February 2011

Starting Out Young to Build the Temple

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When you were a teen did you go to DeMolay? Or perhaps you were a Daughter of Job? Or a Rainbow Girl? Were both your grandfathers 33rd degree Masons? Was your mom Most Worthy Grand Matron of the Eastern Star? And did you ever figure out what it was all about? Yes, you knew you were always supposed to be really nice to everybody because that was the “square” thing to do, in a culture where “square” was a compliment rather than an insult, and then there was the Jacques DeMolay business.

DeMolay, the last of the Templar Grand Masters, along with all his followers, was prosecuted by the Inquisition, exonerated by the Pope, arrested and murdered by the King using an army funded by loans from the Templars’ own bank, yet died a martyr and a hero. But for what? Who were these men? What values and experiences united their purpose?

The alleged crimes of the Templars make great reading—a teenager’s introduction to kink. Good stuff. They were accused of sodomy and worshiping an image called Baphomet. In their initiation ceremonies the anal kiss was featured, too. It’s pretty easy to see how accusations like this in the 14th century would be easy to use to get “the simple folk” charged up and deflect their ire away from the criminal church and king, who were stealing their lives and labor, as such continue to do today.

Today it’s hard to get sane people excited about a little sodomy and a few rim jobs, but what’s this business about worshiping Baphomet? That sounds rather creepy and very Hollywood. When you put all this into context with later historical trends, you realize that this imagery was used metaphorically to conceal and guard the one deep and true secret the Templars knew, the secret of true sex magick, a secret that began to become public 300 years later with the publication of the founding Rosicrucian document, the Fama Fraternitatis, though only initiates would know the inner meanings for another 200 years and few would actually pay attention for another 100 years or more.

There is no actual record of the Baphomet image from Templar times. The accepted classical image of Baphomet was disclosed by the occult popularizer Eliphas Lévi in 1854. It depicts a winged androgyne body with the head of a goat surmounted by the flame of wisdom. The image is intended to be profoundly symbolic and deeply disturbing. The breasts of Aphrodite adorn a mildly masculine body from whose groin rises the phallic caduceus of Hermes. A great mystery is expressed in this image and the goat’s head discourages the fearful from investigation. The underlying mystery of this image is revealed in my paper Why We Are All Transgender.

Without pursuing the matter in detail in this brief note, there can be little doubt that the inner circles of the Templars were familiar with the powers of sex magick and, since the Templars were an exclusively male order, that sex magick was necessarily homoerotic. This fact alone is sufficient to explain their difficulties with both secular and religious authorities. Knowledge of such activities, practiced on a large scale with numbers of new acolytes who were unprepared for the rituals of initiation, much less the real-life community that treated these rituals as routine parts of a life dedicated to sacred sexuality, would inevitably slip out and eventually attract undesired attention from church and state.

After the purge, Templar knowledge, customs, rituals, etc., continued to live on in secret groups, often protected from temporal conflicts by virtue of the importance of the matters to which they could bear witness. Over 300 years later, the Rosicrucians began to emerge bearing Templar knowledge under a bold, new, rational synthesis of truth and understanding. The Templars had chosen as their symbol the equal armed cross which had long designated receptive eroticism (as in the pendant of the astrological sign for Venus). The Rosicrucians proudly and somewhat publicly adorned this ancient symbol (which the public had thought to symbolize the cross of Christianity) with the anal rose (which the public seemed to conclude had something to do with sacred blood or some other nonsense).

And, of course, out of all this over another few hundred years, as the original secrets were abandoned to achieve greater social acceptance, finally came the Freemasons, the Shriners with their Hospitals  for kids, the DeMolay boys, Job’s Daughters, and don’t forget the Rainbow Girls, whose flag of seven colors played a small role in the evolution of the modern symbol of LGBT equality. My paper Dawn of the New Age deals with some other historical aspects of the rediscovery of sacred sexuality in modern times and the overwhelming repression by social institutions that has denied humanity the power of justice, equality, freedom, and liberty to all. The loss of Templar knowledge by modern Freemasonry is but one example of the power of social repression.

In spite of such repression, we are now ready to reclaim our joy and our destiny, finally setting aside the delusions of our ignorant and frightened ancestors in favor of a rational approach to understanding our relation to the cosmos and our responsibilities to this planet and its peoples, as I will explain in my next blog.

—Dan Massey

What Kind of Nation is America?

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También en español Many people today, uneducated in the ideals upon which our nation is founded, will claim that we are a “Christian” nation. Others, slightly more respectful of reality, may call us “Judeo-Christian” or even “monotheistic.” All of these notions miss the real point. Though these terms may accurately name some contributory cultural sources, the founding ideals of our nation are vastly superior to the theologies, dogmas, doctrines, and moralities of any and all human religion.

Consider the mottoes and symbols of our nation that bombard us at every turn, and meditate for once upon their true meaning. For example, the Latin slogans:

E Pluribus Unum—from many, one—unity without uniformity

Annuit Coeptis—he approves our undertaking—divine providence is assured

Novus Ordo Seclorum—a new order of the ages—we’re here to change the world

What is this all about? Are these empty classical boasts, or do they hold genuine meaning for understanding our national purpose?

In preparing for a brief presentation on the history of sacred sexuality in “western culture” during our Blueprint for a Revolution program at Creating Change, I was able to present a narrative showing how ideals, ideas, and practices, dating from ancient, if not prehistorical times, had progressively converged to the present day when we are at last able to begin to openly celebrate sexual freedom in all its manifestations.

As I reviewed the timeline of these events, it became clear that the common basis of association that brought together the “founding fathers” was actually a system of rational thought that had existed for centuries in secret groups, which finally emerged in Western Europe, triggered the Enlightenment, and inspired the deistic but non-sectarian approach that was able to unite thirteen colonies into one nation. The label publicly attached to this world view was “Rosicrucian.” If any labeled tradition can be said to lie at the foundation of our nation, it is Rosicrucian.

Rosicrucianism involves many things beyond such ideals. The single, central core of the system has always been the sacred employment of sex and eroticism in the service of individual moral growth and spiritual perfection. And this dynamic, too, is being reborn today in evolution of American society.

There’s more about this stuff in my talk “Dawn of the New Age” and I will write about other aspects soon.

—Dan Massey

Kinky Twin Cities

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One of the great joys of VenusPlusX and Team COLUMBIA’s presence at Creating Change 2011 was meeting people from the local Minneapolis – St. Paul community who found our open acceptance and promotion of freedom in all matters erotic very much in line with their own experiences and understandings.

Team COLUMBIA’s exposition and unification of all forms of sex and gender expression and satisfaction, including many themes and forms not otherwise visible at conferences like Creating Change, set a new standard for erotic inclusiveness, attracting the attention of the local queer community and  the “sex-rad” community, talking about sexual freedom and such things as virtual (simulated) sex and gender play, machine sex, teledildonics, pharmaceutically enhanced sex, BDSM, Leather, sacred sexuality, paganism, and other practices long considered to be “kinky.”

Our two days of programming included friend Loraine Hutchins, Phd, in a joint exploration of the origins, history, and destiny of  sacred sexuality as a source of power for the slowly brewing revolution against millennia of social erotic repression.

Sexual repression has so long stifled human creative and progressive expression, and been used as a merciless tool of governments and religious hierarchies to restrict human rights. Governments depend on their ability to enslave the guilt-ridden, fearful man to mount wars so crucial to its continued existence.

Dr. Hutchins and I discussed how hidden efforts to preserve the understanding of sacred sex began to flower slowly and furtively in the 19th and 20th centuries, from the public appearance of Rosicrucian-derived esoteric communities to the broader interest in sexual healing, modern paganism, and polyamory we see today.

The role of masturbation was cited as a perfected entry point to the experience of sacred sex, a source of insight and connection to living Truth through the power of joy and orgasm that becomes a tool for personal transformation and progressive realization of one’s true destiny.

Dr. Jenny Wade, in her book, Transcendent Sex, likewise talks of lovers engaged in sex “as usual” who suddenly find the “veil between the worlds torn open,” that this changes lives like any other spiritual awakening. “Atheists have become believers; long-standing psychological wounds have been healed; and the sexually abused have become whole,” Wade’s evidence shows.

This and other themes come close to the core truths which underlie many “pagan” and “esoteric” traditions, that are now increasingly available for general public education and adoption.

Such knowledge has always been deemed “pagan” because it invariably involves sex in some sacred capacity. This personal source of spiritual and psychological liberation is abhorrent to the bigots and hypocrites who in desperation invent false theologies, dogmas, and moralities to deliberately enslave the human spirit, mind, and body.

Such knowledge has (until now) been “esoteric” because those who truly understood it and lived according to its principles risked becoming outcasts from society or even being murdered for their beliefs and teachings had their activities been at all public.

A great revolution in human affairs is underway, powered by the living Truth of sexual freedom. We will be delving further into this great power which aligns with the force of destiny and transforms individuals who in turn will transform the world to realize the New Age of freedom, liberty, equality, and justice for all.

—Dan Massey

Twin Cities on my mind . . .

This quiet bastion of liberalism, Minneapolis – St. Paul, is a stone’s throw but also a universe away from anything Michele Bachmann, and an enchanting community of people who live and let live as a way of life, accept all manner of queer or kinky people as their neighbors and friends, and happen to be among this country’s leaders in establishing equality for all its citizens as a matter basic human rights.

Minneapolis-St.Paul gives pause to anyone with any shade of coastal mentalities, and I’m checking myself here too, who thinks fly-over country holds nothing of interest except the occasional museum or ski resort. You will be hard pressed to find anyone who lives there, straight, gay, or kinky, who could be described as jaded or insincere. The breath of fresh air was more than the wind chill. For me, it was a rediscovery and a new love affair with the frontier spirit I had read about and dreamed about in my youth.

Never thought of as anything like a romantic getaway (especially in sub-zero winter), the Twin City area is nonetheless an oasis where you can be who you are, no matter how extreme or gender-bending, pretty much without interference. That freedom, that sexual freedom, conveys a palpable feeling of safety, comfort, and inner joy that no travel agent or city booster could package and affix a label even if he tried.

Fiercely independent is the way U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison (Minn.-5) described Minnesota in his address closing Creating Change, the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force’s annual conference on equality, which brought more than 2000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people to the Minneapolis Hilton, February 2-6.

VenusPlusX and Team Columbia’s message and cause of universal sexual freedom drew hundreds, mostly young people, to our high-tech and interactive display in Creating Change’s exhibition hall. Team Columbia’s two days of additional sexual freedom programming next door at the Hotel Ivy was open to Creating Change registrants and free to the general public, and culminated with one of the best parties in town on Saturday night.

The local people we connected with were without exception unforgettable, highly personable, and clear-headed about respect for everyone’s individual autonomy, something so crucial to ending sexual repression in our culture. They were not only passionate about the interest group they happen to represent, they were passionate about the rights of every other group or individual to pursue happiness in the manner of their choosing, and enjoy the right to be who they want to be, without the interference of government, religion, or social practice.

For these and many other reasons, Team Columbia has confirmed its plans to return to the Twin Cities this summer for more sexual freedom programming and receptions open to the public. Stay tuned.

–Alison Gardner

Transgender, Sexuality, Pleasures, Protections

Editor’s Note: Jennifer M. Barge, founder of TransHealth Coordinators, offers this contribution to our blog-based conversation about sexual freedom emanating this week from VenusPlusX and Creating Change in Minneapolis. Jennifer is a frequent guest speaker and produces health services access portals for municipalities, conferences, and at www.transhealthcoordinators.org.

Transgender-Sexuality-Pleasures-Protection

I started doing a workshop a few years back called “Safer Sexual Practices and Pleasures for the Transgender Bodied Person.” The reason for these classes is both to educate about the risks of unsafe behavior and to encourage the ideas that pleasure can come in a safe form. Many times people confuse safe sex with no sex. As an advocate of safe sex, I am hear to tell you that there is no reason any person can not find pleasure in the flesh-while still being responsible with their actions.

As a trans-feminine person I know all to well that at times we in the transgender community can feel separated from our bodies. Some even feel “wrong” in the body, and so then when we factor in the idea of sex, we close down. If we do not like or accept our own bodies, how would any other person? So we continually live with the false shame, and deny ourselves.

The other side of that is that many of us are not able to live fully in the gender that we feel most comfortable in, and because of that, while in the “preferred gender,” we might step outside of our usual cautious behavior and allow some risky behavior to happen. My goal is not to condemn the action, but to enforce the idea that we should always remain in control and protect ourselves. It is not what you do, but how you do it.

As for sexual freedom, we should take advantage of the beauty of the flesh. Sex is not dirty. Man and religion has tainted the most natural and instinctive act by turning physical love into “SIN.” I see no sin when at the zoo and the turtles, monkeys and elephants are taking care of their primal need. So then why do we as humans allow others to take away what we find pleasure in?

The transgender persona has been a healing and sacred leader in many civilizations for thousands of years, so why feel shame? Our bodies, so wonderfully diverse and uniquely different, should not be looked down upon. Our exotic energy exuding sexual energy and delight should not be denied or dismissed by any person including ourselves.

To make love with a person who might only be there for just that moment is not a negative event. For in that moment the physical love, comfort and connection is just as great as making love to a partner you have had and experienced for years. Energy that is transferred from spirit into physical form in the act of giving and receiving pleasure is a great gift to share.

So we all as people should step out of the shadow of shame, regret and guilt and reclaim our natural, beautiful gift of the flesh! But do it responsibly with protection.

–Jennifer M. Barge, Director, TransHealth Coordinators

Join the Revolution

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An increasing sexual free world is appearing on the horizon. Can you feel it? Touch it? See it? Haven’t you at least noticed that the sexual repression crusaders are crumbling under the weight of their own hypocrisy and fear?

This “New Age of Erotic Freedom” will be elucidated on Saturday, February 5 (10:45 AM at Minneapolis’ Hotel Ivy) by Dr. Loraine Hutchins, a well-known erotic adventurer, educator, and activist, and Dan Massey, a life long student of human mythology and co-founder of Team COLUMBIA and VenusPlusX.org.

Their presentation will put forth the historical legacy, the present day status, and the path ahead for realization of a new age of liberty, freedom, justice, and equality for all, and show how erotic power drives the transformation of all human action.

You will become privy to the historical activities that have gradually led to the clarification of so-called “occult” beliefs and their practices in the present day. You can judge for yourself the recent social developments in sacred sexuality, polyamory, and the public and private practice of sexual healing in our society, the natural outgrowth of greater public exposure to esoteric teachers. You can learn the ancient secrets of earthly enlightenment through such channels as the proper psychic use of masturbation.

And, there’s still more.

Loraine and Dan will point us towards the ample evidence of the cosmic power shift that is uplifting our unified will to stand against all forms of erotic oppression, and bringing about the final corrective answer to the evil and oppression of our past. Once transformed we will have the opportunity,  ability, and the power to transform the world.

Their 90-minute session is FREE and open to the public along with registrants at the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force’s Creating Change conference, next door at the Hilton, expected to bring more than 2000 gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people to the Twin Cities this week. See the full schedule for VenusPlusX’s two days of sexual freedom workshops, demos, special presentations, political caucuses, and parties (with free drinks), all under the banner of “Blueprint For A Revolution.”

More . . .