My sexual appetite may actually be a medical condition.
I learned this when I casually mentioned to Adriana (my Brazilian soul sista guru) on an India turn that I could never wear necklaces—hated how constrictive they were along my shoulders + body and so always opted for bling elsewhere. She (a holistic practitioner and trained kinesologist) asked a series of other questions and casually diagnosed I may be “lachesis” and suggested homeopathy.
“The Lachesis individual is like a highly strung bow, taut with sexual energy, which must find an outlet if it is not to backfire upon its owner.” Or so says herbs2000.com. From my understanding and research, it is not so much a condition as it is a designation. Like: Sagittarius, or American.
This designation has thankfully not parlayed itself into an unhealthy nyphomania—sex has never been a dangerous addiction or something casually pursued. How I spend my time with the opposite sex, what and how I hold it/myself sacred, has been drastically revamped in these years of awakening.
But I bring this up to show you just how important sex is for the mind/body organism known as Mags, because it’s now 30 days into my sexual fast.
In the yogi community I resided in for a time years ago, this was an oft-spoken phrase. Inevitably a new arrival (myself included,) eyes blurried by an exotic “glamour” that something like living in India to practice yoga can provide for the ego/mind, wanting to stretch his or her vocabularic use of the yamas/niyamas would drop the bramacharya reference, to which would come the response:
“It’s not bramacharya if you’re just not getting laid.”
Bramacharya is celibacy for spiritual purposes. There are people (not only in India) who take on the life of a bramachari or brahmacharini (female) to specifically up their levels of consciousness and strengthen a connection to the divine. Although this can be a life-long devotion, it can also be utilized for shorter periods to gather energy and deepen yogic practices.
The 2nd chakra is the seat of all sexuality and creativity; the theory is abstaining from sex helps fuel the other. Kundalini drives energy up through creativity and then to spiritual awakening and realization.
Although I’m being glib about it here, Bramacharya is a serious yogic life long practice; it is said that a minimum of 12 years is essential for real spiritual progress…That’s prolly not going to happen here, so these 40 days, are at best, Bramacharaya-lite. If it could even be dubbed that. Diet bramacharaya? Bramacharaya One?
And as far as entertaining oneself, ah, how do I put this delicately? Well, it seems that sexy solo time must also be considered when pondering bramacharya. It’s easy enough to not go out with peeps for a while, but if sexual energy is the culprit to be harnessed here, then it only stands to reason that we’re talking about an across the board hiatus, right? This… (um, *blush*) is more of a substantive commitment.
I’ve just returned from Mexico for an 8 gal, 5-day fun-fest for one of my besties bachelorette parties.
We stayed at the kind of spot where people tag the words “luxury” and “trendy.”
When I found out about our spontaneously imposed *John of God* spiritual/alcohol/sex fast, I’m not going to lie… the first thing I thought of when I was told I couldn’t drink for 40 days was: oh sh**. What am I going to do in Cancun at the all-inclusive??
I love Mexico, this was in fact my 3rd trip this year, but I’m more the luxe-hippie, thatched roof with a fantastic bed, or rent a house with a gaggle of friends kind of traveller. I want to do indigenous ceremonies + then sleep on my tempur-pedic pillow.
Cancun, for those of you who haven’t been, can be like Vegas with less restriction, in Spanish. It’s a place to let loose. And let’s be frank: margaritas help in letting loose.
Yet there I was, sexless, sober + avoiding cayenne pepper like the plague, South of the border. Basically the opposite of: hot hot hot.
There were definitely times that I would have loved to get in on a bubbly toast, or have had wine with dinner… But I absolutely managed to dance my ass off until 3am.
And it’s great to go home and hit the ground running; joining my comrades on the fast whose Facebook posts look something like: “Life is AMAZING right now!!!”
Has it been worth it? The other night a group of my friends ooh’d and aah’d about how different, vibrant I looked.
I’m experiencing energy in those elusive outer energetic sheaths.
The point of these things, is:
A) That nothing interferes with the energetic changes happening inside of you.
B) That there is no where to “run” to when emotional processing comes up.
I’m pretty expert in riding the waves of the emotional processing, so I’m banking on the fruits of the energetic changes.
I’m certainly looking forward to November 8th, seeing what happens on the other side of this, and also to a glass of wine… or two. But for now? I’m trusting that the Universe knows better than me when it comes to deciding what is right for me and when.
(I’ll tell more about the official John of God story when I come to the other side of this in 10 days, promise. Until then, please go and enjoy a canoodle and a cabernet for me! xx)
