I recently attended a conference — the first ever, on the topic of women and psychedelic drugs.
I led a workshop about drugs and sex, although I don't know if "led" is quite the right word. I consider myself a cosmic neophyte!
I asked the participants to answer a couple anonymous questions on index cards:
What was your first psychedelic sexual experience?
What was your last?
What's your favorite drug when it comes to sex?
I'll be posting their replies this week.
Here's my first podcast on the subject, where I blurt out all my first impressions:
In Bed with Susie Bright 256: Psychedelic Sex
Altogether at She Shamans, we had about a hundred participants, and maybe a dozen women in my workshop. Hardly enough to do a grand survey, but it was the first time I have ever had a chance to talk openly to women about sex and psychedelics.
Drugs in general, and psychedelics in particular, bring up female issues that we never read about in scholoarly journals or hear debated at drug policy or entheogenic seminars. Our experiences in adolescence, with motherhood, and in menopause, all bring up extraordinarily different takes.
I started from the premise that there is a taboo for women to give in to intoxication and ecstasy, no matter how brief a sojourn.
When a man is high and horny, he's just another horny-high dude— but when a woman gives up her "responsibilities" to follow lust and outer consciousness, it's as if she has turned in her badge of virtue forever.
Even women who feel comfortable talking about their drug use, rarely feel comfortable talking about the sex they have, or want, when they embark on a trip. When have I ever talked about women and drugs outside the dilemma of addiction? Never.
It's time to move beyond the image of the crack whore... in fact, that's what I wanted to call my workshop: "Beyond the Crack Whore." Move over, nympho junkie and drunken slut! There's a whole new psycho-naut pussycat who has something to say!
There are a number of positive questions and gateways psychoactive drugs can offer to women's sexual lives and intimate relationships. My head is still spinning from all that I heard— and that is only my sober assessment! I'll try to share as many as I can in the coming week. Please do listen to the podcast if you can, so we can dig in even sooner.
At the close of my show, in my mailbag, I offer some advice to a very nervous late bloomer. Don't forget, you can send your confidential questions, feedback about the show, and requests for Susie's "Girly Cards" to susie@susiebright.com. (Episode 256, July 14, 2006)
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