Many years ago, when I was in my mid-twenties, my boyfriend at the time was explaining his categorization of women. Apparently, it was shared amongst his friends. It went something like this: Women between the ages of 20 and 25 were considered “gazelles.” He described them as being like “a deer in headlights.” They were naive and a little bit useless. Women 25 to 30 were “bobcats.” They were playful, fun, and, most importantly, agreeable. This, apparently, was the most desirable age range. Women in their thirties were “cougars.” They were on the prowl to find a mate. They were…
I have long wondered what the difference is between a soulmate and a childhood wound. Why are we so drawn to some people even though we know from experience that the relationship will end badly? How can some people trigger us to go from calm and conscious to a burning cauldron of rage or knot of anxiety in mere seconds?
While there are likely many psychological reasons for this, the explanation that resonates the most with me is that our relationships, or lack thereof, are spiritual assignments. …
“You’ll never find anyone that loves you more than me,” my high school boyfriend told me as I broke up with him. This was after I caught him stealing my Guns N’ Roses concert tickets and a gold nugget ring my mom had given me, along with other teenage valuables. Of course, I use the term “caught” lightly. I knew he stole them. He actually wore the ring in front of me — I just never confronted him. I didn’t want to rock the boat. But when I caught him cheating on me, that infraction was too big to overlook…
I’ve often heard our bodies described as “meat suits” or simply as containers that hold our more important and worthy spirits. And when this happens, I become sad and a little confused. Though our body is transient while our spirit is not, it’s no less important than the spirit — it’s the gateway to it. Our bodies allow us to pursue our dharma (our life’s purpose), experience pleasure and pain (pain provides us with useful information), and help us make sense of the world around us. The body holds our memories, our intuition, and our desires. It’s not some add-on…
So, what does it mean to be a “wild woman?” If you’re visualizing a woman baring her chest at Mardi Gras in exchange for beads — that’s not at all what I’m talking about. I’m talking about a woman who has a keen sense of intuition, follows her instincts, feels empowered to protect herself and her pack, and has the confidence to pursue what she desires. And not the things that society tells her she should want. I’m talking about the desires she can feel in her bones. Where did this wild woman go? We’ve domesticated her. …
My heart started to race as I gazed at the departure board in the middle of Penn Station in New York City. I was headed back home to Boston after a conference. If you’ve ever made this trip, you’ll likely know that there is some level of anxiety that goes along with it. This was before covid when people were still traveling, and the station was mobbed as usual.
The track that my train would arrive on wouldn’t be announced until moments before it was scheduled to leave. Once the track was confirmed, I would need to race against hundreds…
The goddess is not some twenty-something spiritual sex-bomb that you see on social media. Or an esoteric deity who is looking at you from above. The goddess is an aspect of your highest self. Yes, you heard me — you are the goddess! I know what you might be thinking, “but I don’t feel like a goddess — at all.” Maybe you don’t right now, but you can learn to embody her.
First, let’s take a quick step back — way back. Goddesses across traditions represent universal energies that we all have within us. Carl Jung, the famed psychoanalyst, coined…
Joseph Campbell, author, teacher, and mythologist, might best be known for explaining the hero’s journey in his celebrated book The Hero with a Thousand Faces. It’s a journey we all must take. It’s not an easy path, and the goal isn’t a pot of gold at the end (or a sexy spouse, sports car, house, etc.). The goal is self-actualization. And it’s not a selfish pursuit, because the wisdom you acquire is shared with others to make your community and the world a better place.
It starts in the ordinary world. Here, everything is “normal.” Or at least, normal to…
When you first read the word pleasure, your mind might have immediately gone to snorkeling in the British Virgin Islands, a dinner at your favorite restaurant, or an earth-shattering orgasm (mine kind of did too).
Though these are great (please indulge if you get the chance), they’re not exactly what I’m talking about here. I’m talking about the pleasures that are available to you all the time like gazing into the eyes of your four-legged friend, smelling your coffee before you take the first sip, or gazing at the pink and orange sunrise making its way above the horizon.
Taking…
My boyfriend thinks I’m always in the mood for sex — always rearing to go. Recently he suggested, “You should teach women to enjoy sex as much as you do. Couples would be so much happier and you would make a ton of money!” Apparently, he hears from his guy friends that there isn’t much enthusiasm for sex in long-term relationships. I don’t know about teaching women how to enjoy sex more, but I can explain my secret.
The truth is, I rarely think about sex. I’m usually lost in thought wondering what I should write about next, what new…
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