Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Sexual Future of Women

I love your questions in The Sexual Future of Women, Tabby - and agree wholeheart­ed that they are very important.

I think one of the places to start is by addressing the predominan­tly squeamish attitude to female genitals.

In Eve Ensler's article in the Guardian for world AIDS day she writes “Vagina is the most terrifying word, the most threatenin­g word, in any language of any country I have ever been to. “ She goes on to say, “It is more reviled and feared than words like plutonium, genocide and starvation­”.

It's certainly not an easy word to pop into conversati­on! According to a research survey of nearly 10,000 women in 13 countries, more than half feel uncomforta­ble speaking about their vagina to their health care profession­al.

If we can't name her with ease it follows that we will be dissociate­d from her in some way.

“The prevalence of terms for women's genitalia that can be classified as derogatory or dismissive­, or terms which are nonspecifi­c and vague reflects and perpetuate­s a cultural context in which women's genitalia are either conceptual­ly absent or perceived negatively­.” (Braun & Wilkinson, 2001).

I think a great place to start is to teach young women how to accurately and comfortabl­y name the vulva, vagina, labia and clitoris and I think we do that by starting to practice doing it ourselves.

Viva la Vulvalatio­n!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Saturday, March 05, 2011

The Q's - sacred sexuality workshops on the Gold Coast

I booked in to do the Quodoshka series of workshops (affectionately known as the Q's) looking for some specific information for my favourite taboo-busting mission. I’d discovered that these particular teachings included some valuable information about different types of vulva and the way in which each type experiences pleasure. I wanted to know more.

But I had my researchers hat on when I made the booking so I was kind of surprised when I received the details of the range of outfits they suggest I bring with me to the workshop. It was at that point that I realized I was not just cruising along with my notebook and pen taking notes at some lectures but would actually be participating in a sexuality workshop. Duh! But even then I have to confess I was a bit blase. I have made it a point over the past 25 years to seek out sexual teachers and teachings so my thoughts were along the lines of ‘oh cool that’ll be fun’ and also, I must confess, ‘well there’s probably not much they can teach me!’.

How wrong was I?

Funnily enough the workshop was quite a bit like a lecture some of the time except that the students  were dressed in exotic lingerie or temple priestess outfits or even, at times, in kinky leather gear. But the information was excellent. So good I found myself scribbling notes on every little corner of a receipt I could find in my handbag. Luckily they gave us a manual with plenty of scribbling space before my receipts ran out.

I have been to a lot of workshops and led even more and I can be very critical about how a workshop space is held. However I don’t think I’ve ever come across an event where the space is held as thoroughly, as powerfully and as magically as in the Q's. Batty, Kristen and Mukee are a very impressive team. Impressive not only in their capacity to convey or to embody these powerful and complex teachings but also in their unwillingness to stand on any sort of pedestal. 

One of the things I loved particularly about Batty’s delivery was the humour. Humour is such a wonderful tool for breaking down barriers and making the unacceptable acceptable. Not that I think the content of anything we were taught is unacceptable but in the prevalent cultural moral climate there are many who do. Batty’s humour kept me thoroughly engaged.

The Q's as they are affectionately know are a series of three workshops offered by the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society. This society was founded in 1986 by Harley SwiftDeer Reagan. There seems to be some major controversy on the internet as to the authenticity of Mr Reagan’s claims and his work. The article on Harley and the Quodoshka’s in Wikipedia is seriously biased and badly need of review. It certainly portrays these teachings in in a very poor light. My feeling is that is because the teachings are about sex. And sex is one of the best topics for provoking intense reactions. Certainly whenever it is mentioned a lot of energy is stirred up in many people. Whatever may be the case in regards to Harley Reagan's biographical claims, I have to say the teachings of the Deer Tribe resonate with a profound sweetness and a huge amount of wisdom. Whether it’s Cherokee wisdom of the elders or channeled from the Pleiades – to be honest I don’t really care. It is powerful and valuable material.

The teachings suggest that we were being taught the information that young men and young women would be given within this tradition as they approach sexual maturity. We were given both the theory and the practical component of these teachings. But where the young apprentice would be experiencing the practical component with an older partner that they had chosen for this purpose, in the Q’s we practiced with partners that we had come with or that we made careful ceremonial agreements to practice with during the course of the workshop. This ceremonial space gave everyone the freedom to create whatever boundaries they needed to to feel comfortable.

The exercises were beautifully crafted and always demonstrated by the teaching team. I found that the process offered me insights and understanding into myself and sexuality in general that have been invaluable. Since doing the Q’s I find myself more confident and more fully in my power. I have lost a sense of needing approval from the outside and at the same time I can feel my magnetism and radiance is much more alive, so of course I am receiving very positive reflections.

The next Quodoshka series of workshops will be held near the Gold Coast starting on 24th March. If you'd like to do something wonderful for yourself call Peter Thomas on 0415 644 020 and let him tell you more about them. Tell him Laura-Doe sent you!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Homeopathy under attack

from http://www.davidicke.com/

Over the past few years homeopathy has been under attack by groups with a vested interest in discrediting it. More than likely the same groups as those promoting the CODEX legislation (see Codex alimentarius - Still hunting witches?), who caused the PAN Pharmaceuticals fiasco here in Aus and who have been making it harder and harder for herbalists to sell valuable natural medicines.

Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of medicine used successfully by tens of millions worldwide.  It is part of the public health care systems of nations in Europe, South America and Asia.  It has a laudable two-century clinical record.  There are hundreds of high-quality basic science, pre-clinical and clinical studies showing it works. It is vastly safer than conventional medicine.
No form of health care can claim such accomplishments without being effective.
But there are very wealthy and powerful vested interests whose profits and power would be compromised if homeopathy were to become fully known and accepted for what it is by the public. They want to make sure that doesn’t happen, and they’re willing to spread lies to do it.
Learn more at Extraordinary Medicine