Sex Shamans

True Stories of Sacred Sexuality and Awakening

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  • Pages: 352
  • Book Size: 6 x 9
  • ISBN-13: 9781620559215
  • Imprint: Destiny Books
  • On Sale Date: February 4, 2020
  • Format: Paperback Book
  • Illustrations: 27 b&w illustrations
Designed to guide the reader on a journey into their own sacred sexual awakening, this book shares true stories of sexual awakening from 20 visionary pioneers in the sexual shamanism movement. The stories reveal intimate details from these sex shamans’ journeys and each is accompanied by an in-depth embodiment exercise with step-by-step instructions.

Flight of the Bön Monks

20 transformative stories and sexual healing practices from international pioneers in the sexual shamanism movement

• Reveals intimate details about how each sex shaman overcame personal struggles with heartache, jealousy, mental illness, or social shame to realize their calling as a sacred sexual healer

• Includes 20 in-depth embodiment exercises such as soul gazing, contacting your spirit guides, sexual divination, energetic sex, self-pleasuring, moon blood rituals, and sacred sexual storytelling

• Includes contributions from 20 diverse voices in the sexual shamanism community, all part of the mystery school ISTA: International School of Temple Arts

Drawing on traditional and modern practices, a sex shaman uses the power of erotic energy as a healing medicine. They channel divine love and embrace sexuality freely, practicing polyamory, sexual healing, and even sex magic. They teach tantra, trance dance, kundalini yoga, and other techniques for healing shame, guilt, fear, and sexual trauma.

Designed to guide the reader on a journey into their own sacred sexual awakening, this book shares true stories from 20 visionary pioneers in the sexual shamanism movement, all of them associated with the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA), a mystery school that works to illuminate the path of sexual shamanism and heal the split between sex and spirit, release the shame surrounding sexual awakening, and inspire more sexual liberation around the world. The teachers reveal intimate details of their life stories and sexual awakening journeys, showing how, by surrendering to the wisdom of the erotic current of the universe, transformation occurs.

Each story is accompanied by an in-depth embodiment exercise with step-by-step instructions, including soul gazing, contacting your spirit guides, sexual divination, energetic sex, self-pleasuring, moon blood rituals, and sacred sexual storytelling. Underlying these exercises is the belief that the body is a temple that opens with pleasurable worship so spirit may dwell more fully within.

The 20 contributors include Baba Dez Nichols, Bruce Lyon, Crystal Dawn Morris, Dawn Cherie, Deborah Taj Anapol, Ellie Wilde, Janine Ma-Ree, KamalaDevi McClure, Komala Lyra, Laurie Handlers, Lin Holmquist, Matooka Moonbear, Mia Mor, Ohad Pele Ezrahi, Patrik Olterman, Raffaello Manacorda, Ria Bloom, Sean O’Faolain, Stephanie Phillips, and Stephen SouLove.
Chapter 5. Queen of the Underworld

by Dawn Cherie Ezrahi

I'm fascinated by myth and ritual. In some ways, you could say that it guides my life. If you really want to know my journey into sexual shamanism, you must recall the myth of Persephone.

Persephone’s descent has many interpretations, most commonly that she was abducted against her will, raped, and tricked into eating the fruit. However, the interpretation that I personally resonate with is not the one of victimhood, but rather empowerment. It’s about a woman who needed to go to the Underworld to claim her dark wisdom and divinity.

Whichever interpretation you chose, Persephone always represents fertility and the joy of life. Hades is often associated with Dionysus, hedonism, ecstatic abandon, and Bacchanalian revelry. I’m irresistibly drawn to this myth because of my own eternal search for the ecstatic pulse and its hidden treasures.

My initial descent was in my late teens in New York City. As a runway model, I could have any sexual encounter I desired... I used my sensuality for power and freedom. I had more than my share of lovers, but always wanted something deeper and more connected and more inclusive of spirit.

After 9/11, the world seemed upside down, and I needed a drastic change. I felt called to dive deeper into the traditions of my ancestors. I was an actress in NYC, going on countless castings for commercials. I met a cute guy on the set of Sex and the City. I dragged him upstate to a freestyle dance, and as we spent the night together in the tent, my very Jewish grandpa came to me in a dream. I got a clear guidance to show up the next morning to the Jewish Renewal retreat center called Eilat Chayyim and at the last minute I decided I must enroll in the Prayer Leadership course.

I met Ohad on the Hebrew Valentine's Day of love, Tu B'Av, at the center. Ohad was invited there as a Rabbi, to teach the kabbalistic myth of “The Lost Princess”. He was a polyamorous, unconventional rabbi, the “bad boy” of the Jewish Renewal world. He had an iconic resemblance to Dionysius and he identified with him as well. He was the perfect combination of holy and naughty. His creativity spoke to my soul. Looking at him, I could feel my spirit craving and crying out for this inevitable coming together. Meeting Ohad was like walking into my destiny. It shook me to the core.

Later, at the dinner table with our mutual friends (who warned me about this polyamorous man), hearing that I was enrolled in the prayer leadership course, Ohad teased me, “You know, in Hasidic mysticism, it is written that prayer is love-making with the Shekinah, the Divine feminine.” It made sense to me.

Prayer is love-making as love-making is prayer.

It resonated as truth within my heart and body. I knew it all the time. By the end of the week, I also knew that this was one love I was not going to be able to turn away from. We both knew it, and yet through this apparent depth, we both knew it was not going to be a monogamous one.

An amazing thing happened when his Lingam entered me for the first time: I felt purified. I felt the sacredness of this act and of being cleansed from the inside, cleaning away the residual energy from insensitive lovers, from my past.

Never had I felt such sacredness, a purity, even innocence. The meeting of our energies at that particular time was electric. It felt like silk, like water in the desert. We were both thirsty for knowledge and experience; we drank each other in and devoured each other.

I remember making love before he returned to Israel. Challenges were waiting for him there, with his community. The priestess in me started to move. I was on top of him. As I sensed he was in deep realms of openness and surrender, I started to envision his trip back as an empowered journey and whispered it into his ears, planting the visions of trust and confidence in him as he went to face his challenges. Through the years, we developed and crystalized this method of sexual shamanism that showed itself from the depth of my intuitive knowing as ETP, Empowerment Through Pleasure.

EXERCISE #5: Sexual Divination

PURPOSE: In this exercise, your eros is used as a divination tool in place of a crystal ball, dowsing rod, or tea leaves. The symbols and signs that arise from your erotic trance are interpreted like dreams to vision future events, gain answers to difficult questions, or attain guidance.

PREPARATION: Drink plenty of water to be hydrated for channeling energy. Set a sacred space with candles, incense, flowers, or/and any sacred objects that will aid your intuition, such as crystals or deities for your altar. Create a comfortable nest with blankets, pillows, lube, and your favorite sex toys. Take a ritual bath to prepare your body. You may choose to dress in special clothing if it helps remind you of your divinity. Play music that moves your spirit.

PROCESS: Start by stretching and doing any emotional clearing needed so you are centered. Meditate. Make prayers and ask for guidance and clarity. Set your intention, and be sure it is in the highest good of all. Call in your spirit guides in whatever way is authentic and supportive to your soul.

Slowly begin the process of self-pleasuring. Start with slow long caresses, then vary your touch. Use movement, sound, and breath to activate the body. Touch yourself with the intention to connect to your higher self and source. Allow yourself to enter into an erotic trance and travel. Once consumed in pleasure allow yourself to receive images, colors, visions. Cry out to divinity, let your utterances be heard. Your visions are like dreams, they don’t have to make sense. Let yourself flow.
FOREWORD
ALL OUR SUBTLE BODIES
Bruce Lyon

INTRODUCTION

HOW TO BEGIN A STORY THAT NEVER ENDS
KamalaDevi McClure

1 INITIATION INTO THE ART OF LOVE
Lin Holmquist

2 TALES OF A JUICY CRONE
Laurie Handlers

3 WELCOME TO MY WORLD
Deborah Taj Anapol, PhD

4 THE SECRET PORTAL
Ohad Pele Ezrahi

5 QUEEN OF THE UNDERWORLD
Dawn Cherie Ezrahi

6 FULLY EXPRESSED IN THE BODY
Stephanie Phillips

7 LOSING RELIGION AND FINDING GOD
Patrik Olterman

8 DANCING BETWEEN DIMENSIONS
KamalaDevi McClure

9 FROM FROZEN TO FLOWING
Sean O’Faolain

10 MY SECOND PUBERTY
Ria Bloom

11 IF YOU WANT, YOU CAN
Raffaello Manacorda

12 BLISS OR BUST Ellie Wilde

13 CONNECTION WITH PROFOUND MAGIC
Stephen Soulove

14 BIRTHING A NEW REALITY
Crystal Dawn Morris

15 KINKY QUEER WITCH IN LOVE
Matooka MoonBear

16 EMBODIED ENDARKENMENT
Janine Ma-Ree

17 IT’S ALL STORY
Baba Dez Nichols

18 BEYOND LABELS AND CREDENTIALS
Komala Lyra

19 BOLT
Bruce Lyon

EPILOGUE: MY FUCKING GOD
Mia Mor

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE COVER ARTIST

TEMPLE ARTS TERMS

RECOMMENDED READING

WANT MORE?


Embodiment Exercises

Soul Gazing
Latihan: Moving into the Unknown
Contacting Your Spirit Guides
Self-Pleasuring Meditation
Sexual Divination
Sensate Focusing
Ecstatic Dance
Shakti Shake
Sex Chakra Sound Bath
Death Meditation
Yoni Mudra
Merging into Oneness
Cord-Cutting Ceremony
Energetic Sex
Charging the Crystal Cavern
Moon Blood Ritual
Inner Marriage
Osho’s Kundalini Meditation
Naked in Nature
Sacred Sexual Storytelling
KamalaDevi McClure (aka KD, pronouns: they/them) is a pansexual, genderqueer, tantric mentor, speaker, and author of seven books. They've been navigating a polyamorous marriage in San Diego for almost 20 years with their husband and family who appeared in Showtime’s hit docu-series, Polyamory: Married & Dating. They've also appeared on Dr. Drew, Ricki Lake, Tyra Banks, and the award-winning documentary Sex Magic.

KamalaDevi travels around the world teaching sexual shamanism as a lead facilitator for ISTA (International School of Temple Arts) and touring two new books, Sex Shamans and 52 Fridays: A polyamorous queer, kinky love story. They are also the creator of Tantra Theater and Poly-Palooza. KamalaDevi's mission is to awaken artists, healers, and visionaries to become love leaders around the world.
“A fascinating and informative look at the lives of the sex shamans of the International School of Temple Arts tribe. As you pore over these pages, you will be entertained, educated, and have your mind blown open to new possibilities.” Charles Muir, president and director of studies at the Source School of Tantra Yoga

“The sexual and the spiritual are connected, and the importance of ritual in sexuality is a potent truth. Sex Shamans helps us move toward that great truth, through personal stories and accounts of transcendence through sex, the divine in the erotic, and the rituals that have helped many seekers and teachers to meet their own divinity through sexual energy, power, and expression” Amy Jo Goddard, author of Woman on Fire

“Incredible and profound stories with something to offer anyone exploring their sexuality. These stories are bound to titillate your imagination, while providing you new insights into what is possible to experience in your body.” Destin Gerek, author of The Evolved Masculine

“There are tons of stories about shamans who cultivate plant medicines or use psychedelic drugs for shamanic journey, but there are too few accounts about those who truly know the power of using sex as medicine. This book is an invaluable resource on many such taboo topics, helping one to come into right relationship with their own primal power and magic.” Katie Weatherup, author of Practical Shamanism

“This intriguing book of diverse personal stories is a vital awakening call for the return of the sacred fire, the transformative element so needed in our sacred culture. As we enter into a new era that values one’s energy and vibrations more than gender orientation, we must celebrate the feminine and the masculine energies within each of us. Only then can we bring a real balance and a lasting peace to our societies. I highly recommend it.” Itzhak Beery, author of The Gift of Shamanism, Shamanic Transformations, and Shamanic Healing

“This book busts through myths, stereotypes, and stigmas around sexuality as a career path. I’m profoundly grateful that KamalaDevi and all the contributors are coming out of the shadows, with their heads and hands up high, to show us how sex as a healing profession is just as important as school teaching, doctoring, cooking, or any other valuable profession.” Michael Ellsberg, author of The Education of Millionaires and coauthor of The Last Safe Investment

“If you’re still imprisoned by your sexual wounding, Sex Shamans delivers hard-won wisdom from a remarkable array of the liberated, a deep dive into the river of healing, and an utterly daring road map into the reclamation of the magic we’re all born with--our original innocence.” Steven Starr, producer of FLOW: For Love of Water

“We are entering a real revolution based on a new culture of consent, particularly in the realms of power and sexuality. With her new anthology of parables, myths, and stories, KamalaDevi seeds the growing field of spiritual sexual consciousness on Earth. Let her take us spiritually into the caverns of consciousness together!” Kelly Bryson, author of Don’t Be Nice, Be Real

“Be very careful when you choose to sit down and read this book, as you will not be able to put it down. And, it could just change your whole life. Set aside the time to dive into a new world of possibility for your future.” Alexis Katz, founder of Eyes Wide Open Life and author of Wear Clean Underwear!

SACRED SEXUALITY

“An important and thoroughly entertaining book. With these stories, it is clear that sexual energy can be a great tool in the pursuit of higher consciousness.”
--Jonathan Robinson, author of The Experience of God

“This book will inspire the adventuresome, the curious, and the soul who strives to set itself free!”
--Caroline Muir, author of Tantra Goddess and coauthor of Tantra: The Art of Conscious Loving

Drawing on traditional and modern practices, a sex shaman uses the power of erotic energy as a healing medicine. They channel divine love and embrace sexuality freely, practicing polyamory, sexual healing, and even sex magic. They teach tantra, trance dance, kundalini yoga, and other techniques for healing shame, guilt, fear, and sexual trauma.

Designed to guide readers on a journey into their own sacred sexual awakening, this book shares true stories from 20 visionary pioneers in the sexual shamanism movement, all of them associated with the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA), a mystery school that works to illuminate the path of sexual shamanism and heal the split between sex and spirit, release the shame surrounding sexual awakening, and inspire more sexual liberation around the world. The teachers reveal intimate details of their life stories and sexual awakening journeys, showing how, by surrendering to the wisdom of the erotic current of the universe, transformation occurs.

Each story is followed by an in-depth embodiment exercise with step-by-step instructions, including soul gazing, contacting your spirit guides, sexual divination, energetic sex, self-pleasuring, moon blood rituals, and sacred sexual storytelling. Underlying these exercises is the belief that the body is a temple that opens with pleasurable worship so spirit may dwell more fully within.

The 20 contributors include Baba Dez Nichols, Bruce Lyon, Crystal Dawn Morris, Dawn Cherie Ezrahi, Deborah Taj Anapol, Ellie Wilde, Janine Ma-Ree, KamalaDevi McClure, Komala Lyra, Laurie Handlers, Lin Holmquist, Matooka MoonBear, Mia Mor, Ohad Pele Ezrahi, Patrik Olterman, Raffaello Manacorda, Ria Bloom, Sean O’Faolain, Stephanie Phillips, and Stephen Soulove.

KamalaDevi McClure is a lead facilitator for the International School of Temple Arts (ISTA), traveling the world teaching the Spiritual Sexual Shamanic Experience. A spokesperson for tantra, polyamory, kink, and LGBTQ communities, her family starred in Showtime’s docu-series Polyamory: Married & Dating. She has also appeared on Dr. Drew, Tyra Banks, and in the award-winning documentary Sex Magic. She is the author of 4 books and lives in San Diego with her husband and their son.

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