The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond
Page 45
Chapter 10: The Path of Sacred Plants
1) Where are your ethical lines pertaining to combining kink with chemical inputs? How did you come to set those lines? Did you weigh them out for yourself, or inherit them from somewhere or someone else?
2) What ways have you hacked your brain? What has been the most profound or personally transformational experience you have had? If you have not, what are your thoughts on hacking one’s own brain?
3) Look at the list of questions throughout the kink and chemistry ethics chapter. Which questions caused you to pause? What about them stood out for you? Which additional questions would you ask yourself?
4) What is your personal relationship with tobacco as sacrament or sacred tool?
5) How have you reacted in the past to having your body pierced or opened up? How could such activities be used in a sacred context?
Chapter 11: Your Path in Sacred Kink
1) There are more paths than eight. Which of the paths in this book have called out the most to you? Look back to chapter 1 at “blended paths” and at the other ideas discussed in chapter 10—which other paths might appeal to you?
2) Practice the daydreaming/fantasizing exercise from “Tools for Finding your Path.” What were your results?
3) By stopping self-editing, all sorts of information can arise. Practice a few of the stream of consciousness writing exercises provided. What unexpected or unsolicited information arose?
4) What other tools have you used for discovering or exploring your own path in sacred kink?
5) Contemplate the following: “Authenticity comes in the form of becoming the vessel that holds truth, rather than chasing truth through the darkness of your life.” How have you chased truth? Chased bliss? Chased happiness? How can you become the vessel that holds those qualities?
About the Author
Lee Harrington is an internationally known spiritual and erotic authenticity educator, gender explorer, eclectic artist, spirit worker and award-winning author and editor on human erotic and sacred experience. He’s been actively traveling the globe (Seattle to Sydney, Berlin to Boston), teaching and talking about sexuality, psychology, faith and desire since 2001, and a member of pagan and sex-positive communities since 1995.
His books include “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Realities,” “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé,” “Playing Well With Others: Your Guide to Discovering, Exploring and Negotiating the Kink, Leather and BDSM Communities” (with Mollena Williams), “More Shibari You Can Use: Passionate Rope Bondage and Intimate Connection,” “On Starry Thighs: Sacred and Sensual Poetry,” the “Toybag Guide to Age Play,” and “Shed Skins: Journeying in Self-Portraits.” He has also worked as an anthology editor on such projects as “Rope, Bondage, and Power” and “Spirit of Desire: Personal Explorations of Sacred Kink,” while contributing widely to other anthologies, magazines, blogs and collaborations. You can discover more about Lee and his work, as well as his regular podcast, tour schedule, free essays, videos and more, at www.PassionAndSoul.com.