Input: Write an article discussing the various theories about the social, anthropological, and biological purposes of female orgasm. Explain how the combination of orgasm with virtually unrestricted sexual availability has had a significant impact on our species. Also, discuss the idea that sex is not just about procreation but can be an art form that gives us infinite pleasure. Mention that there are many different kinds of orgasms and that they can be triggered in various ways. Discuss how the orgasmic state can act as an analgesic and raise a woman's pain threshold. Finally, talk about the concept of responsible sex and how it is connected to responsible living and self-empowerment.

Response:
**CHAPTER** **11**

**THE PURPOSE OF ORGASM**

_Orgasms are a great key to health and happiness. They help us to remember who we are, beyond our everyday reality. Orgasms are a path to truth and the meaning of life._

**—DR. ANNIE SPRINKLE**

Many people have proposed numerous theories with regard to the social, anthropological, and biological purposes of female orgasm. These range from the obvious (that female orgasm tones the muscles that we use in childbirth) to the ridiculous. However, the unique combination of orgasm with virtually unrestricted sexual availability (we are not limited to a cycle of estrus or "heat" in order to experience sexual desire) has had, and continues to have, an overwhelming impact on our species.

In todays world, sex involves much more than our genitals and is about much more than procreation. To limit sex to making babies is as absurd and unrealistic as deciding not to use a motorized vehicle because God gave us feet to walk with. Sex can be merely functional, but it can also be  an art form that gives us infinite pleasure. Who wants to live in a world that is purely functional? Beauty and joy are very important aspects of life. The variety of ways that we can express ourselves sexually is a gift, an offering from the universe. A woman can have as many different kinds of orgasms as there are ways of having sex. An orgasm can come and go in a second, or last for hours. It can be an electrical feeling on the surface of the skin; it can be a deep, pounding internal sensation; it can occur in the upper body, the lower body, or throughout the whole body; and can be accompanied by an out-of-body experience. It can shake your entire being, or pass through with barely an external sign. There is no one definitive experience that we can call orgasm—there are many. Nor can we limit what arouses us sexually to a physical touch, or to a sensation in a certain part of the body.

**There is no one right way of being sexual.**

Anyone can choose to claim her passion, and translate it into creative play, sexual or otherwise. The exceptions may be people who have been severely traumatized so that they are unable to recover positive feelings around sexual arousal; and people who suffer from severe chronic pain or illness. In general, what prevents us from embracing the full potential of our sexual desire is our fear of not being normal, and it is this, more than anything else, that we must overcome. _There is no such thing as an abnormal desire._

Whats more, there is no such thing as a normal desire! The concept of normality does not exist when it comes to what turns us on. There is no one right way of being sexual. On the contrary, there is a huge variety of sexual activities and responses, some of them stranger than your imagination could dream up, from foot fetishism to sadomasochism. A safe environment, one where the key concepts of consensuality and negotiation are honored, can be created to play with the oddest desires. What matters is that you dont allow yourself to be swayed by the opinions of others, and that you do not harm yourself or others. Go for what you want; dont censor yourself or anyone else.

Inhibitions, instilled into us as we grow up, can prevent us from getting in touch with what turns us on in the first place. But change only needs a  willingness to be open. Changes specific to your sexuality are not so difficult to manifest as you might think. True, you cannot make your body have an orgasm unless it wants to. But when we give our bodies permission to change, all kinds of things become possible. This was illustrated for me during the time it took to write this book. I drew my close friends into my research. They graciously accepted my calls at any time of day or night to answer questions like: Can you feel contractions in your vagina when you come? Do you have to stretch out your feet when you come? How long do your orgasms normally last?

We found that our sexual horizons have expanded simply as a result of thinking intensely about orgasm, finding a language to express ourselves, and discovering new potential. We all seem to be having longer and more powerful orgasms. Hearing about whats possible has given us the incentive to open up to other ways of being sexual. Discovering the range of what women define as orgasm has encouraged us to define our own experiences differently. The process of being orgasmic is constantly unfolding and evolving, if we allow it to do so. It is a journey, and the point of the process is the journey, not some mythical end product.

#  **From Pain to Pleasure, and Beyond…**

One of the remarkable things about the orgasmic state is how it acts as an analgesic; things we normally experience as painful may not be felt at all when we are in the throes of a climax. Gina Ogden, Beverly Whipple, and other renowned sex researchers have done a number of controlled studies that prove the remarkable power of orgasm to raise a womans pain threshold.2 Apparently, the greater the sexual pleasure, the stronger the analgesic effect.

In _Women Who Love Sex_ 1, Gina Ogden describes how, during orgasm, a woman registers no pain response to a stimulus (steady pressure applied to the fingertip by an Analgesia Meter) that she was unable to tolerate only minutes before. Yet her ability to experience a sensual touch (a hair-thin filament brushed across the back of her hand) is increased.

In _Extended Sexual Orgasm_ 3 _,_ the authors describe a group of arthritics who experience some freedom from pain for half an hour following orgasm. The question is, would they be free from pain for longer periods if they had extended orgasms? The Brauers claim that in some cases all of  the following problems have been alleviated, if not cured by the regular practice of ESO: headaches; neck, back, and pelvic pain; menstrual pain; arthritic pain; stomach and intestinal complaints; prostatitis; high blood pressure; asthma and bronchitis; skin eruptions; depression; fatigue; anxiety; alcoholism; insomnia; and anger.

Is it too outrageous to imagine that doctors could be prescribing orgasms instead of, or in conjunction with, pain medications? And are we capable of expanding our concept of orgasm, with its attendant benefits?

Sensual and sexual intimacy, the experience of sharing ones body with another, skin-to-skin contact, the arousal and release of orgasm—all of these can suffuse the body with pleasure and with a sense of joy, delight, love, peace, and relaxation that results in freedom from pain and tension—a different human condition. Orgasm is a building and release of tension that enervates and cleanses a persons energy, clears out blocks, and leaves the body suffused with well-being. Encouraged to allow ourselves to share our bodies, take pride in our physical selves, and integrate our experience of love on mental, emotional, and spiritual levels, through the medium of the physical body, we can live creative and joyful lives.

It seems obvious that the purpose of sex, and therefore orgasm, is to provide us with an opportunity to experience ecstasy, an opportunity to choose pleasure. On one level, this is about experiencing joy in life, having a good time, allowing and encouraging us to feel good. People who enjoy life live longer, theyre less accident-prone, and they are less likely to succumb to illness. Enjoying life is in itself a worthy goal; pleasure is a good thing. The place of ecstasy we can reach through sex is also a powerful creative energy that can carry us beyond the limits of the physical world.

Judy Grahn writes specifically about lesbian sex, but her concepts are of equal value to heterosexuals. In her book, _Another Mother Tongue_ 4, she describes four sexual "domains," that is, four areas of sexual awareness. The first is the physical: having a good, enjoyable, functional experience. The second is the mental: using fantasy, mental control, and the power of the mind. The third is the psychic: experiencing another realm of existence, beyond intellectual images. The fourth she calls the transformational domain, and as she explains:

 _The powers released in this dimension can influence not only the participants but also the world around them and its future._

In my own experience, the energy that gathers and releases when we are sexual is very powerful. It has enormous potential for healing and transformation.

So having a good time is not the only thing to consider when you are having sex. The energy we bring to sex is inseparable from the energy we bring to life, and the healing power of sex affects our lives on a much deeper level than we may realize. By learning how to use this energy consciously, we can change our lives, or dare I say it, change the world. Obviously such a powerful tool needs to be used responsibly. When I try to define responsible sex, I find I cannot separate it from leading a responsible life.

#  **Responsible Sex, Responsible Living**

Acting responsibly means acting with compassion. Being compassionate means being respectful of all beings, including ourselves. It is this last piece that we tend to miss out on. Too few of us grow up with a sense of our own self-worth and our right to self-determination. We dont live in a society that lovingly encourages us to live up to our full potential. Most of us grow up unaware that there are many different choices to be made, many different paths to follow. Many of us are deeply wounded and dont even know it until we accidentally stumble upon a path of healing.

Yes, we need to be loved. We also need to love ourselves. We need to develop a sense of our own self-worth, worth that has nothing to do with our accomplishments in the world, and everything to do with who we are. A sense of self-worth allows us to tap into our inner power. We can hinder each other from experiencing self-worth by putting each other down. Respect is an integral component of compassion, and compassion is nonjudgmental love. When we experience nonjudgmental love from another being, it enables us to accept ourselves, and this in turn allows us to experience our own inner power. When we experience inner power, we no longer feel a need to exert power over others, to force others to agree with us, to prove that we know the answers and everyone else is wrong. Inner power is nonjudgmental and respects other peoples choices.

Love that disempowers is not true love, and power that does not come from inside, that does not respect other people, is not true power. True power is always loving, and true loving is always empowering. Loving one  another, and especially children, is vital, but if it isnt coupled with the right to self-determination, it is useless. We must teach our children respect, and we can only do this by offering it to them; that means allowing them to make their own decisions about what is right and wrong for them.

Self-esteem, self-respect, and self-worth are all the same thing, and when they are present in an individual, that person is automatically selfempowered.

#  **Working with Energy**

Responsible living involves being able to channel our energy so it doesnt harm other people. A feeling is energy, whether it is physical, sexual, intuitive, or emotional. We can choose what to do with the energy that grows out of feelings. For instance, if we feel angry, we can channel it into chopping wood; we can yell at the kids; we can channel it into an orgasm; we can kick the dog; we can rant.

Sometimes the rant is not about whatever is actually making us angry; we can rant on anything we choose. The reason for ranting is the same as the reason for kicking the dog: we are feeling a need to express the energy of the anger. Sometimes we substitute a more acceptable target for our anger, since we are told that we ought to have a good reason for being angry, but this is dishonest. We usually indulge in this dishonesty to protect ourselves, because it is too painful, or it feels futile, to think about the real reasons for our anger, or because we are ashamed of those reasons. I am not saying no one should be angry; there are many good reasons to be angry, and many things to be angry about. But responsible living includes the integrity to acknowledge the real reasons for our anger, instead of fixating on a convenient outlet and blaming others.

Sometimes the original energy was not the energy of anger, but expressing it as anger makes us feel safer, less vulnerable than the original feeling. This is why so many women get impatient with men when men start to express their feelings; the first feeling that usually comes up for a man who has been trained to be tough and "manly" is nearly always anger. Anger often covers over other feelings, and it isnt always easy to wait for a man to wade through his anger before he gets to what we see as the "real" feelings.

Responsible living involves taking responsibility for what we do with  the energy of our feelings, and if necessary, following that energy back to its source in order to prevent it from harming others. It means choosing not to kick the dog (kicking the dog can take many forms, from racial hatred to sexism to child abuse). It means listening to and honoring yourself. It means acknowledging your feelings and needs. And this requires absolute integrity.

Energy is what keeps us alive. Thats why we often feel good after we have allowed a strong feeling to flow through us, when weve just had a good rant, or chopped a lot of wood, or had a great orgasm. We feel more alive. We feel energized. All energy is basically life-force energy. When this life-force energy is heightened, speeded up, intensified, life becomes brighter. We are always looking for that which brightens and enriches; that search is part of being alive. We find it in sex and in the expression of feelings, but we also find it in politics, in music, in sports, in art, in raising a family, in a casual exchange with a friendly person on the street, in watching a good movie, in planting a garden and watching it grow, in the deeply rewarding intimacy with someone we have known and loved a long time, in a delighted childs laughter, in a glorious sunset, in ocean waves smashing on rocks. Whenever we are deeply moved by something, whenever we really believe in something, whenever we feel passionate about something, we experience a sense of rightness, which is very exciting.

The energy of the excitement that we are tapping into in any of these situations is the same energy as sexual excitement. Like sex, we can experience this excitement alone: looking at a beautiful view, climbing a mountain, hang gliding. Or we can experience it with others: when a group of people feel it together the energy is amplified; there is a group euphoria that results in a special kind of bonding. The sense of unity that we experience when we participate in a political rally, sing in a choir, or play team sports is the same unity that we experience when we are in love and having great sex. The problem is that it usually happens so unconsciously that we fixate on whatever happens to bring up the feeling. One person might experience it having sex, and another might experience it at a political rally.

_There is a sexual high from singing in choir, for instance; erotic is not quite the right word but its something like that. I used to feel it much more in rehearsals. Having the audience there was a distraction. Singing in rehearsals was breathtaking._

**—JOANI BLANK**

People who are not already empowered dont realize that they can make conscious choices about where and when to feel this energy. If they stumble upon it unexpectedly, get caught up in the hysteria of the moment, and unthinkingly attempt to recreate whatever it was that first gave them that wonderful feeling, what may result are religious zealots, sports fanatics, bigots, and "patriots." Find something that looks like it might be a good cause, find someone with a charismatic presence, and you will find people marching in unison, cheering and stomping their feet. They are experiencing their collective energy as very powerful, and it may be the only time in their lives that they feel such a sense of power. It gives them a rush. They feel energized and alive. They have found a way of tapping into the energy of life.

Like a woman who falls in love with someone with whom she experiences a great sexual rush, disempowered people fall in love with whatever it is that creates that rush, and like a woman in love, they want to make it last forever. They lose the ability to discriminate between good sense and manipulative lies. They fail to understand that the ecstasy comes from within themselves. But worst of all, they often get caught up in a kind of mass hysteria that can quickly become violent. Developing the ability to tap into conscious empowerment enables us to make choices, to channel that energy into love and creativity instead of violence and destruction.

#  **Empowerment**

_Weve got to help people understand that the level of ecstasy and passion they undoubtedly feel when they are standing in crowds being carried by a crazy orator is not so different from the transcendental experience we have in our very best sexual encounter._

**—JOANI BLANK**

An individual who is aware of her (or his) personal power does not lose herself in an energy rush. She does not lose herself at all. Power is simply another word for energy. She knows she can recreate that sense of quickening energy whenever she wants, because she experiences herself as powerful; she is aware of the flow of power within herself. A person who is aware of her inner power is aware of the life-force energy that comes from inside, and this internal energy works in conjunction with external energy.

The alignment of the internal with the external occurs when you acknowledge the forces that motivate you and consciously work with them rather than against them. This is what I am calling integrity. When you consciously choose a path of integrity, the opportunities that present themselves are exactly right for you. Your energy will be in synchronicity with the energy of the universe. Feelings, attractions, desires, and needs arise from good sense and inner wisdom, and they lead you wherever you need to be. The direction of your life may not be clear until you have gone a little way down the path, and then you will see that it is exactly right. When you arrive at this place, you will fall in love at the right times with the right people. But if you arent there yet, and if you are not on a path of change and growth, then your feelings, attractions, desires, and needs may be toxic to you. If you are at odds with yourself, then you will be at odds with the energy of the universe.

We can choose to accept the stereotypical ways of being in the world, and live in fear of being abnormal, or we can choose instead to take an active role in challenging those stereotypes within ourselves and outside ourselves. In my opinion, the latter course is the one that offers us the broader future. It is my hope that it is the path you will choose.

#  _**Notes**_

1 Gina Ogden, _Women Who Love Sex: Ordinary Women Describe Their Paths to Pleasure, Intimacy, and Ecstasy_ (Trumpeter, 2007). Originally published in 1994.

2 _Annual Review of Sex Research,_ Volume VI, 1995.

3 Alan and Donna Brauer, _ESO: How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm_ (Grand Central Publishing, 2001). Originally published in 1983.

4 Judy Grahn, _Another Mother Tongue: Gay Words, Gay Worlds_ (Beacon Press, 1990).


Input: Write an appendix on safer sex practices for a book about sexuality. Include information on the risk of diseases such as herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis, and HIV, and how they are transmitted. Discuss the importance of honest and open communication with sexual partners about sexual and health history. Provide a behavior continuum from ultra-safe to safer sex practices. Discuss the importance of regular testing for HIV, especially for those with multiple partners, and the availability of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatments. Also, mention the availability of vaccines for certain diseases. Finally, provide a list of basic safety precautions, including regular checkups, use of condoms and gloves, and proper disposal of used barriers.

Response:
**APPENDIX A: SAFER SEX**

In this day and age it would be irresponsible to write a book on sex without including some information on the risk of disease. Some diseases, such as herpes and chlamydia, are spread primarily by sexual contact, and others, such as hepatitis and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be spread by a variety of methods, including sexual contact. One of the most common modes of transmission for AIDS is shared needles among intravenous drug users. There are some high-risk professions, also, including health-care workers who routinely come into contact with blood products.

While it is impossible to lead a life in which you will never be exposed to any kind of disease, it is also true that a little care goes a long way. I believe it is unethical to omit some basic precautions. It is a little like crossing the road: if you run out into the middle of a busy freeway (equivalent to having unprotected sex with everyone you meet) and expect to remain uninjured, youre living in a fools paradise. But if you always wait until you can see no moving vehicles in either direction before you step out (equivalent to never having sex at all), then you will spend a lot of your  life standing anxiously on the sidewalk. You may stay alive, as long as some crazy driver doesnt mount the sidewalk to mow you down.

You may get tired of hearing this, but the most important factor is honest and open communication with your partner. Discuss your sexual and health history with _all_ potential partners. Make an agreement about what kind of precautions you are going to take, and _stick to them._ There is a behavior continuum from ultra-safe: "If its wet and its not yours, then dont touch it;" to safer (better than no precautions at all): using condoms for vaginal or anal intercourse but not for fellatio, for instance. You may decide to use no barriers with a primary partner, but be very careful to avoid any exchange of body fluids with all other partners.

_You want your partner to be honest with you, so be honest with your partner._ But you shouldnt base a decision not to do safe sex on what your partner tells you; people who have diseases tend to be stigmatized, and this makes it hard for them to tell the truth. Moreover, illegal drug use and unsanctioned sex (sex outside marriage or sex with a prostitute, for instance) are things that even usually trustworthy people may lie about. In other words, be very circumspect about who and what you believe.

If you have sex with multiple partners, you and your partners should get tested regularly for HIV. Testing is available that is totally anonymous, absolutely free, and no longer involves having blood taken; there is now an accurate saliva test. However, if you do contract the virus, it may take up to six months to show up in your body. So be aware that even if you have a negative test result, you could be carrying the virus if you have indulged in risky practices within the previous six months.

If you do have unprotected sex and have reason to believe it may have put you at risk for HIV or hepatitis, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatments are available, but these are not to be taken lightly, since the medications involved can be toxic to your liver.

Vaccines are available for hepatitis A, B, and C, as well as for HPV (human papillomavirus, which can cause genital warts and cervical cancer). Protocols for these vaccines are often in flux, so check with your doctor or online for more information.

If you are in a monogamous relationship, and have been so for at least six months, and you and your partner have recently had negative HIV tests, dont work in high-risk professions, and dont share needles, then your only concern is that you are not carrying any other sexually transmitted disease, such as hepatitis, chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, gonorrhea, or herpes.

If you are interested in having sex with someone new, know that it is becoming commonplace to ask for a copy of a potential partners recent STD test results; just be prepared to show your own as well. Its also a wise idea to carry a small safer-sex kit with you on a date, stocked with condoms, a small bottle of lube, a couple of gloves, and perhaps a dental dam. Better to be prepared than unprotected.

I recommend the following as basic safety precautions:

 **1.** Get regular checkups. Chlamydia can cause sterility in women, yet its symptoms are often minimal or nonexistent. A herpes flare-up will go away of its own accord, but it means you are a herpes carrier, and you need to know that so that you dont pass it on to others. If you have any kind of sores on your labia, or any sign of a discharge, go to a doctor. Many sexually transmitted diseases can be cured with antibiotics if caught quickly.

**2.** Use condoms. Dont just think about them—use them. Use them regularly, as habit. Use them on dildos; use them on penises. Use them for vaginal intercourse, use them for anal intercourse, use them for oral sex. There are many kinds of condoms, and some are much more comfortable and allow more sensitivity than others. Try different kinds. To increase sensation, try applying a little lube before you put the condom on. If your partner objects, discuss alternatives, such as no intercourse of any kind or using female condoms. Female condoms are available at sex stores, pharmacies, and womens health clinics, but they need a little practice to use properly.

Condoms occasionally break (usually because they are not put on correctly). Learn how to put them on properly. If you want extra safety, try using two together, but put a little lube in between them so they dont stick to each other, which would make them more likely to break.

**3.** Use latex gloves (or nitrile if you are allergic to latex). They are inexpensive and easy to use. If your hands are very clean and free of cuts or abrasions, and youre not using them for heavy penetration, gloves are not absolutely essential. But have a box by your bed for the times when your hands have cuts on them, when you or your partner is menstruating, or when youre doing anal penetration.

**4.** If you are performing cunnilingus or anilingus, use dental dams, female condoms, a glove cut open (with your tongue in the thumb hole), or plastic wrap. Again, using a little dollop of lube next to the receivers skin can improve sensitivity.

**5.** With latex, dont use mineral oils or any lubricants other than those that are water-based, as they will destroy the latex. There are alternatives to latex, such as nitrile gloves and polyurethane condoms.

**6.** Use condoms on insertable toys. Wash all toys after use with antiseptic soap and hot water, sex toy cleaner, or follow the instructions that come with the toy.

**7.** Avoid getting semen, vaginal secretions, blood, or feces on any broken skin—that includes the skin in your mouth. If youre performing oral sex without a barrier, dont floss or brush your teeth just beforehand. And remember that the herpes sores that appear on lips are directly transferable to genitals. It is best to use a barrier!

**8.** Always dispose of used barriers safely, and never attempt to reuse them. If you are enjoying both anal and vaginal play, use separate barriers for each area.

**9.** Eroticize safer sex. It doesnt have to be more difficult or unpleasant than utilizing any other contraceptive methods. Putting on a condom can be fun. Try doing it with your mouth.

Some people are allergic to latex. Condoms and gloves made from other substances, such as nitrile, are available. It may be the powder on the gloves that causes allergic reactions, or the type of lube on prelubed condoms. You can buy unlubed condoms at well-stocked pharmacies, but be sure to read the package. Unpowdered gloves are also available, although they may be harder to obtain.


Input: Write an appendix for a book that provides resources on sex education, sexual health, and related topics. Include contact information for organizations such as the American Social Health Association, the Center for Disease Control National Prevention Information Network, and the Center for Sexual Health Promotion. Also, provide websites for educational resources like The-Clitoris.com, Coalition for Positive Sexuality, and GLBT National Hotline. Additionally, list resources for lesbian sexual health such as LesbianSTD.com and the National AIDS Hotline. Finally, provide information on videos, toys, books, and supplies from sources in the United States and Canada, such as Adam and Eve, Babeland, and Good Vibrations. ensure to include their phone numbers and websites.

Response:
**APPENDIX B: RESOURCES**

#  **Sex Education and Information**

American Social Health Association
(919) 361-8400
www.ashastd.org

Center for Disease Control National Prevention Information Network
(800) 458-5231
www.cdcnpin.com

Center for Sexual Health Promotion
www.nationalsexstudy.indiana.edu
The most recent National Survey of Sexual Health and Behavior, as well
as past surveys, can be found here.

The-Clitoris.com
"Everything you ever wanted to know about the clitoris and female sexu-
ality."
www.the-clitoris.com

Coalition for Positive Sexuality
(773) 604-1654
www.positive.org

GLBT National Hotline
(888) THE-GLNH; (888) 843-4564
www.glbtnationalhelpcenter.org

LesbianSTD.com
Sexual health information and resources for women who have sex with
women.

National AIDS Hotline
(800) CDC-INFO; (800) 232-4636

National STI Resource Center Hotline
(919) 361-8488

Planned Parenthood
(800) 230-7526
www.plannedparenthood.org

San Francisco Sex Information
(415) 989-7374
www.sfsi.org

Scarleteen
Resource of sex information geared toward teen women, but with great
sections for young men.
www.scarleteen.com

Sexual Health InfoCenter
www.sexhealth.org

SIECUS (Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United
States)
(212) 819-9770
www.siecus.org

Society for Human Sexuality
www.sexuality.org

#  **Videos, Toys, Books, and Supplies United States and Canada**

Adam and Eve
Mail-order catalog and website with toys, DVDs, safer-sex supplies,
books, and lingerie.
(800) 274-0333
www.adameve.com

Babeland
"Sex toys for a passionate world." Retail stores in Seattle and New York.
(800) 658-9119
www.babeland.com

Blowfish
"Good Products for Great Sex." Mail-order catalog available.
(800) 325-2569
www.blowfish.com

Coco de Mer
A sophisticated sex toy boutique with retail stores in London and
Southern California.
020 7836 8882 (UK); (866) 959-2626 (US)
www.coco-de-mer.com (UK); www.cocodemerusa.com (US)

Come Again Erotic Emporium
Woman-owned retail store in New York City with toys, books, and lingerie.
(646) 833-0586

Come As You Are
Retail store in Toronto with toys, books, videos, safer-sex supplies, and
educational resources—especially resources for the disabled.
(888) 504-7934
www.comeasyouare.com

Condomania
Condoms, lubricants, massage oils, and more.
(800) 926-6366
www.condomania.com

Eves Garden
Retail store in New York City and catalog of toys, books, and videos.
(800) 848-3837
www.evesgarden.com

Forbidden Fruit
Woman-owned and operated toy store / adult gift shop and fetish
boutique in Austin, Texas.
(800) 315-2029
www.forbiddenfruit.com

Good for Her
Woman-focused retail store in Toronto with toys, books, videos, and
erotic art. Sponsors of the Feminist Porn Awards.
(877) 588-0900
www.goodforher.com

Good Vibrations
Probably the best source of sex toys, books, and videos for women of all
sexual orientations. Retail sex toy stores in San Francisco and Berkeley,
CA, and Brookline, MA.
(800) BUY-VIBE; (800) 289-8423
www.goodvibes.com

Its My Pleasure
"Portlands (Oregon) original feminist adult store."
(503) 280-8080
www.itsmypleasurepdx.com

Lovecraft
Retail store in Mississauga, ON, Canada, offering toys, books, videos, and
lingerie.
(877) 923-7331
www.lovecraftsexshop.com

Pleasure Chest
Novelties, toys, videos, and clothing. Retail stores in New York, Chicago,
and Los Angeles.
(800) 753-4356
www.thepleasurechest.com

Purple Passion
Fetish and sex store in New York City. Includes fetish wear in plus sizes.
(212) 807-0486
www.purplepassion.com

Smitten Kitten
Progressive adult sex toys and equipment retailer in South Minneapolis.
(888) 751-0523
www.smittenkittenonline.com

Sugar
Woman-owned retail store in Baltimore featuring toys, safer-sex supplies,
books, and DVDs.
(410) 467-2632
www.sugartheshop.com

Venus Envy
Books, sex, and health resources. Retail stores in Ottawa, ON, and
Halifax, NS, Canada.
www.venusenvy.ca

A Womans Touch
Feminist sex store offering toys, books, and safer-sex supplies. Retail
stores in both Madison and Milwaukee, WI.
(888) 621-8880
www.a-womans-touch.com

Womyns Ware
Retail store in Vancouver, BC, Canada, with toys, books, and fetish gear.
Education- and woman-focused.
(888) WYM-WARE; (888) 996-9273
www.womynsware.com

Xandria Collection
Toys, books, and videos. Mail-order catalog available.
(800) 242-2823
www.xandria.com

**Europe**
Le Boudoir
The Spanish womans answer to a female-friendly, smart and sexy online
sex shopping experience.
www.leboudoir.net

LoveHoney
This UK-based site is a one-stop shop for quality sex toys, books and
videos.
(0800) 915-6635
www.lovehoney.co.uk

Lust
A women-run, women-focused online sex boutique from Denmark.
Retail stores in Copenhagen and Mallorca.
www.lustuniverse.com/uk

Second Sexe
French website, erotic boutique, and resource for women-positive, femi-
nist-identified products and porn.
www.secondsexe.com

SH!
The UKs first sex shop for women, located in London.
www.sh-womenstore.com

Tiberius
Austrian leather, latex, and a variety of sexy tools.
www.tiberius.at

Yoba
A French online womens sex toy boutique.
www.yobaparis.com

#  **Sex-Related Websites**

FeMiNa
Huge directory of searchable links by, for, and about women.
www.femina.com

Violet Blues Open Source Sex
Sex culture commentary, accurate sex information, updated resources for
all things related to human sexuality.
www.tinynibbles.com

Vivianes Sex Carnival
Multi-author sex blog; excellent resource on sex toy reviews, sex news,
sex classes.
www.thesexcarnival.com

Vulva University
Classes on many aspects of female sexuality.
www.houseochicks.com

#  **Lesbian / Bisexual / Gay / Trans Resources**

Bisexual Resource Center
Educational and support center in Boston; website has links to other
bisexual resources.
(617) 424-9595
www.biresource.org

Lesbian.com
Online portal for all things lesbian.
www.lesbian.com

Lesbian.org
Resources for lesbian and bisexual women.
www.lesbian.org

Queer Resources Directory
www.qrd.org

#  **Sexuality Workshops**

Body Electric School
Workshops on erotic spirituality.
(510) 653-1594
www.bodyelectric.org

Human Awareness Institute
Workshops on love, intimacy, and sexuality.
(707) 981-7886
www.hai.org

SkyDancing Tantra
Workshops on Tantra.
(877) 982-6872
www.skydancingtantra.org

#  **Recommended Reading**

(Note: Some of these titles may not be readily available. AbeBooks.com is a good resource for finding out-of-print books.)

##  **What Other People Do**

_First Person Sexual: Women And Men Write about Self-Pleasuring_ by Joani Blank. (Down There Press)

_Good Sex: Real Stories from Real People_ by Julia Hutton. (Cleis Press)

_The Hite Report: A National Study of Female Sexuality_ by Shere Hite. (Seven Stories Press)

_I Am My Lover: Women Pleasure Themselves_ by Joani Blank. (Down There Press)

_My Secret Garden: Womens Sexual Fantasies_ ; _Forbidden Flowers: More Womens Sexual Fantasies_ ; and _Women on Top_ by Nancy Friday. (Pocket Books)

_Sex for One: The Joy of Selfloving_ by Betty Dodson. (Three Rivers Press)

_Shared Intimacies_ by Lonnie Barbach and Linda Levine. (Bantam Books)

_Ultimate Pleasure: The Secrets of Easily Orgasmic Women_ by Marc and Judith Meshorer. (St. Martins Press)

##  **How To…**

_The Art of Sexual Ecstasy: The Path of Sacred Sexuality for Western Lovers_ by Margo Anand. A classic on simplified Tantric sex. (Tarcher Press)

_Becoming Orgasmic: A Sexual and Personal Growth Program for Women_ by Julia Heimann and Joseph LoPiccolo. (Fireside Books)

_Big Big Love: A Sex and Relationships Guide for People of Size (and Those Who Love Them)_ by Hanne Blank. (Celestial Arts)

_The Clitoral Truth: The Secret World at Your Fingertips_ by Rebecca Chalker. (Seven Stories Press)

_Dr. Sprinkles Spectacular Sex: Make Over Your Love Life with One of the Worlds Great Sex Experts_ by Annie Sprinkle, PhD. (Tarcher)

_ESO: How You and Your Lover Can Give Each Other Hours of Extended Sexual Orgasm_ by Alan and Donna Brauer. (Grand Central Publishing)

_The Ethical Slut: A Practical Guide to Polyamory, Open Relationships & Other Adventures_ by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy. An absolute must for anyone who is thinking about nonmonogamy, or wants to understand how nonmonogamy can work. (Greenery Press.)

_Exhibitionism for the Shy: Show Off, Dress Up and Talk Hot_ by Carol Queen. (Down There Press)

_Female Ejaculation and the G-Spot_ by Deborah Sundahl. (Hunter House)

_For Yourself: The Fulfillment of Female Sexuality_ , Lonnie Barbach. (Signet)

_Getting Off: A Womans Guide to Masturbation_ by Jamye Waxman. (Seal Press)

_The Good Vibrations Guide: The G-Spot_ by Cathy Winks. Down There Press.

_The Good Vibrations Guide to Sex: The Most Complete Sex Manual Ever Written_ by Cathy Winks and Anne Semans. (Cleis Press)

_The Great Sex Weekend: A 48-Hour Guide to Rekindling Sparks for Bold, Busy, or Bored Lovers_ , Pepper Schwartz, PhD and Janet Lever, PhD. (Perigee Trade)

_A Hand in the Bush: The Fine Art of Vaginal Fisting_ by Deborah Addington. (Greenery Press)

_The New Good Vibrations Guide to Sex_ by Cathy Winks and Anne Semans. (Cleis Press)

_I Love Female Orgasm: An Extraordinary Orgasm Guide_ by Dorian Solot and Marshall Miller. (Da Capo Press)

_The Multi-Orgasmic Woman: Discover Your Full Desire, Pleasure, and Vitality_ by Mantak Chia and Rachel Carlton Abrams, MD. (Rodale)

_Opening Up: A Guide to Creating and Sustaining Open Relationships_ by Tristan Taormino. (Cleis Press)

_The Smart Girls Guide to the G-Spot_ by Violet Blue. (Cleis Press) _Tantric Sex for Women: A Guide for Lesbian, Bi, Hetero, and Solo Lovers_ by Christa Schulte. (Hunter House)

_The Strap-On Book_ by A. H. Dion. (Greenery Press)

_The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex for Women_ by Tristan Taormino. (Cleis Press)

_The Ultimate Guide to Cunnilingus: How to Go Down on a Woman and Give Her Exquisite Pleasure_ by Violet Blue. (Cleis Press)

_The Ultimate Guide to Sex and Disability: For All of Us Who Live with Disabilities, Chronic Pain, and Illness_ by Miriam Kaufman, MD, Cory Silverberg, and Fran Odette. (Cleis Press)

_The Ultimate Guide to Strap-On Sex: A Complete Resource for Women and Men_ by Karlyn Lotney (aka Fairy Butch). (Cleis Press)

_The Whole Lesbian Sex Book: A Passionate Guide for All of Us_ by Felice Newman. (Cleis Press)

##  **General Information on Womens Sexuality**

_Femalia_ edited by Joani Blank. A photographic reference on female genital anatomy. (Last Gasp Publishing)

_The G Spot: And Other Discoveries about Human Sexuality_ by Alice Kahn Ladas, Beverly Whipple, and John Perry. A classic, written by academics, but in a very readable style. (Holt)

_Good Vibrations: The New Complete Guide to Vibrators_ by Joani Blank with Ann Whidden. (Down There Press)

_A New View of a Womans Body_ by the Federation of Feminist Womens Health Centers. (Feminist Health Press)

_Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era_ by the Boston Womens Health Collective. (Touchstone Books)

_Womens Bodies, Womens Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing_ by Christiane Northrup. A comprehensive guide to womens health. (Bantam Books)

##  **BDSM**

_Radical Ecstasy: SM Journeys to Transcendence_ by Dossie Easton and Janet W. Hardy. (Greenery Press)

_Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns: The Romance and Sexual Sorcery of Sadomasochism_ by Philip Miller and Molly Devon. (Mystic Rose Books)

_Sensuous Magic: A Guide to S/M for Adventurous Couples_ by Patrick Califia. If you are interested in investigating dominance and submission or sadomasochism, this book will give you some ideas about how to do so safely. (Cleis Press)

_Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink – Educational, Sensual, and Entertaining Essays_ by Midori. (Daedalus Publishing)

##  **The Politics of Sex**

_Are We Having Fun Yet?: The Intelligent Womans Guide to Sex_ by Marcia Douglass, PhD, and Lisa Douglass, PhD. Why women are not getting fulfillment and some ideas on how they can. (Hyperion)

_The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women_ by Naomi Wolf. Exposes the ways in which our judgments of beauty are shaped. (Harper Perennial)

_The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution_ by Elisabeth A. Lloyd. (Harvard University Press)

_Promiscuities: The Secret Struggle for Womanhood_ by Naomi Wolf. Clearly describes how and why girls in America grow up confused. (Ballantine Books)

_Real Live Nude Girl: Chronicles of Sex-Positive Culture_ by Carol Queen. (Cleis Press)

##  **Relationships**

_After the Honeymoon: How Conflict Can Improve Your Relationship_ by Daniel B. Wile. (Daniel Wile)

_Do I Have to Give Up Me to Be Loved By You?_ by Jordan Paul, PhD, and Margaret Paul, PhD. (Hazelden)

_For Each Other: Sharing Sexual Intimacy_ by Lonnie Barbach, PhD. (Anchor)

_Journey of the Heart: The Path of Conscious Love_ by John Welwood. (Harper)

_Love Between Equals: How Peer Marriage Really Works_ by Pepper Schwartz, PhD. (Touchstone)

_Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence_ by Esther Perel. (Harper)

##  **Sexual Healing**

_Allies in Healing: When the Person You Love Was Sexually Abused as a Child_ by Laura Davis. (Harper)

_The Courage to Heal: A Guide for Women Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse_ by Laura Davis and Ellen Bass. The classic on healing from childhood sexual abuse. (Harper)

_Getting Free: You Can End Abuse and Take Back Your Life_ by Ginny NiCarthy. (Seal Press)

_Healing Sex: A Mind-Body Approach to Healing Sexual Trauma_ by Staci Haines. (Cleis Press)

_I Will Survive: The African American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse_ by Lori S. Robinson. (Seal Press)

_The Obsidian Mirror: Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse_ by Louise Wisechild. A compelling personal story of healing from abuse. (Seal Press)

_The Sexual Healing Journey: A Guide for Survivors of Sexual Abuse_ by Wendy Maltz. (Harper)

##  **Energy Flows and the Chakra System**

_Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing_ by Caroline Myss. (Three Rivers Press)

_Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self_ by Anodea Judith. (Celestial Arts)

_Hands of Light: A Guide to Healing Through the Human Energy Field_ by Barbara Ann Brennan. (Bantam Books)

_The Wheels of Life: A Users Guide to the Chakra System_ by Anodea Judith. (Llewellyn Publications)

##  **Exploring Lesbianism**

_Another Mother Tongue: Gay Words, Gay Worlds_ by Judy Grahn. (Beacon Press)

_Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community_ by Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy and Madeline D. Davis. (Routledge)

_Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for Women_ edited by Candace Walsh and Laure André. (Seal Press)

_Lesbian Sex_ by JoAnn Loulan. (Spinsters Ink)

_The Original Coming Out Stories_ edited by Julia Penelope and Susan J. Wolfe. Crossing Press. Some very moving personal stories of womens first experience of loving other women. (Crossing Press)

_The Straight Womans Guide to Lesbianism_ by Mikaya Heart. (Wildheart Books)


Input: Write a comprehensive questionnaire about sexual experiences and preferences. Include questions about the respondent's age, sexual orientation, and relationship status. Ask about their sexual activity, both with partners and through masturbation, and their feelings towards sex. Inquire about any childhood experiences related to sex, such as being discouraged from touching their genitals or being touched inappropriately. Ask about the frequency and quality of their orgasms, both during masturbation and partnered sex. Include questions about the use of sex toys and anal penetration. Also, ask about sexual fantasies, ejaculation, and erogenous zones. Finally, ask about their experiences with same-sex partners and their awareness of their hymen breaking.

Response:
**APPENDIX C: QUESTIONNAIRE**

1\. What is your age? 18-28 / 29-39 /40-52/53-65/66-79 / 80 +

2\. Do you identify as: lesbian / bisexual / heterosexual / other

3\. Are you:

• in relationship(s) and sexually active

• in relationship(s) and not sexually active

• not in relationship(s) and sexually active

• not in relationship(s) and not sexually active

• other

4\. On a scale of one to ten—one being someone who thinks about sex and wants to do it all the time, and ten being someone who is not interested in sex at all—where would you place yourself? very 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 not

5\. Do you talk with your friends and/or lover(s) about sex? yes / no / sometimes / other

6\. As a child, were you discouraged from touching your genitals? yes / no / dont remember / other

7\. Do you remember being touched inappropriately as a child? yes / no / not sure / other

8\. If "Yes" to #7 have you done any healing around it? no / a little / lots / other

9\. Do you think your childhood experience with sex has affected your ease or otherwise with having orgasms? yes / no / maybe / N/A / other

10\. How often do you have sex (apart from masturbation)? never / every day / once or twice a week / other

If there have been other times in your life when youve had sex a lot more or a lot less, please explain what you think influences the frequency.

11\.

a. Do you masturbate? yes _/_ no / other

b. If yes, do you enjoy it? yes / no / other

c. How often do you masturbate? every day / once or twice a week / once or twice a month / once or twice a year / other

If there have been other times in your life when youve masturbated a lot more or a lot less, please explain what you think influences the frequency.

d. Do you generally experience orgasm when you masturbate? yes / no / N/A / usually / thats why I masturbate

12\. Have you been able to explain to your lover(s) exactly how to pleasure you? yes / no / I dont know what to tell them / N/A / other

13\. When you have sex with another person do you most often experience fulfillment / frustration / boredom _/_ joy / satisfaction / other

14\.

a. Do you dream about sex? If so, are they satisfying dreams? yes / no / other

b. Do you physically experience orgasm in these dreams? yes / no / other

Please write about your dreams in detail.

15\.

a. Have you ever used a vibrator? yes / no / other

b. If yes, did/do you enjoy it? yes / no / somewhat / other

16\.

a. Do you like having your clitoris stroked by someones fingers? yes / no / sometimes / usually / Ive never experienced it / other

b. Do you like having your clitoris orally stimulated? yes / no / sometimes / usually / Ive never experienced it / other

c. Do you come more easily when you are receiving clitoral stimulation? yes / no / maybe / N/A / other

d. Can you come from clitoral stimulation alone? yes / no / sometimes / N/A / other

e. How would you describe to someone how to stimulate you orally?

17\.

a. Do you like vaginal penetration? yes / no / sometimes / usually / Ive never experienced it / other

b. Do you come more easily when being vaginally stimulated? yes / no / maybe / N/A / other

c. Can you come from vaginal penetration alone? yes / no / sometimes / N/A / other

d. Are you aware of your G-spot? yes / no / sometimes / other

e. What does it feel like when you touch it yourself?

f. What does it feel like when someone else touches it?

18\.

a. Do you like anal penetration? yes / no / usually / sometimes / Ive never experienced it / other

b. Do you come more easily when being anally stimulated? yes / no / maybe / N/A / other

c. Can you come from anal penetration alone? yes / no / sometimes / N/A / other

19\.

a. Have you ever had sex with a man? yes / no

b. If yes, have you had orgasms during sex with a man? yes / no / N/A / other

c. Did they occur during: vaginal penetration / anal penetration / clitoral stimulation / other

d. If you have had intercourse with a man, was your first time enjoyable / unpleasant / boring / other

20\.

a. Have you ever had sex with another woman? yes / no

b. If yes, have you had orgasms during sex with a woman? yes / no / N/A / other

c. Did they occur during: vaginal penetration / anal penetration / clitoral stimulation / other

d. When youre making love with another woman, how important is it to you that she have an orgasm? very / somewhat / not at all / other

21\.

a. Female ejaculation occurs in some women, when they flood or squirt a watery fluid that is similar to, but different from, urine. Do you ejaculate?

b. If yes, can you tell when you are about to ejaculate? yes / no / sometimes _/_ other

c. Is your ejaculation associated with an orgasm? yes / no / sometimes / N/A / other

d. What does ejaculate smell like to you, and does it vary at different times?

22\.

a. Are there other parts of your body, besides your genitals, that you find erotic? If so, what parts?

b. Can you orgasm just from having that part(s) stimulated? yes / no / sometimes / N/A / other

23\.

a. Do you have sexual fantasies? yes / no / other

b. If yes, do you have them when you are: with another person / alone / either?

c. Do they contribute to your orgasms? yes / no / maybe / N/A / other

24\.

a. If you are someone who has experienced vaginal penetration, were you aware of your hymen breaking?

b. Did you bleed? yes / no / other

c. Was it painful? yes / no _/_ other

If you dont have orgasms, or dont know, skip to question 37

25\.

a. Do you have orgasms when you are: being sexual with another person / masturbating / both / fantasizing / other

b. Is there a specific activity that always brings you to orgasm when it is done correctly? If yes, please describe that activity.

26\. No two orgasms are exactly alike, however, some women experience distinct, separate types. Some have what they call clitoral or vaginal orgasms. Do you? yes / no / other

Please list the types of orgasm you have, clarifying what differentiates each type, and what has to be done to make them occur.

27\.

a. Do you ever have multiple orgasms (several orgasms one after another with very little interval in between)? yes / no / other

b. If you experience more than one type of orgasm, is one more likely to be multiple? yes / no / N/A / other

c. If yes, which type?

28\.

a. Do you expect to experience orgasm when someone is making love to you? yes / no / only with some lovers / other

b. Do you feel disappointed if you dont? yes / no / other

c. If youre disappointed, do you show your lover how you feel? yes / no / sometimes / other

29\. Have you ever had a one-time experience of orgasm that was quite different from anything else youve experienced? If so, please describe it in detail.

30\.

a. Can you remember the first time you experienced orgasm?

b. If yes, how old were you and what was going on?

c. During your teen years, did you experience orgasm: regularly / sometimes / never / other

d. Did you ever experience orgasm in your preteen years? yes / no / dont remember

31\. Can you isolate anything that makes it more likely you would have an orgasm: for instance, when you are very relaxed; when youre feeling emotionally open; when youre with a stranger; when your clitoris is being orally stimulated; when your clitoris is being manually stimulated; with a vibrator; when your partner is clearly very excited; when you are being penetrated; when you have your legs stretched out straight; when youre with someone who stimulates you intellectually; when your nipples are being touched; when your partner takes control over you; when you take control over your partner; when youre alone. Please write what brings you to orgasm in as much detail as you can, using a separate sheet of paper.

32\. Would you describe your orgasms as any of the following: exquisite / deep / clenching / pounding / electrical / like riding a wave / like falling / like flying / like an earthquake / other

Please write in your own words what orgasm, and the buildup to it, are like for you. Be as detailed as you can!

33\.

a. Can you have an orgasm when you are sexually stimulating your lover, but your body is not being stimulated (youre not rubbing on anything and no one is touching you)? yes / no / other

b. If yes, how often has this happened? What do you think allows it to happen?

c. Can you have an orgasm when you are not touching anyone else, and your body is not being sexually stimulated (that is, nobody  is touching you, and you are not touching yourself or rubbing on anything)? yes / no / other

d. If yes, how often has this happened and what were the circumstances?

34\. After having an orgasm, or orgasms, are you energized / sleepy / other

35\. Have you ever faked orgasm? yes / no / other

If yes, under what circumstances, and why?

36\. Do you have more powerful orgasms when you make a lot of noise? yes / no / dont know / other

For women who dont have orgasms: Please write what it is you like, or liked, about any of the stimulation described in the previous questions.

37\. Do you ever feel like youre close to having an orgasm but cant quite get there? yes / no / often / other

38\. Do you have clearly identifiable peaks in your sexual enjoyment? yes / no / sometimes / other

39\. Why do you think you dont have orgasms?

40\.

a. Do you tell other people that you dont have orgasms? yes / no / other

b. If yes, what kind of reactions do you get when you tell other people? If no, what kind of reactions do you think you would get?

c. How do / would those reactions make you feel?

d. What kind of reaction would you like to get?

41\.

a. Do you feel deprived or frustrated because you dont have an experience you can clearly label orgasm? yes / no / other

b. Do you wish you had a clearly identifiable orgasmic response? yes / no / other

c. Have you done anything specifically to try and have orgasms? yes / no / other

d. If yes, what?

e. Have you attended or considered attending a workshop on how to have orgasms? yes / no / maybe / other

f. Do you have a clear idea of something that you feel would be helpful to you in learning to experience orgasms? If so, what?


Input: Write a brief biography about the author of the book. Include details about their upbringing, immigration, and current activities. Discuss their professional background and any awards they have received for their work. Mention their personal growth and healing experiences, as well as the various teachers they have worked with. Describe their current workshops and the philosophies behind them. Also, mention any unique hobbies or skills they have, such as kitesurfing.

Response:
**ABOUT THE AUTHOR**

**MIKAYA HEART** is an author, speaker, life coach, and explorer. After growing up in Scotland and immigrating to Northern California in the 1980s, she now spends her time traveling the world and writing on a variety of subjects, always with the intention of empowering her readers. Her memoir, _My Sweet Wild Dance_ , received a Golden Crown Literary Award.

Originally trained as an agricultural mechanic, Heart ran an organic market garden, raised free-range pigs, and built her own house out of recycled lumber in the backwoods. Shes done a great deal of personal growth and healing work with various teachers, including Brooke Medicine Eagle and Angeles Arrien. Heart now offers workshops based on the art of being fully alive, leading shamanic journeys to help her clients access the vastness of being. She sees sex as a particularly delightful shamanic practice. She also teaches kitesurfing, which is an awe-inspiring dance with water and wind.


Input: Write a detailed copyright page for the book, including the copyright year and holder for the main content and the foreword. Include information about the restrictions on reproduction of the book's content. Provide the publisher's address and any specific copyright information related to illustrations or other materials used in the book. Include the ISBN number and Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data, including the ISBN, classification numbers, and the Dewey Decimal Classification number.

Response:
Copyright © 1998, 2011 by Mikaya Heart.

Foreword copyright © 2011 by Violet Blue®

All rights reserved. Except for brief passages quoted in newspaper, magazine, radio, television, or online reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published in the United States by Cleis Press, Inc., 2246 Sixth Street, Berkeley, California 94710.

Illustrations of female anatomy on pages 9 and 10 © 2004 by Fish.

eISBN : 978-1-573-44734-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Heart, Mikaya.

Ultimate guide to orgasm for women / Mikaya Heart. p. cm.

Includes index.

eISBN : 978-1-573-44734-8

1\. Sex instruction for women. 2. Female orgasm. I. Title.

HQ46.H414 2011

613.96082--dc23

2011020615