Dare I Mention It?

After watching a video by a world renowned breathwork facilitator, I felt intrigued that she had combined breathwork and the taboo topic of self-pleasure.

Shock!

Horror!

Self-pleasure conjures up thoughts of not being a topic to be discussed and is only limited to sexual climax.

It depends on your definition of self-pleasure. Is it something as simple as caressing your forearm softly with your fingers? Or is it more of a sinister topic that you have been led to believe to is only spoken about in very private spaces with one person?

Is it worth taking a moment, to review your definition of self-pleasure, the origin of your definition and evaluating if it is still true for you today?

Personally, I grew up in a culture where self-pleasure is a taboo topic. It is not to be discussed and most definitely not to be written about!

How often do you allow yourself to enjoy the bliss in life?

Breathing in the fresh smell of rain after it has fallen on dry earth. Watching clouds float by. Hearing a child belly laugh.

Then drawing your attention closer, to your own body, feeling the gentle caress of your fingers run across your skin.

Are you triggered by an event or experience in your life that reading the previous sentence makes you feel uncomfortable, disgusted or sick?

We are complex beings. Years of conditioning and or unpleasant experience can cause triggers.

If you are brave enough, can you look past that. Find a private space where you feel comfortable. Play music if you feel it will allow you more privacy. Anchoring yourself in your breath to ground you into the present moment. Breathing in and out, allowing your belly to expand and contract slowly, calmly and gently. Gently caress your skin or run your fingers through your hair. Allowing yourself to be fully present in the experience.

It may take a few attempts to get used the idea, especially if your experience has led you to feel it is taboo.

Your body is the only place you will every live. It is OK to enjoy it. The experience life’s bliss through it. The more you allow yourself to become accustomed to bliss and pleasure, the more you will allow it into your life.

Bliss and pleasure will become something that you are familiar with. You will be able to recognise it. You will be able to distinguish between living in fear and living in bliss.

Become friends with bliss, so it can find its own place in your life and within your body.

Your body stores memories and unprocessed emotions. Should you choose to allow yourself to experience self-pleasure in whichever form is comfortable for you, it may lead to the release of stuck emotions. This can be aided by being fully present in your body and anchoring yourself with your breath.

Self-pleasure is so much more than just sexual climax. It is about allowing yourself to become familiar with bliss that can be experienced through your body, even with the simple caresses.

Are you ready to familiarise yourself with bliss so that you can allow more of it into your life?