The mutual fulfillment of man and woman is like the mutual dependence of heaven and earth. Because heaven and earth have attained the tao of union, they are eternal; because mankind has lost the tao of intercourse, he suffers the onset of early death. If we could but avoid those things that gradually injure our bodies and learn the art of yin and yang, this would truly be the tao of immortality. ”

It’s too bad the forefathers of western culture were afraid of these concepts. Think how different our lives and our society would be if these were taught to every man, woman and child coming of age. Our society has lost too much because of the monotheist need to discredit everything associated with goddess cultures. We can reclaim these benefits by deciding to explore these ancient myths and finding a way to apply their principles in our lives. Goddess myths are filled with beauty and generosity because they recognize our sexuality as a primary creative force.

This remarkable scripture stands central in the literary and spiritual history of one of the world’s greatest ancient civilizations…It is written in the form of a dialogue between an emperor and the goddess Su Nu, which means “Immaculate” or “Uncontaminated Woman.” Her name is linked with the god of grain (fertility) and was even represented as a river goddess. These symbols clearly demonstrate her relationship with comparable figures in Greek, Egyptian, and other pantheons.

The Yellow Emperor addressed a question to Su Nu saying, “My ch’i [energy] is weak and out of harmony. There is no joy in my heart and I live in constant fear. What is to be done?” Su Nu answered:

All debility in man is due to violation of the tao of intercourse between yin and yang [the two polarities in all dualistic phenomena]. Women are superior to men in the same way that water is superior to fire. This knowledge is like the ability to blend the “five flavors” in a pot to make delicious soup. Those who know the tao of yin and yang can fully realize the “five pleasures” [of the senses]; those who do not will die before their time without ever knowing this joy. Can you afford not to view this with the utmost seriousness?

That question should haunt us daily: can we afford to keep denying our deepest biological urges? Should we deny ourselves sexual pleasure based on the ignorance of ancient patriarchal tribes? Would we not be better as individuals and as a society if we honor ourselves through the knowledge gained in the practice of sacred sexuality? If so, then we owe it to ourselves to learn from other cultures so that our culture can improve itself.

How do we put this ideal into use? By learning both in theory and through practice. Many books are available that explain sacred sexuality in depth. Here’s an excerpt from Enlightenment in Our Time, by Lonny J. Brown, Ph.D.

EXQUISITE LOVE

To lose the self in love, look always to the beginning and keep to the beginning. Worship each other’s pure essence as Goddess and God.

Everything matters.

Use all senses Read your beloved’s mind/body.

In slow motion abandonment of time itself, Give only pleasure and love, letting hers become yours, ours.

Surrender continuously, unconditionally, to the sacred fire within, all consuming, all purifying, all fulfilling.

When we compare sacred sexuality to the concept of sex as dirty and degrading, we can instantly understand which is superior in both thought and practice. The distinction goes deeper when we compare the attitudes behind both. Western religions teach that sex is only for procreation, not enjoyment, yet our physical senses tell us this teaching is false. If sex isn’t for enjoyment, then why are our bodies made to enjoy sex? If women were meant to be eternal virgins or to not enjoy sex, why is the clitoris the only organ in the body whose only function is pleasure? We can reverse these misconceptions by simply changing our mind about how we should treat our sexuality. When we move from disrespect to respect, we move into a new realm that aligns our spiritual and our physical needs.

HOW TO MAKE ENLIGHTENED LOVE.

Consecrate the setting. Make it Holy.

Wait for the perfect moment.

Purify yourself in body and mind.

Meditate.

Dedicate the experience to your highest purpose.

Invoke the Goddesses of Love.

Begin motionless and in silence.

Gaze into each other’s eyes, long and deep.

Breathe together.

Fall in love. stay in love. die into love.

Listen for Inner Guidance.

Reside always at the beginning.

Move in slow motion, with reverence.

Worship your lover. Touch only in awe.

Trust your body’s deepest impulses.

Give voice to your feelings.

Make love with your whole being.

Transpose taking and giving.

Decelerate until time stands still.

Abandon all gain and control.

Die as a personality. Be born as pure Love in the Universe.

Simple principles to hear. Harder to live, but the benefits are worth the effort. We should expect no less from ourselves and our sexual partners. When we set our spiritual goals higher, we embrace ourselves as sacred with a right to enjoy our most sacred aspects.

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 1st, 2009 at 11:37 am and is filed under Religion, Sacred Sexuality, Women. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.