“ We need to stop defining sex as merely physical function, and begin to
acknowledge it’s emotional and spiritual depth.”
Mikaya Hart (1)
“ The use of medical language mystifies human experience, increasing dependence
on professionals and experts. If sexuality becomes fundamentally a matter of
vasocongestion and myotonia… personal experience requires expert interpretation
and explanation.”
Leonore Tiefer (2)
My body, heart and soul have been a laboratory for research on
the female orgasm.
Annie Sprinkle
Freud, as brilliant as he was, defined just two types of female
orgasm-- vaginal and clitoral. To me, that’s like saying
the world is flat! As groundbreaking and invaluable Alfred Kinsey’s
statistics on women’s orgasms in America in the mid-twentieth
century have been, we have come a long way baby, since then. Dr.
Masters and Virginia Johnson studied thousands of women having
orgasms in their laboratory. However they focused almost exclusively
on the physiological aspects of the ‘sexual response cycle’.
As important as their research has been, that’s like saying
LIFE is about heartbeats, blood flow and sweat glands. A number
of people have come up with a variety of models of the female orgasm.
Here are mine. My methodology has been to experience as many kinds
of female orgasm as I possibly could. My body, heart and soul have
been a laboratory for research on the female orgasm. I have come—literally—to
know that an excellent way to learn about the many kinds of female
orgasm is to have many varieties of lovers, and have as many varieties
of sexual experiences as possible. Every sex partner has different
sexual skills, styles, and assets, and every sex partner no matter
how gifted, has their limitations. From the age of eighteen to
twenty-eight I had approximately 3,500 sex partners, and experienced
sex in a huge variety of ways. (Since I became monogamous, the
kinds of orgasms I have are far more limited.) I am not suggesting
that sexologists researching orgasm go out and do what I did. I
simply want to share some of my findings. Orgasms are like grains
of sand; no two are exactly alike. Examine each grain of sand closely
enough you can see huge differences in each one. You can put them
into categories—brown grains, white grains, and pink grains…etc.
Still within each sub-category is enormous variety. The same thing
happens when you try to group types of orgasm. It is important
to bare in mind that one grain of sand is not better or worse than
another. And one kind of orgasm is not better or worse than another.
They are simply different. Hopefully my way of categorizing the
female orgasm will be helpful in some small way. Perhaps it will
help stimulate further discussion, exploration, and research.
DREAM-GASMS
The infamous ‘Kinsey Report’ found that 37% of American
females (in the fifties) had experienced dreams which led to orgasm
by the age of forty five. (3) These require absolutely no genital
stimulation. Sometimes we simply wake up and we are in orgasm.
Sometimes we dream we are having orgasm and we have one at the
same time. Sometimes we only dream of one but it is orgasmic in
a non-physical or less physical way. Dream-gasms sometimes occur
with strong vaginal and anal contractions, and sometimes not. They
can feel like a clitoral orgasm, or an energy orgasm. They are
extremely pleasurable. Sometimes a full bladder can trigger such
orgasms.
MICROGASMS
These are quite small, extremely subtle orgasms that occur without
any physical stimulation. They can take various forms. If we simply
stop and focus on our erotic energy body, and visualize the orgasmic
flow inside us, we can physically feel orgasmic waves pulse through
our bodies and feel the “tension and release” on a
very subtle level. It’s similar to the idea that ‘enlightenment
is within us’. If we focus, we can bring about spiritual
feelings. Orgasm is within us. If we focus, we can bring about
orgasmic feelings. It’s as if when we focus on our cells
multiplying we can feel the cells having orgasms. ‘Cellular-gasms.’ Ray
Stubbs calls them “sprit-body orgasms”, and explains
that they “could be easily missed if we are not looking for
them.” (4) Also if we focus on our autonomic nervous system
we can feel bioenergetic reactions, where the body begins twitching
on its own. This can be super orgasmic. If when we are sneezing
we eroticise the sneeze, we can transmute it into an orgasm. When
we get the “chills” we can eroticise the feelings and
turn them into orgasms. Juliet Carr, who does sensual massage,
calls the goosebumps that occur from this kind of orgasm, “orgabumps”.
Microgasms can also occur while doing various activities that are
pleasurable—walking in the wind, laying in the sun, singing
on stage, etc. There has been some scientific study on energy orgasms,
but a very minimal amount, as far as I could ascertain. Beverly
Whipple and Gina Ogden did a study on “thinking off” in
their laboratory--to see if women could have orgasms without genital
stimulation. They found that it did occur. They also found that “…there
was our own laboratory evidence that some women achieved what they
claimed were satisfying orgasms without the characteristic contractions
of the orgasmic platform.” (5) It is possible to simply lay
down, do nothing but focus on erotic feelings in the body and begin
to twitch and shake, with “kriyas” (a yogic term),
and go into orgasmic ecstasy. I have known a number of people who
can do this. These kinds of orgasms can easily be taught. I have
taught many women how to have them in various workshops. They reside
just below our surface. All we need to do is let them bubble up.
INTER-VAGINAL ORGASMS
In this category I will lump together what are called vaginal orgasms,
g-spot orgasms and cervical orgasms--any and all orgasms that happen
inside the vagina with inter-vaginal stimulation (with fingers,
fists, dildos, penises, etc.) Each of these kinds of orgasm feels
slightly different, and sometimes they occur together. Some inter-vaginal
orgasms are totally subtle and some are overwhelming. I believe
that many women are having various kinds of inter-vaginal orgasms
all the time, but don’t acknowledge them as such, because
they are looking for them to feel like clitoral orgasms, and they
don’t. There are many feminists who believe that clitoral
orgasms are the superior orgasms. They want to set the record straight
after Freud misled so many women (and men). Expert sex educator,
Betty Dodson, for example, doesn’t really consider g-spot
or vaginal orgasms valad orgasms. G-spot orgasms can happen with
or without ejaculation. (Ejaculation can also occur without orgasm).
Cervical orgasms often occur with fisting. One can feel a huge
tension release deep in the gut. They are almost like belly orgasms.
Often vaginal orgasms can occur without a climax.
BREATH AND ENERGY ORGASMS
The fact that our mainstream culture does not acknowledge or practice
these kinds of orgasms is in my expert opinion a major oversight.
Breath and energy orgasms are wonderful, satisfying and can be
mind-blowing. They are easily learned. Sexologist Ray Stubbs calls
this kind of orgasm ‘an energy generation model’, as
opposed to a ‘tension release model’.(6) Often these
kinds of orgasms are taught and enjoyed by the ‘New Age Tantric
types’ of people. Kutira teaches the “Wave” where
one undulates erotically, thus “activating the cerebral spinal
fluid and orgasmic reflex”. Harley Swiftdeer teaches the
Native American version, the Firebreath Orgasm (not to be confused
with the yoga exercise the Breath of Fire) where one lays down
and breathes up through the chakras. Barbara Carrellas and Kate
Bornstein teach their version which they call the Gender-free Orgasm.
Jwala and myself teach Breath and Energy Orgasm. Sunyata Saraswati
teaches the Cobra Breath Orgasm. Some practicioners can generate
at will what is perhaps the most intense kind of energy orgasm,
the “Kundalini orgasm”. They practice this for a lifetime(s)
and achieve amazing feats. They also warn of the dangers of these
extremely strong orgasms. When Ray Stubbs had one, he flew off
his chair, fell and became paralyzed. One woman I know had one
and had a nervous breakdown. People have hurt their backs. On the
other hand, they can also be extremely healing, transformative,
and enlightening. Breath and energy orgasms can occur (or be created)
from conscious, rhythmic, deep breathing, or other ways of generating
energy in the body such as swimming, running, risk taking, listening
to a piece of music, etc. I have talked with several men who were
in combat Viet Nam and they told me that when they were in combat,
they had erections and had intense energy orgasms, sometimes even
with ejaculation. I’d call these feargasms, or adrenalingasms.
Basically a person learns how to build energy with thought, kegals,
undulation, visualization, surrender, etc. Once the energy is built,
it kicks into a release phase, which can be mild or extremely intense.
Squeezing the PC muscles helps eroticize the energy and pump it
the body for a more full-bodied effect. In this category I would
include angergasms, laughgasms and crygasms—where an intense
emotional release is ‘orgasmicised’ (like eroticised).
Physiologically these can compare to clitoral and vaginal orgasms,
with increased breath rates, with the ‘sex flush’,
increased heart rate, sweaty palms and feet, etc. They can be very
physically intense, with lots of tetney (a rebirthing term), and
feelings like you are plugged into an electrical socket. There
can be enormous tingly sensation in hands, feet and lips, eyeballs
roll back into the head, back arches, and orgasm sounds occur.
CLITORAL ORGASMS
Perhaps the only thing about female orgasm that is at this point
in history widely agreed on is that women can have clitoral orgasms.
The clitoris is stimulated, muscular tension builds, and there
are vaginal contractions and a release of the energy. These can
occur very localized just in the clitoris, or the feelings can
spread up into the belly and groin and over the whole body. They
can be teeny-tiny, or humongous. Clitoral orgasms can be ‘extended’.
Masters and Johnson found what they coined “status orgasmus”,
orgasms which lasted “20 to more than 60 seconds”.(7)
Masters and Johnson definitely didn’t measure orgasms of
the masters. I’ve known women that could have repeated clitoral
orgasms lasting for many minutes in a row. A woman can have clitoral
orgasms without a ‘climax’. But a clitoral climax always
comes with an orgasm. There are multiple clitoral orgasms, and
also possible are multiple clitoral climaxes. There are very deep
clitoral orgasms, and surface clitoral orgasms.
COMBINATION-GASMS
Sometimes a gal has just one kind of orgasm in one part of the
body, in one way. But often two or more kinds of orgasm are combined
in succession or in tandem. These can be in absolutely any combination.
During a single sex session, one might experience all seven different
kinds of orgasm, if one is very lucky. In fact energy orgasms are
almost always connected with clitoral or vaginal orgasms. Although
I have on some occasions experienced an orgasm that took place
only in my clitoris, and had virtually no energy behind it at all.
MEGAGASMS
These are the volcano of all orgasms, or the tsunami of all orgasms.
A megagasm is an intense full body experience, a deeply emotional
experience, and for some a deeply spiritual experience. It generally
lasts an extended lengthy of time, from thirty seconds to in some
cases up to an hour or two. Several megagasms have been documented
on video, although they are extremely rare. Not that many women
are capable of letting go that deeply or handling that much pleasure
and ecstasy and orgasmic energy. In my video Sluts and Goddesses
I have a five-minute long megagasm. Megagasms are usually brought
about by very intense physical stimulation—with very hard
fucking combined with a really strong vibrator on the clitoris,
fist fucking, anal sex with vaginal and clitoral stimulation, etc.
Sometimes some uncomfort or pain can trigger one. The stimulation
goes way beyond normal love making, into surrendering to intense
physical force and massive genital manipulation (which can also
include kissing, nipple sucking, bondage, etc.). It helps to have
an ‘orgasm midwife’, someone who is totally present
that can manage and handle the incredible intensity of such orgasms.
(Many people can be very scared of, and uncomfortable with the
force of megagasms.) The person having the orgasm’s face
can severely contort like one is having a baby, there is a huge
ego surrender. Megagasms can come with past life recalls, and intense
visual imagery like with psychedelics. It can feel as if there
is a lifetime of pent up energy and emotion bursting free. They
are very primal. There can be a sensation of being ‘breathed
by the universe’, like you are a channel for orgasmic energy,
like you are open for the life force to pass through you. Often
people will have empathetic orgasms when they are in the presence
of someone having megagasm.
IN CONCLUSION
Much of the research about orgasm has been to focus in on, to magnify,
and to define exactly what orgasm is. I believe we must widen our
perceptions and expand our concepts of orgasm. Interview and test
the orgasm experts--the women who have had extra-ordinary experience
with orgasm. Many women think that if an orgasm doesn’t feel
like a clitoral orgasm, then it must not be an orgasm. They are
limiting themselves. Expanding our concept of orgasm can open the
mind and body to experiencing new things. With proper instruction
and with practice they become more conscious and clear. Then we
can enjoy living more ecstatic, healthy, orgasmic lives, filled
with ecstasy, bliss.
END.
FOOTNOTES 1. Heart, Mikaya.
When the Earth Moves—Women and Orgasm. P. 6. 2. Strong, Bryan
and DeVault, Christine. Human Sexuality. P. 117. 3. Kinsey, Alfred,
et al. Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. W.B. Saunders Company,
Philadelphia/London. 1953—P. 196 4. Stubbs, Kenneth Ray.
Sacred Orgasms. P. 67 5. Ladas, Alice Kahn, Whipple, Beverly, and
Perry, John D. The G Spot P. 147 6. Stubbs, Kenneth Ray. Sacred
Orgasms. P.70 7. Masters, William H. M.D. and Johnson, Virginia
E. Human Sexual Response. P. 131-132
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Heart, Mikaya. When
the Earth Moves—Women and Orgasm.
Celestial Arts. Berkeley, Ca. 1998
Ladas, Alice Kahn, Whipple, Beverly, and Perry, John D. The G Spot.
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, New York. 1982.
Masters, William H. M.D. and Johnson, Virginia E. Human Sexual
Response. Little, Brown and Company,
Boston. 1966.
Schwartz, Bob. The One Hour Orgasm.
Breakthru Publishing, Houston, Texas. 1989.
Strong, Bryan and DeVault, Christine. Human
Sexuality. Mayfield Publishing
Co. Mountain View, Ca. 1994.
Stubbs, Kenneth Ray. Sacred Orgasms.
Secret Gardens, Larkspur, Ca. 1992.
JOURNALS
Tiefer, Leonore. Historical, Scientific,
Clinical and Feminist Criticisms of “The Human Sexual Response
Cycle” Model. Annual Review
of Sex Research, Volume 2, 1991.
WORKSHOPS
Which I’ve taken where
I gathered information about orgasm:
Harley Swiftdeer—Quodoska
II
Margo Anand—Sky Dancing
Tantra
Alan Lowen—Love, Sex and
Intimacy
Jwala—Tantra l, ll, and
lll
Sunyata Saraswati—Tantra.
Cobra Breath
Dieter Jarzombec—Wings of
Joy
Joseph Kramer—Tantric Group
Rebirth
Body Electric—Cosmic Orgasm
Awareness Week, Erotic Massage.
Kutira and Raphael—Oceanic
Tantra
Chester Mainard—Rosebud
Massage
Bob Schwarz—The One Hour
Orgasm
Annie sprinkle, Barbara Carrellas, Linda Montano—Sacred
Sex
David Ramsdate—Sexual Energy
Ecstasy
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