Miscellaneous
Do you seek out pleasure or only receive it when offered? How well do you know your pleasure centers? It’s easy to presume that you have a sensual spot around your neck or behind your ear, or one of the familiar pleasurable sweet spots on the body, but what if there are more pleasure centers that you are completely neglecting. What if these overlooked pleasure centers are actually better than your GO TO SPOTS? I am suggesting that if there are unchartered pleasure centers on your physical body, that there are significant pleasure centers in your mind that you are also neglecting…and therefore you are missing out on pleasurable experiences that would certainly make life more enjoyable. Do you find pleasure with food and the stimulation of taste buds? I often talk about the playground of the mind in that we can focus on anything we choose and guide the mind to find pleasure even in the midst of a circumstance that initially appears confrontational or painful…actively searching for and finding ecstasy instead of agony. Shifting our focus away from immediately identifying a sensation as uncomfortable or painful and finding the benefit and the usefulness of the sensation…this is most easily noticeable during the Yoga practice.The physical body is a playground of sensations and certainly we can identify the sensations that physically feel good…a gentle touch or caress or a massage or stretch of a sore muscle. Have you ever felt your skin vibrate or tingle with a sensual touch? Have you felt the deep muscle release after pressure from a strong massage or the physical relaxation after a powerful Yoga practice? We are having profound physical responses to everyday activities…I believe we should find the pleasure in as many experiences as possible. This is my version of Meditation Masturbation. Body scan: We do this anyway, but most of us pinpoint what is wrong in the body, rather than what feels good. We all know people who complain about physical pain and just listening to them gives insight into how they feel about their body and their quality of life. Instead of scanning the body to identify the pain centers, mindfully identify the pleasure centers.Meditation Masturbation is a journey of discovery to explore and identify what is pleasurable for you. Set up a cozy spot and set the intention to spend 5 minutes in Meditation Masturbation…once you are convinced that you can focus on pleasurable sensations for 5 minutes, try 10, 20, 30….and this pleasure exercise will lead you into a blissful meditation that you can access anytime you choose.