Pleasure is your birthright.
But somewhere along the way we were told otherwise.
That pleasure is dirty.
That we should silence our needs.
That we should silence our humanity.
For many of us,
This shame was passed onto us by someone else.
For many of us,
Our experience with sexuality has been painful.
We carry shame that is not ours.
We bear a burden that is not ours.
Today,
Dear friend,
I invite you to lighten the load on your back with me.
Finding comfort now.
Eyes open,
Settling into the space you're in.
Letting your eyes wander.
Noticing any sounds.
Smells.
Just allowing them to wash over you.
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose and on the exhale allowing your eyes to close.
If keeping them open feels safer,
Honor yourself.
Soaking deeper into the surface beneath you.
Softening the shoulders.
Noticing any tension in your body and letting it go just for now.
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose,
Belly rises,
Lungs expand and exhaling through the mouth,
Softening.
Breathing in,
I nourish my body.
Breathing out,
I ease my mind.
Breathing in,
Nourish.
Breathing out,
Ease.
Breathing in,
I am worthy.
Breathing out,
I am whole.
Breathing in,
Worthy.
Breathing out,
Whole.
In.
A few more breaths on your own now.
If your mind wanders,
Simply return it to your breath.
Bringing to mind now your wonderful self.
Visualizing yourself in a beautiful lush green forest.
Perhaps you're walking on a trail surrounded by the mightiest of trees,
Each one providing you with fresh air that fills the forest.
Perhaps you hear some birds chirping on this trail.
Maybe you see a deer leaping in the distance.
And on this walk,
You're wearing a heavy backpack.
Inside the backpack are rocks that you've picked up along the way.
You notice that each rock has a message written on it.
After a while,
Your back begins to ache.
You come across a river and decide to stop there.
Opening your backpack,
You begin to remove the rocks.
You pick up the first rock and on it is written,
There is something wrong with me.
You throw this rock in the river and watch it float away.
You pick up the second rock and it says,
My body is not good enough.
And you throw it in the river,
Watching it float away.
You pick up the final rock and it says,
I am unworthy of love.
You throw it in the river and watch the river carry it away.
You pick up your backpack and continue on the trail,
On your journey.
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose,
Exhaling,
Letting go.
Noticing this newfound spaciousness.
This walk feels more enjoyable,
More pleasurable.
Allowing this visualization to fade.
Coming back to your body in the present moment.
Perhaps putting your left hand on your heart and your right hand on your belly.
Receiving a deep inhale through the nose,
Belly rises and exhaling,
Embracing yourself like you would a child.
Softening your body.
I welcome you to gently repeat these affirmations with me,
Out loud or in your head.
I am grateful for my body and the pleasure it provides me.
I am free to safely explore my sexuality.
I am deserving of love and respect.
I am whole and complete.
I am human.
Returning to them once more,
Repeating after me.
I am grateful for my body and the pleasure it provides me.
I am free to safely explore my sexuality.
I am deserving of love and respect.
I am whole and complete.
I am human.
Finding your breath,
Inhaling deeply through the nose and exhaling,
Allowing those words to nourish you.
Maybe allowing your hands to fall to your lap or by your sides.
Perhaps finding any sounds around you,
Stretching your neck,
Wiggling your toes and allowing your eyes to softly open.
Noticing your surroundings.
Noticing any feelings of lightness in your body.
Maybe thanking your body for all its resilience and all its teachings.
Dear one,
This is not an easy journey.
I am so grateful for your presence here today.
Facing our sexual shame can be painful,
But facing our sexual shame can also be liberating and can bring us closer to self-expression and alignment.
Dear friend,
Remember to hold yourself in compassion.
To remember your breath when overwhelm arrives and to also voice your thoughts with someone who you trust and who loves you dearly.
And know that you are loved,
You are cherished,
And you are definitely worthy.
I wish you so much peace and so much love.
