The Heart and Soul of Sex: Making the ISIS Connection

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 288 pages
• Published by: Trumpeter July 11, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 159030294X
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1590302941
• Book Dimensions: 9.6 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Weighs: 12.8 ounces

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. This book was shaped by the results of a landmark sex survey called Integrating Sexuality and Spirituality (ISIS) that researcher and sex therapist Ogden undertook in 1997. Instead of focusing on the mechanics of sex, the ISIS survey asked the mostly female respondents how they experienced sex and what sex meant in their lives. Ogden (Women Who Love Sex) writes, "In some ways, the language of spiritual experience comes closest to expressing the fullness of our sexual response, for it is the language of connection and ecstasy." In Ogden's view, sex is (or should be) about more than physical sensation. She cites recent laboratory findings that show multiple areas of women's brains lighting up when they bring themselves to orgasm, including the areas connected with religious ecstasy and spiritual experience. The results of the survey bear Ogden out, as 47% of women say "they've experienced God during sexual ecstasy"; 67% say "sex requirements to be spiritual to be satisfying." In this provocative, important book, Ogden functions as a gentle, persistent guide in mapping out paths—physical, mental, emotional and spiritual—that women can take to locate their sexual "center," where healing, ecstasy and transformation occur. There are also chapters on the chakras, tantric sex and creating ceremony for sacred lovemaking. (July 18)
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Product Review
“This is a glorious book. Gina Ogden speaks directly to the heart of sexuality in a way that women all over the world will recognize. To read this book is to remember and reawaken to the melody of the life force that both created and sustains our bodies and lives. May this book soar—and take us all with it!”—Christiane Northrup, M.D., author Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and Mother-Daughter Wisdom

“Dr. Ogden’s work guides you to become that human being you have always wanted to be in relation to your body, your soul, and your entire life. Part guidebook, part group therapy, and—best of all—part girlfriend-support for those who want more out of their lives. As a sex educator I can assure you many are looking for a tool to help themselves and Gina Ogden has delivered just that.”—L. Lou Paget, author of How to Be a Great Lover and The Great Lover Playbook

“Gina Ogden redefines female sexuality, letting us discover and design our own brand of sexual pleasure. Her research pronounces a holistic, non-performance-based model for women, cracking open old beliefs, unearthing fresh emotions, and carving out the paths for healing and awakening our sexual spirits.”—Patti Britton, Ph.D., President of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists and author of The Art of Sex Coaching

“This affirming, well-written, and useful book invites us to free ourselves from a performance-focus in sex by exploring powerful and empowering connections of body, mind, heart, and spirit. Here are fresh understandings, helpful tools and resources, compassionate insights, and, throughout, the voices of women.”—Judy Norsigian and Wendy Sanford, cofounders of the Boston Women’s Health Book Collective and coauthors of Our Bodies, Ourselves

“Gina Ogden demolishes the notion that sexuality and spirituality are polar opposites. She also shows how we can move beyond the degradation of women and sex in popular culture to meet our deep human yearning for caring connection."—Riane Eisler, author of Sacred Pleasure, The Chalice and the Blade, and The Power of Partnership

Reader Reviews
Here is the Book that so many women that I meet and that long for a sex life that works for them must read. Gina Ogden, conducted a survey with close to 4000 women on aspects of sexuality, spirituality and their meeting place. In addition to insightful and fascinating quotes from many of these women, the book explores in depth the emotional, mental and spiritual connections that mean the most in our sexuality. One idea that seemed to answer a question that comes up continuously in my conversations about the question of desire is that when feelings of anger and fear are repressed, desire goes right along with it. It is not hard to see the connection and yet I never really understood so clearly how our repressed feelings cut us off from all our feelings. She quotes "you can't heal, what you can't feel." And it seems that all the places we block, keep us from ourselves. Particularly refreshing is a new formulation which the author terms ISIS - Integrating Sexuality and Spirituality which shifts the focus from classic definitions of healthy sexuality which is dominated by physical performance and ability to orgasm with specific stimulation to a newly and woman defined space of pleasure and satisfaction derived from a whole experience. In this process she explore a variety of energetic sexual models as well as tools for emotional and mental healing from sexual fears and abuses. What I loved was the discussion about how our culture focuses and emphasizes the trauma of our sexuality and its lifelong events, but still offers little or no language to allow for the pleasure of our sexuality which is a primary source of our power, beauty and sense of belonging. We largely cannot allow for the "mind-blowing, self-affirming, emotionally juicy, transformational sexual experience" although more and more women are witnessing the remarkable transformations in their sexual identities and their lives. I am grateful that this resource is available and hope to soon offer it on my website. What a great gift to meet the tribe...