I was very excited to finally be able to meet my Bodysex teachers: Carlin and Laura, and see how they run the Bodysex workshop. It was part of my certification program, to assist the workshop and feel yourself as a future Bodysex teacher. So not thinking too long, I bought my tickets to New York and on June 20th I was on my way to Menla, which is a retreat centre hidden in the Catskill mountains in Phoenicia, New York state. This is a very unique venue, inspired by the ancient Buddhist kingdom of Tibet, and owned by the Dalai Lama. You can feel unspoiled wildness and thousands of acres of mountain forest there, fresh air coming in with every breath you take…
I was welcomed by the music of local birds, who were happily singing welcome on my arrival. I entered the area of peace and tranquillity, which was already putting me at a higher energetic level. I settled down in a beautiful wooden house together with my Bodysex colleague.
Soon I entered the main hall, where our circle would happen and where we would spend the next few days, exploring our sexuality and experiencing the best feminine power, and connection I have ever witnessed. 30 black back jacks were set up in two circles, ready to hold 30 brave feminine explorers, who arrive here to meet their true self. The place was breathing calmness and some kind of magic… like you know something important is to happen.
Betty Dodson was holding workshops a few times in this hall, just before her death. She was here, I was imagining her walking around the circle and laughing together with women who came to experience the feeling of working with the master. Carlin and Laura asked us to meet one night before all participants come, to experience the circle just among the teachers and teachers to be. We were sitting naked together and talking, introducing each other, describing our history of meeting Bodysex and how we decided to become a Bodysex leader… That was really touching and beautiful, to hear all our stories and missions we were on – each of us has a mission, to support other women, to make pleasure and sexuality widely available for each and every woman, and to teach women the power of self-pleasure and orgasmic energy, which is changing the lives not only of ourselves but also people who are around us. Then just before we were supposed to start deep dive into pleasure practice, Carlin said she had a gift for us. Then she opened the beautiful golden box and took from there a small cork-stoppered glass bottle and said: « I was thinking about what would be the best gift for future Bodysex teachers, and I thought to share with you Betty’s ashes. So she would always be with you, and support you in carrying this deep mission further into the world, allowing women to become free, self-aware, and leaving their life to the fullest, without shame, guilt, and repression… enjoying their bodies, sexuality and carrying power of orgasmic energy. »
Tears came to my eyes, I had never thought I would be able to have Betty always be present with me, part of her, the real her is now together with me – forever… I could never dream of it, expect it… Betty Dodson is a legend, a woman who stood up on the frontier of the feminist revolution and has dedicated her life to women’s sexual liberation, teaching them self-awareness, sexual independence, and the art of self-pleasure. She is called the mother of masturbation and the one who has introduced vibrators to women’s pleasure world (I do not know if you know that vibrators were forbidden in some US states, like Texas until late 2008). Now her part is with me and will be with me forever. I will carry your mission further Betty and your work will go on… Rest in peace, my dear mother teacher.
The next day, 30 beautiful women came to the workshop. All in different ages, mainly from all over the United States, some of them from Canada as well. We met in the beautiful old barn with a fireplace, to get to know each other. We were all curious and in anticipation of what was to come, not knowing exactly how is it going to be and what we are going to experience. All of us are ready to discover new, ready to open up, get out of our comfort zone, and go with the flow of Betty’s teachings.
