"How Psychedelics Informed My Sex Life and Sex Work" by Annie Sprinkle

[Expat98]

I just ran across an article by Annie Sprinkle, the former porn star turned performance artist, titled "How Psychedelics Informed My Sex Life and Sex Work". I saw Annie at one of her shows about 15 years ago...I still have vivid memories of her performance, as well as a photo of me sitting in a chair and her standing behind me and leaning over with her warm breasts wrapped around my head. In the article she says that she was at her sexual peak in 1993 - that would have been right about the time when I met her.

I think this is worth a read. Below are a few excerpts. (See the full article here.)

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One night [on peyote] I had a remarkable erotic experience. I made love with the Earth and the Sky in an energetic and emotional way as I meditated and masturbated ("medibated") under the stars. I became acutely aware of the sensuality of the desert, of every grain of sand, of the wind, and the plants. It was super erotic, immensely satisfying, and oh so cosmic! After that experience, I expanded my concept of what sex was. It was not simply about bodies coming together for physical sex, but about circulating sexual energy, which was everywhere and available just for the asking. I could tap into it just by tuning in and saying "yes." I realized that everything was sexual/ sensual--that even all my little cells were all having sex. Sex was both microscopic and enormous.

***

Another time [on Ecstasy], I sat naked in front of my mirror and looked at my repressed anger, and let it surface. I hissed like a snake for several hours, and witnessed my inner Medusa in a remarkably non-judgmental and fearless way. I realized how sexual energy and anger are connected. I realized that in order to go to the next level of my sexuality I needed to learn to better express my anger. I practiced, and sure enough, I learned to have long, extended orgasms.

***

Although I did have some wonderful orgasms on Ecstasy, the experience of Ecstasy was not so much about orgasm or sex, as it was about looking deeply into my Self--heart, soul, and psyche. Each time I took Ecstasy I retained some key piece of information that I could utilize to grow as a person, and expand my (sexual) horizons. I found the lover I had been searching for so long--me! When I took it with lovers, I could feel a sense of empathy with my lover without doing anything. I experienced my body as a temple, and sex as prayer. Ecstasy took me into my heart the way that psychedelics took me into my mind and spirit. Also when on Ecstasy I would sometimes have wonderful, long "crygasms." Ecstasy showed me a deeper kind of love, which I was inspired to create more of in my life, without the drug.

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Oddly enough, I have not found a whole lot written about psychedelics in relation to sex, when to me they seem so totally interconnected.

From what I have gathered, psychedelics are generally not used much as aphrodisiacs for sexual arousal--although people do report having phantastasmagorical sexual experiences on them. More often the user gains some key information, has a new experience, or sees her/himself from a new perspective, and any of this can greatly inform that person's sexual life. Just as each sexual experience can potentially teach us something about sex, each drug experience can potentially teach us something about sex. And for that matter, sexual experiences can potentially teach us something about how to take drug trips more effectively. As I became more sexually experienced, I became much better at handling my psychedelic journeys. I learned how to not have expectations, and how to surrender.

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People tend to link "sex and drugs" because both are condemned by society. Nevertheless, throughout the ages human beings have continually searched for more ecstasy, more sexual satisfaction, for solutions to their sexual problems, and for aphrodisiacs. Psychoactive substances have been used in most cultures because they can be keys to unlock the mysteries of life. Of course as each mystery is unraveled, a bunch of new ones appear. Both sex and psychedelics are ultimately about consciousness, about self discovery, and going beyond everyday reality to that magical place--somewhere over the rainbow, where we feel Divine and we experience some truth. Granted, both sex and psychedelic drugs are generally used unconsciously by most people.5 We need to work on that.

Reputation Comments on this post:

	huh, interesting, thanks for sharing.
	thanks for sharing this

[Heretic.Ape.]

Thanks for posting this. I watched a film that Annie Sprinkles did about her career several years ago when I was at university, the school was holding a pornography fair. It was a great experience and I enjoyed her exuberance, playfulness, poignancy and humor. She reminds me of the difference between innocence and (what most people mistake as innocence) ignorance. Nice article.
h.a.