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The Oneida Community Peace between the Sheets In the middle of the 19th century, some health-minded Recently, Karezza has been enjoying a revival in the United individuals, generally males, felt from their own experience that States and knowledge of the practice has also been spreading to non-ejaculatory sex gave them more energy and improved their —_ other countries, in large part due to the efforts of Marnia Robinson health while at the same time prevented unwanted pregnancies. and Gary Wilson. Their female partners were uniformly enthusiastic about the close They maintain the website http:/Avww.reuniting.info with a emotional bonding that it provided. (However, this is not wealth of practical, scientific and spiritual articles as well as a necessarily the case at present, as many women still prefer orgasms discussion forum and a monthly newsletter. The basis for this and men are even more strongly orgasm oriented.) work is Marnia's book Peace between the Sheets: Healing with One pioneer was John Humphrey Noyes from the Yale Divinity Sexual Relationships (2003), available from their website. School. Noyes came up with the concept of male continence as a Gary had been a long-time alcohol addict and was on consequence of his wife losing four premature children in the first prescription antidepressants. Within a short time of instituting six years of their marriage. After struggling with self-imposed their new sexual habits, he found it relatively easy to overcome celibacy, he eventually found that he as well as his wife greatly these problems (although he still had some tough moments); also, enjoyed non-ejaculatory sex. He told friends about it, and in 1848 Marnia's chronic yeast and urinary tract infections disappeared. they founded the Oneida Community in upstate New York, which The book and the website, which includes a number of eventually grew to 250 men and women. Intercourse without testimonials, show the many health and relationship benefits of this ejaculation was a cornerstone of the Oneida Community. Young non-orgasmic approach to making love, and Marnia also provides men learned self-control from post-menopausal women. easy-to-follow instructions and exercises for beginners. Noyes also realised some spiritual implications for male continence: in order to create the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, we The Karezza Method must not only strive for reconciliation In Karezza, the emphasis is on the with God but also bring about a true inner feeling awareness as well as on union of the sexes. He even suggested the feeling of complete union with the that the frequent unease after . partner. Orgasm is avoided or at least ejaculatory intercourse lies at the heart Intercourse without minimised. Caresses and _ slow, of the Judaeo-Christian association ejaculation was a cornerstone of controlled | movements — during between sex and guilt. intercourse generate a steady stream Because of statements from some the Oneida Community. of sexual energy that is consciously medical authorities that non-orgasmic Young men learned self-control converted into feelings of sublime joy sex is harmful, a large number of and love. Typically, this may members of this community were from post-menopausal women. continue for an hour or more. It is not examined by a medical practitioner necessary for the penis to be erect or and found to be "in perfect health, even inside to enjoy this type of happy and in complete harmony".’ lovemaking: part or all of the time, the tip of the penis may just touch the The Development of Karezza entrance of the vagina or the sexual organs may not touch at all. In 1872, after more than 25 years of practice, Noyes published Initially, concentrate awareness on the sensations at the point of his experiences and theories in Male Continence. Two other contact with the partner, in the genital area and wherever the skin Karezza classics are The Karezza Method by J. William Lloyd or a caressing hand touches. This generates pleasant sensations, (1931) and Karezza: Ethics of Marriage by Alice Bunker which can now easily be converted into a loving feeling. Open Stockham, MD (1903). All of these are available as free your heart and send this love to your partner. In a more active downloads from http://www.reuniting info. fashion, you can in your imagination lead the energy felt in the Dr Stockham developed her method mainly to help her patients, genital or pelvic area upwards to the heart. There you feel it as and promoted it as producing better health, greater harmony and love and radiate it out onto your partner and also envelop both of spiritual attainment. She believed that sexual energy may be you in a cloud of love. directed into building bodily tissue and permeating every cell with For many sensitive individuals, this is more satisfying than just health and vigour. mechanically experimenting with different positions or chasing an For Stockham, Karezza was a form of spiritual companionship. elusive orgasm. You may also lie quietly connected, just to relax Partners seek union and mutual soul development rather than and feel close, cared for and protected, without attempting to fleeting passionate gratification, but the emphasis is on loving — generate any specific effects. If sleeping together, you may closeness rather than denial of pleasure. At the appointed time and develop a routine of connecting daily before going to sleep or after after joint meditation, the couple calmly engages in physical contact awakening, or both. This may be done without moving, just to feel and expressions of endearment and affection, followed by the close to each other, or you may sleep together skin to skin. All this complete, quiet union of the sexual organs. is not only emotionally satisfying, but produces strong bonding Only the book by Dr Lloyd still has some practical value in and greatly strengthens the relationship. regard to details of the technique, while the other two books are A connection based on love provides a natural increase in sexual mainly of historical interest. But all of them relate the great health _ self-control, as explained by Dr William Lloyd: "As you acquire and emotional benefits derived from this method. the habit of giving your sexual electricity out in blessing to your By the middle of the 20th century, the practice of Karezza had _ partner from your sex-organs, hands, lips, skin, eyes and voice, greatly declined in the United States, although related non- you will acquire the power to satisfy yourself and her without an ejaculatory methods apparently had gained many followers in orgasm. Soon you will not even think of self-control, because you India and Egypt. will have no desire for the orgasm; nor will she." Peace between the Sheets Recently, Karezza has been enjoying a revival in the United States and knowledge of the practice has also been spreading to other countries, in large part due to the efforts of Marnia Robinson and Gary Wilson. They maintain the website http://www.reuniting.info with a wealth of practical, scientific and spiritual articles as well as a discussion forum and a monthly newsletter. The basis for this work is Marnia's book Peace between the Sheets: Healing with Sexual Relationships (2003), available from their website. Gary had been a long-time alcohol addict and was on prescription antidepressants. Within a short time of instituting their new sexual habits, he found it relatively easy to overcome these problems (although he still had some tough moments); also, Marnia's chronic yeast and urinary tract infections disappeared. The book and the website, which includes a number of testimonials, show the many health and relationship benefits of this non-orgasmic approach to making love, and Marnia also provides easy-to-follow instructions and exercises for beginners. the Oneida Community. Young men learned self-control The Development of Karezza In 1872, after more than 25 years of practice, Noyes published his experiences and theories in Male Continence. Two other Karezza classics are The Karezza Method by J. William Lloyd (1931) and Karezza: Ethics of Marriage by Alice Bunker Stockham, MD (1903). All of these are available as free downloads from http://www.reuniting info. Dr Stockham developed her method mainly to help her patients, and promoted it as producing better health, greater harmony and spiritual attainment. She believed that sexual energy may be directed into building bodily tissue and permeating every cell with health and vigour. For Stockham, Karezza was a form of spiritual companionship. Partners seek union and mutual soul development rather than fleeting passionate gratification, but the emphasis is on loving closeness rather than denial of pleasure. At the appointed time and after joint meditation, the couple calmly engages in physical contact and expressions of endearment and affection, followed by the complete, quiet union of the sexual organs. Only the book by Dr Lloyd still has some practical value in regard to details of the technique, while the other two books are mainly of historical interest. But all of them relate the great health and emotional benefits derived from this method. By the middle of the 20th century, the practice of Karezza had greatly declined in the United States, although related non- ejaculatory methods apparently had gained many followers in India and Egypt. 28 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2007 The Karezza Method Intercourse without from post-menopausal women. www.nexusmagazine.com