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New Edition of Peace Between the Sheets
Did you see the item in the April newsletter about the new edition of the book that is scheduled for release next Summer - 2009. I think this is really great news. The fact that it will be distributed by Random House could work out to be a real plus.
Marnia is actually re-writing the book in its entirety as we speak!! Here is your chance to have input on how the book takes shape. I think it would be great if we could post ideas for topics and any other suggestions for changes to the book. My sense is that Marnia is really wanting this to be a collaboritive effort. Whatever your talents are, let's post ideas on this THREAD.
Are there any professional editors out there amongst us on this forum?
Cheers!
William
Cant wait!
Since I don't own the book yet, now's my chance.
Ha ha!
I would indeed welcome input from any of you, whether or not you have had the pleasure of reading the first edition.
Here's some input
I would like to hear more quotes and observations from different experts, actual research, and comments from enlightened masters. If you could do this research thoroughly, that would help people feel much better about this practice. Even if you have to interview the Dalai Lama, or Zen masters, Tao masters, sex researchers etc, do it, for the benefit of humanity. This information will change everything especially if you do it right.
I hope more people will join in this discussion since it's very important for the human race, the whole universe could benefit from a saner humanity.
Here's my two cents
I have read the current edition, and I got a lot out of it, but if I gave it to most of my friends, they would probably flip out and call it homophobic. I doubt that those parts of the book were really essential to the message anyway. Also some people would see "gnosticism" and be like "AAAH, heretics!!!" I guess it depends on what audience you are trying to reach, but if you offend the left wing by seeming anti-gay, at the same time you offend the right wing by discussing what to them will seem like eccentric spiritual beliefs, then maybe you are only left with weird people like us
Yes, it does have the
potential to offend almost everyone.
Your thoughts make good sense. I'll double-check my I Ching this time around.
Sometimes I think of all the different objections different factions of "us" have to this material and I think, "Ya know, if there WERE a mystery hidden in the approach of controlled intercourse, it's obvious why humanity only rarely stumbles upon it!"
The Wierd Shall Inherit the Earth
Isn't there some spiritual text that says "the weird shall inherit the earth." Oy Vey
On the topic of homophobia
I was a little uncertain about bringing this up, but since Mitsiky has mentioned it, I have the same feelings about it. The thing that makes me most nervous about sharing the book is the section on homosexuality. I feel that even the most open-minded people that I know would very likely react negatively to that part, and could possibly reject the message in its entirety.
I know this is tricky, because all people need to hear the message, but I have often felt I'd be more comfortable sharing the book if it weren't for that part.
And I do have some editing and proofreading experience, not exactly professional, but I worked on a small paper for awhile, so I know a little.
Sexual orientation
For those of you who haven't read the book, the concept in it that is troubling (to me too) is that homosexuality, in some cases, may be just another way that men and women separate on this planet (like celibacy and casual heterosexual sex)...as opposed to being a special case of "magnets with ends reversed." I realize this is a very unpolitically correct point of view, and I realize the wisdom of leaving it out.
Here's the reason I didn't. My inner guidance was VERY insistent that this was important to share with people. When I began working on the book many years ago, I ignored that feedback and typed up a chapter for homosexual readers that was totally PC, and employed the same principals as for straight readers. My computer melted down, taking the chapter with it. *gulp*
Then I spent time working at a gay nightclub in NYC and made even more (close) homosexual friends. I had experiences where I actually saw homosexual friends' sexual orientation shift toward the opposite sex when they stopped masturbating (heavy porn use was common to most of them, both male and female), and when they did deep forgiveness work toward the opposite sex.
Moreover, when I asked some of them, "if you could pop a pill and be straight, would you?" I was AMAZED when they said things like, "Yes! In a heartbeat." These were friends who were "out" and not at all ashamed. They just felt like their wires were crossed, and something wasn't the way THEY wanted it. This was a very different picture than was painted in the press, where gay is is just gay, like straight is just straight, and everyone is blissfully happy with their respective orientations.
Since then I've met straight men who, heavy porn users, are finding themselves drawn to homosexual porn and acting out...again, men who would not be "ashamed" to announce to the world that they're gay...if they were. I've also spent time around a lot of folks in their 20s, many of whom now view themselves as "bisexual," and are engaging in a lot of casual sex. Clearly, the line between gay and straight is not a neat boundary, as straight people are inclined to assume it is.
When I ask my guidance, it insists that over-stimulation of the reward circuitry can noodle with our sexual orientation. For this reason, people can end up engaging in homosexual behavior, or even thinking they are homosexual when they are...well...not, or to state it more accurately, when they would not be drawn to same sex behavior if they were managing their dopamine levels differently.
I feel like I was being asked to say, "Hey, it's up to you. If you feel your wires are crossed, you may be able to uncross them by using sex differently." Of course, this is viewed as my "having an agenda" to make people straight. This is not at all the case. My agenda is simply to share what I've learned that can free people to make their own choices. If you don't understand that over-stimulation can distort your sexual polarity, then you are possibly not "freely" choosing. None of us likes to consider this possibility, but just in case there's anyone out there who is NOT happy with their lifestyle, I think it's good for them to know what could be pushing them around - so they can make their own experiments if they care to.
Incidentally, since I wrote that, a bit of support for it has actually appeared...although it is ignored by the mainstream. Here's a bit from the new book (which may - I hope - replace my old chapter...I don't know yet, as I haven't "asked"):
Not sure this will reassure any of you about my sanity,
but your feedback is welcome, and I thank you for raising this.
I think the point you're
I think the point you're trying to make about sexual orientation being more malleable than people might think is an interesting and valid one. On the other hand, I think the tone of the chapter could have been improved. I think you could make the disclaimers more explicit. Like, "You may be very happy to be gay. If you're not, this might help change the situation."
I guess I have an instinct that some queer folk landed where they are for unhappy reasons, but other ones seem to have a very legitimate mission of challenging the problems in the rigid gender system we've got. I would hate to discourage any of these people.
Thanks, Mitsiky
I think you're right. I can definitely do better, if I even take on the challenge at all next time around. I'll make sure I back up my computer before I try it though.
In one of my Chia books on sacred sex practice
there is a whole chapter devoted to 'advice for gay couples'. In it Chia is similarly straightforward about the potential issues involved. For example, two men coming together, offering hot yang energy to the same, can find that they get 'yanged out' for want of a better phrase (I can't find the book, when I do I will post a more refined explanation), the cooling effect of yin isn't there, which is why (he says) that gay men often find that more is never enough when it comes to sex, he gives examples of several ejaculations a night for some men who become quite imbalanced...yet...he then gives practical ways in which a gay couple can deal with this issue (not ejaculating being the no.1 item here), but also in the case of gay men, encouraging them to find alternative ways for them to balance the yang with yin. I didn't read all of that chapter, but when I find the book I will post the info if u like, Marnia.
As for your sanity, I can vouch for it Marnia, because only a sane person can help someone emerge from the madness of addiction...where would I be without you?
On the issue of the mainstream media, they will inevitably find something which seems controversial or able to stir up emotive reactions, and then zero in on that, usually without reporting the whole story (in your case, they no doubt did not mention that you were not speaking for all gays, that you were just offering some ideas for investigation that could be helpful). It must be challenging to want to be straightforward about what you know, yet have to walk the line of not offending cultural sensibilities. There is a saying that truth goes through three phases: Initially it is denounced as heresy, then it is (...argued over...?), finally it is accepted as self-evident fact. (If anyone remembers all the words please let me know.) So it could be that some of the more controversial aspects of your research that seem to offend at present, will one day be seen in a different light. Even so, I would also sympathise with trying to be as inclusive as possible of gay people, because they do need help as well (in overcoming the orgasmic high/low cycle), and some diplomacy might be what is needed to get them on board. Anyway, I really need to read the 'peace' book for myself before I can say more.
Thanks, Asher
I have the Chia book with the advice for homosexuals. I'll give that some thought, and I know that you are right that there is suffering right across the "orientation spectrum." Consider this:
I'm glad the site evolved into a place of support. Believe me, it was not my conscious objective. You guys have made it happen. I do think it's kind of nice that it can be a group project, though, for both sexes.
I think that saying goes something like this, "First a new idea is denounced as absurd. Then it is considered to be true, but of no consequence. Then people say that it IS important, but that everyone knew it right along." *giggle*