Electric flesh-arrows ... traversing the body. A rainbow of color strikes the eyelids. A foam of music falls over the ears. It is the gong of the orgasm. ~ Anais Nin

Like many sexual discussions which rarely or never happen in the midst of our most intimate relationships, yet proliferate the airwaves and video content of adult entertainment, most people have an extremely limited language to work with when it comes to orgasm.  This collective silence about the mystery of orgasm and how it affects our well being and our relationships impacts a stunning percentage of the population.  Many studies, including a 2001 global study (30 countries) of sexual behavior with over 27,000 participants reveals that orgasmic dysfunction is more the norm than the exception.  One third of all women have never experienced an orgasm and the second third rarely experience orgasm.    Orgasmic dysfunction is not just a woman’s story; equal numbers of men suffer from a range of issues that hinder their ability to experience orgasm.

The word orgasm is derived from the Greek word orga which means explosion.  This makes sense because the experience of orgasm often feels like a burst of pleasure, bliss, emotional and physical release.   In fact, the moment of orgasm creates such a complete letting go, that the brain center that controls anxiety and fear is switched off.   Orgasms are as unique as each individual who experiences them.  The wide variety of intensity, location and stimulus that contribute to and create orgasm plays a big part of the mystery that many women experience in identifying what an orgasm feels like.  Interestingly, studies have found that the confusion about experiencing orgasm goes both ways-  some  women claim having an orgasm and show no bodily response, while other women who do have classic response like vaginal contractions and heart racing believe that nothing has happened.  The modern mythology and (dare I say it; pornography) of orgasm looms so large that many of us are not even sure how to identify our own.

The good news is that the more orgasms you have, the more orgasms you’re likely to have in the future.  Learning about your own sexual response and developing your orgasmic potential will bring both immediate gratification and long-term satisfaction.   As with any skill based human motor function, all bodies come equipped with the tools for orgasm, yet without the proper education and opportunity to practice, many people never successfully achieve the synergy of mind, body and spirit to release this very unique and revelatory experience.  It is a quest worthy or our time and attention.

The first step on this journey is taking the conversation about sensation, pleasure and orgasm out of the adult entertainment industry and back into the privacy of our bedrooms.  This may seem like stating the obvious, but actually intimate sexual conversations are harder than you would think to come by.  Your sense of safety in yourself and in your relationship is key to expressing your desires and living in the vulnerable place that opens to sexuality.  This is a tall order given the combined impact of the lack of sexual knowledge we're raised with, our shared cultural anxiety, and how little scientific knowledge is available about sexual response.   

Orgasm is the human expression of life force and whether you are among the lucky few who know it as the height of intimate relationships or are among the many that are looking for the gate to knowing it better, it is a currency that affects us all.