I cast this dissertation as a sacred sex working,
dedicated to the sexual healing
of our culture as a whole,
in the tradition of my peoples;
the queer-friendly, neo-pagan, feminist tribes of Wicca.
Table of Contents
Page #
I. Foreword – Mother Are You Sacred Whore? 3
II. Introducing The New Holy Erotics
Sacred Sex Goes Public 7
Sacral Roots 12
Harlots and Holy Women 16
Men as Sacred Prostitutes 20
Evil Sexual Dirty Other 21
A New Politic of Sacred Sexuality 24
III. Planting My Knowledge Tree – Naming the Influences, Rationale,
and Background of My Approach
Introduction 30
Why Cultural Studies? 32
A Garland of Definitions –
Eclectic, Qualitative, Phenomological, Feminist, Queer 33
Background Evolution of Queer Feminist Cultural Studies 34
Assumptions about Queer Feminist Cultural Studies 38
Specific Methodology Used to Examine Contemporary
Sacred Sex Modalities 41
Ethics and The On-going Process of Consent 42
Conclusion 44
IV. Elements Necessary for Making Sex Sacred
Introduction to the Rich and Multiple Roots of
U.S. Sacred Sexualities 47
A. Sexual Knowledge –
Creating a Body of Cultural Information about Sex 48
Knowledge of Sexual Biology/Reproduction/
Safety/Birth Control 48
Knowledge of the Physiology
and Art of Sexual Pleasure 54
Knowledge about Relationships and Communication 57
B. Holistic Healing
Introduction: Holistic Healing Includes Sacred Sex 58
Beginning Connections Between Holistic Healing
and Sacred Sex Formations 60
Self-Help Support Groups, Manuals and Classes 60
Mind/Body Research and Methods 61
Bodywork 63
Community Ritual Events 66
Community Gatherings Conducive to Sacred Sex 69
Conclusion 70
C. Sexual Liberation Organizing 70
Organizing on Sexuality Issues for Lasting Change 70
Organizing Utopian Sexual Liberation Models –
This Century and Last 71
How Women’s Liberation and LGBT Liberation Spark
Gender Variances & Sexual Diversities
Affecting Sacred Sex Traditions and Trends 73
The Economics of Queer Feminist Sacred Sexualities,
And Their Impacts on Religion & Social Justice
Movements 77
Political Organizing in the SM/Leather Communities 79
Loving More Than One and Organizing About It –
The Polyamory Movement 81
Not Just the Oldest Profession Anymore:
Organizing Sex Work and Redefining It 84
How AIDS Organizing Led to More Interest
In Healing and Sacred Sex 86
Sexual Liberation Conclusion 88
D. New Spirit Paths
Introduction:
“Searching for A New American Spirituality” 89
Erotic Christianities 91
Judaism’s Tree of Life and Song 93
European Ceremonial Sex Magic and Other Occult Influences 96
The Influence of Eastern Religions’ Sacred Sexuality
Traditions on the West 98
Womanspirit’s Body 102
The New Age Movement and Sacred Sex 105
The Neo-Pagan ‘People of the Earth’ 106
Additional Indigenous, Earth-Based
Traditions and Influences 108
“The Two-Spirit Tradition was Suppressed” 109
Pansexual Orishas and the Rainbow’s Children 111
Mexican-American Goddess
Imagery of Sacred Sexuality 113
E. Conclusion of Necessary Elements 114
V. Doing Sacred Sex …
What Works and What Short-Circuits It 134
Sample Interview Excerpts –
the Voices of Those Who Do Sacred Sex 137
Non-Sexual Ritual Touch 154
Common Elements of Erotic Ritual 157
Range of Sacred Sex Forms in the U.S. Today 158
Guidelines for Developing Erotic Rituals 159
Erotic Rituals for Male/Female Couples 160
Sacred Spot Massage – for Women and Men 161
The Importance of Same-Sex Explorations 163
What Gets In The Way,
What Short-Circuits Group Erotic Energy? 166
Overcoming Conditioning 167
Confronting Sexism and Heterosexism in Sacred Sex 168
Sexual Healing Versus Ritual Abuse 171
Conclusion 174
VI. Emerging Erotic Communities 182
Introduction – Teaching Erotic Touch
Through Groups and Rituals 182
Loving Self-Touch 184
Body Electric’s Healing Circles 190
Grand Group Celebrations: 196
Pandora of the Pacific Northwest 197
Body Sacred of the Poconos 200
Queen of Heaven of San Francisco
204
Concluding Thoughts on New Erotic Communities Emerging 206
VII. Contemporary Sacred Sexualities - Conclusions
Self-Loving 212
Embracing/Erasing Otherness 214
Mutual Ministering 221
The Growth of Erotic Communities 222
VIII. Afterword – Giving Thanks to the Queen of Heaven and Earth 227
Bibliography
Appendices
A Sample Press Clips –
Wall Street Journal & Esquire articles on sacred sex,
Atlantic Monthly tantric whisky ad
B Interview Questions
C Interview Log and Participant-Observation Log
D Sample Release Form for Interviews
E Resource List
F Sample Guidelines for Group Erotic Rituals
G Sample Statements of Purpose – two local sacred sex groups,
& a national network of erotic healers
H Half a Millennium Roots of U.S. Sacred Sex – A Timeline
I Sample Literature Selection – U.S. sacred sex groups and products