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August 20, 2012

Glow Yoga, Covent Garden

Filed under: UD:BEAUTY,UD:WELLBEING — Tags: , , , , , — urbandeva @ 11:47 am

Glow Yoga

Covent Garden

By Casey Gillespie

Why are yoga studios either so cold that they leave you shivering in corpse pose or heated to such a high temperature that you sweat like you’re running a marathon in a Mexican jungle? Which is worse ― stiff, cold muscles or splashes of your neighbour’s sweat running down your face? Luckily, a happy medium does exist.

Meet Glow Yoga.

Situated in the heart of Covent Garden, the studio is a haven of ― for lack of a better phrase, and to put it in their words ― good vibes. Really. After you pass through the bubblegum pink entryway, the décor is surprisingly minimalist, with calming white walls, wooden floors, and demure accents. Everyone is asked to leave their shoes by the door, which, as an urbanite, always causes a little panic (would someone actually steal my trainers?!), and head to the cosy locker rooms to stow belongings before heading downstairs to the studio.

The yoga studio is the temperature you’d like your bed to be as you crawl into it: warm, relaxing, comforting. Even during the warm up muscles feel looser and more pliable. For the next 50 minutes we moved in a continuous, rhythmic flow only stopping momentarily every so often in child’s pose for a breather. You definitely work up, what we shall call, a glisten; but it’s nothing like a Bikram sweat-a-thon.

I attended a lunchtime class and it was completely full ― always a good sign. I honestly can’t pick any grievances with the studio. The highlight for me, however, was the teacher. She never stopped the class when adjusting someone or paused to figure out the best way to get us to the next pose; she was confident and flawless in her execution. And she wore a smile throughout the entire class. See what I mean? Good vibes.

There are a lot of yoga classes in London ― some you would try once, a few you pop into every once in a while because they are conveniently located or have a class that suits a time you have free, and then there are the studios like Glow. These are classes you schedule things around, book weeks in advance, and feel like a better version of yourself every time you walk out the front door ― and it’s for that reason we recommend you Go to Glow.

Visit Glow Yoga’s website: glowyoga.com

Follow Good Vibes Studio on Twitter @goodvibesstudio

Like Good Vibes Studio on Facebook

:::

UD: BEAUTY

Urban Deva is committed to promoting natural, organic, and ethical products that are kind to your body, made with a consideration for human rights, and have a minimal impact on our environment.

Reconnect with Oneself, One Another, and Nature. This is Soulful Living.

March 26, 2012

Reconnect With Yourself in 2012: Breast Massage

Reconnect With Yourself in 2012: Breast Massage

Thea Euryphaessa gets to grips with breasts


When we take ourselves seriously, we accept the responsibility of knowing and loving our body.’ ―Marion Woodman

I’ve resolved, this year, to help reacquaint women ― consciously and compassionately ― with their breasts. After all, it’s one thing to mindlessly bundle them into a bra; it’s quite another to take time out for some healing one-on-two action.

As someone who’s well endowed on the bosom front, it’d be easy to assume ― especially in our supersize boob-obsessed culture ― that I’d rejoice at having such a generous bounty; but, to tell the truth, I didn’t always appreciate them.

Pre-menstrual they get heavy, uncomfortable, and sore and finding gorgeous, well-fitting bras proved nigh-on impossible (polyester hammocks do not a siren make). Nope, for a long time I think it’d be fair to say they just got in the way.

Then along came Bravissimo ― that bodacious boudoir where ample assets are celebrated with a smörgåsbord of sexy smalls. This discovery lifted my spirits (and bust) no end. No longer was I made to feel like a freak because my cup runneth over. But it wasn’t until I was introduced to the healing joys of self-breast massage in early 2011 that I finally learnt to bond with my boobs.

Many women slather on oil or body cream after a bath or shower; but how many of us set aside time to solely massage our breasts? If you’re currently alone and in a private space (or next time you are) take a moment to cup/hold your breasts. Now look at them ― really look at them. What thoughts and/or feelings come up as they nestle in your hands? Be particularly alert to feelings of awkwardness, discomfort, or inhibition.

For those of you ready to take this a step further, either sitting up or lying down in a warm room where you won’t be disturbed, take off your top and bra (a good time to do this is after a bath or shower). You can do this exercise with or without oil; regardless, you’re going to spend a minimum of twenty minutes massaging and stroking your breasts.

Roll, tweak, and squeeze your nipples; take the time to explore the underneath and sides of your breasts; circle the areolas clockwise and anti-clockwise; experiment with different pressures from feather-light through firmer touches. Whatever you do, though, stay present. If you find your thoughts drifting off, bring them back. Want to take it even further? Build up to forty minutes while watching yourself in a giant mirror (hold that shriek ― this can get quite sexy after a while). Oh, and don’t forget a suitable soundtrack.

But isn’t it strange (or downright pervy) to be fondling your breasts in such a manner, you may ask? No, is the short answer, it isn’t. The point of this exercise is to become lovingly and consciously reacquainted with your breasts, as opposed to just nervously examining them for lumps.

Most women haven’t a clue how they’d like to be touched by another in a pleasurable manner because they’ve never practised on themselves. But if you can’t stand to touch your own body with love and affection, how will you ever consciously receive the loving touch of another? After all, there’s a vast difference between being done to (aka mauled), and revelling in your beloved’s touch while you give ‘em a fully guided tour ― trust me on this.

Our western culture has a vested interest in keeping us disconnected from our bodies: the less we know about who we are, the more others can cash in on our ever-increasing insecurities. Each time we step out the door, open a magazine, or log onto the internet we’re bombarded with messages about how we ‘should’ look or how we don’t ‘measure up’. This ceaseless onslaught can alienate us from our own matter and leaves many women unable to look at themselves naked, let alone touch themselves with compassion and tenderness.

This is why I consider this exercise to be one of the most profound in helping heal your relationship with your body ― especially once you experience the sweetness this exercise also promotes. The breasts are a source of nourishment, love, and nurturing. So to deliberately connect with, and stimulate, the energy around the breasts/heart-space and then spread it about, is to release a source of sweetness more satisfying than any sugar-fuelled fix. Strange as this sounds, it’s one of those things you just have to experience for yourself. To enhance this feeling, I particularly recommend Lavera’s delicious Organic Honey Moments Body Oil (£7.95 for 50ml ― available from pravera.co.uk).

The thing with this exercise is you have to a) practise regularly, b) have patience and, c) be gentle with yourself. When working on other women I can spend at least an hour massaging them. What I’ve found most interesting, though, is how fearful breasts can feel on first being touched ― as though they’re afraid and don’t trust (this is especially true if the recipient has lost loved ones to breast cancer ― psychic scars run deeper still).

It’s only after establishing a gentle and loving connection with them that they finally yield and soften. But think about it: if you’re unconsciously beating up on yourself all the time, your body will gradually rigidify with fear and send out messages such as ‘Don’t touch me’. And, perhaps, sadder still, ‘I don’t deserve to be touched (lovingly)’.

Believe me when I say, you do ― but it has to start with you.

:::

One final note: shortly after writing this article, I received a surprise gift from a friend in San Francisco (thank you Nina!): Olays Pharm Ultra-Pure Breast Cream ($24 plus shipping and handling per 4 oz. jar ― available from dayspharm.com). Her enclosed note ― ‘The ripple effect of conscious conversations is beautiful’ ― further echoes my sentiment that it’s time we lovingly reconnect with our bodies without embarrassment or shame.

:::

To buy a copy of Running into Myself, visit Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). Also available to download on Kindle.

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

“This is a story that truly reveals its author. You’ll discover her beliefs, her flaws, her loves, her fears, her mistakes, her drive and her compassion.

And you’ll like her.”

— Rowena Roberts (Writer)

July 2, 2011

Weleda’s Travel Health Heroes

This article was previously published on Body Confidential.

Weleda’s Travel Health Heroes


Thea Euryphaessa rounds up natural and holistic travel essentials from Weleda

When you’re away on holiday, especially abroad, it can be difficult to find the remedies you usually use for all those minor mishaps, so it’s worth being prepared by packing a few summer health essentials. Holistic healthcare brand Weleda have a whole range of handy-sized remedies – made from 100% natural ingredients – so you can cope with common ills and spills that could potentially spoil a well-earned break. So pack up your troubles with these great travel health heroes:

Problem: Dried out nose                                    Solution: Rhinodoron Nasal Spray (rrp £5.95 20ml)

Air travel is famously dehydrating. Combine that with hotel air-conditioning or chlorinated swimming pools and you’ve a recipe for a dry, sore nose that will be more susceptible to pollens, dust, and other irritants. I swear by Weleda’s Rhinodoron Nasal Spray as it helped me survive this year’s hayfever season without so much as a sneeze. It contains organic aloe vera gel for a long-lasting moisturising effect to soothe stuffy or irritated nasal passages. Highly recommended, this is one of my holistic health and beauty heroes.

Problem:  Travel sickness and tummy troubles      Solution:  Melissa Comp Drops (rrp £7.50 25ml)

It can be difficult to avoid travel sickness and stomach upsets on holiday. A simple change of diet or the anxiety and disruption of the journey can cause mild tummy troubles and holiday misery. This remedy is made from Melissa (Lemon Balm) to help settle the stomach and counteract the effects of too much rich food. Easy to take (try 10-20 drops in water every hour as required) it’s handy for travel sickness and nausea.

Problem:  Insect bites                                        Solution:  Combudoron Spray (rrp £5.95 30ml)

Made with extract of Urtica urens and natural anti-inflammatory Arnica, this little pump-action spray provides relief from insect bites and helps soothe irritation and swelling; ideal to pack in beach bags and knapsacks, or take on summer picnics and day trips.

Problem:  Cuts and grazes                     Solution:  Calendula Lotion/Ointment (rrp £7.50 50ml, £5.95 25g)

Weleda’s Calendula Lotion is great for bathing grazed knees if your family enjoy biking holidays or exploring outside. Or try their natural antiseptic Calendolon Ointment to soothe cuts and minor wounds. Made from organically-grown Calendula known for its natural anti-inflammatory action, this ointment is a useful all-rounder to have to hand for any nasty little cuts from sharp objects hidden in the sand.

Problem:  Bumps and bruises                                             Solution:  Arnica Ointment (rrp £5.95 25g)

Holidays can be demanding times: windsurfing, climbing, hiking, or even carrying a heavy suitcase. Made from organic Arnica, Weleda’s ointment is specifically formulated to relieve muscular pain, stiffness, sprains and bruises, naturally. Rub gently onto any unsightly little bruises and they will soon fade away. I swear by this stuff – it’s been a bathroom cabinet staple for as long as I can remember.

Problem:  Nodding off                                   Solution:  Avena Sativa Comp Drops (rrp £7.95 25ml)

The long haul traveller can find jet-lag a serious kill joy. Different time zones can play havoc with your body’s internal clock. Avena Sativa Comp Drops may help restore precious sleep patterns by helping you to wind down and relax when your body has other ideas. If trying to sleep on the plane, Avena Sativa Comp may help you to nod off. Try 10-20 drops in a little water half an hour before settling down for a sleep. Ingredients include natural sedatives Avena sativa (oats), Passiflora and, Valeriana.

The above Weleda medicines are available from independent health stores and pharmacies. For mail order or for stockist information call 0115 944 8222 or visit the online store at www.weleda.co.uk

Always read the label.

Follow @UrbanDeva on Twitter.

:::

To buy a copy of Running into Myself, visit Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). Also available to download on Kindle.

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

“This is a story that truly reveals its author. You’ll discover her beliefs, her flaws, her loves, her fears, her mistakes, her drive and her compassion.

And you’ll like her.”

— Rowena Forbes (Journalist)

June 30, 2011

Intimate Lifestyle Products Reviewed

(This article was previously published on Body Confidential.)

Intimate lifestyle products reviewed

Thea Euryphaessa reviews free-from-nasties products of a personal and pleasurable nature

Since my initiation into the ways of Tantra in a workshop I did back in February (see review here) I’ve spent much more time researching and reviewing intimate lifestyle products. Oh, the fun I’ve had. Take massage candles. In fact, take massage candles you can drip onto your lover… and lick off. That’s right — hot, delicious edible wax. I’m telling you, massage candles are the future. And the sex toys I’ve had the great pleasure of trying out (if you’ll pardon the unintended pun). Good Lord I’m surprised I haven’t exploded out of my skin with a mind-altering orgasm and floated off into some sexual nirvana. I’ll share a selection of my favourite products in upcoming reviews. Meantime, here’s a selection of products I’ve recently discovered.

I Love My Muff

Muff.

I don’t think I’ve heard that word since I was ten-years-old. It is important, however, that one pays as much attention to one’s muff hygiene as one would one’s oral hygiene. In a highly enjoyable book I recently read by Betty Dodson entitled ‘Sex for One: The Joy of Self-loving’, Ms Dodson who is affectionately known as the ‘Grandmother of Masturbation’ encourages women to whip out a hand mirror and take a good long look at their vulvas. This visual self-exploration is also encouraged in Tantric circles. The idea is to liberate and get intimately acquainted with, what is still for many women, their dirty little secret. Just read Eve Ensler’s ‘The Vagina Monologues’ on the shame and angst women harbour about their ‘down belows’. It’s an enlightening must-read for both sexes.

I Love My Muff continues in the vein of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ championing loud and proud muff/yoni/vulva love. ‘It’s no longer a whisper’, they say, ‘it’s a statement. I love my muff’. What I particularly like about this range, though, is their handmade products are cruelty-free, vegan, and free from parabens/SLS/synthetic colours and fragrances. I have their blue Maintenance Kit which includes a wash, spray, lotion, and wipes and is guaranteed to leave your muff feeling spa fresh. These are premium feminine-care products for the discerning woman. And watch this space for details of the men’s maintenance line, I Love My Muffler.

Available to order from one of my favourite online beauty treasure troves, www.beautyworkswest, the RRP for the blue Maintenance Kit is £29.99.

Yes

British-based company, Yes, describe their products as a revolution in organic intimate lubricants. So perhaps it should come as no surprise that their utterly fabulous lubricants bagged the top spot in the Best Body Care Award category at the recent 2011 Natural and Organic Products European Awards. A well deserved win.

If you’re still using K-Y Jelly, Durex Play, or Vaseline, stop it. Stop it right now. Their products contain eye-watering nasty ingredients you do not want to be applying to sensitive and intimate areas.  Yes’s products, on the other hand, do not contain parabens, glycerine, glycols, grapefruit seed extract (GSE), sodium benzonate, or mineral oil. They are also certified organic by The Soil Association (the world’s first intimate lubricant to be organically certified).

If you’re using condoms then use the water-based lubricant (psst, if you’re a long distance runner, I also recommend the water-based lubricant for areas prone to chafing). My favourite, however, is their oil-based lubricant. Damn it’s luscious: luscious, sensuous, non-staining, and best of all, kind to your body. It lasts and it lasts and it lasts: perfect for marathon sex sessions. Available to order in a variety of sizes and starting at just £4.99 for 25ml through to £16.49 for 125ml, I cannot recommend it enough. One of my beauty heroes, order online from www.yesyesyes.org.

Trinkets

Tampons just got sophisticated. Not just sophisticated, but much more convenient and discreet. These, ladies, are tampons you can have delivered to your front door. Despite this being the 21st Century there are still many women who find it difficult to buy sanitary wear in public. Women bleed, yes, and they bleed on a monthly basis, but it still remains one of the most taboo subjects in our culture. Bleeding, you see, is something you’re taught to keep firmly to yourself. Yet another ‘dirty little secret’ countless women harbour; which is where Trinkets step in.

Made from cotton and free from synthetic rayon additives, Trinkets have firmly established themselves as a favourite among thousands of women who regularly subscribe to their phenomenally popular doorstep-delivery service. No longer do you have to worry about being caught short, your tampons are delivered every three, four, or five weeks through your letterbox in an über-discreet package. Once opened, each beautifully designed box also includes a handy and discreet zip-lock purse pack in which to store them while out and about (perfect for teeny-tiny clutch bags).

Available in all absorbencies, prices start at just £2.29 per box (including delivery) for non-applicators and £2.99 per box (including delivery) with applicators, Trinkets, along with Yes and I Love My Muff, is yet another brilliant, inspiring example of a female-led company taking back responsibility for the unique needs and requirements of women’s bodies. Order and subscribe to their postal delivery service online at www.trinketwomen.com.

Lavera’s Honey Moments Body Oil

Finally, I’m including this body oil in this feature because I want to tell the world just how much I love it. It’s one of the most delicious, most gorgeous organic body oils on the market and I cannot get enough of it. At just £7.95 for 50ml it’s also an absolute steal. Slather this on yourself or share with your beloved. This is one of my beauty heroes. A must buy. Order direct from www.pravera.co.uk.

Follow @UrbanDeva on Twitter.

:::

To buy a copy of Running into Myself, visit Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). Also available to download on Kindle.

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

“This is a story that truly reveals its author. You’ll discover her beliefs, her flaws, her loves, her fears, her mistakes, her drive and her compassion.

And you’ll like her.”

— Rowena Forbes (Journalist)

May 31, 2011

Luxury Perfumed Products Reviewed – Part Two

(Click here to read part one.)

Luxury Perfumed Products Reviewed – Part Two


Thea Euryphaessa concludes her two part series on quality smellies for the Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool Confidential regional online publications

Oskia

Fresh out of London and just over a year old, Oskia is a skincare range I’ve fallen head over heels for. The word ‘Oskia’ derives from the ancient Greek and means ‘delivering nutrients’ and ‘beauty’ – and my word how their entire range does. Most importantly, though, their products really work. Add to that their elegant packaging and this gentle, natural range stands head and shoulders above the rest, leaving the Big Guns of the mainstream cosmetic world for dust.

I’ll be reviewing their luscious moisturising range in my next skincare article, but wanted to recommend their ‘Rose de Mai Massage Candle’ here (£34.50 for 200g) – highly recommend it. As a recent attendee of a Tantra workshop, all I’ll say is this candle – made from beeswax, soybean, and coconut oil, and lightly scented with perfume from the May Rose – is just the ticket for lovingly lavishing on oneself or dripping and massaging onto a loved one. Silky, sensuous, and downright classy, this candle is, without a shadow of a doubt, sure to impress. A modern classic. oskia.com

Green & Spring

I didn’t like Green and Spring’s ‘Indulging Home Candle’ (£29 for 235g) on first smell. In fact, I was quite disappointed – so disappointed, I sent it to stand in the corner of the bathroom and condemned it to wear a dunce’s hat. Handmade in the British Isles with essential oils including, among others, rose, elderflower, jasmine, it was described as smelling ‘sensual, balancing, and comforting’. I, however, disagreed.

Then, a strange thing happened: every time I lay in the bath, I’d get a whiff of a sophisticated, complex, intriguing scent. This happened several times. Eventually, after nosing through several lotions, I tracked it down to the dunce candle in the corner. Well, dunce no more – this is now my bathing candle of choice and one whose, free-from-nasties, scent I inhale deeply while soaking with a glass of wine in one hand and Kindle in the other. Let this be a lesson to me never again to write off a scent on first smell. Evocatively sublime. greenandspring.com

Escentric Molecules

Here’s a curious one which sharply divided opinion in the Confidential offices; so much so, in fact, I’m going to revisit it in a later article as I’d like to invite you, dear reader, to head to your nearest Harvey Nichols and sample this for yourself (put it on your skin – not on a blotter card – and apply sparingly). ‘Molecule 01’ (£64.50 for 100ml) is what you’re looking for – a scent our Leeds’ editor, Simon Binns described as reminiscent of ‘a teenage girl’s first foray into cheap perfume’ before later saying it ‘smelt like piss’.

What’s particularly intriguing about this unisex ‘fragrance’, however, is that it’s not a traditional fragrance per se – you won’t necessarily smell this product on yourself (I could and I like it) but others will smell its effect on you: hence the company positioning this product as an ‘anti-fragrance fragrance’ – an ‘effect’ or ‘aura’, rather than a traditional perfume. The other scent I recommend readers try and, once again, I’ll revisit, is their ‘Escentric 01’ (£64.50 for 100ml). Once again, available in Harvey Nichols (incidentally, Escentric Molecules’ range is the fastest-selling fragrance range, ever, at Harvey Nichols London). Here’s the bumph from the Escentric Molecules’ website:

‘Molecule 01 consists of one single ingredient, which is also known as ‘Iso E Super’ in the fragrance industry. On its own it is less of an aroma than an effect.

The wearer may notice a pleasant, subtle velvety-woody note which will vanish, then re-surface after some time, but more than this, she or he will notice the impact it has on other people, because Molecule 01 lends an indefinable radiance to the water. In fact, its effect is almost pheromonic. This is fragrance at its most radical.’

Over to you.

escentric.com

Weleda

Finally, if all this talk of perfume and what-not is getting up your nose –and irritating it – may I recommend Weleda’s new ‘Hayfever Kit’: a natural remedy manufactured from 100% natural ingredients. If, like me, you suffer from hayfever, the sooner you start taking their ever-so-soothing ‘Rhinodoron Nasal Spray’ (rrp £5.95 for 20ml) and homeopathic ‘Mixed Pollen 30’ remedy (rrp £6.95 for 125 tablets), the better. And if you buy both products together in the special hayfever kit, you’ll pay just £9.90, saving £3 on the usual combined retail price of £12.90. Available online at: weleda.co.uk

::

To buy a copy of Running into Myself, visit Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). Also available to download on Kindle.

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

“This is a story that truly reveals its author. You’ll discover her beliefs, her flaws, her loves, her fears, her mistakes, her drive and her compassion.

And you’ll like her.”

— Rowena Forbes (Journalist)

April 11, 2011

Luxury Perfumed Products Review — Part One

Luxury Perfumed Products Review — Part One


Thea Euryphaessa starts a two part series on quality smellies for the Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool Confidential regional online publications

Shiffa

Shiffa is a young brand and one I was introduced to only recently. I initially approached their products with suspicion, if only for the fact I’d never heard of them before; until, that is, I smelt one of their ‘Signature’ candles called ‘Prosperity’ (the other being ‘Sensual’). Wow. Words cannot describe how I felt when I first opened the exquisite box and inhaled the treasure it beheld; I was so overwhelmed, in fact, my olfactory bulb dropped to its knees and wept tears of sensory delight. Shiffa’s candles make Jo Malone’s seem dowdy and passé in comparison.

Wild, heady, and enchanting, I’m not surprised Shiffa’s ‘Prosperity’ candle (£31.62 for 200ml — based on today’s exchange rate) is what the very best-dressed bathrooms are wearing. The highest grade frankincense, patchouli, cinnamon, and saffron contribute to a candle with a bewitching fragrance guaranteed to stop people in their tracks. I particularly recommend their ‘Gemstone’ candles (£31.66 for 200ml — based on today’s exchange rate) for healers and therapists who are looking to stand out from the crowd and exude an air of exclusivity and tranquillity in their practice or reception area.

And don’t even get me started on their body oils. As mentioned earlier, you really do get what you pay for, and with the highest-grade almond oil, Persian flower, Ylang-Ylang, and rose-scented geranium, their ‘Sensual’ body oil (£50.31 for 100ml — based on today’s exchange rate) is of such a high quality, it effortlessly doubles up as a sexy, seductive perfume with excellent staying power. Order online at: shiffa.com.

Korres

Korres (pronounced ko-RES) have their roots in Athens’ first ever Homeopathic Pharmacy and derive almost all their ingredients from nature, with an extensive natural and certified organic skin and hair-care range (400 products and counting). Their packaging, with clear listings of ingredients, is exemplary and a must for those who wish to know exactly what their skin and bodycare products do and don’t contain (with almost their entire range being free-from-nasties including parabens, mineral oils, propylene glycol, etc).

To be honest, I can’t say enough good things about this company — particularly their fresh, springtime ‘Fig’ scented range of body products which are ideal for those on a budget. Standout products include their Body Mists, Body Milks, and Body Butters — perfect for layering and with noteworthy staying power. I’m not in the least bit surprised this brand counts David Beckham, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, and Woody Allen among its legion of celebrity fans.

Their Saffron/Amber/Agarwood/Cardamon eau de toilette (£24 for 50ml) is one my boyfriend has taken a shine to and, I have to say, has incredible staying power smelling nigh-on divine on him. A timeless woody, oriental, amber scent, this eau de toilette is intensely sexy yet gentle — definitely one to wear if you wish to stand out from the crowd korres.com

REN

Back in 2005 I had a lodger who was a die-hard fan of REN’s products. I can’t say I was particularly into rose-scented products back then, but that didn’t stop me appreciating the aphroditic smells emanating from my bathroom after she’d finished bathing and/or showering. I’ve only just laid my hands on products from their ‘Moroccan Rose Otto’ range, but can already say this is the stuff from which goddesses are made — what a sublime scent. I’ll be reviewing body and bath oils in a future article, but already the Moroccan Rose Otto Body Wash (£17 for 200ml) is worthy of praise — the epitome of luxury, showering in this scent will transport you to Marrakech’s fragrant and bustling souk. renskincare.com


(Part two to follow.)

:::

To buy a copy of Running into Myself, visit Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). Also available to download on Kindle.

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

“This is a story that truly reveals its author. You’ll discover her beliefs, her flaws, her loves, her fears, her mistakes, her drive and her compassion.

And you’ll like her.”

— Rowena Forbes (Journalist)

March 7, 2011

Moon Shadow

Moon Shadow

“Censor the body and you censor breath and speech at the same time… Write yourself. Your body must be heard. Only then will the immense resources of the unconscious spring forth.” — Helene Cixous

Today’s blog is inspired by the women’s only Tantra weekend-workshop I attended on 25/26/27 February, yesterday’s special International Women’s Day edition of The Observer Magazine which was guest edited by musician Annie Lennox, and a Facebook note by my friend Kristyn ‘Blue’ Simmons about menstruation, self-pleasuring, and other such ‘taboo’ topics. (In fact, all this week’s blogs are dedicated to the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day tomorrow — 8 March 2011.)

As per the article I wrote about my Tantra weekend workshop, I can’t divulge specifics of what took place; suffice to say, it was life-changing. How so? Well, for starters, the first level workshop I did (there are five levels altogether) requires you consciously reconnect with your body from the neck down. So contrary to the ignorant comment someone left on my Manchester Confidential article about it being to do with ‘exhibitionism’ in the name of self-discovery, it’s not. Tantra is not just about sex. If that man had been privy to the palpable, heart-wrenching degree of guilt, fear, and shame in the room that weekend, he’d have (hopefully) choked on his uninformed words. As Caroline Aldred, author of Divine Sex: The Tantric & Taoist Arts of Conscious Loving so eloquently puts it, “Tantra is about accepting yourself as you are, not fighting with yourself, and not resisting your natural instincts.”

And it’s not just women who carry such conscious/unconscious levels of guilt, fear, and shame — men, too, harbour just as many bodily insecurities. That conversation, however, is for another day. In fact, on further reflection, this article is also inspired by the many women who, after having read my book, have emailed me asking for advice on their menstrual cycles. Not adolescents. Mature, grown women in their late twenties, thirties, forties, and even fifties.

What most saddens me is that, in this day and age, we’re still in the dark when it comes to our moon/periods/menses. It’s something to ‘get on with’; after all you’re a woman — ‘deal with it’. Just last weekend I was talking with my boyfriend’s son who recently became a father himself (to a girl) and will soon qualify as a doctor in medicine. We were discussing the contraceptive pill and our mutual dislike of it. (He was also telling me about the startling and sudden rise in pelvic- and ovarian-related disease and disorders — but, again, that’s for another day.) I was on the Pill from age 17 through 31 so speak from experience when I say I don’t necessarily believe it’s provided an ‘advance’ in birth control; if anything, it’s served to further disconnect women from their bodies and from learning about their natural cycle. Allow me to elaborate.

My menstrual cycle was disruptive, heavy and, to my younger self, nothing but a bloody inconvenience (if you’ll pardon the unintended pun). The Pill offered a convenient way to wrestle both my acne and moon into submission, regain some semblance of control. You see, when I was an adolescent, no-one introduced me to this woman’s body which arrived unannounced and overnight. I was never consciously initiated into the mysteries of womanhood as was once done in ancient societies and many tribal cultures today. It was all dealt with at an abstracted, theoretical level: a book on the reproductive system, a somewhat embarrassed explanation of tampons and sanitary towels and we were sent on our way — and this from a girls’ only secondary school back in the late eighties/early nineties.

I remember clearly my feelings about going on the Pill (conflicted) and my feelings about coming off the Pill (relieved). I recall sitting on the beach during my stay in Goa, India, in February 2008 and watching Nature’s daily cycle — the waxing and waning of the moon, the tides wash in and out, the rise and fall of the sun — and realising I wanted to be a part of all that; gradually realising, I was a part of all that.

The Pill suppressed, thwarted, and subverted my natural cycle and bodily rhythms, blocked my conscious engagement with my body. Yes, I knew it would be difficult — that I would be subject to debilitating pains and a heavy flow — but I would rather that than spend the rest of my life disassociated from this body which asks for nothing more than my love, tenderness, and conscious acceptance. This body which wishes to be a part of my life, a celebration of who I am. This body which, despite what our consumeristic culture would have us believe, is exactly as it should be, has done nothing ‘wrong’, and doesn’t need ‘correcting’.

And so, for almost fourteen years, I unconsciously swallowed synthetic hormones in an attempt to bend my body’s cycles and rhythms to my will. When I promised my body on the beach in Goa that day, that I would never again swallow another synthetic hormone, a long-held heavy weight lifted. I felt liberated, free. More importantly, my body felt listened to. That day marked the beginning of a new chapter in my life, a reconnection with my body from the neck down. A conscious recognition and reconnection with myself ‘down there’. But it was only the beginning.

Little did I know that, three years later, I would build on that relationship in the Tantra workshop. You see, if you’re taking any kind of synthetic hormone in order to ‘regulate’ your cycle you have to wonder what happens to the natural energy which is suppressed. The Pill is still only fifty years young. We have no idea of its long-term effects, the consequences on our health. One thing I discuss at length in my book is that Nature (both psychologically and biologically) will not be ignored, side-stepped with technological advances, or suppressed, shoved in a corner, and forgotten about. Our bodies constantly speak our mind, whether we believe that or not.

So it’s been humbling and inspiring to hear from women who, after reading my book, have stopped taking the Pill. What I wasn’t prepared for, however, was when women who live in a modern, ‘developed’ country such as the U.K. asked me how and where I learnt about my cycle: how did I know when I was fertile or not? Simple things such as when was the first day of their cycle? (The first day you bleed.) But, to my mind, this is where the magic begins. This is where you get to watch Nature move through your body. This is where you realise you are a part of Nature.

As I practise Natural Family Planning (I don’t want children) I mark my cycle on a wall calendar at home so my boyfriend can also see it. I split it into ‘red’, ‘amber’, and ‘green’. Red is the days I’m bleeding (days 1 through 6). Amber are the days I’m most fertile and need to use contraceptive protection such as condoms or pursue other sexual activities (days 6 through 19). Green is the last week of my cycle when the unfertilised egg is making its long journey to perdition and unprotected sex with my partner is a-okay (days 20 through 26).

Please note, however, that Natural Family Planning does not protect against sexually transmitted infections/diseases. So if you’re in a new relationship with someone whose sexual health you’re not sure of, you have every right to ask them to be tested (and vice versa) before committing to any act of sexual intimacy. Always, always, always practise safe sex and use condoms. Preferably fair trade ones.

The important thing to remember is I tracked my cycle for a full year before I began practising Natural Family Planning so my fertility awareness is damn good. My cycle, on average, is 26/27 days long. Occasionally, such as in February, it surprises me when I came on four days early. But for the most part, it’s pretty regular.

There are numerous resources for women to utilise should they wish to rid their bodies of synthetic hormones and go au naturel such as this super handy NHS (When Can I Get Pregnant?) website. One of my other favourite websites from where you can buy such wonderful things as Yoni Cushions and Moon Cycle Malas is Moon Times.*

Can you imagine a society where women wore Moon Cycle Malas in outer, conscious recognition of their menses? No longer would it be our ‘dirty little secret’; rather, it would be a radical, progressive, and massively healing step forward for women both in our culture and the world over.

(*Since writing this blog, I’ve been told about a woman called Kay Dayton who’s based in the UK and runs workshops under the banner of ‘Red Spiral’ exploring the menstrual cycle using a mandala as a visual focus. For further details, visit her website at Red Spiral.)

:::

Thea is author of the inspiring memoir Running into Myself. Buy a copy from Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide).

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

February 22, 2011

The Constellation of Transformation

The Constellation of Transformation


“A soul that is ruined in the bud will frequently return to the springtime of its beginning and its promise-filled childhood, as though it could discover new hopes there and retie the broken threads of life. The shoots grow rapidly and eagerly, but it is only a sham life that will never be a genuine tree.” — Hermann Hesse

So, here we are in the last week of February. At this point, most folk’s New Year’s resolutions will be a distant memory. It’s easy to make promises during the holiday season while lay semi-comatose on the couch, barely able to button up your pants from overindulging. Looking out across the horizon of a fresh New Year, wild with possibilities and sparkling potentialities we promise ourselves that, come what may, we’ll make it happen: we’ll change our lives, pursue a career that fulfils us; end a relationship that degrades or undermines us; we’ll get fit, nourish our bodies, give up smoking, start exercising, drink a little less alcohol and drink a little more water.

But, you see, the mistake almost everyone makes is to go out all guns a blazing by attempting to change everything at the same time. Sick of our lives and their never-ending hamster-on-a-treadmill routines, we embark on change we have neither the physical or psychic wherewithal to stick to in the long-term.

What do I mean?

Well, lots of life coaches, for example, will recommend you draw up goals, set targets, get motivated, and get moving. You’ll hear experts recommend you think positive and practise the power of positive intention, regularly repeat affirmations that You Can Do It. But here’s where I get curious, suspicious even: transforming your life is all well and good; it’s exhilarating, exciting, liberating — but it’s also terrifying, unpredictable and for the most part, out of your control. Just talk to anyone who’s truly transformed their lives from the bottom-up and they’ll tell you much the same. Better to start as low-key as possible, fly under the radar as much as you can, build momentum out-of-sight of others and, most important of all, prove yourself to yourself.

You see — and I can’t emphasise this enough — you cannot compartmentalise change. If you change one area of your life completely, it will quickly spread and have a knock-on effect on other areas of your life. So choose one small, seemingly innocuous aspect that’s ripe for transformation and concentrate on that. ‘Slowly, slowly, catchy monkey’ is my mantra.

One of my favourite, most tried and trusted suggestions for anyone who professes to be committed to overhauling their lives is that they get out outside, take a regular walk. Every single day for ninety consecutive days, whatever the weather, walk. For thirty minutes. Doesn’t matter what pace, doesn’t matter whether you do it alone or with others, just walk. During this time do not, under any circumstances, attempt to change anything else in your life. Continue with the same diet, continue doing whatever it is you want to give up, whether it’s scoffing junk food, smoking, drinking — don’t attempt to make any other changes. Just walk. Thirty minutes, every day, for ninety (preferably consecutive) days. Because, and here’s the thing, if you just baulked at the prospect of walking every day for ninety days, you stand little chance of ever making permanent other changes in your life.

Why walking? Because it involves the whole body and demands you make and take regular time out for yourself. Because it’s a proven way to help strengthen the ego from the outside-in. Because it builds both the physical and psychic muscles of momentum, stamina, and endurance; muscles that lack in the majority of today’s sedentary, impatient, want-it-all-right-now folk; muscles necessary for long-term transformation. Put simply, if you can’t walk your talk — and stick to it — you have very little chance of going the distance in whatever area of your life you profess to want change in. Think of this as a litmus test of your self-commitment.

It also provides a wonderful initiatory path — literally. When you step out on the street — whether it’s incorporating your walk into your daily commute, getting off the bus a few stops earlier, parking the car farther away, leaving the car at home; getting up earlier than you normally would to enjoy the lighter mornings; switching off the telly and going out for a walk post-meal in the evenings — you’re saying to yourself, without having to practise any abstracted, all-in-the-head affirmations, that you’re finally on the road to change.

Don’t worry about what will happen at the end of the ninety days — don’t get ahead of yourself. Just stay in the present, commit to yourself in the here and now. Oh, and observe. Watch for friends’ and partners’ reactions. People may profess to want the best for us, but just keep an eye and ear open to comments made when you consciously, proactively begin carving out time for yourself. As I said earlier, Change Changes Everything. When we change our relationship with ourselves, it forces others to change their relationships not only with us, but towards themselves. No-one likes the status quo being upset. Be prepared for resistance.

You might think this selfish, taking regular time for yourself away from your family, your friends. But here’s the thing: there’s nothing worse than living with someone simmering over with unfulfilled potentialities, unlived dreams, and long pent-up hopes. No matter how hard we try, depression, frustration, and desperation cannot be contained, locked down. They have a habit of seeping out and contaminating our surrounds. Just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they can’t be felt or sensed by partners, children, and friends.

Just watch someone mindlessly knock back glass after glass of wine every night in an attempt to numb the pain of regret and sense of self-loathing; watch how someone unconsciously anaesthetises themselves every evening by immediately switching on the telly and/or Internet looking for something, anything, to distract them from thinking about the real, pressing issues in their lives, the fear of being left alone with the silent depths of themselves; watch someone absent-mindedly munch their way through a box of chocolates or a tin of biscuits in a fruitless attempt to be ‘fulfilled.’ Always remember: you can’t get enough of what you don’t really want.

You don’t have to walk. You could lock yourself away and spend thirty minutes reading a book on a subject that nourishes you, feeds the fire of your imagination. But it’s better if you can throw it on an iPod and listen to it while out walking. Again, you’re bringing your whole body into it, physically incorporating change.

So take advantage of the change in seasons, ride the crest of spring. Go on — you can do it, put your back into it.

:::

Thea is author of the inspiring memoir Running into Myself. Buy a copy from Amazon UKAmazon US or, better still, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide).

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

— Melinda Messenger (TV Presenter)

February 15, 2011

Let There Be Light

Here’s my latest feature on Manchester Confidential about spiritual teacher, Marianne Williamson’s upcoming event, An Awesome Power, in Manchester.

Let There Be Light

Thea Euryphaessa gets tongue tied with one of the world’s foremost spiritual teachers


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

I recently had the privilege of interviewing the author of the above famous quote; no, not Nelson Mandela as it’s often misattributed, but internationally acclaimed lecturer, spiritual activist and bestselling author, Marianne Williamson.

Before I continue, however, I have a somewhat embarrassing confession to make: for someone who rarely, if ever, gets star-struck, on this occasion I had eyes the size of supernovae and a gormless mouth more befitting of a black hole. You see, Marianne Williamson is, in my humble opinion, one of the most gifted orators at work today. And if there’s one skill I admire immensely when done well, it’s public speaking.

Few can command the stage as confidently and engagingly the way, say, Barack Obama can. Which is why, when I found out Marianne was coming to Manchester on 20 March for an afternoon-long seminar, I grabbed the opportunity to chat with her. When my allotted time rolled around, I was reduced to a jabbering wreck scribbling nonsensical gobbledegook in my pad which later made no sense to me whatsoever.

Marianne, however, was utterly charming, down-to-earth and, much to my relief, as chatty as me. In fact, once we got going we were like a couple of gasbagging teenagers. As a speaker and teacher of psycho-spiritual issues myself, it was particularly inspiring for me to learn Marianne studied, A Course in Miracles, every single day for five years before she even began giving talks on it. It was another five years before she wrote, A Return to Love, which caught Oprah’s attention, shot to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, and catapulted her onto an international stage. The rest, as they say, is history.

To be clear, A Course in Miracles, is not a religious dogma or doctrine; rather, it’s a 365 day self-study curriculum of psycho-spiritual themes to help aid and encourage personal transformation. As far as I’m concerned it doesn’t matter whether you study the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita or Jungian psychology — if you move deeply enough into any teaching you’ll soon realise they’re all saying the same thing, albeit with different cultural inflections. Problems only arise when folk confuse the connotation with the denotation; in other words, when they literalise and concretise what it is ultimately symbolic and beyond description.

So don’t let Marianne’s use of the word ‘God’ in the above-quoted paragraph, put you off. Although it took me a long time to reconcile myself to use of the word, I eventually understood it as the quickest, most convenient way to describe the transcendent/divine/deep Self or Nature as my African ancestors called it. I (and I think I also speak for Marianne when I say this) do not believe God to be a bloke complete with beard sat on a throne in the clouds, meting out rewards and punishments, lording it over all and sundry.

Which is why I recommend that, regardless of your beliefs (or not), you take the opportunity to see Marianne when she comes to Manchester Central on this all-too-rare occasion and hear her speak in what promises to be one of the most inspiring and thoughtful events of the year.

Marianne Williamson will be at the Manchester Conference Centre on Sunday 20 March, 12:00 – 5:30pm. Tickets for the event are priced at £55 and are available from mindbodyspirit.co.uk.

Marianne’s latest book, A Course in Weight Loss, is out now and available to buy on Amazon.

~

Thea is author of the inspiring memoir Running into Myself. Buy a copy from Amazon UK, Amazon US or, better yet, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide).

Thea’s personal journey is utterly compelling. I couldn’t put her book down. Thea manages to make Greek mythology not only understandable, interesting, and relevant to our lives today, but shows how it can be utilised as a tool for self development. She introduces ideas and ways of thinking that broaden your mind, and lights the way for others to follow.”

February 14, 2011

Great Sexpectations (Part 3/3)

(Click here to read part 1/3.)

(Click here to read part 2/3.)

Great Sexpectations (Part 3/3)

The following excerpts are taken from Barefoot Doctor’s Handbook for Modern Lovers:

Reminder

Don’t be mechanical. Don’t be clinical. Don’t be intellectual. Don’t be obedient (to the instructions/number of repetitions/sequence of techniques). Don’t be impatient. Don’t be scared. Don’t pretend. Don’t fart in bed.

Do us a condom (when you know you should). Do be intuitive (and use the instructions to fire off your own innate sexual knowledge). Do be flowing and natural. Do be gentle, tender, loving, caring and warm. Do be authentic. Do empty your bladder and bowels discreetly (when necessary) before you start, so you don’t expend valuable energy preventing same.

(Thank you.)

Zygomatic kisses

The zygomatic arch forms a vital part of that part of the skeletal structure that supports your face, without which your cheeks would be in grave danger of sliding off.

You may think that kissing cheeks is just for kids, cocktail parties and aunties; however, it would be wise to open your mind on this one.

Kissing O’s cheek with love and tenderness is one of the most direct ways of transmitting love directly into O’s brain (upper Tan Tien), whence it can flow downwards (in the trickle-down effect) to O’s heart, and radiate to fill O’s entire body/being.

Kiss O’s cheeks for the beauty you see there, for the subtle scent of O’s life story. And don’t stop yourself there. Kiss the lines at the sides of O’s eyes. Lines (wrinkles) tell the story of O’s life. Kiss each of O’s lines as a celebration of that story.

You may even like to let loose and follow your kisses wherever they want to go, until you find yourself kissing O all over.

In any case, do up to eight kisses on each cheek, slowly, so as not to come across like a woodpecker at work, and up to four kisses on each facial line, adjusting the number of repetitions according to both the number of facial lines present and the amount of time you have to spend doing this kind of kissing. (Kidding – about the counting of facial lines, not the content.)

This endearing, affectionate action provides an effective counterbalance to rude stuff, and can produce interesting configurations of Yin and Yang in the energy flow between you when performing it at the same time as, say, sticking your finger in O’s arse.

Do not be afraid to kiss O’s cheek with full love because you think it might make you appear too soft, child-like or parental. This might be the one action which transforms sex from cold to warm.

Sucking Nipple

Occasionally, you find yourself in a perfect moment. Looking out to sea from your balcony, sun on your face, not too hot, a pair of seagulls cavorting against the endless expanse of blue sky, sunlight tickling the inside of your brain, fishermen mending nets on the beach below, hands working to the rhythm of the waves. In this moment you feel no pressure, no demands. Aware that you’re blending with the perfection and totality beyond time or temporal concerns, you allow yourself to feel gratitude for the perfect moment.

Beneath your balcony is an unfinished wall, a small pile of wet cement and some bricks. Three determined young men, each skilled in the ancient art of masonry, begin to bang and hammer remorselessly. Perfect moment over.

Your life is a series of moments. Moments of all shapes, sizes, hues and tones. When you fantasise about your perfect ‘relationship,’ what you’re fantasising about is a perfect moment and/or series of moments. In real-time, it is these perfect moments, when they arise of themselves from the Tao, that give you the fuel, impetus and motivation to keep going through all the other not-so-perfect moments.

As perfect moments go, there is nothing quite like finding yourself teasing, sucking, kissing, licking and sometimes even mildly nipping the nipple and surrounding countryside of an O you love.

The ancient art of nipple stimulation revolves around encouraging them to talk to you. Not about current affairs, fashion, culture, or even spirituality. To talk to you from the heart and soul of O, in language beyond words, about love. Love and the perfect moment.

Some nipples are precocious. Some nipples are shy. Some nipples talk and sing to you as soon as you look at them. Some nipples need coaxing over time.

This does not just vary from O to O. Often O’s left nipple will have a completely different personality to O’s right one. You must be observant of this and take time to get to know each one. To develop a rapport. You’ll probably have a favourite, as will O, and it’s grand when you and O both prefer the same nipple. But don’t let this encourage you to be unfair. Be sure to spend ample time dialoguing with both left and right.

Though sucking nipple is performed predominantly by boy-O’s and/or bisexual and lesbian women on O-girls, there is nothing in the rule book to prevent O-girls doing it to boy-Os with equally beneficial results. Hence the word breast in the following instructions applies to that part of O’s anatomy (female or male) responsible for supporting O’s nipple(s).

Take O’s breast in your hand(s). In choosing which breast to take first, simply allow yourself to be pulled to one side or the other by instinct or proximity to your face. Do this with gentle authority. Take command of the breast as you would an orange (half) you were about to savour on a sunny day, or even a watermelon or a mango.

Take a moment to observe the nipple in its pre-stimulated state. Lick slowly and lightly round the areola, as if licking round the circumference of an ice-cream cone. Observe the goose-bumping effect on the surrounding skin. Trace up to eighteen circles or more with your tongue (counter-clockwise on the right nipple, clockwise on the left).

Now lick round and round the nipple itself, tracing another eighteen circles with your tongue (same direction as above). Observe any visible physiological changes in the shape, skin texture and hue of the nipple.

Now position your open lips around the nipple, lightly and gently, with an in-and-out rolling motion of the lips, suck (like a baby sucking nectar), using the tip of your tongue to lick the nipple-top each time you roll your lips under to suck the nipple in. Perform up to thirty-six lip-rolling (suck and release) motions, or more, then repeat the entire procedure on the other breast.

Stimulating O’s nipples thus, causes noticeable heart-opening sensations and encourages great feelings of tenderness and love to flow.

Moreover, the nipples are connected energetically, directly to the clitoris/glans. Conducting parlance with them in this way is like winning the support of the boss’s personal assistant before going in to make the big pitch.

For warming the current of sexual love, it is imperative that you suck nipple. While doing so, feel free to use your hands, feet and other moving parts inventively to simultaneously bring pleasure to O’s other breast/nipple, clitoris/glans, and/or any other part of O you fancy touching.

Hand jobs

This is (primarily) for O-girls dealing with boy-Os.

Every man likes to wank in his own particular/peculiar way. Your role is not necessarily to replicate that. It is to wank him in your own unique way custom-adapted (over time) to please that particular O. In other words, you must wank him in a way he’ll never forget and which he can’t do for himself (or he might as well do it for himself).

There is no universally correct way to wank a man. There are, however, with the exception of dealing with an out-and-out brute, one or two universal things not to do.

You should not grab hold of his dick as if clutching the gear shift of an off-road utility vehicle falling off a cliff, to slam it into reverse.

Nor should you attempt to grab it after prolonged trapeze, rope-climbing practice or any other manual activity which has caused excessive callousing of the palms.

The penis must be taken gently but firmly in your hand. Not fearfully, in loving awe perhaps, but not timidly or gingerly. Apply only 4oz of pressure. Don’t get stuck on holding it. Stroke it delicately up and down the length of its noble shaft, along the back, front and sides. Use the tips of your fingers like feathers. Don’t be functional about it. Transmit love through your hands and fingertips.

Don’t isolate the penis. Let your fingertips stroke (very lightly) over his balls, under them and into his perineum.

What you’re looking for is to establish a relationship with O’s dick. You’ve got to get it/him to talk to you. You’ve got to become allies. After all, he’s O’s closest friend. Like any wild animal with a mind of its own, you have to break him in gently. Gain his trust. Hence the need to go in confidently. But you must be extremely sensitive.

Penises, like vaginas, can get sore easily from excess friction. So always make initial contact softly to gauge O’s idea of 4oz. If you have some oil/lubrication to hand it might be helpful to avail yourself of it at this point. Otherwise/anyway, feel free to use your own vaginal fluid and/or saliva by first collecting it in your hand(s).

(The following is for when O’s dick is erect, but can be easily adapted when wishing to perform manual alchemy on a flaccid one.)

Arrange yourself so that you’re perfectly comfortable. Relax your shoulders, elbows and wrists. Breathe. Take hold of O’s dick as though taking hold of a ceremonial mace and smooth the lubrication you have chosen to use into the shaft, being sure to cover the entire surface area evenly. Apply enough pressure for your hand to move the outer skin against the shaft, but not so much that you actually pull the skin, which is very similar to the delicate skin around your eyes.

There are four sides to a willy: left, right, front and back. I need to clarify front and back here. When the penis is flaccid, the front, i.e. the part you see when looking at O’s full-frontal aspect, becomes the back when O’s penis becomes erect. And the back, i.e. the part you don’t see (the underside) becomes the front. To avoid confusion, I’m calling the underside-when-flaccid aspect, the underside (funnily enough), and the other side, the topside. Left and right remain the same.

Run your fingers up the mid-line of the underside from base to tip, and down the topside from tip to base eighteen times, going very lightly, especially over the top of the head (helmet), as if running your fingers over gold leaf.

On an energetic/reflexive level this stimulates energy to scoop the loop up and down the spinal column to which these energy lines correspond, thus helping rebalance Yin and Yang (bet you never thought giving someone a wank could be so medicinal).

Now, either using both hands or thumb and forefinger of one, stroke likewise up both left and right sides simultaneously from base to tip eighteen times. This builds up an expectant sexual charge and will make O wish (possibly fervently) for you to put some more lubrication on your hand and take hold of his dick with conviction. An act which you should not hesitate to perform, starting off by holding  the middle third of the shaft and moving the flesh against it in a steady up and down rhythm.

Check that the shoulder, elbow and wrist of your active hand are relaxed, your body is comfortably positioned and your breath is regulated and flowing freely.

Do not start at a fast pace. Begin slowly and attempt only to move up and down over more distance until your movement covers the entire length.

There is a given moment at which the tempo starts taking you faster of itself. Wait until you feel this before accelerating. At which point you might like to decide between you of this is intended to make O ejaculate or not. If so, be sure to maintain constant pressure with your hand and to keep your arm relaxed to facilitate double-time piston motion, if required, for as long as necessary. Be extremely tempo-sensitive when O ejaculates, as different boy-Os need you to decelerate/stop the stimulation at different times; some as soon as they squirt, others not until they’ve squeezed out every last drop, and others somewhere in-between.

However, when employing your hand thus as merely part of the greater sexual dance, which is more often than not the case, you will need to cease all manual stimulation before O’s penis, and especially glans (helmet), starts to go a bit purplish and swell that extra bit (like it does).

It can be both usefully informative and socially entertaining to employ the verbal communication mode in order to ascertain the exact details of O’s requirements, likes and dislikes, a propos being tossed off. And, of course, vice versa.

And just as verbal communication is a two-way thing, so is mutual wanking. To which end you will occasionally find yourself performing this technique, while O simultaneously performs its female equivalent on you.

~

In the next section, Barefoot goes onto describe the manual stimulation of the clitoris. Of all Barefoot’s books, this one is perhaps my favourite. Perhaps it should come as no surprise, then, that I recommend you buy it along with Val Sampson’s, Tantra: The Art of Mind-Blowing Sex, both of which are available at Amazon (whether you’re single or able to practise with someone/s).

I’ll be revisiting the subject of Tantric/Taoist sex in future blogs/articles; however, for the time being, I bid you all a very Happy Valentine’s Day.

~

Thea is author of the inspiring memoir Running into Myself. Buy a copy from Amazon UK, Amazon US or, better yet, order a limited edition signed copy direct from her publisher here (also ships worldwide). If you enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love, you’ll love Running into Myself.

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