How to Use Masturbation as Prayer and Spiritual Practice

The connection between sex and soul, between goddess and gonads, is a common thread in every spiritual tradition. Artists, mystics, poets and most lovers often equate sexual orgasm with spiritual ecstasy. Believing the moment of orgasm to be the opening of a flesh door to the Divine, mystics throughout the ages have advocated complete surrender in the sexual act a prelude to the surrender of self common in the experience of prayer and meditation. To be born again in God, it is said that one must first die to the small ego-centered self. In fact, the French term for orgasm, “petit mort” means “the small death.” The idea of a sacred sexuality can be found in nearly every great religious tradition. Jewish mysticism advocates sexuality as a mitzvah, or holy obligation, a sort of bodily prayer to That which created us. To this end, Hasidic Jews were commanded to have sex on the Sabbath as a form of worship. In fact, the word “orgasm” comes from the Greek “orgio”, meaning a sacrifice or sacred rite. The Greek word for sexual release, "klimax", is translated as “ladder to heaven” (“stairway “ for you air guitarists.) Tantric philosophy teaches that whatever is held in the imagination at the time of orgasm will become reality if we learn how to use this powerful force. This is similar to the folk belief that if a couple, at the moment of conception, thinks of the future child’s sex, the resulting gender will be so determined. The energy released by sex can be utilized as a “ladder to heaven” for the soul’s purposes. Tantricism recommends a partner in erotic prayer, but going it alone can be even more powerful since it minimizes distractions. Once you get accomplished at this, consider adding a loved one to this unorthodox worship service. Say Hallelujah! To learn how to make sex a prayer uttered by the body and delivered by masturbation, try these easy (and enjoyable!) steps:

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Before engaging in masturbation as prayer, consciously dedicate its energy to a purpose. Do this by writing your hope on a piece of paper or some object that has significance to you. You can even mark your skin with the symbol, using a washable marker.
   Be sure you have some privacy and a conducive environment. Surround yourself with aids to both prayer and masturbation: towel? Buddha statue? Whatever works for you.
   Concentrate on the symbol or word as your arousal mounts by keeping it in sight.
2. Next: get there. You know where and you know how. So take things in hand and do that thing you do. You also already know how long it’s going to take, but try for a new record, adding extra time for spiritual reasons.
   When you feel as though you’re approaching climax, back off a bit and visualize the goal or prayer you've decided upon. Whatever it is that you’ve previously written or symbolized.
3. Visualize your prayer image like an arrow of the soul’s intent and project it out into the universe as you begin to climax.
   At the absolute peak of the orgasmic plateau, say out loud what your prayer is and surrender to the sensations of the body.
   When the prayer is completed, take a bit of the resulting secretions and anoint the symbol or word with these tears of your sexual soul.
4. By anointing your prayer symbol, you animate your wish in the real world, like adding fuel to a car. When finished, you can get rid of the anointed symbol or keep it for a while in a shrine or some special place. Maybe that same place you hide the…well, you know where to hide it.
5. But you no longer have to hide your feelings about masturbation. For hundreds of years, doctors have proscribed it, priests have condemned it and popular culture ridiculed it. Something that forbidden must be pretty powerful, right?
   You bet it is and now you’ve learned another use for the world’s second oldest “vice.” So when someone is pounding on the door, accusing you of unnatural acts, just tell them you're praying. Remember, God is as far as your hands can reach. Now memorize this article before you go blind!
   Say Amen!