It is rumored that Picasso, arguably one of the most
innovative artists of his time, said after seeing ancient cave paintings in
France, “We have invented nothing new.” Now, he was musing on his field,
artistic expression. But I wonder if the same thing cannot be said for my
field, human sexuality.
Clearly we love the headlines that blare, “THIS HAS NEVER
HAPPENED LIKE THIS BEFORE.” We behave as though we have just discovered BDSM
because a popular book features it, that sex toys are a new obsession, that gender-bending
is modern. We get worked up and fear-based around the availability of porn and
the “new” trend of open relationships. Um, sorry but this is not new. None of
this is really as new and innovative as we seem to like to think.
People have been gay, bi, transgender, into being dominated,
into looking at images of other people having sex, and by a majority, into
multiple sex partners in a lifetime, since humans have been around. Does this
disappoint you? I know we get turned on by the new, by a sense that we are transgressing.
I don’t want to take the naughty away from you. But…Ah well. Your ancestors
shared your interests and desires.
Don’t worry, you can still keep your sex cutting edge. How
do you make it feel new? By doing whatever you are doing completely in the
present moment. Sure you may have been tied to the bedposts 20 times before,
but this time is different. It is different because you are different in this
moment. But you have to pay attention, real mindful attention. Don’t picture your
Victorian great, great grandpa getting pegged (or maybe do, if that is part of
the thrill), it doesn’t matter who has done this before, this time is yours.
Each shiver, each throb, each time you catch you partner’s eye, is new to you.
It only feels old if you generalize and lose track of the here and now. Don’t
just go through the motions getting it done. This is not a check list kind of
scenario. Slow down and indulge the details, the unique little aspects that
will never happen quite like that ever again.
So enjoy getting nasty out there, if you like. Remember to
enjoy it for YOU not for the shock you think it would cause great aunt Matilda.
You never know what she got up to. It may not be new, but it can be new to you,
and that is enough – in fact, that can be fabulous.