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Sensual Self-Care: From Free to Fancy

7/13/2020

 
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There is medicine to be found within us, just waiting to be awakened.

Sensual self-care has for a long time been a sacred practice for me. It offers me deep centering, sovereignty, emotional balance, and energetic rejuvenation.  Creativity is effortlessly inspired.  This inner church is an ever-present gateway to commune directly with Source. And whenever I feel physically confined, the practice helps me to tap into a infinitely spacious space inside.

Sensual self-care helps me to show up in my intimate and community relationships from a place of satiation and abundance, loaded up with magnetic "energetic honey," rather than seeking to fill a void. I like it like that.

What is sensual self care?
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Sensual self is any experience that brings healthy and sustainable bliss to our body, mind, and soul. It activates passion and peace at once. It is mindful pleasure—as activism, for this deeper kind of sacred pleasure is a powerful antidote to the toxic patriarchy and the many ways it manifests in our individual bodies. 

It helps us to 
feel good in our skin, awaken through our senses, and fully enter the present moment.

More, degenerative stress biochemicals like cortisol are instantly transformed into endogenous love potions like oxytocin. 

Sensual self-care as recovery. 

For me, sensual self-care is also a vital part of my ongoing recovery from the human condition. We ALL suffer from addictive tendencies, at one time or another and to one degree or another. I am a survivor of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and addictive patterns.

In addition to being a catalyst for self-love, sensual self-care allows for a healthy expression of sensual energy. I've found that most recovery programs completely ignore these healthy human needs. In my experience, neglecting sensual needs is one important factor (among others) that can contribute to addiction.

Sensual self-care has been so vital for my own well-being that it is a core topic in my 1:1 mentoring programs and Spirit-Led Recovery course. 

More important than ever...

We are collectively experiencing an apocalypse. But don't fret. Consider the context: Apocalypse is a Greek word meaning "revelation" or "an unveiling or unfolding of things not previously known and which could not be known apart from the unveiling." I pray that we are all being thrust into a rapid unleveling. We have to. We must balance our relationship to nature and the eco-system, clearly. And it all begins within, creating sustainable conditions for our own bodies and minds. As above, so below. The macrocosm responds to the microcosm. 

Furthermore, many of us are facing this journey of quarantine and uncertainly alone. We are missing nourishing touch, passion, and intimacy. And even if we are blessed to have a partner, it may be more like living in a pressure cooker together at times, and we may still be missing all those same elements as those who are going solo. 

​Since quarantine, mental health and addiction issues have spiked and may worsen unless there is greater access to support. Alcohol sales in the United States have surged 27% in the months following mass quarantine.  

​This is an unprecedented time, at least in our lifetime, and it calls for unprecedented self-care among other holistic support systems.
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photo by Savana Shanti

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Here, I offer you my all time sensual self care faves, from FREE to FANCY:


SACRED BATHING
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Sacred bathing is different from ordinary bathing. In many earth based traditions, people are given sacred herbal or floral baths with the intention of ceremonially cleansing the spirit and mind as well as body.

We learned about the "spiritual shower" during our studies with the African Bwiti tradition, and I also grew up learning about sacred bathing from my own family, a lineage of healers.

Water itself is also regarded as a profound medicine and loving spirit. We honor and thank all the ingredients in the bath—as well as the water, infusing them with our prayers and requests for healing.

We can invite the water to wash away the past, our attachments, painful thoughts, or anything else we choose. 

​You can add your choice of skin-friendly flower petals, a few drops of organic essential oils and 1-2 cups of epsom or sea salt. Light a candle. Settle in. Make sure you have a good strainer when you drain the water!
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​INNER TANTRA YOGA
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photo by Allessandro Abate
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Inner tantra yoga is an array of artful technologies utilizing breath, attention, nuanced muscles, and clear intentions. They awaken and direct kundalini, our creative, passionate, embodied energy. In poetic terms, kundalini has the potential to connect heaven and earth within our bodies. These inner tantra yogas can also take us out of fight or flight pretty swiftly—and into the frequency of love.

​Just like all sacred medicines, kundalini requires a precise directive and integration work. It's a powerful "flame" that can light up your house—or burn it down. It's wise to have an experienced guide who understands how to both utilize and ground the energy. 

These inner tantra yoga practices can be performed as simple seated meditations. And for the most potent activation, they can be be a part of sensual meditations—and you do NOT need a partner. 

We will be discussing aspects of yogic sensuality as well as sharing one beginner level inner tantra yoga practice at our online play-shop on July 18th. Join the email list to receive the link to register.


​WHITE FOX MEDICINALS

SACRED CANNABIS FOR THE BODY
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​White Fox CBD products have completely rocked my world, and swiftly became a daily and nightly ritual.

These creations are, hands down, the most luscious medicinal substances that I've ever had touch my skin or my tongue.
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VISIT WHITEFOXMEDICINALS.COM & USE THE CODE enectarbast TO RECEIVE 20% OFF OF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE!

PLEASE LET ME KNOW YOUR REFLECTIONS!
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Their all organic Repair Remedy salve smells so delicious, I have to restrain myself from eating it. As I learned from Ayurveda and tantra, I apply it ritually while repeating mantras and blessings, imagining that I am massaging in the medicine of these magical words along with the salve.

I notice that my muscle aches fade away, I feel delicious, and I sleep much better. It's especially lovely during the moon-cycle time. 

All organic ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil, 200 mg Full Spectrum CBD, Willow Bark, Chamomile, Arnica, Peppermint, Lavender, Aloe, Helichrysum, Bees Wax.
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The Sensual Tiger Love Balm is simply divine for sensual self-care time or intimacy play, in addition to helping to reduce discomfort and inflammation. 

All organic ingredients: Coconut Oil, Coconut Butter, Hemp Flowers, Lavender, Chamomile

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My beloved and I are so in love with White Fox products, that we decided to collaborate with the company! Being committed to the highest standards in earth medicine and natural healing, it felt perfectly aligned. Check out the delectable superfood potion, Chor Boogie's Golden HeART tincture, featured his artwork.

All organic ingredients: Coconut MCT oil, Reishi, Chaga, Damiana, Cocoa beans, Bee pollen, Vanilla, and 300 mg Full Spectrum CBD.

While on White Fox's site, explore their many other exquisite all organic products: aphrodisiac massage oil, sugar scrub, and elixirs!
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INFRARED SAUNA
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This is my fanciest option: the infrared sauna. Frankly, for me, this is one of the best things money can buy.

Make no mistake, the infrared technology is unique among saunas, and not all are created equal. The low EMF Clearlight brand stands out as my very favorite, and many times I've enjoyed taking them for test drives at spas. It's made right here in the USA, in Berkeley, California. They can ship far and wide. It's easy to simply clip it together and plug in the energy efficient machine right into a normal power outlet. 

This sauna hits deep tissue. It seems to cleanse me to the bone. 

After a good sweat, I feel so calm and grounded. It feels extra GOOD to be in my skin.

Apparently it stimulates collagen growth!

Check out this article and this blog post on some of the proven benefits of the Clearlight infrared saunas:

• Weight loss + increased metabolism 
​• Immunity activation
• Temporary muscle pain relief
• Reduces inflammation
• Better quality sleep
• Deep detoxification
• Improves skin texture by increasing collagen and elastin 
• Stress reduction
• Helps to alleviate depression & anxiety
• Anticancer properties
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VISIT THE CLEARLIGHT WEBSITE

Thank you for tuning in! I hope you enjoy some of these suggestions.

​LOVE, E. BAST
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photo by Chor Boogie

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SENSUAL SELF-CARE 
JULY 18th *ONLINE


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