So, this was really interesting. I have dealt with painful feelings of shame about my body, my face, my overall appearance for my entire life. This contained some terrifying moments in the introduction alone. And while this is not about sexuality or appearance at all, at face value, being asked to think about my body simply terrifies me. I had an experience yesterday where I was asked to put one hand on my heart and one on my belly, and, well.....the idea of touching my belly brings me to places that I can't even describe. (I'm going somewhere with this! I promise!) But i submitted to this meditation today....from a distance....with one ear open so to speak, while I "did" other things. It felt like a safe way to see what this might or might not be about. I think I'm ready to try it more deliberately and mindfully now. I will report back. Thank to this community for making me feel comfortable sharing.
Really appreciate this report Richard. When I was thinking about offering something like this, I thought a lot about trauma and body sensitivity and the triggering nature of even mentioning sex. At first, I decided not to write anything. But I kept thinking about it. I wondered if there were a way to present it where it would be less threatening, feel more like an exploration. For me the invitation to back it up into a more general sensuality is key. But sexuality is also there, it’s part of being human. I’m glad you found it worthwhile. For those who found it too challenging, I hope you followed your own instincts and took care of yourselves.
It would be hard to describe exactly what changed in my head during my initial listen, but the way you described it and layered it, it slowly felt less like a dare (not that you made it one, but the way my brain works, anything that involves the body will get interpreted this way on first pass) and more like an invitation or a sort of....offering of possibility. so, thanks for the way you very carefully made this as inclusive as you could. i am to sit with it again tomorrow and learn .
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I think the more personal our pain is, the more universal. I am grateful for your courage to share your pain. There comes a time in each of us to use our voices to heal not only ourselves, but also gives others the courage to do the same. Maybe one day we will see an end to suffering of all beings. I intuitively feel this is a safe space to start.
Heartfelt gratitude for you, Jeff. Not sure if this was what you planned, but you created something real and very important and meaningful. It’s healing.❤️🩹
This was very interesting for me. I felt a bit of panic just seeing the title, without attaching a story or many details of childhood trauma, or having Sensory Processing Sensitivity(I know it’s a disorder, but many beautiful people are trying to change it to something less prone to negativity and all that could come from the label). The world has mostly been too loud, too fast, too bright, people too close. Touch, even with my own hands on my own body was scary. I have many years of therapy, and many tools in my toolbox. I am better now, with acceptance of this trait. Meditation has been a lifeboat so many times, for an ocean of fear. I made an intention to be open to new experiences a few years ago. I gave this a shot.
Thank you, Jeff. If it hadn’t been you presenting this, I might have let that fear take hold. The imagined experience I thought this would be was not even close. It was comfortable and comforting just to hold myself in a hug, and listen to your voice. In the end I felt safe. Safe to explore more. Slowly. Bless you for sharing this and other subjects that not many teachers would put forth. It shines a bright loving compassionate light on sexuality and sensuality, making it the huge part of being human it is. It’s not bad or vulgar in the pure form you present here. It’s just some minds have made it that way. I have hope.
Thanks for trusting me Laura. I relate to your experience. I’m still trying to understand my own sensory sensitivities, and how they relate to things that happened when I was young. Actually, next week’s post will touch on sensory sensitivities and being neurodivergent. Being able to know and communicate some of these things has changed how I operate in the world. Grateful for your sharing, it helps me accept how I am!
I am so grateful for all your insights and the playful way in which you continued to explore how we can be on this planet with more ease and presence and love for ourselves . You are part of my evening ritual . Sending lots of love and light to you Jeff 🙏
I've been thinking a lot about the connection between emotional and physical intimacy since reading Passionate Marriage in November. My therapist suggested I read and discuss it with my husband. It felt confrontational.
And I realized I stay in my head instead of dropping into my heart and body. So this seems like an opportunity to think about getting out of my head and into my body beyond working out. I'll listen tonight as part of my bedtime routine - stop scrolling, turn off TV, meditate and journal then sleep. I bet it's easier to do than loving kindness meditation.
Selbstbefriedigung from a non- shameful perspective.
There's some odd ones ( wink wink, nudge, nudge) in the Montréal's, also global phenomenon in the last 20 years, of Mind Geeks. (Worth researching and realizing how global it is that one).
The abrahamic religions groups that I swung by, had an obsession with instilling a certain skewed view of what rely rejoicing means, and all branches make it weird for us.
Dolphins are better without affiliations.
Thanks Jeff for the deweirdification and blessing the haptic beatitude.
I play in the background, for this occasion, the "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress " - 2004 -studio album by Devendra Banhart.
My fish brain was entranced by the gentle visceralliy of that - and octopuses and even mono ones are hard to mesmerize.! Worth the tantric endings, definitely.
Devendra is the psychedelic artist that actually makes sense.
And his acoustic emotional fragility ( echoing early Pink Floyd for me - like the short side from Echoes album - yeah, I'm that old) is a real alternative to what's labeled these days as "alternative ".
In the one I mentioned, the first song ends like a good opening prologue for your medititilation.
"This is the Way "
This is the sound
That swims inside me
That circle sound
Is what surrounds me
This is the land
That grows around me
And these are the hands
That come in handy
Well, we've known, we've known
We've had a choice
We chose rejoice
PS. wrote it before thé Mandalorian made the agile "This is the Way!" trope
I'm always turned on my issue is learning to turn off and this is the mind not sexual at all that was turned off 17 years ago and don't feel this bod is getting turned on anytime soon. But in all seriousness the meditation practice was helpful in reminding me of those sensations that don't have to lie dormant gathering dust so thank you Jeff for the much needed housework .
P.s went onto the do nothing podcast Monday Midday here in Australia and I got you saying goodbye with day light savings and time difference I haven't quite got the hang of it but I will be hang with you soon I promise x
Your post beautifully highlights the importance of connecting with ourselves, both mentally and physically. It reminded me of how powerful touch can be in fostering that connection—not just with others but within ourselves. Touch, whether through something like a gentle massage or even a mindful self-care ritual, can awaken a deeper sense of presence and awareness. These moments of intentional care are so important in grounding us and embracing the fullness of our experiences. Thank you for sharing such inspiring reflections!
So, this was really interesting. I have dealt with painful feelings of shame about my body, my face, my overall appearance for my entire life. This contained some terrifying moments in the introduction alone. And while this is not about sexuality or appearance at all, at face value, being asked to think about my body simply terrifies me. I had an experience yesterday where I was asked to put one hand on my heart and one on my belly, and, well.....the idea of touching my belly brings me to places that I can't even describe. (I'm going somewhere with this! I promise!) But i submitted to this meditation today....from a distance....with one ear open so to speak, while I "did" other things. It felt like a safe way to see what this might or might not be about. I think I'm ready to try it more deliberately and mindfully now. I will report back. Thank to this community for making me feel comfortable sharing.
Really appreciate this report Richard. When I was thinking about offering something like this, I thought a lot about trauma and body sensitivity and the triggering nature of even mentioning sex. At first, I decided not to write anything. But I kept thinking about it. I wondered if there were a way to present it where it would be less threatening, feel more like an exploration. For me the invitation to back it up into a more general sensuality is key. But sexuality is also there, it’s part of being human. I’m glad you found it worthwhile. For those who found it too challenging, I hope you followed your own instincts and took care of yourselves.
It would be hard to describe exactly what changed in my head during my initial listen, but the way you described it and layered it, it slowly felt less like a dare (not that you made it one, but the way my brain works, anything that involves the body will get interpreted this way on first pass) and more like an invitation or a sort of....offering of possibility. so, thanks for the way you very carefully made this as inclusive as you could. i am to sit with it again tomorrow and learn .
So incredible Richard. And brave. Let us know how it goes!
Hi Richard,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I think the more personal our pain is, the more universal. I am grateful for your courage to share your pain. There comes a time in each of us to use our voices to heal not only ourselves, but also gives others the courage to do the same. Maybe one day we will see an end to suffering of all beings. I intuitively feel this is a safe space to start.
Heartfelt gratitude for you, Jeff. Not sure if this was what you planned, but you created something real and very important and meaningful. It’s healing.❤️🩹
This was very interesting for me. I felt a bit of panic just seeing the title, without attaching a story or many details of childhood trauma, or having Sensory Processing Sensitivity(I know it’s a disorder, but many beautiful people are trying to change it to something less prone to negativity and all that could come from the label). The world has mostly been too loud, too fast, too bright, people too close. Touch, even with my own hands on my own body was scary. I have many years of therapy, and many tools in my toolbox. I am better now, with acceptance of this trait. Meditation has been a lifeboat so many times, for an ocean of fear. I made an intention to be open to new experiences a few years ago. I gave this a shot.
Thank you, Jeff. If it hadn’t been you presenting this, I might have let that fear take hold. The imagined experience I thought this would be was not even close. It was comfortable and comforting just to hold myself in a hug, and listen to your voice. In the end I felt safe. Safe to explore more. Slowly. Bless you for sharing this and other subjects that not many teachers would put forth. It shines a bright loving compassionate light on sexuality and sensuality, making it the huge part of being human it is. It’s not bad or vulgar in the pure form you present here. It’s just some minds have made it that way. I have hope.
Thanks for trusting me Laura. I relate to your experience. I’m still trying to understand my own sensory sensitivities, and how they relate to things that happened when I was young. Actually, next week’s post will touch on sensory sensitivities and being neurodivergent. Being able to know and communicate some of these things has changed how I operate in the world. Grateful for your sharing, it helps me accept how I am!
My blocking curtains are pulled, noise cancelling at max, ventilated the room from migraine inducing odours and smell my neroli oil .
Oh, I am sooo ready for that secret ( better than fire), man cub !!!
Thank you, Jeff. I look forward to next week’s post!
I am so grateful for all your insights and the playful way in which you continued to explore how we can be on this planet with more ease and presence and love for ourselves . You are part of my evening ritual . Sending lots of love and light to you Jeff 🙏
I've been thinking a lot about the connection between emotional and physical intimacy since reading Passionate Marriage in November. My therapist suggested I read and discuss it with my husband. It felt confrontational.
And I realized I stay in my head instead of dropping into my heart and body. So this seems like an opportunity to think about getting out of my head and into my body beyond working out. I'll listen tonight as part of my bedtime routine - stop scrolling, turn off TV, meditate and journal then sleep. I bet it's easier to do than loving kindness meditation.
Touching... feeling... relaxing
Selbstbefriedigung from a non- shameful perspective.
There's some odd ones ( wink wink, nudge, nudge) in the Montréal's, also global phenomenon in the last 20 years, of Mind Geeks. (Worth researching and realizing how global it is that one).
The abrahamic religions groups that I swung by, had an obsession with instilling a certain skewed view of what rely rejoicing means, and all branches make it weird for us.
Dolphins are better without affiliations.
Thanks Jeff for the deweirdification and blessing the haptic beatitude.
I play in the background, for this occasion, the "Rejoicing in the Hands of the Golden Empress " - 2004 -studio album by Devendra Banhart.
Because, why not ...
Love Devendra! Especially his song about hypnotizing all the fishes with a psychedelic octopus dance
My fish brain was entranced by the gentle visceralliy of that - and octopuses and even mono ones are hard to mesmerize.! Worth the tantric endings, definitely.
Devendra is the psychedelic artist that actually makes sense.
And his acoustic emotional fragility ( echoing early Pink Floyd for me - like the short side from Echoes album - yeah, I'm that old) is a real alternative to what's labeled these days as "alternative ".
In the one I mentioned, the first song ends like a good opening prologue for your medititilation.
"This is the Way "
This is the sound
That swims inside me
That circle sound
Is what surrounds me
This is the land
That grows around me
And these are the hands
That come in handy
Well, we've known, we've known
We've had a choice
We chose rejoice
PS. wrote it before thé Mandalorian made the agile "This is the Way!" trope
thank you!
You’re welcome!
I'm always turned on my issue is learning to turn off and this is the mind not sexual at all that was turned off 17 years ago and don't feel this bod is getting turned on anytime soon. But in all seriousness the meditation practice was helpful in reminding me of those sensations that don't have to lie dormant gathering dust so thank you Jeff for the much needed housework .
P.s went onto the do nothing podcast Monday Midday here in Australia and I got you saying goodbye with day light savings and time difference I haven't quite got the hang of it but I will be hang with you soon I promise x
I love this
Is such a nice way to engage with the day.
Thank you
Nice work 😊
Your post beautifully highlights the importance of connecting with ourselves, both mentally and physically. It reminded me of how powerful touch can be in fostering that connection—not just with others but within ourselves. Touch, whether through something like a gentle massage or even a mindful self-care ritual, can awaken a deeper sense of presence and awareness. These moments of intentional care are so important in grounding us and embracing the fullness of our experiences. Thank you for sharing such inspiring reflections!