Sex Magick.

Rituals.

Alchemy.

Do these words hold any weight anymore? We’ve deviated from the original definitions and misappropriated language to attract and sell these ideas.

How do we reclaim them so that they make sense as useful tools in our lives?

As a mentor, facilitator, and guide, I get questions about these topics all of the time and have come up my own definition of sexual alchemy and ways to transmute fear and pain into bliss and ecstasy. It’s possible. I’ve done it. And I’d love to share what has helped me with you.

So what is sexual alchemy, really?

The internet defines alchemy /ˈalkəmē/ as a seemingly magical transformation process turning the ordinary into gold. Sexual Alchemy is the process of transmuting our experiences and tapping into our sexual, creative life force to ultimately uncover our golden bliss bodies.

Our bodies have become calcified over time and we live in a society where there is little space to allow our feelings to run their course to completion. So we cut them off and they get stuck in the body. We often attribute this to the patriarchy, ancestral, epigenetic, societal, and direct experiences among many other compounding factors.

The Great News

Our creativity and power is sourced from within which means we create it and no one can take it away from us. We could harness this energy to create thriving, ecstatic lives! And it’s essential to become intimately familiar with our rhythms, feelings, and sensations which will help to identify and release trauma stored in the body thereby creating the space to let go… and let in.

In order to create the conditions for sexual alchemy to occur, commit to small intentional habits, which lead to daily rituals, and ultimately create the space for transmutation and positive behavioral change. The below is by no means a comprehensive list, but it’s loaded with neuroscience findings (ie science facts) with a splash of magic for your pleasure!

13 Ways to Alchemize Your Morning Routine

Morning routines are proven to be essential for highly effective, badass humans. We are designed for routine and thrive with daily rituals and practices. Experiment with these simple practices to get your day started in the best way possible for you brain, body, and heart.

Creating the space for growth and expansion requires clarity and consistency. Stick to at least 3-5 practices for a minimum of 30-60 days, and you will notice positive behavioral changes. Consistency is everything. Find a friend. Check in on each other. Make it fun. Stay cool.

1. Visualize. The point is to FEEL your vision in your bones. Engage the senses. Taste it. Smell it. What feelings does this evoke within you? Feel what it feels like to already be in the vibration of what you are calling in. Maybe it’s embodying grace or the sun’s warmth on your skin while working from a beach in Tulum. Maybe it’s the satisfaction of nailing your pitch to potential investors. Or the after bliss glow of sweet love making. Practice connecting with the feeling.
2. Meditate. Start small. I love Isha Kriya and other guided practices. You may wish to work with mantra and mudras. Research shows meditation and visualization result in both cognitive and social benefits and these effects continue to yield meaningful results throughout the day, according to our friends at Neurohacker Collective.
3. Mirror, Mirror. Look into your eyes and declare a positive affirmation out loud around something you’d like to embody (ie “I am safe”, “I am healthy”, “I am here”). For instance, if you are working through trauma where you did not feel safe, it may be best to try “I am safe within this body”, place your hand on your heart, and notice how your cells change over time.
4. Breathe. I enjoy diaphragmatic breathwork to calm my thoughts and increase concentration. Parasympathetic, shamanic, kundalini breathwork and the Art of Breath 101 Online Course are great resources.
5. Drink. One glass of H20 upon waking – bonus points for using a copper cup! Starting the day with hot water and lemon is rooted in ayurveda and has loads of benefits.
6. Move. Shake it out, dance to one full song (literally as if noone is watching), stretch, run, jump your jacks, lift, spin, yoga asana, qi gong etc. Tiring the body prepares the mind for meditation.
7. Sun. Observing the early morning sunrise helps us drop into our circadian rhythm and energizes us for the day. Take a walk outside and feel the warmth or light on your skin. Bare feet on Earth. Check out LED devices if you’re in need of spectrum wavelengths.
8. Write. It could be anything – morning pages, to do lists, a poem, a note to your inner child, or doodles. Practice writing about your feelings and what you’d like to release and create the space for. Do this for at least 5 minutes daily.
9. Gratitude. YAS. I start and end each day with 3 gratitudes. If others make it into my thoughts, I make it a point to tell them what I appreciate about them. Everybody wins!
10. Do. Create a to do list to settle the brain. Start with 3 small goals with the prompt, “Today, I will…” There is medicine in the doing.
11. Altar. You may wish to create an altar or offering, say a prayer, write out your intention or what you wish to manifest to serve as a daily, visual reminder. If you’re feeling curious, research the healing properties of crystals, essential oils and tarot.
12. Music. Uplifting and energizing is key. I accidentally listened to DMX and became the most irritable human being on the planet. I love hip hop, but maybeeee not first thing in the A.M. Sing to activate and awaken your voice.
13. Pleasure. Drop into the bliss body. Create the time and space for pleasure which could be everything from gentle touch to vibration and penetration. Channeling our sexual energy is a powerful force for creation and may include practices from pelvic floor strengthening to self pleasuring.

Enjoy experimenting, don’t take anything too seriously, and remember that the fun is in the becoming. In the words of Anna Quindlen, “the thing that is really hard, and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself”. What has been manifested reflects what is dominant in your vibration. Make peace with wherever you are. Evolution takes time, and change is not birthed from a space of dissatisfaction from what is. Welcome. Accept. Alchemize.

So tell me, what is one small action you will take today to create a thriving, embodied life?

I’d love to hear from you – reach out with questions, follow me on Instagram @erikartagena or reach out to me via www.erikacartagena.com. Much Love.