12 Jan 2025

~ A Year for Pleasure ~

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~ SWEET REMINDER ~
Ponderings, Poems & Practices
    for Living Your Brilliance!


Pure Pleasure

“Whenever you think or you believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people:
but the moment you feel, you’re nobody-but-yourself.”   
 e.e. cummings

Be sure to read to the end for a fun practice, a valuable resource, and a special complimentary offer that can support you as you move into 2025.

Ahhhh, Pleasure.  The note I’m sending today is something I recently shared with Kenneth’s and my StarDancer Tantra group, but with an updated note.  For those of you who have already received it – double your pleasure.
 
I’ve wondered about sending out pleasure when we are faced with so much heartbreak and challenge.  In particular I’m thinking of the horrendous fires in Los Angeles where I grew up and have family and dear friends, but there are horrendous things happening in many, many, places all over the world.
 
I decided it’s the perfect time to send this out.  The practice I share below can soothe the nervous system and help you experience the lifeforce that is always available to you, even – or especially – when the world is on fire. 
 
If you ever hear a little voice that whispers or shouts, “what right do I have to enjoy pleasure when there is so much pain?” read down the page and experiment with the practice I’ve included.  Pleasure. You were made for it.

With love, heartbreak and pleasure,
Sharon

Hello Beloved,

New Year’s greetings and love to you from the Dominican Republic.  We hope you and your loved ones are enjoying these early January days.
 
The new year invites us to a fresh start.  I’m not much for making lists of resolutions but I have found myself pondering what I’d like to freshen-up this year.   

I keep coming to pleasure.  What if 2025 was a year dedicated to pleasure?
 
I know it only takes seconds of tuned-in touch for pleasure to engulf me, and I feel invigorated, open and sparkling. Yet sometimes I’m forgetting and get caught-up with distraction and busyness.  Pleasure gets tucked away.
 
The thing is, many of us have been conditioned away from experiencing our pleasure and I find myself rubbing up against judgments—guilty pleasures, hidden pleasures, selfish pleasure—but I’ve noticed that when my pleasure is filling me, I’m creative, engaged, curious, kind, compassionate, and spacious.  My experience of life becomes orgastic.
 
I think all of our intentions, resolutions, and hopeful plans, point to the desire for pleasure—that feeling of aliveness and fulfillment. Even our altruistic, open heart yearns for pleasure.
 
That pleasure, which we often chase and might believe is beyond our reach, is here, right now. Just pay attention. Pleasure happens in this moment when we come home to ourselves—when we come home to the body which is the portal to our experience. That’s why I sink into this e.e. cummings quote:
 

The moment that you feel,
you are no body but yourself.

I invite you to join me in playing with this simple practice, swiped with gratitude from Betty Martin, of feeling and coming home to pleasure. Coming home to your precious self.

Cultivating the Pleasure 
Through Your Hands

                
This practice is a gentle allowing for relaxed pleasure to arrive through your awareness of sensation.

You are taking action toward your own pleasure; waking up brain cells that will expand your ability to receive pleasure in all parts of your body. It develops the ability to consciously choose where you bring your attention.

This practice is not about an outcome or making something happen. There is no goal to reach. Practice for the experience itself, with curiosity and openness.

When we engage with this type of attention triggers and emotions may come up. Welcome whatever comes, gently meeting the edges of your discomfort where you can still soften into relaxation, not forcing or pushing through anything.
 
~*~*~*~* 
Here we go-

~Sit leaning back with your back supported and straight.

~ Put pillow on your lap so your hand is supported.

~ Take any household object and slowly explore it with the palm of one of your hands. Notice every detail the of the object. A variation of this is to use one hand to hold and move the object on the palm of the other hand. Explore both.

~ Your attention should be on the sensations in your hand and away from the story/description about the object.

~  Watching your hand can be helpful.

~ Move very slowly. When you think you are going slow see if you can move ½ that speed. At times come into stillness.

~ When your mind wanders, gently bring your attention back to the sensations in your hand.

~ Begin to notice pleasant sensations. Keep your attention on that area and see if you can feel the pleasure a little deeper. Notice if the pleasure begins to expand beyond the skin you are touching.

~ Welcome the sensations of pleasure. How much pleasure are you willing to feel in your hand?

~ Continue this touch until you feel your body shift into relaxation. Your breath will slow, and your muscles will soften.
 

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

That’s where you begin—a simple practice for waking up and deepening your pleasure.

Spend 5 – 10 minutes a day with this practice and notice the consequences. 

Explore the video resources on Betty’s website. Not only does she offer instruction for this practice; but also, the science behind it.   While you’re there check out her other free offerings. You’ll find a lot of great stuff.

Betty Martin
With deep appreciation, this is shared from Dr. Betty Martin.  It is a foundational practice for her work.

For a video demonstration and explanation of this practice go to http://bettymartin.org/videos
 
HERE’S A SPECIAL GIFT-OFFER  

For those of you wanting to add some juicy energy to your 2025 intentions, I am offering a private, complimentary 40-minute Soul-based Coaching session to the first 5 people who message me. 

Send me a message here sharon@sharonmauldin.com and include just a few words or a sentence about your desire for this year, and your time zone.   I’ll be looking forward to being with you on Zoom.


 With love and possibilities,
Sharon

Here’s to a year of pleasure!