Download Audio: Three Types of Sexual Communication: Chit-chat, In-the-moment and the Debrief
Sex advice, sex tips and relationship advice
#307: Three Types of Sexual Communication: Chit-chat, In-the-moment and the Debrief
#304: It's Not "Needy" to Connect - It's Human!
Sometimes a client tells me they feel they are too ‘needy’ because they want to connect with their partner more. Or in contrast, a client tells me they feel their partner is too ‘needy’ because they want to connect with them more. And occasionally they are right, the ‘needy’ partner lacks self-assurance and uses their partner to fill a hole in themselves. But more often the clients have bought into a belief, so common in our society, that idolises individuality.
Yet humans are social creatures, we are pair-bonding creatures. It’s not ‘needy’ to desire connection, it’s human.
We’ve evolved that way. Why? Because we have very large brains and therefore very large skulls. This means that compared to most other mammal species, humans give birth to our young very prematurely, while the infant’s skull is still small enough to get out of the mother. So, our infants are born totally helpless – they can’t even hold up their heads! It takes seven years for a human infant to get to the level of independence that most mammals get to in a few weeks or months.
Other mammal species don’t need fathers. Once he’s done his job of impregnation the mother can gestate, birth and raise her infants all on her own. There is no ‘fatherhood’ in other mammal species, it’s not needed. But with humans, with our demanding, slow-growing young, a human mother couldn’t do that on her own, she needed the dad to stick around and help. And not just the dad, the grandparents – in fact the whole tribe! Which is a key reason why humans have always got around in groups, why families stick together and why we pair-bond. Having our tribe, our family, our beloved around and in close contact leads humans to feeling safe and secure, content and loved-up; and that's what enables us to raise our young and survive as a species.
Love and connection is actually the driver of human evolution. This cooperation and connection has enabled humans to evolve to develop our big brains and be the successful species that we are.
Sure, we need alone time too, but the total loner is an exception in humans. The drive to independence that we’ve had in western society is not natural. It doesn’t make us happy. So, people who lack human connection seek satisfaction through money and power and the other external trappings of “success”, or through drugs, alcohol and screen-based entertainment to numb or distract from the disconnect. None of which provide the calm contentment and genuine satisfaction that connection brings.
How do we get that connection? Through conversation, through doing things together and for each other, through hugs and touch, through smiles, through knowing others and being known. The closer other people are to us, the more important the connection is. A smile and a nod is a pleasant connection with a neighbour, with our partner though, we need a lot more – time together, lots of touch and smiles and so importantly, sexual intimacy, the type of connection that we don’t get from anyone else (even if you are in an open or polyamorous relationship, the connection between the primary partners needs to be the strongest). And as so much of my writing and work is about, that sexual intimacy is deep and connected, not the disconnected fucking that so many people unfortunately think of as ‘sex’.
If you’ve come from an emotionally constipated family where touch and other forms of connection weren’t strong, you might find this hard. But don’t worry, it’s just learned behaviour and can be unlearned. Because the need for connection, especially touch, is so innate in humans, it can be relearned. I can assure you that with focus, practice and support from your partner and other loved ones, and possibly with a good therapist, you can become more comfortable with touch, connection and true intimacy. Trust me, it feels so good once you open up. You don’t have to be an island unto yourself, you can connect with individuals, groups, with humanity as a whole, and so importantly, with the earth and the ecosystem of which we are all one.
#302: Transformational Erotica
This piece of erotic fiction is the Creative Synthesis I wrote as part of the research dissertation for my Masters of Science degree in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology. The research topic was: A Heuristic Inquiry into the Transformative Potential of Optimal Sexuality within a Relational Context.
You'll find reading this erotic fiction an easy and enjoyable way of getting across the findings - which is essentially the essence of the overall approach in this blog...
You can also read two case studies of the research participants after the story.
F-Day Anniversary
Her:
You wake. It’s the eighth anniversary of F-Day – Freedom Day. The day you discovered your tedious husband was bonking one of the attendants at the golf club. You’ll never forget the feeling – first a numbness from the shock, then an incredible feeling of release. It was as though something woke up in your belly, in your womb, and slowly expanded throughout your body, awakening a joy, a release, an aliveness you hadn’t felt in years, if ever. You recall your surprise as it actually felt sexual, this feeling of your whole body being awake and alive. Nothing like the dutiful dull, late-night rutting of your husband relieving himself inside you – not that that happened much anymore, he seemed as jaded by it all as you; nor anything like the early years of youthful sleeping around because you were drunk, horny and it seemed like fun at the time. No, this felt like… I Am Woman! I Am Powerful! I Am Free!
These past eight years, really, it’s like a totally different life. Everything changed. You learned to meditate and continue to practice daily; you took up contact improv dancing and learned to express and connect; you got back into art in a way you hadn’t since you were teenager, when you’d stay back hours after school immersed in your passion…
It was at your first exhibition that you met the man now lying next to you. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight, but there was something about the ease with which he held himself, his genuine interest in you and your art, that led you to agree to meet for a drink, then dinner, then…. a marvelous journey of life and love together.
You roll over and nestle into him, feeling his warmth, his physicality. Six years on and it feels as new as it ever did. A world away from that old relationship, this is one is fully mutual, every aspect of it open to discussion, every aspect co-created. And the sex! You’d gone a little crazy after the separation, you wanted to discover and explore and yes, you had a lot of great experiences and learned a lot about yourself. But this, the depth of engagement, well, you’d always had a sense in the core of your being that it could be like this, but to experience it, over and over again, for it to get better and better…
You reflect on the night before, how you’d come to bed after a long but satisfying day in the studio, greeted by your smiling partner who had dimmed the lights and turned on music. Just walking into the bedroom felt like sanctuary, a place of peace. He’d had a restful day and was wanting to engage sexually. So tired, you thanked him for the offer, for his desire, expressing how in that moment you were just too tired. He offered instead to simply stroke your skin…
So softly, so lovingly, you feel yourself letting go, the thoughts of the day settling, in their place a feeling of calm and peace, while your body softens and opens. His caresses cover your whole torso, arms, breasts, belly, passing between your legs, gently, softly, lightly.
“Mmm, come inside”. No more is needed, you are ready to invite him in, to let him enter you, to embrace him on the inside. The entry is gentle, slow. Legs wrapped around him, arms too, you both rest on full entry, feeling into the intimacy of the connection, closer than is ever possible. Your whole body is awake, alight, small tremors of bliss running through your body.
He rolls you over. You feel his weight. It is both comforting and erotic. You turn your head to watch the reflection in the mirror. In the dim light you admire the curves of his body, his buttocks moving in, and out, feeling the tension of your arched pelvis, your whole being awash in deliciousness. He reaches around to touch your clit, no, you brush his hand away, that would be too focused, take you away from the bliss state you’re in…
You smile as you recall how it was so lovely yet you were so tired you started to fall asleep. So, you both stopped. He too was in a state of bliss and didn’t need to climax. You can’t quite remember, but you think you fell asleep with him still inside you.
Him:
You wake as you feel your partner stir and nestle her body into yours, you raise a gentle smile as her hand rests on your sleeping penis. It’s soothing. You breathe into the feeling, grateful for her tenderness, her love, her strength. You know it is F-Day for her, she might speak lightly of it, but you know how hard it was and what courage it took for her to turn her life around and to explore and grow so much. You are so grateful. After so many years of holding on to the dream that one day you would meet a woman who could truly be your partner, finally you did. After years of needy women, narcissistic women, unavailable women, women more interested in your bank balance or your sperm than you as a person, after years of personal and spiritual development, you did indeed meet the love of your life. You don’t know whether it was simply chance or some push from forces unknown that led you to cut through a little laneway that evening and so pass by a tiny art gallery that had people spilling out onto the pavement, laughing and chatting as they drank champagne. You’re not sure why you went into the gallery, yet you did, and met the artist, a petite woman, as tiny as the gallery she was exhibiting in, but with a radiance that belied her size and drew you in… and which led to now, a relationship that isn’t easy - she can be fiery and you fixedly stubborn, you actually agreed to couples therapy and attending a retreat early on to learn how to relate well – but that has such ease. There’s a sense of being known and accepted and truly loved.
And the sex! Your penis stirs, thickening a little at the thought. Your mind drifts back to a weekend in the mountains a month ago…
You have tied her to the bed. Intricate crochet runs up each leg, her torso, around her arms stretched to the bedhead. You are the artist, and she the art. The creativity, the sensuality of the rope, her skin, the ever so slow pace of looping the rope into knots, sensing her shift into a deeper and deeper state of letting go, your own state of flow, creates such a deep erotic charge. In a rustic cabin with wide windows overlooking the forest, it feels primal, extraordinarily arousing. You’d been surprised when she first mentioned her desire for this, not long after you met. At first wary - you were no macho domineering male – with lots of discussion you realised that it had nothing to do with power, and everything to do with sensuality, connection, expression. You even went to rope school to learn more! This openness, this sharing, is what makes this relationship so right, it’s all on the table - your desires, your fears. You’ve never been with a woman who you could trust enough to be so vulnerable and so open.
You lose track of time. You’re aware that the sky through the windows changes from blue to pink to indigo, yet there is just an intense experience of now. Your awareness moves from your inner physicality, to your combined physicality, to a sense of merging with all around you. At times you sense other beings in the space, it seems odd, but it feels like Bacchus is sitting beatifically in the corner watching you, a huge smiling horned Buddha. You feel blessed.
You can totally let go. You don’t have to be responsible for her – you already know her pleasures from all your discussions, and most importantly, you know she’s responsible for herself so will let you know in the moment if there is anything she wants or doesn’t like. No mind-reading! Such freedom! You find you can simply flow with the experience, your mind still, your body engaged, your heart open and your soul alive. You love all the ways she responds: periods of heightened ecstatic state, localised clitoral explosions, waves of orgasm where pleasure flows through her whole body bringing on shudders and shakes. You feel these too, allowing the pleasure to flow in your body and only choosing ejaculatory orgasm once you know the encounter is ending, releasing expansively as her final wave of orgasm crests.
You still feel the heightened awareness throughout the next day as you hike through the forest, your senses more aware, the air fresher, the bird calls clearer, the vegetation lusher, the awareness of her presence walking next to you more vibrant…
Them:
Your reflections of these recent encounters leave you reflecting on how the feeling of love and bliss that arises in your sexual union permeates the whole of life. It is so joyful. You feel more alive than ever, more grateful for existence than ever. Everything is heightened – from the flavours of breakfast that you have together every morning, through to your work and your play. You feel more confident, more engaged with life. It’s easy to be your true self, and you notice that this has a positive effect on others. It feels easy to give back to the world as you are receiving so much within your own small part of it. Each sexual encounter is cleansing and purifying, releasing a sexual energy which refreshes and rejuvenates you throughout the rest of life.
“Mmm” you groan in pleasure at the thought. You pull yourselves away from your reveries to face each other. You lean forward and take in the smell of your partner’s face, the musky scent of their skin. You taste them as your lips and tongue touch your beloved’s eyes, brow, nose, cheeks, ears and chin, their lips and tongue. Then, you merge into each other.
Eyes closed, you are hovering in ecstasy as the rhythm of your bodies goes on and on. You feel the tingling waves of energy, low guttural growls emerging from deep in your body. You open your eyes and see your beloved looking at you, seeing into you. Your eyes are locked as you release the orgasm, riding the wave of pleasure together.
Ripples of deliciousness continue to dance through your bodies as you roll apart and lie next to each other. Then you laugh, and laugh, a full-on giggle-gasm, your bodies soft, your hearts open and your souls cleansed.
And so, another day living in the richness and sweetness of Eros energy begins…
Two Case Studies
Penny & Pat
Penny and Pat are in their mid-50s, have been together for 28 years and have three adult children.
They say: “We have a great sex life, which includes great sex and average sex and adequate sex and fantastic sex”, “… and ‘meh’ sex sometimes”, yet “…the overall sense of sex as part of our relationship is fantastic”.
In terms of the eight criteria of optimal sexuality:
Presence. “It’s really important” to be present. They are conscious of any spectatoring tendency and have learned to bring themselves back to the present, so that the sexual encounter becomes “meditative”.
Emotional Connection. Their connection “permeates life in general…we’re very in sync”. In terms of sex “we just seem to come together and there’s a flow to it”.
Erotic Intimacy. Deep, sexual or erotic intimacy? “Yeah, we definitely have that. 100%.” “There are no barriers…we’re absolutely together…There’s nothing we haven’t told each other.”
Communication. They feel they “have fantastic communication. Very open. Very honest. Very immediate.” Penny notes that “communication has been the foundation and that absolutely came before optimal sexuality”, and states their mutual feeling that “communication is transformational.”
Risk-taking. This has been a big part of their sexual journey together, which they put down to “being able to share, and know it’s going to be shared in a safe space”. The sharing of their desires, on both sides, has led to major shifts and growth in openness and their ability to take risks that are “challenging”, “way out of [our] comfort zone”, yet which “felt very safe in terms of our relationship”.
Authenticity. “I can’t not [be]. I don’t have another mode. This is it.” Although there are compromises at times, this is “conscious compromise and lovingly made.”
Vulnerability. They both admitted that vulnerability has been and continues to be a process, both sexually and in relationship in general. Pat acknowledged that: “To give in completely, to let go is quite challenging but when it does happen, there’s more likely to be a transcendental experience… and a higher peak orgasm.” Penny admitted: “I think I could revel more…allowing my body to feel those sensations enough to be swept away in the next stage”.
Transcendence. They laughingly commented that they lose time so completely that they have to set an alarm! Penny strongly related to transcendent bliss after a sexual encounter, including lots of laughter. Pat related to the concept in terms of: “losing yourself in space and time”.<
Their Journey
There have been two pivotal points in their sexual journey, the first a five-year period of positive opening, starting around 15 years ago, and the second a three-year crisis period starting around seven years ago.
They have always had a good relationship and been great friends, although there was “a long period where our sex life was fairly normal in terms of frequency and bits of guilt and not being satisfied or not quite having it as often as you’d like”.
Fifteen years into the relationship “that shifted big time when we started exploring, first in our fantasies [about] playing with other people and then in reality, and that was a massive change”.
They had a jewellery business and brought out a range of erotic jewellery, which took them to erotic trade shows. In that sexually charged environment they started sharing fantasies. Penny had erotic photos taken of her, which “was transformative…the start of the real shift where we connected [and] started developing these shared fantasies”. Pat stresses: “we were coming from a very secure place…so we were able to stand our ground and go against society norms”.
Part of that change was for Pat to explore the shadow side of his erotic arousal: “I’d shut it down and closed it off and didn’t want to go there because it just wasn’t ‘normal’”. Acknowledging his desire to see Penny with another man “ignited a real powerful erotic charge”.
This shift took place over five years, at the end of which they closed their jewellery business, freeing them from stress, and they started acting on their fantasies. Going to a swinging party in 2010 “was a massive unleashing” of emotional openness and joint exploratory freedom. Planning and discussing their desires became “very much part of our consciousness… it heightened everything”.
Six years ago, there were three difficult years of deaths and illnesses in the family, during which time Penny was feeling depressed and miserable. Pat was studying counselling, going on a self-development journey and getting stronger, while Penny was struggling and feeling jealous. When Pat was diagnosed with prostate cancer and given six months to live the shock shifted Penny out of her stuck state. They went on a Tantra retreat after his operation, in part out of fear that Pat wouldn’t be able to maintain erections (which turned out not to be the case), which got them back on track sexually and relationally.
Their Experience of Transformation
Confidence is the biggest change they’ve both noticed. While they assert that it’s hard to separate out sexual from personal and relational growth, “the sexual thing has definitely contributed to our connection, our joy, our satisfaction, our bliss, our sense of safety”.
They feel strongly that sex is not just the act, it’s “absolutely joyful connection” It is something that “permeates through all of [life]…it weaves its way through”. There is a great comfort between them, “bliss is found in the smallest moments” yet they are both very mindful of the comfort they have not becoming boring or mundane and so extinguishing the sexuality. As Pat points out: "There’s still a separateness, with that erotic charge...I haven’t lost sight that Penny is an erotic being and remains a sexual being despite it sounding quite comfortable.”.The swinging element is a vital part of their sexual relationship, but always as a joint activity: “The fantasy exploration is so completely about each other, and enjoying the pleasure of each other with another…is also both high and deep” , highlighting that in fact “often the deepest bit of it comes at the end of the night, when we are just back together as the two of us.”
When asked if they feel that their heightened connection and strong relationship has a positive impact on other people/couples? Penny replied yes: “I have a very deep-rooted positivity and optimism which I think rubs off on others”.In closing the interview, they wanted to stress how “freedom is a massive element of this”. They are intentionally not married: “for us having a ground of commitment and security and everything else but within also a sense of freedom, there’s not obligation. I think that enhances our experience... That’s really important.” Pat agrees, adding that this freedom is “a state of mind”.
Corinne & Andreas
Corinne and Andreas are in their mid-50s, have been together for five years and married for one. Andreas has two teenage children who don’t live with them.
They both had long marriages with limited sexuality. They both explored after their marriages ended, with Corinne having more experiences than Andreas when they met. They met at a kink workshop and their relationship started on that basis before becoming romantic. In the past two years their sexual relating has become less fantasy-based and more embodied, which they find much deeper and connecting than before.
They describe their sex life as “getting better every single time. It just keeps growing.”, and “it’s now more and more integrated into our ongoing relationship and everyday lives”, “it’s just been the best thing in my life really”.In terms of the eight criteria of optimal sexuality:
Presence. They both state presence as being vital: “it’s the most important thing to be present, otherwise forget it” , while admitting to their tendency for the mind to wander. They are usually able to become present again, by focusing on breathing. Corinne says: “I work on being 100% present. If I’m not, then it’s a deal breaker for me.”Emotional Connection. Andreas describes their connection as: “a very constant thing. It’s always just bubbling along in the background… I can feel your energy, particularly in bed but just generally. Even when we’re apart I can still feel the energy… It’s just there and part of life now.” They put this down in part to their emotional comfort with each other. They also prioritise date night once a week, it’s “an imperative… The most important day of the week”, which Andreas adds is “fantastic and something to look forward to every week and plan”.
Erotic Intimacy. Andreas comments that “The intensity is always there, and the excitement”. Corinne agrees, adding: “I didn’t know it could get better. And it just did.” She finds that even “Vanilla sex is very exciting – you just focus on this beautiful body and devour him!” They both find that their longer Sunday morning sessions are deeper, slower, more relaxed, open-ended and so are “more erotic and much more fulfilling” – a “different state of mind”, which has led Corinne to become multi-orgasmic. Corinne used to be self-conscious about her body but now feels free and embodied and expressive.
Communication. They communicate verbally, emotionally and physically. Andreas feels he’s sensitive to Corinne’s body. Openness has grown, particularly with Andreas, although they acknowledge there is further to go in this respect. They feel that “our physical connection really is our biggest communication skill…It’s a really comfortable space. It’s a very safe space.”
Risk-taking. “Absolutely!” Andreas feels grateful that Corinne had already started on the journey: “well, I had too, kind of, but you were charging so I just jumped on the train! …The last five years have been incredible!” Corinne feels that “knowledge is the key to …getting into the more risk-taking and being less judgemental”. This enabled her to change her view of sex and engage quite differently, learning breathing and focusing, that you can touch without having to have intercourse, that’s “it’s ok to just hold my man’s penis”. Andreas agrees: “I’m very comfortable with risk…so it’s been great meeting someone who matches [me] on that…so we’ve been very open to learning and being adventurous”.Authenticity. Authenticity is so much part of them and their sexuality that Corinne simply said: “100%” when asked about authenticity, with Andreas adding “it’s…who we are”.
Vulnerability. Andreas acknowledges that vulnerability is “certainly something I’ve been learning over the past couple of years and the importance and benefit of it”. This has helped the sex and the sex has helped his vulnerability. He says “this is the first relationship where I’ve felt the trust to be able to be vulnerable”. They’ve learned to be vulnerable outside the bedroom, to have difficult conversations, and that has translated into more vulnerability in the bedroom. They feel the kinaesthetic elements, the touch and their cuddliness, helps them be more vulnerable.Transcendence. They highlight how the transcendent element of their sexuality is linked to safety, letting go, openness and timelessness. Corinne explains “I have very deep sexual experience, I become multi-orgasmic…that to me is really transformative because that to me is letting go 100%”. This is in part because “I feel incredibly at peace in our bed. It’s just the safest place in the world”, and “If Andreas touches me sometimes now, I just go, oh that’s it, I’m on.” For Andreas: “it’s that transcendental thing and the openness and the space and the timelessness and just being in another realm really”, which he adds is more likely during their longer Sunday morning sessions.
Their Journey
For Andreas it has been an ongoing journey of self-discovery from his 20s. Since meeting Corinne, that journey has included his sexuality.
Corinne didn’t like sex with her ex-husband. Three pivotal points happened: they couldn’t have kids, she had to have a hysterectomy and her husband left her for another woman. Then she became very sexually aroused! She did a women’s sexuality workshop with the author, saw a male escort, and then met Andreas in the kink scene: “I was not open sexually until I met [Andreas], and then I just did everything and anything. We engaged in all sorts of stuff. No hesitation.”
In reflecting on their sexuality over their relationship, in the first three years they thought they had great sex, which they did, but now it is so much better – and keeps getting better! The early years were great in exploring the breadth of sexuality, now they are finding the quality of the experience is much more about depth.They are not interested in any form of non-monogamy unless with a paid professional (which they have done once with a dominatrix).
They have both had therapy, attended workshops and retreats. They stay very fit, and have learned breathing and mindfulness techniques. They both feel that sex is “integrated with spirituality”, that “it’s a very spiritual journey”.In terms of what has most contributed to their sexual growth:
Andreas: “Everything really!”
Corinne: “The vulnerability factor”.
Andreas: “Communicating”.
Corinne: “Being supportive…that creates more playtime.”
Corinne: “We work really well together…there’s a genuine self-interest as well as interest for the other person…that just creates harmony.”Andreas: “Yeah…it helps bind us together but it also makes our relationship impervious.”
Their Experience of Transformation
Andreas says “I’m just happy now”, “much more confident, no-one bothers me anymore”. Corinne agrees: “He’s always smiling…he really is happy, he’s very content”.
Corinne also feels “I’m more relaxed and happier as a person”. Andreas adds that she is more direct and owns what she wants.
They feel: “We’re very strong together but strong apart”, and stress that “it’s a work in progress all the time”. Andreas speaks for both of them when he says “I am completely invested”.#299: Date Night or Date Day?
A couple came to me this week for their three-month check-in after seeing me regularly early in the year. With big smiles and loving glances at each other they said that one of the big changes for them was that they have instigated a monthly Date Day.
I am a big advocate of couples spending quality time together. Without it you lose connection, start feeling like housemates rather than lovers, and sex becomes either a non-event or a Big Issue. I’ve written elsewhere about finding that connection in small ways throughout the day, and having chats together in the evenings. Those small connections are your ‘relationship vitamins’. But that alone is rarely enough, you need some longer, more interesting times together, so date nights are a great idea.
But…sometimes getting out in the evening can feel like more effort than it’s worth, particularly if you’ve got young children. You’re tired! So going out at the end of a long day (and week) can just add to the exhaustion (not to mention the expectation of having sex when you get home and by the time you’ve paid the babysitter and checked on the kids and got undressed and into bed…zzzz….)
So, I often recommend to clients that you spend time together during the day. Get the grandparents to have the kids on a Sunday afternoon (or swap with friends) and go out for lunch, or go to the beach, or a gallery, or play tennis, or spend the time in bed together, or whatever your thing is.
My clients took this idea even further, allowing themselves a whole day. One Friday a month they both take the day off, drop the kids at school, then have six or more hours to themselves before they pick the kids up again. And they have committed to NOT spend the time doing boring logistical things like housework or servicing the car. The day is dedicated to them and their connection.
It’s brilliant. So here I am promoting Date Day! Of course, date nights are great too, and date weekends away – any quality time together. But I just love this concept of taking a whole day off. We’re getting used to the idea of taking a Mental Health Day, ie you’re not actually sick, you’re taking the day off as a preventative. Well, think of this as a Relationship Health Day!
Science has shown that strong primary relationships are the best indicator of individual health and well-being, not to mention the flow-on effects of happy, connected parents having well-adjusted kids. As I often say, imagine how good the world would be if everyone in it was in a loving, connected relationship (having loving connected sex)!
So, for the sake of your health, your well-being, your kids, and the world in general – give yourselves regular Relationship Health Days off and enjoy Date Days together!
And on the subject of quality time together, come and join me at one of my wonderful Couples Retreats for some real quality connection time!
#299: Date Night or Date Day?
Download Audio: Date Night or Date Day?
#288: Love in the Time of COVID-19
Gabriel Garcia Marquez wrote the acclaimed novel 'Love in the Time of Cholera'. Now I'd like to write about 'Love in the Time of COVID'.
It would be easy to say there are more important things to focus on right now, but what is more important at this time than love and relating? And what better time to bring this to the fore, than now, when we are isolating ourselves?
So many of my clients say that they don't have time to connect. They are either too busy, too stressed, or exhausted - and their relationships and intimacy suffer as a consequence. With this crisis, we can't be busy (except for our wonderful health professionals who are working so hard to protect us). A client case from this week exemplifies this. They'd had to cancel their overseas wedding scheduled for next month. As sad as this was, there was also a feeling of time and space, time to stop being so incredibly rushed and overwhelmed. Time to refresh and rejuvenate. Time to let their souls catch up.
As a society as a whole we need time for our souls to catch up. Yes, it is an unknown time, and certainly for vulnerable segments of the population, a scary time. I don't wish to downplay that side of this crisis. That too is very real. (I have elderly parents, a brother with leukemia and a son living overseas. I worry for them.)
Yet the positive side of this crisis is that we are being forced to slow down, to do less, to simplify, which gives us space to go inward. We can let our overactive nervous systems quieten and find an inner calm and equilibrium. It is from this space that we can connect with the vital life energy that is our sexual energy. Not the intense 'horniness' that we normally think of as sexual energy, but a beautiful aliveness, a fullness, an awareness. We can feel it and let it flow through our body, it can awaken our hearts.
If you have a partner, you can allow the potency of this vital love-sex energy to flow between you. Allow yourself to settle, and from this calm space, open and share with your partner, verbally, emotionally, physically. Let yourselves grow, individually and relationally.
I always encourage my clients to spend time simply chatting with their partner, not talking about logistics, but talking about life, the universe and everything, in particular, talking about yourselves. Use this to get to know yourselves more deeply, to understand your relationship and your intimacy better.
You might like to read articles from myLoveLife Blog - you might even get through all 302 of them! There's so much good, free information there. Or if you prefer, listen to the podcasts. This is a great thing to do together if you have a partner as it gives you something to focus on and discuss.
If you want to go into more depth and really use this time to evolve in understanding and experience, I recommend you do my online courses for men and women.
Let's use this time to quieten, to reflect, learn and grow. It will pass, and maybe we will come out the other side with a new perspective, a reclaimed ability to feel connected within and between. Every crisis is an opportunity for growth. This crisis is providing us with that precious commodity of time, of stillness. Let's use it to grow in compassion, understanding and awareness.
#281: Q&A: How Do We Connect After So Much Stress?
From my column in Body+Soul
Question: I was wondering if you could help me reconnect with my husband as we’re both super stressed from this bushfire season. We live on the South Coast of NSW and our house has been extremely close to the bushfires – over the summer we’ve been evacuated a few times. We’ve been in a state of high stress for a couple of months now, and it’s taken a big toll on our relationship. It feels like my husband has switched to survival mode and can’t or won’t switch back, so there’s no room for emotional or physical intimacy. Is this normal? What can I do?
Answer: I’m sorry to hear the bushfires have had such a big impact on you. Being on high alert for so long, and so repeatedly is terribly stressful. In times of crisis our emotional, mental and physical resources automatically go into survival mode. We are totally switched on and focused, we are fully up-regulated with our sympathetic nervous system pumping. Adrenaline floods our body, our heart rate goes up, our air passages expand, our whole being is primed for fight, flight or freeze.
At times like these, when all our resources are directed towards survival, it is very normal that we aren’t feeling romantic, relaxed, chilled. We’re in the opposite state.
Our bodies aren’t designed to stay in that intense stress for long though. If we do, we continue to produce stress hormones and are more likely to suffer from poor thinking, poor sleep, anxiety and illness, and in time total overwhelm and exhaustion. The crisis has to be resolved and our nervous system and physiology return to a normal relaxed state.
How do we do that? Well, we are a communal species, and one of the key ways we survive crises is through banding together in cooperative ways to support each other.
We’ve seen this during the bushfire crisis in so many ways – our volunteer firefighters risking their own lives to save others, people helping their neighbours, people saving pets, livestock and our native fauna, not to mention the outpouring of support from the broader community. I know that two single friends of mine who both lost their homes in the bushfires have been astounded at the support they have received within their communities.
Having that support network is an important way to overcome the stress of crisis situations, as my friends are finding. But being single, there is one ‘support network’ they can’t access, and that’s the support of a life partner.
Our significant other is the person who can regulate our nervous system and calm us more than any other (that same person can also dysregulate our nervous system more than any other, but that’s another story). The touch of our beloved, their words, their attention, their time, all contribute to feeling calm and secure, removing our bodies from crisis mode. And, of course, we can do this together, so that we are co-regulating our nervous systems and calming each other.
So, to return to your situation. When a bushfire is bearing down on you and you are escaping for your lives, at that time you will be in crisis mode, and you need to do all you can to survive. Let your bodies’ natural responses of intense focus, hyper-alertness, and all the accompanying physiological processes kick in to action so that you survive. Then, when you are out of danger, that is the time to recover, to get out of crisis mode, and to use your connection to help you return to a healthier, less-stressed state.
How you do that will depend on you as individuals and as a couple. The key thing is to ensure you pay attention to each other and that you use words and touch for comfort and security. There are so many strong emotions that arise in these situations that it’s important to share them with your partner. Have a cup of tea together and talk about how each of you are feeling, just share, there’s no need to ‘fix’. Or lie with one person’s head in the other lap and gently stroke your partner as they speak, or let them lie there and simply receive the touch. Have lots of hugs. Express your appreciation and gratitude. Give each other shoulder rubs to relieve the tension. Sex might not be at the forefront of mind in times like this, but don’t exclude it. If you engage in these other connecting activities, you might find you do naturally move into tender sexual activity, which can be both stress-relieving and bonding.
In a nutshell, do what humans have always done in times of crisis – support each other. Use the love you have for each other to help ‘reset’ your mind and body once the intense crisis is past and return to calm, connectedness.
#281: Q&A: How Do We Connect After So Much Stress?
Download Audio: Q&A: How Do We Connect After So Much Stress?
#280: Get A Life! Your Sex Drive Needs the Dopamine
The neurotransmitter dopamine makes us feel good and positive and upbeat. When we have healthy levels of dopamine, we have a positive outlook on life and have energy and motivation - and a better sex drive!
When dopamine levels are low, we feel sluggish and down, the world is grey, and everything is an effort - including sex.
To increase your sexual desire, you need to do things that increase your dopamine levels.
Having goals in life and achieving them is one way to keep the dopamine high. That’s why it’s so important to enjoy your work and get positive feedback from what you do and achieve.
It’s not just big goals though, any small achievement, especially if you take the time to notice it and reinforce the positive feeling will keep your dopamine levels up. In fact, it’s good to keep this in balance so that you don’t have wild fluctuations. So, notice all the good positive things in life, take a moment to really appreciate them and keep the positive feelings going.
Exercise is great too. It doesn’t have to be intense, just get up off your butt and go for a walk! Walk to a park at lunchtime or go for a walk after dinner and enjoy the evening.
Eat healthy food, food that makes you feel uplifted, not heavy. So, ditch the heavy carbs, high sugar and processed foods and eat fresh, invigorating foods.
Reduce your caffeine and nicotine intake, which gives you an artificial stimulus. And definitely avoid drugs like cocaine and amphetamines because these cause higher levels of dopamine in the brain than the brain can handle and so can lead to addiction.
It’s much better to raise dopamine levels naturally.
Doing new and interesting things raises your dopamine levels. Doing the same old same old lowers them. This is why the same old evening routine including hours being a couch potato in front of the TV is not foreplay and never will be. Get up and go for a walk, or play a board game, or sit and chat, or any number of things that are more interesting and stimulating than the idiot box.
Take control of your hormones by getting a life, and use them to get a get a sex life!
#279: Q&A: My Husband Is Having An Affair and I'm Relieved
From my column in Body+Soul
Question:
I’ve recently discovered my husband is having an affair. But I’m not upset about it – I’m glad. Glad because I haven’t fancied my husband for years, and this affair means the pressure to have sex has ended. Our love life was good at the start. Three children later though, and the chemistry just isn’t there.
Answer: Your question shows just how more complex the issue of infidelity is than just “you’re a cheater and I’m leaving!”. It’s not that straightforward! I deal with these issues every day in my clinic and every situation is unique.
You say that you have ‘a perfectly good marriage’. I’d like to challenge you on that point. Is a sexless marriage, or one with only ‘dutiful’ sex a good marriage? What is the role of sex in a relationship? And can that part be successfully out-sourced to a third party?
I often describe a good relationship as being like a tripod. It has three legs, and all three legs need to be strong for it to be a steady, useful tripod. If any legs are wobbly, the whole thing is wobbly.
The first leg is the logistical leg – you need to be team-mates in the game of life. You can raise a family, earn money, get the garbage out on time, and manage all those practical matters.
The second leg is the leg of friendship – you need to be friends. This means that you genuinely like each other, you like hanging out together, you have common values and interests, you’re each other’s go to person.
The third leg is the lover leg – you need to be lovers. When I say lovers, I don’t just mean that you have sex occasionally, I mean that you share a unique feeling between you that combines both sex and love. It’s a vital, enlivening feeling that you share all through your life together: in a glance, a touch, in small acts of kindness and flirtation, all the way through to sexual intimacy.
Now here’s the thing, this feeling has to be cultivated or it will wither and die. In the early stages of a relationship you are usually doing all the right things to keep these feelings strong, you’re doing things together, having fun, having both deep and playful connections. But over time complacency sets in and we can feel, as so many of my clients say, that “I love my partner but I’m not in love any more,” with comments like “we just feel like housemates now”. But it’s actually this third leg, you as lovers, that makes you uniquely a couple, that provides the vibrancy and connection that keeps you feeling good about yourself and your partner, and that keeps you secure and loved-up.
Without that, people are prone to straying. It doesn’t excuse deceit by any means, but it does explain it. We love to be loved, and part of that love is to be desired, to have a level of intimacy where we can be totally vulnerable and open, and through that to feel known, cherished, understood. That’s why strong relationships are the greatest predictor of health and wellbeing.
These days some people are exploring positive forms of openness within their relationship. It’s called consensual non-monogamy, or CNM for short. This is where a couple discuss and agree on some level of openness in their relationship. Note the phrase ‘discuss and agree’, to do this you have to have really good communication. Which you don’t. Yet.
So, yes, you do need to talk to your husband. Through opening up this conversation, you’ll have to get vulnerable and open and honest and real. Which is scary and challenging and difficult, so you might want to get professional help with the discussion. And, this might mean that you are able to consensually negotiate an open relationship of some kind. Or, and this is the key, developing this level communication may well open you back up to each other…
Archive
#366: The Seven Flavours of Sex
#365: Live in the "Simmer Zone"
#364: Suggest Don't Ask
#363: Take the Pressure Off Your Penis!
#362: Don't Let Your Primitive Brain Rule Your Relationship
#361: Great Sex is Not About Speed
#360: Sexual KPIs - Key Pleasure Indicators
#359: Your Relationship is Like a Boat that Carries you through Life
#358: Talk 'Erotic' Not 'Dirty'
#357: Great Sex is Rarely Spontaneous
#356: Approaching Sex As A Spiritual Practice
#355: You're Not Alone - Sexual Struggle is Normal
#354: Let Nature Boost Your Libido
#353: Invite and Envelop
#352: A Kiss Is Just A Kiss
#351: How to 'Start the Dominos Falling'
#350: Move Towards Love-Led not Lust-Led Sex
#349: The Yin & Yang of Erotic Physiology
#348: Sex Should Age Like A Fine Wine
#347: We All Need To “Come Out” To Our Unique Sexuality
#346: Burn Away the Undergrowth to Allow New Growth
#345: Don't Push a Relationship to Crisis Point, End It Sooner
#344: When It Gets Awkward in Bed
#343: It's Normal to Find Other People Attractive
#342: The Dance of Initiation
#341: We All Need A Phone Policy!
#340: What Comes Before Consent
#339: More than Sex-Positive, We Need to be Sex-Comfortable
#338: Get Off the Hedonistic Treadmill!
#337: You Can't Search for Love. It's Already There. You Can Only Remove the Barriers to Let It In
#336: How to Communicate Complaints Effectively
#335: Nurture Your Soul with Sex
#334: How to Express Your Emotions Without Being "Emotional"
#333: Q&A: We're Time Poor - How Do We Add Some Zing?
#332: Be Conscious Not Complacent
#331: It's OK to Disappoint Your Partner
#330: Moans & Groans – why sound is good in sex and how to make more
#329: Gateways to the Erotic Shift
#328: Safety is Sexy
#327: Pace Your Sexual Interactions
#326: Fly on the Wall Friday - my new Video Series
#325: When Things Get Wobbly Assume the Best and Get Curious
#324: How Alike do You Need to be to Have a Good Relationship
#323: Be "At Home" in Your Body
#322: Don't Ever Stop Kissing
#321: Consent From the Inside
#320: How to Say No Without It Feeling Like Rejection
#319: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 3: Sexual Transformation
#318: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 2: Relational Transformation
#317: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 1: Personal Transformation
#316: Take Your Partner Off A Sexual Pedestal
#315: Finesse Your Expertise on Each Other
#314: A Lingering Sense of Each Other
#313: How Do You Know When You're Having Good Sex?
#312: Conflict is Inevitable So Learn to Prevent, Manage and Repair
#311: The Bridgerton Effect
#310: Cuddle plus – an essential phase of the affection-sex continuum
#309: Moment-by-Moment Consent
#308: How To Give (and Receive) An Erotic Spanking
#307: Three Types of Sexual Communication: Chit-chat, In-the-moment and the Debrief
#306: What I Desire
#305: Lazy Sex
#304: It's Not "Needy" to Connect - It's Human!
#303: The Art of the Thrust
#302: Transformational Erotica
#301: Sex As Embodied Mindfulness Practice
#300: So Many Ways to Eat, So Many Ways to…
#299: Date Night or Date Day?
#298: Teenage Love-Making
#297: Turning Sex Lives Upside-Down - It's My Life's Work!
#296: The Sex Store in Your Pantry
#295: Do You PIV or VEP When You Have Sex?
#294: Take Your Penis for a Walk!
#293: It's Time to Let Our Souls Catch-Up
#292: Become a Sensual Explorer
#291: Q&A: My Wife Won't Pleasure Herself in Front of Me
#290: Subtle Shifts to Great Sex
#289: Q&A: My Husband Can't Keep an Erection, and He Smokes Lots of Marajuana
#288: Love in the Time of COVID-19
#287: Q&A: My Partner Doesn't Climax from Oral Sex and I'm Worried
#286: Meditate Your Way to Great Sex
#285: Q&A: My Partner Doesn't Like Kissing - what to do?
#284: Communing - deep intimate connection
#283: Q&A: We Want to Try a Threesome - how do we do it safely?
#282: On Being A Human in a Female Body
#281: Q&A: How Do We Connect After So Much Stress?
#280: Get A Life! Your Sex Drive Needs the Dopamine
#279: Q&A: My Husband Is Having An Affair and I'm Relieved
#278: Stocking Up Your Love Larder - the key to spontaneous sex
#277: Q&A: How Do I Flex My New Found Interest in Sex?
#276: Intercourse as Foreplay
#275: Q&A: Fun in the Sun - How to Have Safe Holiday Sex
#274: Bake Your Cake Before You Ice It - the foundation of great sex
#273: Q&A: Is It Normal to Want Sex Twice A Day?
#272: How Has Sex Helped You Grow - Research Participants Wanted!
#271: Q&A: How Do I Meet My Sexual Needs in a Sexless Marriage
#270: Optimal Sexuality - Reaching Your Sexual Potential
#269: Q&A: How Do I Get My Mojo Back?
#268: It's the Sum of the Small Things
#267: Q&A: How Do We Reignite Our Love Life
#266: Relationship Vitamins
#265: I See You as Lover - the importance of attention in loving well
#264: The Pleasure of A Soft Cock
#263: Make Every Stroke Count
#262: You Can Make Love With Just A Kiss
#261: Finding the 'More' - the Spiritual Dimensions of Sex
#260: How to Stay In Love
#259: Expanding Your Sexual Play Part 2: How
#258: Expanding Your Sexual Play Part 1: What
#257: Simple Sex is Good Sex
#256: Solo Sex: Mindful Masturbation
#255: Own the Crone
#254: Porn Star versus Prude
#253: “When One is Pretending, the Whole Body Revolts”
#252: Non-Linear Love-Making: the "Picnic" Approach to Sex
#251: Make Your Bedroom A Sanctuary
#250: Sexy Debriefing
#249: Getting "Love Drunk"
#248: Make-Over Your Sex Life
#247: Be Real, Express Freely
#246: The Fairy Tales Got It Wrong
#245: Are Humans Naturally Monogamous - and if not, what does that mean?
#244: Gigglegasms
#243: Evolve with the Seven Elements of Sexuality
#242: Getting to Sex can be Like Getting to the Gym
#241: Intensity Repels, Enticement Attracts. Like Chocolate Cake.
#240: Turn Yourself On and the World Turns On To You
#239: Therapy is Composting Your Sh*t
#238: Are You Flat-lining or Surfing in Life?
#237: How to Avoid Spiritual Bypassing in Sex & Relationships
#236: The Clitoris is Not an On-Off Button
#235: The Three Phases of Conscious Relationship Evolution
#234: Allow Self-Indulgence
#233: Are You Relationship-Oriented?
#232: Tantra: Sex Through Non-Sex
#231: A Multitude of Orgasmic Possibilities
#230: Sink In to Sync In
#229: Penises - does size really matter?
#228: What To Do When He Can't Come
#227: The Adolescent Male Masturbatory Model of Sex
#226: Merge Sex & Love Energies for Potent Connection
#225: Sex is a Normal Part of Life
#224: We Judge ‘Normal’ Sex Based on Our Own Experiences
#223: How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways...
#222: Project 'Great Sex'
#221: Beforeplay Suggestions
#220: Foreplay and Beforeplay
#219: How to Heighten Sensory Pleasure
#218: The Bedroom is for Expression, Not Suppression
#217: The Three Types of Sex All Couples Need
#216: Things that make you go 'mmm' and things that make you go 'ngh'
#215: Libido - the Interplay of Desire and Arousal
#214: The Good and Bad of Porn
#213: Bad Communication Styles - The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
#212: My Journey to Becoming A Transpersonal Sexologist
#211: Seven Sex Tips for Busy People
#210: Penises Love A Soft Touch
#209: Share Before You Fix
#208: The Best Thing A Father Can Do
#207: The Exquisiteness of a Relaxed Vagina
#206: The Look of Love - Eye-Gazing
#205: Quanta of Deliciousness
#204: How to Maintain the “Mmm-Factor”
#203: How to Have 'Dirty' Sex With Someone You Love
#202: Seven Benefits of Attending A LoveLife Couples Tantra Retreat
#201: Make Sex Your Hobby
#200: Partnered Sex is Not Solo Sex for Two
#199: Melting Moments
#198: Your Partner Can't Be Everything To You
#197: Sex is Good, Sleep is Better!
#196: Savour Sex
#195: How To Live A Tantric Life
#194: Be Kind - It Works
#193: How to Push Your Sexual Boundaries
#192: Good Rest=Good Sex
#191: We Need Bliss
#190: Being Sexually Receptive is Not Being Sexually Passive
#189: So Much Love
#188: A High-Quality Relationship is a High-Maintenance Relationship
#187: Sex as Spiritual Practice
#186: Playing with the Yin and Yang of Sex
#185: The Yin and Yang of Sex
#184: Third Level Love-Making
#183: Vive La Difference!
#182: What Is a Marriage Sabbatical and Why Take One?
#181: The Basic Sexual Unit is One
#180: A Penis is for Connection, not Penetration
#179: Men Have Not Evolved to 'Sow Their Seed Widely'
#178: Big Sex is Beautiful Sex
#177: Women Are Not 'Naturally' Monogamous
#176: Sex Therapy and Couples Retreats - What to do if you have a Reluctant Partner
#175: The Chilled Build - How to Get in the Mood for Sex
#174: Mums and Dads Need "Cuddle Time"
#173: Giving Good Head Does Not Mean Simulating A Vacuum Cleaner
#172: Is Porn Making Women Less Feminine?
#171: Is Porn Making Men Less Masculine?
#170: Rough Sex
#169: The Three Pillars of Love
#168: Seven Benefits of Attending My Couples Retreats
#167: Ban Penetration - the word, not the act!
#166: Solo Cultivation - Mindful Masturbation for Men
#165: Our Bodies Thrive on Pleasure
#164: Leela: Cosmic Play, Sexual Play
#163: Toys for Grown-Ups
#162: Backdoor Pleasures - how to enjoy anal sex
#161: The Sexual Glutton vs The Sexual Gourmet
#160: Erotic Wickedness - How to Play with Power Exchange
#159: Practice Expressing Your Feelings For Greater Connection and Better Sex
#158: Let’s Talk About Our Sex
#157: Love Your Breasts
#156: Ditch the Sex Myths
#155: Relax Into Orgasm
#154: When A Woman Is Free To Be Herself Sex Takes On A Spiritual Dimension
#153: It All Starts With A Kiss…
#152: The Ecstasy is in the Spaces In-Between
#151: Radical Honesty
#150: Strength in Softness, Softness in Strength
#149: Your New Year's Resolution - Have Better Sex
#148: Peace, Pleasure and Goodwill to All
#147: A Beautiful Vulva is Like A Luscious Hamburger
#146: Come From a Place of "Yes"!
#145: Finger Finesse
#144: Reluctance is Not frigidity, It’s Body Intelligence - She’s Not Ready!
#143: Tantra: The Art of Mindful Sex
#142: Love Thy Partner
#141: ‘Invitation’ not ‘Penetration’
#140: Female Bodies Are Sexual Pleasure Machines
#139: Sex is the Base of Being Human
#138: Awaken Your Vagina for the Kind of Sex All Women (and their Partners) Deserve
#137: Bonking on the Right Side of the Brain
#136: Have Sex with God…
#135: So Many Boxes - So Little Freedom
#134: How to Move Forward When Your Partner Has Betrayed You
#133: The Reason Why Humans Are So Sexual
#132: Partnered Yoga - Erotic Connection
#131: Make Love Like You’re Playing An Instrument For Ultimate Sensual Pleasure
#130: How to Talk to Kids About Sex - and why you need to
#129: Inviting A Third (or fourth or more…) - the right way to play
#128: Does Size Really Matter?
#127: The Way of the Householder - how to make the everyday sublime
#126: Our Bodies Are the Best Sex Toy Ever
#125: Honour Your Genitals for Exquisite Sex - the Why and How
#124: Tango Tantra - Make Your Love Life Blissfully Connected
#123: The Yin & Yang of Sex Chemistry
#122: DIY Porn - It’s A Fun Way to Add Spice to Your Love Life
#121: Move Beyond Sleaze and Shame and Discover The Third Wave of Sexuality
#120: Don’t Fake It Till You Make It - ‘Cause You Won’t Make It
#119: Give Your Man Absolute Pleasure...Try Prostate Massage
#118: We’re All Individuals! There are Spectra of Sexuality
#117: My Book "Seven Sex Goddesses" Released!
#116: Can Fisting Be Fabulous?
#115: Ten Reasons Why Married Women Have Affairs, and What To Do When She Does
#114: Mutual Pleasure Requires Mutual Responsibility - how to expand your sex play safely
#113: Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down - how to add restraint to your sex life
#112: What’s Your Eroticism - Intimate, Wild, Fun?
#111: 10 Tips For Your Vagina
#110: When the Man Leads, the Woman Embellishes
#109: Unblock Sexual Energy for Greater Love
#108: The Sensual Dom(me)
#107: Explore Your Fantasies
#106: Dress-Ups! How to have fun with role-play.
#105: Consensual Non-Monotony
#104: Consensual Non-Monogamy
#103: Languid 69
#102: Sensual Non-Monogamy
#101: Make Love to Yourself - Mindful Masturbation for Women
#100: Celibacy, Sexuality and Spirituality
Bloglovin
#99: Spice Alone Tastes Terrible...
#98: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
#97: Plugging In - Sex Without Movement
#96: Growing Better With Age
#95: Teaching Tantra in Paradise
#94: Time Apart Can Be Erotic
#93: When He's Lost Interest
#92: Q&A: Why Doesn’t Porn Do It for Me?
#91: If Sex Hurts, Change What You're Doing
#90: Some Words for the Lower Desire Partner
#89: Trust Your Body
#88: Chill Out in Your Sanctuary
#87: Planning for Pleasure
#86: Make the Lead-Up Erotic
#85: Advice from Japanese Grandmothers on How to Be Beautiful
#84: If You Want A Mature Relationship You Have To Be Mature
#83: How Often Should We Have Sex?
#82: Slay the Pink Elephants!
#81: The Tantric Lounge Radio Show - Talking Sex, Science and Spirituality
#80: What Do Men Love Best About Sex?
#79: Fetishes are Fine
#78: The Awesomeness of Men Who Are Present
#77: Sex Doesn't Have to Involve the Genitals
#76: Winter's a Time for Sexual Growth
#75: An Erection Does Not Have To Be Serviced
#74: "My Ejaculation Opens the Door to Deeper Orgasm"
#73: To Come or Not To Come
#72: Know Your Sexual Rhythm
#71: Fill Up Your Self-Love Tank
#70: The Cup-of-Tea Approach to Sexual Self-Coaching
#69: Trust Means Being OK with Not Knowing
#68: Renegotiate Your Contract
#67: Breathe Together - It's Tantric Foreplay
#66: The Number One Secret to Good Sex
#65: An Orgasm a Day Keeps the Doctor Away - why sex is so good for you
#64: Teaching Sex Therapists Tantra
#63: Is “Good Enough” Sex Good Enough?
#62: Observing Love
#61: There Is Always A Lower Desire Partner
#60: You Can't Find Balance, You Have To Craft It
#59: Sexual, Spiritual Business Leaders
#58: Positive Messages in 50 Shades of Grey
#57: Playing with Pleasure and Pain
#56: Pelvic Floor Pleasures - Advanced
#55: Pelvic Floor Pleasures - The Basics
#54: Three Good Reasons To Read Erotica
#53: Tantric Kink
#52: Tools for Self-Validation from a Luscious Woman
#51: How to Master the Art of Vaginal Stimulation
#50: Discover the G, A and Ohhhh-Spots
#49: The Tantric Quickie
#48: We All Need To Be Balanced in Our Masculine and Feminine Sides
#47: One Couple's "Kilimanjaro Walk" to Sexual Reconnection
#46: Feminine Receptivity and the Go-Getter Kind of Gal
#45: The Etiquette of Observing Breasts
#44: The World is Waking to Conscious Sex
#43: Try A Little Tenderness
#42: Erotica or Sleaze
#41: A Sensual Man Makes A Great Lover
#40: Sensuality Feeds Sexuality
#39: What is Sex Therapy, Sex Coaching and Tantra Teaching?
#38: The Beauty of Conflict
#37: A Woman's Body Opens In Stages
#36: Breathe Well: Live & Love Well
#35: Phone Sex
#34: Do Your Research - It's Fun!
#33: Unconditional Love Requires Self-validation
#32: Men Need a Muse Not Just A Vagina
#31: Teaching Tantra in Thailand
#30: Being Real
#29: Twelve Benefits of Sex
#28: Communicate - Human's Can't Read Minds!
#27: True Intimacy
#26: The Core of Tantra: Real Sex
#25: Sex as Entree not Dessert
#24: Fire and Water: The Masculine and Feminine Sexual Energies
#23: High Libido Women Keep Themselves Simmering
#22: The Breadth of Sexuality & the Importance of Fun
#21: Prioritising Sex
#20: Obligation Sex is Self-Imposed Low-Level Sexual Trauma
#19: Not-So-Secret Men's Business
#18: Could We Have A Festival of Sexuality?
#17: Three Things a Whole Man Needs
#16: Valuing the Masculine
#15: Valuing the Feminine
#14: Face the Darkness to Find the Light
#13: Grow Up and Open Up Australia
#12: How Men Can Circulate Sexual Energy
#11: The Great G-Spot & Female Ejaculation Debate!
#10: Sexual Pleasure is the Great Equalizer
#9: Become a Black Belt in the Bedroom!
#8: Neuroplasticity - Moulding Your Brain for Better Sex
#7: Raise Your Sexual Energy
#6: How To Consume An Ice-Cream - Lose Yourself in Pleasure Pt 2
#5: How To Eat A Peach - Lose Yourself in Pleasure Pt 1
#4: Love in the Time of Chaos
#3: A History of Sexual Misinformation
#2: Men are from Earth, Women are from Earth
#1: The Birth of the LoveLife Blog - with some underlying philosophical ramblings
#366: The Seven Flavours of Sex
#365: Live in the "Simmer Zone"
#364: Suggest Don't Ask
#363: Take the Pressure Off Your Penis!
#362: Don't Let Your Primitive Brain Rule Your Relationship
#361: Great Sex is Not About Speed
#360: Sexual KPIs - Key Pleasure Indicators
#359: Your Relationship is Like a Boat that Carries you through Life
#358: Talk 'Erotic' Not 'Dirty'
#357: Great Sex is Rarely Spontaneous
#356: Approaching Sex As A Spiritual Practice
#355: You're Not Alone - Sexual Struggle is Normal
#354: Let Nature Boost Your Libido
#353: Invite and Envelop
#352: A Kiss Is Just A Kiss
#351: How to "Start the Dominos Falling"
#350: Move Towards Love-Led not Lust-Led Sex
#349: The Yin & Yang of Erotic Physiology
#348: Should Age Like A Fine Wine
#347: We All Need To “Come Out” To Our Unique Sexuality
#346: Burn Away the Undergrowth to Allow New Growth
#345: Don't Push a Relationship to Crisis Point, End It Sooner
#344: When It Gets Awkward in Bed
#343: It's Normal to Find Other People Attractive
#342: The Dance of Initiation
#341: We All Need A Phone Policy!
#340: What Comes Before Consent
#339: More than Sex-Positive, We Need to be Sex-Comfortable
#338: Get Off the Hedonistic Treadmill!
#337: You Can't Search for Love. It's Already There. You Can Only Remove the Barriers to Let It In
#336: How to Communicate Complaints Effectively
#335: Nurture Your Soul with Sex
#334: How to Express Your Emotions Without Being "Emotional"
#333: Q&A: We're Time Poor - How Do We Add Some Zing?
#332: Be Conscious Not Complacent
#331: It's Ok to Disappoint Your Partner
#330: Moans & Groans – why sound is good in sex and how to make more
#329: Gateways to the Erotic Shift
#328: Safety is Sexy
#327: Pace Your Sexual Interactions
#326: Fly on the Wall Friday - my new Video Series
#325: When Things Get Wobbly Assume the Best and Get Curious
#324: How Alike do you Need to be to Have a Good Relationship
#323: Be "At Home" in Your Body
#322: Don't Ever Stop Kissing
#321: Consent From the Inside
#320: How To Say No Without It Feeling Like Rejection
#319: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 3: Sexual Transformation
#318: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 2: Relational Transformation
#317: The Benefits of a Great Love Life Part 1: Personal Transformation
#316: Take Your Partner Off A Sexual Pedestal
#315: Finesse Your Expertise on Each Other
#314: A Lingering Sense of Each Other
#313: How Do You Know When You're Having Good Sex?
#312: Conflict is Inevitable So Learn to Prevent, Manage and Repair
#311: The Bridgerton Effect
#310: Cuddle plus – an essential phase of the affection-sex continuum
#309: Moment-by-Moment Consent
#308: How To Give (and Receive) An Erotic Spanking
#307: Three Types of Sexual Communication: Chit-chat, In-the-moment and the Debrief
#306: What I Desire
#305: Lazy Sex
#304: It's Not "Needy" to Connect - It's Human!
#303: The Art of the Thrust
#302: Transformational Erotica
#301: Sex As Embodied Mindfulness Practice
#300: So Many Ways to Eat, So Many Ways to…
#299: Date Night or Date Day?
#298: Teenage Love-Making
#297: Turning Sex Lives Upside-Down - It's My Life's Work!
#296: The Sex Store in Your Pantry
#295: Do You PIV or VEP When You Have Sex?
#294: Take Your Penis for a Walk!
#293: It's Time to Let Our Souls Catch-Up
#292: Become a Sensual Explorer
#291: Q&A: My Wife Won't Pleasure Herself in Front of Me
#290: Subtle Shifts to Great Sex
#289: Q&A: My Husband Can't Keep an Erection, and He Smokes Lots of Marajuana
#288: Love in the Time of COVID-19
#287: Q&A: My Partner Doesn't Climax from Oral Sex and I'm Worried
#286: Meditate Your Way to Great Sex
#285: Q&A: My Partner Doesn't Like Kissing - what to do?
#284: Communing - deep intimate connection
#283: Q&A: We Want to Try a Threesome - how do we do it safely?
#282: On Being A Human in a Female Body
#281: Q&A: How Do We Connect After So Much Stress?
#280: Get A Life! Your Sex Drive Needs the Dopamine
#279: Q&A: My Husband Is Having An Affair and I'm Relieved
#278: Stocking Up Your Love Larder - the key to spontaneous sex
#277: Q&A: How Do I Flex My New Found Interest in Sex?
#276: Intercourse as Foreplay
#275: Q&A: Fun in the Sun - How to Have Safe Holiday Sex
#274: Bake Your Cake Before You Ice It - the foundation of great sex
#273: Q&A: Is It Normal to Want Sex Twice A Day?
#272: How Has Sex Helped You Grow - Research Participants Wanted!
#271: Q&A: How Do I Meet My Sexual Needs in a Sexless Marriage
#270: Optimal Sexuality - Reaching Your Sexual Potential
#269: Q&A: How Do I Get My Mojo Back?
#268: It's the Sum of the Small Things
#267: Q&A: How Do We Reignite Our Love Life
#266: Relationship Vitamins
#265: I See You as Lover - the importance of attention in loving well
#264: The Pleasure of A Soft Cock
#263: Make Every Stroke Count
#262: You Can Make Love With Just A Kiss
#261: Finding the 'More' - the Spiritual Dimensions of Sex
#260: How to Stay In Love
#259: Expanding Your Sexual Play Part 2: How
#258: Expanding Your Sexual Play Part 1: What
#257: Simple Sex is Good Sex
#256: Solo Sex: Mindful Masturbation
#255: Own the Crone
#254: Porn Star versus Prude
#253: “When One is Pretending, the Whole Body Revolts”
#252: Non-Linear Love-Making: the "Picnic" Approach to Sex
#251: Make Your Bedroom A Sanctuary
#250: Sexy Debriefing
#249: Getting "Love Drunk"
#248: Make-Over Your Sex Life
#247: Be Real, Express Freely
#246: The Fairy Tales Got It Wrong
#245: Are Humans Naturally Monogamous - and if not, what does that mean?
#244: Gigglegasms
#243: Evolve with the Seven Elements of Sexuality
#242: Getting to Sex can be Like Getting to the Gym
#241: Intensity Repels, Enticement Attracts. Like Chocolate Cake.
#240: Turn Yourself On and the World Turns On To You
#239: Therapy is Composting Your Sh*t
#238: Are You Flat-lining or Surfing in Life?
#237: How to Avoid Spiritual Bypassing in Sex & Relationships
#236: The Clitoris is Not an On-Off Button
#235: The Three Phases of Conscious Relationship Evolution
#234: Allow Self-Indulgence
#233: Are You Relationship-Oriented?
#232: Tantra: Sex Through Non-Sex
#231: A Multitude of Orgasmic Possibilities
#230: Sink In to Sync In
#229: Penises - does size really matter?
#228: What To Do When He Can't Come
#227: The Adolescent Male Masturbatory Model of Sex
#226: Merge Sex & Love Energies for Potent Connection
#225: Sex is a Normal Part of Life
#224: We Judge ‘Normal’ Sex Based on Our Own Experiences
#223: How Do I Love Thee? Let me count the ways...
#222: Project 'Great Sex'
#221: Beforeplay Suggestions
#220: Foreplay and Beforeplay
#219: How to Heighten Sensory Pleasure
#218: The Bedroom is for Expression, Not Suppression
#217: The Three Types of Sex All Couples Need
#216: Things that make you go 'mmm' and things that make you go 'ngh'
#215: Libido - the Interplay of Desire and Arousal
#214: The Good and Bad of Porn
#213: Bad Communication Styles - The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
#212: My Journey to Becoming A Transpersonal Sexologist
#211: Seven Sex Tips for Busy People
#210: Penises Love A Soft Touch
#209: Share Before You Fix
#208: The Best Thing A Father Can Do
#207: The Exquisiteness of a Relaxed Vagina
#206: The Look of Love - Eye-Gazing
#205: Quanta of Deliciousness
#204: How to Maintain the “Mmm-Factor”
#203: How to Have 'Dirty' Sex With Someone You Love
#202: Seven Benefits of Attending A LoveLife Couples Tantra Retreat
#201: Make Sex Your Hobby
#200: Partnered Sex is Not Solo Sex for Two
#199: Melting Moments
#198: Your Partner Can't Be Everything To You
#197: Sex is Good, Sleep is Better!
#196: Savour Sex
#195: How To Live A Tantric Life
#194: Be Kind - It Works
#193: How to Push Your Sexual Boundaries
#192: Good Rest=Good Sex
#191: We Need Bliss
#190: Being Sexually Receptive is Not Being Sexually Passive
#189: So Much Love
#188: A High-Quality Relationship is a High-Maintenance Relationship
#187: Sex as Spiritual Practice
#186: Playing with the Yin and Yang of Sex
#185: The Yin and Yang of Sex
#184: Third Level Love-Making
#183: Vive La Difference!
#182: What Is a Marriage Sabbatical and Why Take One?
#181: The Basic Sexual Unit is One
#180: A Penis is for Connection, not Penetration
#179: Men Have Not Evolved to 'Sow Their Seed Widely'
#178: Big Sex is Beautiful Sex
#177: Women Are Not 'Naturally' Monogamous
#176: Sex Therapy and Couples Retreats - What to do if you have a Reluctant Partner
#175: The Chilled Build - How to Get in the Mood for Sex
#174: Mums and Dads Need "Cuddle Time"
#173: Giving Good Head Does Not Mean Simulating A Vacuum Cleaner
#172: Is Porn Making Women Less Feminine?
#171: Is Porn Making Men Less Masculine?
#170: Rough Sex
#169: The Three Pillars of Love
#168: Seven Benefits of Attending My Couples Retreats
#167: Ban Penetration - the word, not the act!
#166: Solo Cultivation - Mindful Masturbation for Men
#165: Our Bodies Thrive on Pleasure
#164: Leela: Cosmic Play, Sexual Play
#163: Toys for Grown-Ups
#162: Backdoor Pleasures - how to enjoy anal sex
#161: The Sexual Glutton vs The Sexual Gourmet
#160: Erotic Wickedness - How to Play with Power Exchange
#159: Practice Expressing Your Feelings For Greater Connection and Better Sex
#158: Let’s Talk About Our Sex
#157: Love Your Breasts
#156: Ditch the Sex Myths
#155: Relax Into Orgasm
#154: When A Woman Is Free To Be Herself Sex Takes On A Spiritual Dimension
#153: It All Starts With A Kiss…
#152: The Ecstasy is in the Spaces In-Between
#151: Radical Honesty
#150: Strength in Softness, Softness in Strength
#149: Your New Year's Resolution - Have Better Sex
#148: Peace, Pleasure and Goodwill to All
#147: A Beautiful Vulva is Like A Luscious Hamburger
#146: Come From a Place of "Yes"!
#145: Finger Finesse
#144: Reluctance is Not frigidity, It’s Body Intelligence - She’s Not Ready!
#143: Tantra: The Art of Mindful Sex
#142: Love Thy Partner
#141: ‘Invitation’ not ‘Penetration’
#140: Female Bodies Are Sexual Pleasure Machines
#139: Sex is the Base of Being Human
#138: Awaken Your Vagina for the Kind of Sex All Women (and their Partners) Deserve
#137: Bonking on the Right Side of the Brain
#136: Have Sex with God…
#135: So Many Boxes - So Little Freedom
#134: How to Move Forward When Your Partner Has Betrayed You
#133: The Reason Why Humans Are So Sexual
#132: Partnered Yoga - Erotic Connection
#131: Make Love Like You’re Playing An Instrument For Ultimate Sensual Pleasure
#130: How to Talk to Kids About Sex - and why you need to
#129: Inviting A Third (or fourth or more…) - the right way to play
#128: Does Size Really Matter?
#127: The Way of the Householder - how to make the everyday sublime
#126: Our Bodies Are the Best Sex Toy Ever
#125: Honour Your Genitals for Exquisite Sex - the Why and How
#124: Tango Tantra - Make Your Love Life Blissfully Connected
#123: The Yin & Yang of Sex Chemistry
#122: DIY Porn - It’s A Fun Way to Add Spice to Your Love Life
#121: Move Beyond Sleaze and Shame and Discover The Third Wave of Sexuality
#120: Don’t Fake It Till You Make It - ‘Cause You Won’t Make It
#119: Give Your Man Absolute Pleasure...Try Prostate Massage
#118: We’re All Individuals! There are Spectra of Sexuality
#117: My Book "Seven Sex Goddesses" Released!
#116: Can Fisting Be Fabulous?
#115: Ten Reasons Why Married Women Have Affairs, and What To Do When She Does
#114: Mutual Pleasure Requires Mutual Responsibility - how to expand your sex play safely
#113: Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down - how to add restraint to your sex life
#111: 10 Tips For Your Vagina
#112: What’s Your Eroticism - Intimate, Wild, Fun?
#110: When the Man Leads, the Woman Embellishes
#109: Unblock Sexual Energy for Greater Love
#108: The Sensual Dom(me)
#107: Explore Your Fantasies
#106: Dress-Ups! How to have fun with role-play.
#105: Consensual Non-Monotony
#104: Consensual Non-Monogamy
#103: Languid 69
#102: Sensual Non-Monogamy
#101: Make Love to Yourself - Mindful Masturbation for Women
#100: Celibacy, Sexuality and Spirituality
#99: Spice Alone Tastes Terrible...
#98: Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
#97: Plugging In - Sex Without Movement
#96: Growing Better With Age
#95: Teaching Tantra in Paradise
#94: Time Apart Can Be Erotic
#93: When He's Lost Interest
#92: Q&A: Why Doesn’t Porn Do It for Me?
#91: If Sex Hurts, Change What You're Doing
#90: Some Words for the Lower Desire Partner
#89: Trust Your Body
#88: Chill Out in Your Sanctuary
#87: Planning for Pleasure
#86: Make the Lead-Up Erotic
#85: Advice from Japanese Grandmothers on How to be Beautiful
#84: If You Want A Mature Relationship You Have To Be Mature
#83: How Often Should We Have Sex?
#82: Slay the Pink Elephants!
#81: The Tantric Lounge Radio Show - Talking Sex, Science and Spirituality
#80: What Do Men Love Best About Sex?
#79: Fetishes are Fine
#78: The Awesomeness of Men Who Are Present
#77: Sex Doesn't Have to Involve the Genitals
#76: Winter's a Time for Sexual Growth
#75: An Erection Does Not Have To Be Serviced
#74: "My Ejaculation Opens the Door to Deeper Orgasm"
#73: To Come or Not To Come
#72: Know Your Sexual Rhythm
#71: Fill Up Your Self-Love Tank
#70: The Cup-of-Tea Approach to Sexual Self-Coaching
#69: Trust Means Being OK with Not Knowing
#68: Renegotiate Your Contract
#67: Breathe Together - It's Tantric Foreplay
#66: The Number One Secret to Good Sex
#65: An Orgasm a Day Keeps the Doctor Away - why sex is so good for you
#64: Teaching Sex Therapists Tantra
#63: Is “Good Enough” Sex Good Enough?
#62: Observing Love
#61: There Is Always A Lower Desire Partner
#60: You Can't Find Balance, You Have To Craft It
#59: Sexual, Spiritual Business Leaders
#58: Positive Messages in 50 Shades of Grey
#57: Playing with Pleasure and Pain
#56: Pelvic Floor Pleasures - Advanced
#55: Pelvic Floor Pleasures - The Basics
#54: Three Good Reasons To Read Erotica
#53: Tantric Kink
#52: Tools for Self-Validation from a Luscious Woman
#51: How to Master the Art of Vaginal Stimulation
#50: Discover the G, A and Ohhhh-Spots
#49: The Tantric Quickie
#48: We All Need To Be Balanced in Our Masculine and Feminine Sides
#47: One Couple's "Kilimanjaro Walk" to Sexual Reconnection
#46: Feminine Receptivity and the Go-Getter Kind of Gal
#45: The Etiquette of Observing Breasts
#44: The World is Waking to Conscious Sex
#43: Try A Little Tenderness
#42: Erotica or Sleaze
#41: A Sensual Man Makes A Great Lover
#40: Sensuality Feeds Sexuality
#39: What is Sex Therapy, Sex Coaching and Tantra Teaching?
#38: The Beauty of Conflict
#37: A Woman's Body Opens In Stages
#36: Breathe Well: Live & Love Well
#35: Phone Sex
#34: Do Your Research - It's Fun!
#33: Unconditional Love Requires Self-validation
#32: Men Need a Muse Not Just A Vagina
#31: Teaching Tantra in Thailand
#30: Being Real
#29: Twelve Benefits of Sex
#28: Communicate - Human's Can't Read Minds!
#27: True Intimacy
#26: The Core of Tantra: Real Sex
#25: Sex as Entree not Dessert
#24: Fire and Water: The Masculine and Feminine Sexual Energies
#23: High Libido Women Keep Themselves Simmering
#22: The Breadth of Sexuality & the Importance of Fun
#21: Prioritising Sex
#20: Obligation Sex is Self-Imposed Low-Level Sexual Trauma
#19: Not-So-Secret Men's Business
#18: Could We Have A Festival of Sexuality?
#17: Three Things a Whole Man Needs
#16: Valuing the Masculine
#15: Valuing the Feminine
#14: Face the Darkness to Find the Light
#13: Grow Up and Open Up Australia
#12: How Men Can Circulate Sexual Energy
#11: The Great G-Spot & Female Ejaculation Debate!
#10: Sexual Pleasure is the Great Equalizer
#9: Become a Black Belt in the Bedroom!
#8: Neuroplasticity - Moulding Your Brain for Better Sex
#7: Raise Your Sexual Energy
#6: How To Consume An Ice-Cream - Lose Yourself in Pleasure Pt 2
#5: How To Eat A Peach - Lose Yourself in Pleasure Pt 1
#4: Love in the Time of Chaos
#3: A History of Sexual Misinformation
#2: Men are from Earth, Women are from Earth
#1: The Birth of the LoveLife Blog - with some underlying philosophical ramblings
Episode 3.11: Female Orgasmicness and the New Sexual Revolution
Episode 3:10: All Tied Up in the Japanese Art of Bondage
Episode 3.9: Meet the Seven Goddesses of Sex
Episode 3:8 Sex in the Time of Menopause
Episode 3:7 Sexological Bodywork
Episode 3:6 Sound Intimacy
Episode 3:5 A Mature Woman’s Sexual Mission
Episode 3:4 The Future of Sex
Episode 3:3 The Anatomy of Sex
Episode 3:2 The Urge to Merge
Episode 3:1 The Way of Surrender
Episode 2:13 Sexual Etiquette
Episode 2:12 Retreating With Luscious Women
Episode 2:11 Tantric Dominance and Submission
Episode 2:10 Unleashing the Primitive
Episode 2:9 Turn Your Whole Body Into An Erogenous Zone
Episode 2:8 Make Sex Your Hobby
Episode 2:7 The Magic of Mystique
Episode 2:6 Tantric Development for Men
Episode 2:5 Cathecting the Divine
Episode 2:4 Riding the Tantric Wave
Episode 2:3 Bringing Kids Up Sex Positive
Episode 2:2 Living La Vida Tantrika
Episode 2:1 Tantric Myth-Busting
Episode 1:13 Beforeplay
Episode 1:12 The Sex Brain
Episode 1:11 Therapy With A Twist of Tantra
Episode 1:10 Great Sex? Release the Goddess Within!
Episode 1:9 Secret Women’s Business
Episode 1:8 The Tantric Lounge Live
Episode 1:7 Black Belt in the Bedroom
Episode 1:6 Secret Men’s Business
Episode 1:5 Why Humans Are So Sexy
Episode 1:4 Vive La Difference!
Episode 1:3 Men Are From Earth, Women Are From Earth
Episode 1:2 Myth Busting
Episode 1:1 Getting to Know Jacqueline