<br />
Why might this be an important part of our evolution? Am I really in control when I am in the dominant position? Is it important to be able to give up control at certain times? Is there really such a thing as being in control?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhNMKxS-G9V6DQHb4kFOubKGoO6WHMYFvL37OYwQPX7ZWNR9czYiW9VsGnTF2WuRkSwwNEHm8zfv4oespyRyo1qzLC1_S-ZTiy_3t5-DObYZcr2d_l1y8olB7yBS8Fl7lzhiFd_apDBQ/s1600/Dungeon%252BDwellers%252BDomination%252BEnthusiasts%252BDescend%252B2h026657Jxzl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhNMKxS-G9V6DQHb4kFOubKGoO6WHMYFvL37OYwQPX7ZWNR9czYiW9VsGnTF2WuRkSwwNEHm8zfv4oespyRyo1qzLC1_S-ZTiy_3t5-DObYZcr2d_l1y8olB7yBS8Fl7lzhiFd_apDBQ/s1600/Dungeon%252BDwellers%252BDomination%252BEnthusiasts%252BDescend%252B2h026657Jxzl.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
One of the biggest gifts we can give to our lovers is for them to witness our complete loss of control. It happens during the ten second expression of our own orgasm, but where else can it happen to an even bigger extent? Our conscious decision to let go of control will never happen if we continue to take and hold a hard, firm position and play the dominant role all the time in our kinky play which is why I want to invite everyone to explore being a "switch".<br />
<br />
By being open to explore the less comfortable side in Dom/Sub play we are opening ourselves up to be diving into places in our lives we rarely, if ever, get to see. We call this our shadow. Resistance to giving up control or taking control can (and will) bring up old history and old stories in our lives which prevented us from embracing the opposing force in our lives. This provides us an incredible opportunity for our own personal growth and developing compassion for the other because we are entering into uncomfortable and unfamiliar places where don't normally allow ourselves to go. <br />
<br />
It's an amazing time we are all living in right now as we build more awareness in what we are choosing to do with one another and the planet. Let's make sure we are all treating each other with compassion when we are playing in unfamiliar roles and witnessing someones discomfort by not taking it on personally and thinking there is something wrong. Continue to grow and love each other well through playing the switch in our kinky play!!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-34620659940351662392013-04-17T15:20:00.001-04:002013-04-17T17:26:45.796-04:00Outrageous Love Letter #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37guUs3xkLkO_Hueg8RxNLZpkP3zJB2m37KzSNzVdoBvIwsdhhhFUXGIZAmGmjrFADBYRnXD0BFQUBRKoxsN5eYtCzKA6ubHcIn-2KIxBY18laRlVE1OeznwOfEYSpg0Z3fjQaqlFZmE/s1600/tumblr_mg82pyOI9N1r6lsuko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37guUs3xkLkO_Hueg8RxNLZpkP3zJB2m37KzSNzVdoBvIwsdhhhFUXGIZAmGmjrFADBYRnXD0BFQUBRKoxsN5eYtCzKA6ubHcIn-2KIxBY18laRlVE1OeznwOfEYSpg0Z3fjQaqlFZmE/s1600/tumblr_mg82pyOI9N1r6lsuko1_500.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></div>
There is no end to our beginning, the pouring sweat and tears is ours, the pleasure is ours. Not for anyone to own or claim as theirs. We ride the waves of bliss and the depths of desire unfulfilled as we explore what it might be like exploring each others pleasures. I surrender my manhood into your woman...as your womanhood becomes my man.<br />
<br />
The thoughts of my hands palpitating all the secret places on your body leave me craving more of your being. I want to find the little treasures which make you scream in ecstasy. My body craves your touch...please, PLEASE, PLEASE show me the way to find God...show me how to surrender into the pure love you bring to me. You are the path and you are the one who can show me the way...and I will follow you. Show me the way.<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-49012327450342763612013-04-10T16:52:00.000-04:002013-04-10T23:06:28.140-04:00Speaking Your Truth - Without Shame or BlameHow many times have you sat with your thoughts about loving someone, or some negative event regarding someone and were afraid to tell that person because of the fear of being judged, rejected, not being heard or just wanting to avoid the conflict altogether? Coming up with the courage to speak from an open heart, using compassionate communication in order to speak your truth is a big feat for most of us who have not had a lot of practice. My invitation is not to wait to begin to practice. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBcdE9NIZEC6KKXs_khhWGbgO5e9bH901eOpM4hh9S7gntDkeV7ej1cSbPBR_CJ54HRgYuyvrJEQeoM44hzhQ3PxAAIHQAK6NZrnOWrYRGygxF2tvUi0HH6a7AjFF8VZy4AEEMm_UG-c/s1600/nvc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBcdE9NIZEC6KKXs_khhWGbgO5e9bH901eOpM4hh9S7gntDkeV7ej1cSbPBR_CJ54HRgYuyvrJEQeoM44hzhQ3PxAAIHQAK6NZrnOWrYRGygxF2tvUi0HH6a7AjFF8VZy4AEEMm_UG-c/s1600/nvc.jpg" height="200" width="145" /></a></div>
What does "compassionate communication" really mean? It means not to point the fingers at someone else, blaming them for your feelings. It means not to shame the other person for what they may have done to create those feelings inside of you, communicate your feelings and own them as yours. It means to not get defensive around a certain position you are taking and to express what you may need to support the value/philosophy you believe in. The nonviolent communication process is a great way to learn how not to shame or blame the other for how you feel, take responsibility for your own feelings and be able to communicate them.<br />
<br />
Going into the communication process without holding onto ideas of any outcome should also be an important part of the process. When we hold onto a position, specifically, a position that we think is the <i>right</i> or correct position, we destroy the relationship. Being open to possibilities within the realm of communication keeps the relationship in the forefront and not the idea that we have to be <i>right.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
How about receiving others' communication? While I strive for compassionate communication and loving speech, I know I do not hit the mark 100% of the time and neither will other people. Being able to receive others' difficult communications is also an art, especially when they are failing at compassionate communication and loving speech. This doesn't mean that you have to accept the blaming, finger pointing or shaming which is coming your way by getting defensive. One way to deal with it is to understand that someone is either communicating with loving speech or showing you where they are hurt when they communicate in a non-compassionate way. Trying to separate the two has helped me sit in the discomfort when I'm receiving someone's hurt feelings.<br />
<br />
Being aware and present to what communication is happening right in the moment leaves us no other alternative than to accept each other and what is going on right then and there. Resisting what is happening in the moment actually prevents change from happening later. Trying to manipulate and change each other is what keeps relationships stuck. We see that happiness and love can appear naturally...so can pain. Part of compassion is being able to allow things to happen on their own terms, despite our preference. What we discover, to our dismay, is that our communication inside intimate relationships are just as mixed and messy as anything out there in the world. <br />
<br />
What I am inviting here is the possibility for communication which requires compassion above feelings of comfort or love. This requires a disciplined effort to stay open hearted to the mixed emotions in all of our communications together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRgLWrmLmuPwJyD4KEKGiYWHsDxOu_ITBFMADZQuVmlFZ3YQB3liH6ywzdo_0XQkRGtoC4KY5huxlrB8YDr-b5SsjgQ5oIP5edtLAg9Jq5adSXkw2xv2GnCIeU6qhWFWPllBB9b9ObE/s1600/Image3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinhRgLWrmLmuPwJyD4KEKGiYWHsDxOu_ITBFMADZQuVmlFZ3YQB3liH6ywzdo_0XQkRGtoC4KY5huxlrB8YDr-b5SsjgQ5oIP5edtLAg9Jq5adSXkw2xv2GnCIeU6qhWFWPllBB9b9ObE/s1600/Image3.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-14469845079765964152013-03-30T13:03:00.003-04:002013-03-30T14:29:56.339-04:00Vulnerability in Sexing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6BPxR-3Hli9rZeOYF0QgumrcFKMeuCcXztT8KorS_9Ssqu8_6TlsYWxlLpC8AJ_20DDWoPmNdfMT6Zg6ovmrKN2l9y1yAq4e-xRTvFJm2RWYrG4NPqHmCrNbn_kMBfpccCtJRLvHFsc/s1600/vulnerability.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq6BPxR-3Hli9rZeOYF0QgumrcFKMeuCcXztT8KorS_9Ssqu8_6TlsYWxlLpC8AJ_20DDWoPmNdfMT6Zg6ovmrKN2l9y1yAq4e-xRTvFJm2RWYrG4NPqHmCrNbn_kMBfpccCtJRLvHFsc/s1600/vulnerability.jpg" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="130" /></a><span style="clear: left; display: inline !important; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;">Vulnerability...what does it mean? It means getting outside the
protective ego and exposing your weaknesses and your desires in the face of
being destroyed. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">If you want to have great sex and experience intimacy, a willingness to be sexually vulnerable is a must.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First, physically, you are vulnerable. The man, has his phallus exposed, the woman is open, physically
open to penetration. The man, if gay is physically open to penetration in
a different way and there is enormous physical vulnerability. Physical vulnerability and all of the armor we use to protect ourselves is not at play.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Secondly, there is enormous emotional
vulnerability...why? Because when you step
outside of the controlling ego, outside of the place of control there is a whole other
realm. In this realm, there is vulnerability with possibility of being rejected, criticized, </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">abandoned or any of our favorite fears. Ego o</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">bliteration. Totally Destroyed.
The self as you know it in orgasm and in the moments leading up to
orgasm, disappears. That’s a huge deal. Being able to show someone your loss of control in sexing truly a gift and one of the signs of a good lover. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Thirdly, you give up
control to the other person. You have no idea how the other person is going to respond to your requests, your fantasies and in asking for what you want. This is one of the hardest things to do and to overcome the self talk which keeps us from asking for </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">want</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> we want. In my work, this is one of the biggest things that I try to empower my clients to do. Our mind creates stories of how our requests are going to be received and how we are going to be responded to after we make our innermost desires known. In fact, these stories we create around how outcomes will transpire rarely come to reality the way we think they will.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Fourthly, you do things you would never do. All of these dimensions of your personality which you may have kept hidden begin to appear. For instance, everyone has a different set of things that arouse them and you are not completely sure you want them on the front page of the New York Times. You are vulnerable because you are behaving in a way you would never behave in civilized society. Let’s look at 50 shades of grey, the big three trilogy that's making its way through America which talks about domination and submission (D/S) which is a dimension of sexuality. All sexuality is legitimate. What I think needs a little attention is that if someone fetishizes (fetish + fantasizing) in domination and submission and they only can get aroused through D/S they should probably look at that. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Fifth...</span><span style="line-height: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">there is structural/societal vulnerability. In sexing you are acting in ways that you don't usually act which are at odds with how you want to protect yourself in this world. Let's look at the aspect of power in sexuality. </span><span style="line-height: 115%;">In all healthy sexuality there is some
dimension of playing with the power differential and role playing. Everyone
knows a little slap here and there kind of makes sexuality more exciting…which
is true. This is not true in the ego life. What a man and a woman
would do in their sexuality would never in a million years do in their rest of
their day to day life. "Say you are my whore!" REALLY? We are vulnerable because
in sexuality some part of our non-cultured selves appear and play out most of our primal needs and desires, in which plays fear. Nobody wants to appear on national TV playing out a fantasy of being a maid. It’s not a good thing. In sexuality, everyone has a </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">dimension</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> which is </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">unique</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> and </span><span style="line-height: 14px;">private</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> to them, which is so beautiful. This creates enormous vulnerability.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 14px;">An amazing dance of opening and closing, ego protecting us and also being aware of ego's grip which allows us to act like there nothing to lose...because there isn't. If you don't allow yourself to be completely vulnerable, transparent in your feelings, asking for what you want...how do you think you are you showing up in relationships that matter the most to us? Why are you waiting to be vulnerable? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></span></div>
Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-42675942756502110872013-03-16T21:30:00.001-04:002013-03-16T21:30:21.909-04:00Outrageous Love Letter #1Dear Lover...<br />
<br />
Meet me in the wildest place of your dreams...where our dreams meet together to find us in places we could never have imagined...me being penetrated by you and you being penetrated by me. We are all the same and we can see what we each bring to each other.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghux1Z7KG4ZkpmHsOJoZz4XhyphenhyphenmAY4w0kwL-8C8JM-aKIgIhvpeIg4DPCuB6IaVme1A-knP9PryWEh89jEXHZxy13hg8PPTEus3L7tB44POMmIEn3_rkDSlvvoG3-IEStOr_LBPou2qPI0/s1600/JS1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghux1Z7KG4ZkpmHsOJoZz4XhyphenhyphenmAY4w0kwL-8C8JM-aKIgIhvpeIg4DPCuB6IaVme1A-knP9PryWEh89jEXHZxy13hg8PPTEus3L7tB44POMmIEn3_rkDSlvvoG3-IEStOr_LBPou2qPI0/s1600/JS1.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a>There is no getting lost because we are finding each other in ourselves. We get lost in our sex and lost in our breath. There is no other place to be and no desire unexplored.<br /><br />My tongue explores every crack and crevasse in your body as you welcome and move me to the places you need me in. I pull your body close to mine as I explore and undulate my thriving vessel of a body onto yours while you bring me to touch the divine and leave me in wonderment of what we can do together.</div>
<br />
Our dance ends in the strength and softness of our bodies intertwined. We hold each other in the beauty we find in each other, as the divine in each other...which the world needs so badly...to have us in service to each other and to the good of the universe. Only to see and be with each other in the ultimate highest good which is beauty beyond your belief.<br />
<br />
Would you join me there?Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-76791607131806889582013-02-16T13:42:00.001-05:002013-02-16T13:42:27.302-05:00Non-Ejaculation Practice For Men<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kp5b2SjXSFlD21FWufJ5ZMyHgs5BM8FqqEX8Oi_Niw2CoyYBP8tMxpEum1cYQEeLjGAMfdT1e6ozLvAmiz973VzXwrW49UoFFcItmIEeulmyi3gf1tOZHLjUvhdIfhUnEHGiFoAXL0s/s1600/to-control-premature-ejaculation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kp5b2SjXSFlD21FWufJ5ZMyHgs5BM8FqqEX8Oi_Niw2CoyYBP8tMxpEum1cYQEeLjGAMfdT1e6ozLvAmiz973VzXwrW49UoFFcItmIEeulmyi3gf1tOZHLjUvhdIfhUnEHGiFoAXL0s/s1600/to-control-premature-ejaculation.png" height="292" width="320" /></a>After a conversation with a beautiful new friend last night I became aware of how important it is for me to share with the world my practice of non-ejaculation and the reasons I choose this practice. This practice started when I was a teenager. The desire to be the best lover for my partners and be able to provide as much pleasure that was available drove me to this discipline. I remember trying to delay my ejaculation as long as I could with lovers so they were able to experience the most pleasure in our lovemaking. I knew I needed to practice this outside partner engagement and began doing so during my self-pleasure practice as well. I never felt I had a problem with premature ejaculation and I realize in our culture it is something men struggle with. There are proven healthy techniques for ejaculation control which have potential for healing men that struggle with premature ejaculation.</div>
<br />
When I first found my sexuality at a young age, I loved the feeling of my ejaculation and like most young boys got attached to my ejaculation practice and the oxytocin hit that it gave me. Just like a drug addict gets hooked on the feeling the drug produces, I got hooked on the oxytocin hit. I think this is natural for young people, both men and women, as they begin to explore their sexuality from the basis of a purely biological standpoint. There is also a distinct separation between orgasm for women and for men. Women have the potential for a wonderful experience that can lead to orgasm after orgasm, and men, on the other hand typically have the one ejaculation orgasm and then are known for falling asleep. Of course not all women are multi-orgasmic and not all men fall asleep after orgasm, I just had to give a voice to the stories. As I grew older, I realized that my habits around my ejaculation practice were not serving myself and my relationships anymore. I couldn't "get it up" like I used to several times a day and wanted to experience something else in my sexual life.<br />
<br />
As I grew up and out of my teenage years and my twenties, my relationships with lovers and my body changed. I started to notice what it was like to carry an erotic "buzz" or "charge" in my body by not ejaculating as regularly as I did when I was younger. In addition to the amazing energy I felt in my body, this practice was also full of discomfort and my own self created drama and I was not sure why. The only thing I can come up with is a purely biological explanation. As men, we are genetically programmed to spread our seed in order for the world to be populated with our first rate genes. Going against that biological drive and programming and holding my ejaculation brought up much resistance, emotion and discomfort. Lot's of internal dialogue telling me how different I was which had the potential of separating myself from connections and keep me in isolation. I was not going to allow my negative self talk to dictate my desires.<br />
<br />
I had no idea what else was out there and what I did know was that I wanted to change my relationship to my sexuality so I can experience more pleasure. Then I had an "awakening" of sorts. I was at a workshop and experienced what it was like to be in a highly aroused state for an extended period of time and not ejaculate. During that time I experienced what it was like to have full body orgasms and not ejaculate. The feeling in my body was so incredibly pleasurable and exciting to experience and I wanted to learn and experience more. This began my journey into the realm of <a href="http://www.eroticmassage.com/" target="_blank">Joseph Kramer</a>, <a href="http://www.thebodyelectricschool.com/" target="_blank">The Body Electric</a>, <a href="http://www.donshewey.com/sex_articles/sacred_intimate_boulder_talk.html" target="_blank">Sacred Intimacy</a>, <a href="http://kalirisingthebook.com/aboutAuthor.html" target="_blank">Tantra</a> and <a href="http://www.sexologicalbodywork.com/doku.php" target="_blank">Sexological Bodywork</a>. I was hungry to learn all I could with the intention of bringing my fullest self into my relationships, into my life and ultimately into the world. <br />
<br />
Over time, the relationship I have to my ejaculation practice continues to change and morph regularly. I have experimented with days/weeks of masturbation without ejaculation, days/weeks of partner engagement and partner sex without ejaculation and even up to 90 days of non-ejaculation. The 90 day practice was not in attempt to be celibate, I was sexually active with myself and my partner. At first I experienced LOTS of discomfort as my body tells me to do one thing that my mind is not in agreement with it. I still experience this dilemma while the discomfort has lessened over time being in this practice. What's different today is the discipline that I choose to engage in and practice in my life. When I am in the practice of non-ejaculation I experience a fullness of presence in my life that I've not experienced before. I am able to be highly present with people in my life in such a way that let's them know how much I care about and love them, a relentless non-distracted energy. <br />
<br />
What I've also noticed is that when I choose to ejaculate after a period of non-ejaculation, I've experienced a significant decrease in my energy and presence for my life. I've been left feeling sad, depressed and with a lack of motivation. In order to be with the possibility of these feelings I decided to develop a ritual around the conscious decision to ejaculate in order to honor myself and the amazing gift I've been given to be in my body, this discipline and being able to make the choice. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYS9s4UqhL5w8r2kRAuAui-qzNl-a9a8IhP_EDkZMgwkb_Oof1s-26dEzlABoZETxx5KMJeNnl1TBNJafArdfDKq8b4P6DnfSoOzo3JWJRVxY7DOXsAfhmiVeDjhQNA77VHVVby6ydUM/s1600/ejaculation_control_tech_b.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYS9s4UqhL5w8r2kRAuAui-qzNl-a9a8IhP_EDkZMgwkb_Oof1s-26dEzlABoZETxx5KMJeNnl1TBNJafArdfDKq8b4P6DnfSoOzo3JWJRVxY7DOXsAfhmiVeDjhQNA77VHVVby6ydUM/s1600/ejaculation_control_tech_b.gif" height="276" width="320" /></a></div>
After hearing all of this, there will be some of you concerned about what you might find on the internet claiming that not ejaculating is detrimental to my health. There has been no American Medical Association, scientific or medical studies that says it is unhealthy to be in a non-ejaculation practice. In fact, <a href="http://www.herballove.com/solutions/taoists-natural-ejaculation-control-technique" target="_blank">what I've learned is that the practice of ejaculation control through breath and muscle contractions is the healthy way to go</a> should someone choose to go that way. However, it is not healthy to place pressure on the pelvis, genitals or anywhere on the body to control ejaculation, it must be done through conscious breathing and conscious muscle contraction/release to be a healthy practice. As you can see in this image, the natural control technique has the highest percentage of improvement over time.<br />
<br />
My belief is that when men get into a non-ejaculatory practice they develop more of their ability to be with what is, getting less attached to taking a "right" position, they become less goal oriented, become more present in their bodies and develop a fullness of presence to be with themselves and their relationships. I've developed a passion to work with men develop this part of themselves through conscious work around sexuality which keeps me moving forward in my practice and my work with others. <br />
<br />
-Isaiah<br /><a href="mailto:wakingeros@gmail.com">wakingeros@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.wakingeros.com/" target="_blank">www.wakingeros.com </a><br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-37052126687511566352013-02-02T13:35:00.000-05:002013-02-02T13:35:10.821-05:00Intimate Compassionate Communication and ShadowEntering into intimate/sexual space with others requires an awareness in communicating our thoughts to others without shaming or blaming the other. It also requires a compassionate effort in receiving other's communications which are directed towards us that may not be complimentary or feel good. How we choose to express ourselves and receive feedback has an effect in how we develop intimacy in our relationships. What happens when we communicate something to someone and it winds up hurting their feelings or even triggering an old wound in them? What do we do when we are receiving a communication that hurts our feelings or triggers an old wound in us and winds up hurting?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxoKLz4txSAk4qn8z5wITMRQnSVniDQPi3SXXbUnRiHXeEUzTfaMtRQsEDZtxbF4y0D7978pmUeeuSB-Gnz9Wxsy2lE-VUoCkZ0TvRX23SyB3HHXi-aaY33cMh24xybXFGk3vaRlbJDg/s1600/want_to_be_heard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHxoKLz4txSAk4qn8z5wITMRQnSVniDQPi3SXXbUnRiHXeEUzTfaMtRQsEDZtxbF4y0D7978pmUeeuSB-Gnz9Wxsy2lE-VUoCkZ0TvRX23SyB3HHXi-aaY33cMh24xybXFGk3vaRlbJDg/s1600/want_to_be_heard.jpg" height="189" width="320" /></a>One of my deepest and most intimate relationships is challenging me in all of these areas. I get concerned that no matter how much I wordsmith my words they will be received in a way which will not be heard the way in which I intended...and it happens time and time again...I think that is only human nature and nature of language. I have no control over how my words will be received by someone else, no matter how hard I try to put the right words together to convey my thoughts. My heart needs to stay open when I face into a difficult communication, keep my armor down and be as vulnerable as I can in my expression. Then what happens? Sometimes what happens is what I'm saying triggers a defensiveness, hurt feelings or an old wound where my communication is not received as the open hearted communication in which it was intended and something else was heard in my words which I did not intend. It's a beautiful and challenging place where conflict meets compassion. The choice I choose to make is NOT to go into a place where I feel I must continue to get my point across, rather, to hold the other in their hurt feelings and triggered space. For me, being able to hold others in their hurt, anger, disappointment and resistance is more important than to hammer home my point. </div>
<br />
Being able to sit in others' triggered or hurt feeling space after my communication not being heard the way I wanted it to triggers an old pattern that lurks in the shadows of never being heard by my family when I was a child. This feeling of never being heard has been so ingrained in me over and over again during my formative years. The thing is, I know the history of that wound, have sat for hours and hours in therapists offices working through that wound and yet it continues to show up time and time again, especially around the ones I love the most. What I realized, is that by knowing this core childhood wound I can choose to respond from a compassionate and powerful place instead of going into a place of defense or blame scenario. I don't want to be responding from a wounded place and understanding the pattern and history helps me make the choice to stay in the relational with others even when I'm not being heard in the moment and being triggered by it. I want to take full responsibility for my feelings or how I got to those feelings in the moment, so I do not default to the lowest common denominator of myself.<br />
<br />
I am a person who loves to explore the shadows of my inner psyche and continue to find a great deal of personal awareness in doing so. It has opened up an intuitive side of me which allows me to see inside someones possible shadows which keeps them stuck in their lives. I'm working with my own self worth, shame and guilt shadows in my own life and have been willing to take INSPIRED ACTION in order to move through them by recognizing where these issues have come from and what I have to do to not react from those wounded places. When I work with people, whether it's in my personal life or my professional life, I always encourage them to do their own shadow work to make the changes they want to see in their lives. <br />
<br />
The question I am sitting with is this...Does the understanding of our core wounding help us understand and deal with the feelings that come up in the moment so we can respond from compassion and not an angry or defensive place? Or, does understanding our core wounding not matter as long as we can make the choice to respond from compassion and not our hurt feelings? <br />
<br />
My current belief is that by understanding and accepting these childhood core wounds we can respond from our adult compassionate side and not from our defensive childhood shadows that keep us out of the relational process which we desire more than anything in our lives.<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong3342360417" name="gsSong3342360417" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=33423604&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=33423604&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=The%20Subways%20I%20Want%20To%20Hear%20What%20You%20Have%20Got%20To%20Say" title="I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say by The Subways on Grooveshark">I Want To Hear What You Have Got To Say by The Subways on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-44319327132464851352013-01-20T13:27:00.000-05:002014-11-18T16:33:58.985-05:00There Is No Conflict Between What You Want & What The World Wants<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There is a conversation in my men's circles around speaking your truth without shame or blame and asking for what you want. I believe there is an innate desire in men to take care of the people around us, in our families, in our work, in our relationships and all around us. We become care takers to the people that mean the most to us by being generous with our love, our money and all of our resources before we consider what it is that we want and actually put our desires out there as we are generously offering our love and assistance to others. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQws6f_FSgbUA7ehqEB0cEqQ3hmkRiW0oUxWPPuym69uKoHqdcBGVipAFuugFc3EFJ6oWB0x0V6VS-wz7jy8DvPtLYeHHvDw1ySix8glljoSbMPmFwVb9eUEin-Og491_GxDGQ54ls5w/s1600/03-Ask-for-What-You-Want11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQws6f_FSgbUA7ehqEB0cEqQ3hmkRiW0oUxWPPuym69uKoHqdcBGVipAFuugFc3EFJ6oWB0x0V6VS-wz7jy8DvPtLYeHHvDw1ySix8glljoSbMPmFwVb9eUEin-Og491_GxDGQ54ls5w/s320/03-Ask-for-What-You-Want11.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a>What then happens when we don't speak our truth, our desires and what it is that we actually want for our own lives? There are lots of possibilities...one possibility is that we stray from the people who mean the most to us because we get afraid of speaking our truth. Fear kicks in and tells us we will never be able to get what we want even if we ask for it because of how past history played out. Shame could kick in and tell us that what we want is so far out of the ordinary that the only response from others will be rejection. We might look for our desires and needs to be met elsewhere in secrecy and in betrayal to the others whom trust us the most because we want to avoid the difficult task and facing into the mystery of what might happen after we speak our truth.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I stand in my own difficulty of speaking my truth and asking for what I want at times. Especially in the face of losing BIG love...I honor the difficulty of stepping up to the plate to speak my truth. If I speak my truth will you still be there for me or will you shame me for what I want? Will you take on my truth as a criticism of yourself and get defensive, leaving me feeling unheard? Will I be left alone and abandoned? Will I continue to fear the potential damage which could result from living my life the way I want to by speaking my truth and what I want? Will I continue to allow fear to rule the roost?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I will re-commit over and over again to speak my truth, without shame or blame, because what I want for myself and what the world wants...there is no conflict. The only conflict is the story I create in my own mind which keeps me separated from the world and feeling alone...which keeps me from becoming the man I want to become...which keeps me from expressing and receiving the love that I already know is out there in me and for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="40" id="gsSong4359220" name="gsSong4359220" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="250"><param name="movie" value="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" /><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=43592&style=metal&p=0" /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://grooveshark.com/songWidget.swf" width="250" height="40"><param name="wmode" value="window" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><param name="flashvars" value="hostname=grooveshark.com&songID=43592&style=metal&p=0" /><span><a href="http://grooveshark.com/search/song?q=The%20Rolling%20Stones%20You%20Cant%20Always%20Get%20What%20You%20Want" title="You Cant Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones on Grooveshark">You Cant Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones on Grooveshark</a></span></object></object>And I saw her today at the reception<br />
In her glass was a bleeding man<br />
And she was practiced that the art of deception<br />
I could tell by her blood-stained hands<br />
Oh, you can't always get what you want<br />
But if you try sometimes you just might find<br />
You get what you need<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-71657801354116289572013-01-05T14:56:00.003-05:002013-01-05T14:56:50.263-05:00Embracing Change Through Loving WellI want to start this off by dividing change into two categories. First is the change that we put forth in our lives, consciously and willingly. Secondly, there is the change that happens in which we do not take an active role in producing. I love it when I want to change something in my life and it comes to fruition, like a job/career move or remodeling my home, but when I got laid off from a job or my roof starts leaking, putting change in action which I have not started in the forefront, I can (and do) get upset about it. <div>
<a href="http://accuracyandaesthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/change_model.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://accuracyandaesthetics.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/change_model.jpg" height="320" width="311" /></a></div>
<div>
The easy part of the conversation here is the desired change and the change we put into motion in our lives. It can be so good and lovely and at the same time scary but we are in charge of it. We only have to deal with ourselves and our own emotions. How can we stay in this continual transformation process through all the emotions, positive and negative? Having compassion for ourselves when the times get difficult is a key part of this personal change process. Staying with the discomfort because the only way to the other side is "through".</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Let's add the next element...relationship. We love the people that are in our lives and want to support them in their journey on this planet. Our lives revolve around relationship, we come together in relationship..familial, work, love, friendship and develop a desire to love and support the other in their own personal growth, which means change. One of my teachers, Marc Gafni, defines love as 'The consistent commitment to the growth of the other through regular and spontaneous acts of giving". How can we love the people in our lives when they are growing/changing and at the same time triggering something and threatening our egoistic self? It can be a difficult situation when we feel the other person pull away from the way things are and desire something different in our relationship. The story is changing, the path is rerouting and fear wants to move in. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Where does this fear come from? The fear shows up in both our personal desired changes and the changes that happen around us. Ego annihilation is knocking at the doorstep and we forget how much we want to love these people in our life when they are changing the parameters of our relational agreements. How quickly we forget what the definition of love meant (as mentioned above) when our self protection mechanism is activated because our ego wants to keep us safe from the potential loss of our true self. So we give in to protecting ourselves and forget our commitment to loving well. My friend Carrie said it perfectly..."The core to growth is really facing the idea that something can some how
be annihilated..in truth..our perfected natural true self will never be
touched...its amazing to grow with that". </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I invite everyone to embrace of change in our personal lives and in our relationships, facing into the difficulty this change could bring. The earth and the human race on this planet are constantly changing and the only real option is to encourage, support and surrender to it. So face into your fear because you cannot lose the nature of your true self and, most importantly, remember your commitment to compassion and loving well!</div>
Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-82498688336167830642012-12-23T12:34:00.001-05:002012-12-23T19:42:31.950-05:00Winter Solstice 2012 - What does it mean to "Love Well"?<span style="font-family: inherit;">A couple weeks ago I was invited to a Solstice Celebration Ceremony by a new friend. The celebration was out of town with people that I did not know. I found myself a little nervous and excited as the time got closer. I have to set the background first...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A few days before solstice I became extremely anxious about the recent turn of events in my life. The anxiety showed up in the form of major self doubt and a loud critical voice inside my head asking me if I have really found myself and if I was living fully into my unique gifts in this world. My negative self talk hasn't been this loud in a really long time. There was really only one way to deal with it, sitting with those thoughts and sharing them with close friends. Not looking for others to take care of me or tell me how wonderful I am, but to become vulnerable with the doubts I was having about myself and my life. I'm truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life that can hold me in my struggles.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I became even more concerned about going to this solstice celebration because of the voices in my head just prior to the event. I was pulling out of my anxiety as December 21 came upon me and still really wanted to go, so off I went. The car ride over was in torrential rain downpours and 50 MPH winds which told me this anxiety was washing away, only if I let it. I was travelling with a woman whose father was leading the ceremony and became curious about the family that I was invited into and asked her a lot of questions about herself and the family I was walking into. I was so intrigued...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We arrived and I was dropped off 4 hours early as my friend drove off to visit one of his friends. I settled in and spoke with the family, getting to know them and the other people that were there. I was welcomed into their home with open arms, offered something to eat/drink and engaged in wonderful conversation where I asked about the family to get some more history. I was becoming part of the family the more I stayed engaged with everyone learning their stories. As more and more people arrived, about 21 total, it became more clear that I entered into a space where people were committed to having loving relationships and keeping their heart open, working through conflict inside themselves and within their personal relationships. I was completely in awe...and communicated that to the elders there. I was ready for ceremony...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ceremony began promptly at 8pm. Rituals commenced around the fire, the directions and honoring the planetary placement we are in at this time. Everyone was on their own "nest" in a large room while the journey took place. Silence was asked of everyone except during times of "toning". Sitting with myself during the silence brought up many thoughts ranging from my own self doubt, my inner critic and also knowing the amazing quantity of love that I have to bring into this world. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">THERE WAS A CHOICE TO BE MADE!! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was not going to get caught up in the negative self talk like I was in the past few days, not now, no fucking way!! Determined, I was going to enjoy the space I was in, relishing the love in this family I was so warmly welcomed into and to honor the love that I have to offer this world...so the question arose in my head...why am I making life so difficult for myself? My self protection mechanism was/is/can be so powerfully strong that, little did I know, I needed this ceremony to help me see through it somehow....this is what showed up...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I AM THE ONLY ONE MAKING THINGS DIFFICULT FOR ME TO CONTINUE TO LOVE WELL. Nobody/no one is getting in the way of allowing my heart to remain open and to love well. The stories that I have been given by my family of origin telling me that I'm not good enough, that I will eventually be abandoned, lead to the thoughts that I'm not getting what I want or need in my life and my relationships. These needs/wants/wishes/desires coupled with my negative self talk have the potential of feeding my ego which wants to keep me safe when it knows that I'm potentially not getting what I want. By keeping me safe, ego wants to keep me separated from others and, therefore, away from intimacy, away from loving. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When my ego is getting fed, separation then commences and take many forms. In the forms of isolation, negative self talk, taking a "right" position, embracing the "lack" in my life, depression/anxiety and closing my heart to being hurt. What the fuck? Why would I want to close my heart and love offerings, and from receiving others'? Let my ego run the show to keep me safe from being hurt from something that I crave the most of, intimacy and connection? How nice of him to be doing that, he loves me so. Except, a big problem, is that in order to love myself and others I put myself at risk to be hurt or I will never be able to experience the beauty of love and intimacy. Do I want to stay in self protection mode in order to not be hurt and keep the love that I am to myself and keep from receiving others love? Seems like a redundant question with only one answer to me. Transcend and include the ego.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">T</span>ranscending the ego means the realization I have a higher self that is not separated from anything else. It means that I no longer see my identity as simply an individual consciousness, but rather that I am the consciousness that moves through all things. This is not ego death, which would be psychotic. Liberation is found by complete immersion...immersion in the commitment to loving well.<br />
<br />
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE WELL?<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When I'm getting caught up in thoughts like, I'm not good enough, I'm going to be abandoned or feeling I'm not getting what I want/need/desire in my life then I am limiting myself to being open to other possibilities and, therefore, preventing myself from LOVING WELL. Getting passed all the ego (or the small self) wants/wishes/desires and to remain open to just what is and all other possibilities in the moment is LOVING WELL.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
What does "Loving Well" mean to you?<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
My thanks go out to the family who welcomed me into their life and their winter solstice journey 2012. I'm so incredibly grateful to L.N. and P.T. who held a wonderful space and beautiful ceremony and to P.P. for the invitation.Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-75144798005054886912012-12-10T18:46:00.002-05:002012-12-10T18:46:32.750-05:00Eros and Psyche - A story of a girl named Psyche and her adventures with the god Eros.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/>
<w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
<w:Word11KerningPairs/>
<w:CachedColBalance/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day on Mount Olympus, Aphrodite decided she had become
fed up with the beauty of Psyche, the maiden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Psyche was very beautiful and was often complimented for her
beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aphrodite wanted to set her
straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So she called her son, Eros,
to shoot one of his arrows, which poisoned immortal and mortal alike with love,
at Psyche, while she was sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>"What is the point of shooting an arrow at her when she is
asleep?" asked Eros.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"When she
wakes up," replied Aphrodite "I will be sure to supply her with
someone like the castle dwarf, or maybe a donkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that's a possibility." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"That is a
cruel trick," said Eros.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"It is meant
to be cruel. Now go and obey your mother," replied Aphrodite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Eros was
above the sleeping Psyche, he took out an arrow and prepared to shoot it. But
he accidentally poked himself with the arrow, and all of a sudden Psyche was
the most valuable and wonderful thing the earth had ever created. He loved
Psyche more than anyone or anything in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He flew back to Mount Olympus, leaving Psyche
unaffected.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Aphrodite was
furious at Eros for not complying with her orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fight that followed was one of the worst
Olympus, or for that matter, the world, had ever seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While Eros was sulking, no one fell in love
and Aphrodite began to wither. So eventually Aphrodite saw that Eros must have
his way. "What is it you wish?" she asked him. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"The
girl," replied Eros.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"You shall
have her," said Aphrodite.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Aphrodite had
Zephyr, the west wind, come and bring Psyche to Eros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Eros could not be seen by Psyche for a
little while after their marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
Psyche's sisters visited her, they convinced Psyche that her invisible husband
was a monster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Psyche, curious, brought
a candle into her husband's bedchamber and looked at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was Eros, the god of love.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her shock, Psyche let a drop of candle wax
drip from the candle. Eros awoke with a start and became very angry with
Psyche.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Yes, I am love itself, and
I cannot live where I am not believed."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then Eros left.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But eventually
Eros forgave Psyche and invited her back to live with him, and Psyche was made
immortal upon Eros' request. Psyche is now the goddess of the soul, and that is
where we get the prefix "pysch-", as in psycho, psychology, and
psychiatrist.</div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-qformat:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8427724857174252503.post-73833495895115662862012-11-26T13:42:00.000-05:002012-12-17T16:14:58.327-05:00Sacred Sexuality...Above and Beyond Intention...Surrender<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The act of the sexual comes from the sacredness of what two people bring together. The sacredness lies in their intention. If there is bad intention..there is rape, it is not sacred. Let's go even deeper...o</span></span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">ne way of talking about the sexual and the sacred is about the sacred intention for intimacy...for giving and receiving, for that entire way of exchanging. Even deeply, there is something in the sexual itself which is sacred, above and beyond any intention. This is about heart, the more you feel seen by your partner, the more you feel loved by them. The inverse is true, the more accurately your partner feels seen by you, the more they feel loved. Accuracy and description </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">isn't</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> an intellectual thing, it's a love thing...and IT MATTERS!</span></span></span></span><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There can be a negative and a positive intention in sexuality...a positive intention, to give, to receive to honor, which creates the sacred...a negative intention, a coercive intention, a degraded intention, which is sinful. Negative intention wrecks the sacred, a positive intention opens up the sacred. </span></b><b id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to talk about the middle place, where we actually feel, in a deep feeling that there is something in the sexual itself beyond any intention which is sacred. </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468"><span style="vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The sexual requires by its nature without any intention requires a number of things... The one I'm going to talk about here is some dimension of loss of control...which means that if you are fully controlled and there is not a point in which you fully surrender you are not fully engaged in the sexual, the sexual has a dimension of surrender which is built into its very structure. This is beyond intention and is built into the very nature of the sexual itself, the idea of surrender, of giving up control. That is why the sexual is so threatening to people because its a requirement that you give up control. When you have a partner that you feel is never giving up control, it just </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">doesn't</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> work. </span></span></span><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part of the reward of the lover is that the lover receives from their beloved the gift of being able to witness the beloveds’ giving up control. That is the gift..."I’m going to be your lover and I’m going to let you see me give up control." This is not about intention, its definitional...its in the very essence and structure of the sexual itself that this thing is happening. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The shadow of the sexual is that I force you to give up control before you are ready or I force you to give up control when you don't want to give up control. That is the great shadow form...Rape or sexual harassment being its shadow form. </span></span></b><br />
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.8920786324888468" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The gift of sexuality is, when I surrender, not only at the moment when my body forces me to, which is moving closer to orgasm but I've actually surrendered to the entire process. I've actually extended or expanded the surrender beyond the 90 seconds of spasmodic, pathetic orgasm and I actually have a whole body experience, an experience where I’m giving up control all along and I keep deepening and deepening the giving up control. So that the intention of giving up control can deepen the intimacy or it can ruin it but the core of surrender is in the structure itself. </span></span></b>Isaiah Pittmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13654566010776566685noreply@blogger.com0