Recommended Books and Websites
An eclectic and inspired collection of some of my favorite Books and Websites (as well as people, products and services) to further help you on your journey of re-definition!
Books I recommend:
Descriptions of the books above – plus some more…
The Red Book: A Deliciously Unorthodox Approach to Igniting Your Divine Spark
by Sera J. Beak
For smart, gutsy, spiritually curious women whose colorful and complicated lives aren't reflected in most spirituality books, The Red Book is an open invitation to find your true self and start sharing that delicious truth with the world.
The Way of the Superior Man
by David Deida
When my fiancee presented me with this book, I almost didn't read it, for the provocative title. Deida is arguably a living master, and has extraordinary things to say about maintaining deep attraction between intimate partners as well as living your sexuality as the truest expression of your spirituality.
Dear Lover
by David Deida
Great for women to read, and hear some of our deepest longings in love, life and sex, spoken so powerfully and eloquently. Great for men to read to hear what women want most, but might never have the words to express.
The Enlightened Sex Manual: Sexual Skills for the Superior Lover
by David Deida
The title kind of says it all. Racy, delightful, usable and red-hot. Sexuality AS Spirituality, in it's energetic, esoteric and practical forms. And who wouldn't want the superior skills of the enlightened lover?
The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures
by Dossie Easton and Catherine A. Liszt
Considered the "bible" of consensual, responsible non-monogamy! A frank, funny, informative and respectful guide to honoring your self and others as you create relationships that reflect the sexually liberated you. Learn all you ever wanted to know from experienced and compassionate researchers, and a heap more about things you didn't know you didn't know!
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence
by Esther Perel
Witty, wise and revelatory, it explores the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire, and explains what it takes to bring lust home. Through case studies and lively discussion, Perel examines the complexities of sustaining desire and demonstrates how more exciting, playful, and even poetic sex is possible in long-term relationships.
The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate
by Gary Chapman
We all experience and express love, caring and appreciation in drastically different ways. What speaks volumes to you may be meaningless to your spouse. But here, at last, is the key to understanding each other's unique needs for love, care and appreciation. This is the simple guide for learning to be able to express your love – and feel truly loved in return.
Expanded Orgasm: Soar to Ecstasy at Your Lover's Every Touch
by Dr. Patricia Taylor
When I first learned this technique with Dr. Taylor, my ideas of what is possible, in terms of sensual pleasure, orgasm, and deep connection, were forever changed. This book explains and guides you through all I learned with her in person. Dive in and enjoy. You'll never be the same.
The Illustrated Guide to Extended Massive Orgasm (Positively Sexual)
by Drs. Steve and Very Bodansky
In case you want pictures and how-to's, this is the guide for you! Similar information as Expanded Orgasam for the visually hungry. Prepare to be rocked and blown open.
Sacred Pleasure: Sex, Myth and the Politics of the Body
by Riane Eisler
When, historically – and why – did we become a culture that fused sex with violence and love with domination and power struggles? What was lost when we arranged our culture to separate pleasure from the sacred? And is there a way home?
The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future
by Rhiane Eisler
Scholarly and passionate, it offers the way to shift from a paradigm of power-over-another to one of true partnership. Eisler lifts feminism out of the ghetto and restores dignity to both sexes and our partnerings.
Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing
by Dr. Christiane Northrup
Considered by many to be the "bible" of women's health, this book "powerfully demonstrates that when women change the basic conditions of their lives that lead to health problems, they heal faster, more completely, and with far fewer medical interventions."
The Vagina Monologues
by Eve Ensler
Part poetry, part rebel yell, this is a heart-tearing collection of stories from women everywhere, about our lost – and recovered – relationships with this most powerful, essential and misunderstood part of ourselves.
Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts : Using the Power of Pleasure to Have Your Way with the World
by Regena Thomashauer
Learn how to use the Power of Pleasure to have your way with the world! From flirting to making your inner bitch work for you, Mama Gena, the queen of Pleasure will reintroduce you to the gift it is to be Woman.
Woman An Intimate Geogrpahy
by Natalie Angier
Pulitzer Prize-winner Angier lifts the veil of secrecy from that most enigmatic of evolutionary masterpieces, the female body and takes readers on a mesmerizing tour of everything from organs to orgasm? A breath-taking book, as vast as it is profound, offering the magically blended perspectives of science, biology, anthropology and pure adulterated opinion. You will never look at a Woman the same way again
Toward a New Psychology of Women
by Jean Baker Miller
First published in 1976, Miller recognizes, re-defines and offers us understanding of the mental and emotional lives of women, as well as our day-to-day experiences; she makes a beautiful, compelling case that these should no longer be separate from shaping and informing our social and political systems. This woman and her brave, avant thinking essentially altered the entire course of gender psychology, and has likely influenced every other author in this above motley booklist.
Websites I recommend:
www.Deida.info
David Deida is arguably the master of our time in the area of sexuality as spirituality. He has over 10 published books (some of which are listed in my Books) section) and has some provocative things to say about maintaining sexual attraction, what is most loving, and what makes our loving sacred. For those crazy or hungry enough to receive it, this man has much sacred, sexy sagacity to impart.
www.master-your-g-spot.com
If you enjoyed the exercises on Sensuality Basics, and want to go further, or if you simply want to learn more about the G-Spot, female and male, check out this website, created by my partner, with my input. Yep, the research was a pain, but someone had to do it!
www.mypleasure.com
Dedicated to providing the finest adult toy shopping experience possible, they don't use pornographic images, pop-ups, or lewd marketing tactics, but instead offer only the highest-quality products. My Pleasure provides a safe, clean and exciting way for adults of all ages, genders, ethnicities and sexual orientations to enjoy and enhance their sex lives, whether they be single or part of a couple. They also offer resources on sex education, sexual health, a glossary of sexual terms and practices, regular sex ed columns, games, horoscopes, sexy postcards, polls, sex tips – as well as a guide for selecting sex toys!
www.evesgarden.com
Eve’s Garden is is the world's first mail-order catalogue and sexuality boutique designed for the unique needs of women. An outgrowth of the Women’s Rights Movement and the work of Dell Williams, Eve’s Garden seeks to erase the sense of shame and guilt experienced by countless women as a result of a society that historically condemns the sexual nature of women as sinful. Eve's Garden's version of “Eve” is a transformation from a fallen, shamed woman to a strong, powerful woman proud of her strength, sensitivity, and sexuality. Its clientele is the discerning female consumer seeking to expand, enhance and celebrate her sexuality and sexual experiences as positive, nourishing and creative forces in her life.
www.serabeak.com
Join this Spiritual Cowgirl, Harvard-trained scholar of world religions and intrepid spiritual cowgirl who spent the last 12 years traveling the world exploring spirituality — from whirling with Sufi dervishes to meeting the Dalai Lama on her 21st birthday; from taking the host from a Croatian Catholic mystic who had the stigmata (truly) to having life-altering visions with a shaman (and everything in between). She's synthesised it all into her book, The Red Book (above), her blog, The Spiritual Cowgirl, and offers a down-to-earth, sassy, accessible approach to turning Red. Red is the face of Divine, as it shows up for us today; Red sounds a lot like your heartbeat and tastes a lot like chocolate and if spoken aloud would definitely make a priest faint.
www.laughingsagewellness.com
Designed for women with PMS, hormonal imbalances, PCOS, and problematic menstruation, Laughing Sage supports women to learn how to use food medicinally to balance their bodies and health, and discover and put into action the principles of feminine energy. Founder and director, Alisa Vitti is an extraordinary resource for women, healer and feminist fatale. Inspiring and vivacious, she cured herself of an "incurable" condition and works with women on everything from eating better and losing weight, to shifting their lives and health in equally miraculous ways.
www.firstourselves.com
First Ourselves uses self-care – love in action – to create emotionally, spiritually, and physically nourishing lives; and offers workshops and tele-classes on healing a negative body image and overcoming sugar addiction and emotional eating. Also offered are free ebooks on overcoming sugar addiction and loving your body, and monthly newsletters on self-care, body image, and sugar addiction. Amazingly inspiring Founder Karly Randolph Pitman (wife and mother of four!), also offers speeches and presentations for women's groups, conferences, corporations, organizations, and retreats.
www.mamagenas.com
For the past 10 years Mama Gena, master facilitator, has gotten into the heart and soul of each woman in her School of Womanly Arts, helping her unlock the legend that lives inside. The school (I helped develop the curriculum and structure!) enhances and expand the voice of women by fanning the flames of their desires, which opens the doors of fun and pleasure for everyone. Located in New York City, this program will teach you about using the powers of desire, not effort, to attain your goals. You will own and enjoy your sense of pleasure, joy, sensuality and godessliness!
www.cynfullyhealthy.com
If you are trying to clean up a chronic health concern, enhance fertility or simply want to feel more vibrant, you may be catching on that counting your calories or obsessing about the latest diet is really not the answer. Collectively, we have a wealth of nutrition information – but very little wisdom around our rich and complex relationship with food and body. Cynthia Stadd, Integrative Nutrition Coach, is obsessed with the psychology of eating. With a vast background in both traditional nutritional sciences and Eastern philosophies, she is an emerging expert in the field of Mind-Body Nutrition. Cynthia loves helping clients cut through the vast and jumbled world of food information and get to heart of what truly keeps them from achieving their health and body goals.
www.heartfulembrace.wordpress.com
Reflections on life, love, intimacy and the Divine. An invitation to inquire into your basic approach to living as an energetic being in a human form. A resource for explorations into subtle energies, personal awareness, healing and transformation. Support for energetic healers in their own replenishment and healing.
