If there were no influences from advertising,
Media,
Culture,
Peer pressure,
Family,
Religion,
Or even past experience,
What would it be like to be a sexual human being?
What would it be like to have new eyes?
An opportunity to learn the truest essence of your sexuality?
If it's hard to imagine what that's like,
Know that you're not the only one.
I have come to know that these influences have a powerful force,
Pulling us and defining us before we even have a chance to have a say for ourselves.
In mindfulness,
We can cultivate something called the beginner's mind,
A chance to see things again for the first time.
In our practice,
We'll explore our beginner's mind and discover what our sexuality could look like through a new lens,
Using breath and visualization.
Let's open our practice in a supportive posture.
You may be seated with your legs crossed or feet on the floor.
If there is another posture that is supportive for you,
Please take it.
And when you're ready,
Come into the moment.
Come into your surroundings.
Notice what's around you.
Let's take an inhale,
Feeling the breath move through both nostrils.
And on the exhale,
Allowing your eyes to close or to open to a soft gaze.
Going inwards and coming into the breath.
Can you notice how the breath expands and softens your body?
Can you notice how the breath brings life into your body?
Staying with the breath and noticing if your breath is shallow or deep.
If your breath is quick or maybe slower.
Being with your breath here for a few more moments.
And I welcome you to bring to mind a place where you feel most at ease.
This space is a place where you feel peaceful and joyful.
It could be somewhere that you've been before,
Or somewhere that you haven't been before.
Or somewhere that you've always dreamed of going to.
Try not to think too much about it.
Connecting with any place that feels safe and peaceful for you.
And once you've landed in this safe place,
Taking a slow look around.
What's around you?
Are there any colors that stand out?
And do any of those colors have textures?
And if there are any sounds around you,
What do they sound like?
Or is your space silent?
Can you bring in any smells that may be present?
And in this place,
Are you alone or is anyone with you here?
Noticing what it's like to be here.
As you stay in this safe place,
I welcome you to bring in your friends and family.
As your freest and most authentic self.
You,
Free from any outside influences or pressures.
As your most authentic self,
What have you chosen to wear?
And how does your body feel?
Perhaps it feels free and easy to be you in this space.
And visualizing yourself,
Expressing yourself here without fear of judgment from yourself or anyone around you.
Whether through words,
Movement,
Art,
Or any other way of expression.
What does sharing authentically look like for you here?
How does it feel to be completely authentic?
Noticing what it feels like in the body.
Coming back into this moment,
And directing your attention into the breath.
Feeling your breath nourish your body.
And when you're ready,
Slowly allowing your eyes to open if they're closed.
What can you notice around you that you haven't noticed before?
What can you see with your fresh new eyes?
When we hear the word sexuality,
We may immediately think of sex.
Though sexuality and expression extends outside of this.
With our beginner's mind,
We can take a new approach and integrate key aspects of safe sexual expression in our everyday lives.
By practicing speaking to others authentically,
Infusing parts of ourselves in our style,
And listening to the feelings that arise in our bodies.
These can be practiced in a non-sexual manner.
So when we do dive deeper in sexual expression,
We are resourced from practicing in our day-to-day lives.
As you move through your day,
I welcome you to practice this.
It doesn't have to be big.
It could be saying no to people more when you really need to.
Wearing a piece of clothing that feels more like you.
Or gently telling someone how you feel,
Rather than hiding it away.
Take good care,
And I'll see you soon for our fourth session.
