Geeking out on pleasure

I can't get enough of them. 

Books that are celebrating and sharing the hidden wonder of women's bodies, and the myriad of ways we can experience pleasure. 

Books revealing mind-blowing, toe curling, insanely empowering wisdom and ways that we were never taught, exposed to, or encouraged to discover.

Books that I've found because I've gone looking for them, I've been encouraged or required to read as part of my Somatic Sex Coaching study, or I hear about from my sisters in the sex positive education and advocacy space.

They're not on the best seller list.

You won't find them at your local or airport book store.

They're not on sale. 

In fact, they can be expensive as they're published independently, printed on demand, or have low print runs.

My two latest purchases are just that. 

They've been created by extraordinary Australian women sharing ways for women to feel comfortable and experience pleasure in their bodies. The fact I know both of them is a BIG bonus as I get to celebrate and support their work.

My Pleasure Journal by Bryony Jack, which arrived in the post last week, is for female bodied people to track their cycle, energy, libido, desire, bodily changes and more! It includes pleasure practices, reflection questions, and information surrounding your cycle, the archetypal energy, the lunar and seasonal cycles.

You can get health journals, or use your own general journal to take note of your body's messages, or track your pleasure research and yet, this is the first that I've heard of that prompts us to reflect on, honour, and capture our inner guidance, body wisdom, and pleasure status in one. (If you know of one, please do share more about it with me!).

I'm looking forward to filling it out!

My second purchase, is the pre-order of ‘Flip through my flaps’ by Ellie Sedgwick. It features photographs of 500 incredible vulva owners to highlight the true beauty and diversity of our bodies. As Founder of Comfortable In My Skin, Ellie, has been leading a global movement to educate and inform us about our anatomy, reduce the stigma and shame around our incredible bodies, and liberate and empower women so they feel comfortable in their skin. 

I was lucky when the universe offered me an opportunity to work at Ellie's Topless lunch exactly a year ago. The following weekend I was on the Yoni Pleasure Palace team at S.expo and Ellie was in the stand next to us. We chatted lots and realised we share a passion and desire for women to explore their bodies, express themselves unashamedly, and have fun in edgy and supportive ways. I embodied that there and then by having my vulva photographed in her Sexpo studio! (I guess I'll find out this Saturday if it made it into the book!). She asked me to come to her retreat at Peninsula Hot Springs that week, and we began co-creating a Vulva art workshop that we hosted two weeks later. 

She talked about how she wanted to finish the book this year. The only reason she hadn't was she wanted more diversity in the photos. So she flew to South Africa and New York where she was able to get the photos she desired. 

Her drive and determination, passion and commitment is inspiring. 

She's very open and prolific on Instagram, generously sharing her journey, inviting contributions and connecting people with shared experiences as she moves around Australia spreading her positive energy and empowerment message. 

This weekend I'll get to see her creation and culmination of 7 years of work, at her ‘Flip Through My Flaps’ book launch in Melbourne.  

In an exciting turn of events, I'm helping Ellie with the launch event. I'll be setting up and preparing for the day, as well as presenting a workshop. 

It's going to be vulvalicious braingasm - both the book and event!