The Power of Intention: How Masturbation can be a Form of Witchcraft

Masturbation is a highly personal and private act that has been practiced by individuals for centuries. It involves the stimulation of one's own genitals for sexual pleasure. Some individuals believe that masturbation is a form of witchcraft, often associating it with immoral behavior or supernatural powers. The idea that masturbation is a form of witchcraft stems from religious and cultural beliefs that view sexuality as sinful or unnatural. In these perspectives, engaging in any sexual activity outside of heterosexual intercourse for procreation is considered taboo. Masturbation is seen as a deviation from this norm and is therefore condemned.

If anything, my anxiety worsened in the weeks that followed as the COVID-19 crisis escalated. But the weekend after my witching session, I did contact my local mental health support services to admit I needed proper help and counselling. Whether or not this was connected to my cosmic yoni powers is unclear, but it was a positive outcome with an undeniable link to my intention. They contacted me a few days later, the same day the VICE UK office was emptied and we were instructed to work from home. At first this sent me into a catastrophic downwards spiral, and still, if I allow my mind to go there, that tornado sucks me in. But after four weeks of social distancing, I now see myself settling in, and my mental health unexpectedly improving.

The atheist in me knows that lighting a candle, doing some breathing exercises and wanking in a yoga studio probably didn t cause the world as we know it to come to a grinding halt. Inside the ritual room was a circle of mats and blankets surrounding the altar , decorated with pink roses, candles, crystals and ganesha statuettes.

Masturbation is seen as a deviation from this norm and is therefore condemned. However, it is important to note that these beliefs are often based on outdated and misguided understandings of human sexuality. Modern science and psychology have debunked many of the myths surrounding masturbation.

I Did a 'Sex Magic' Ritual – and It Actually Changed My Life

I reconnected with my yoni in front of seven strangers and asked the cosmic universe for some time to myself.

Bear with me: you can cast spells through masturbating – at least, according to those who believe that you can cast spells through masturbating.

It's called sex magic, and it harnesses the chronically suppressed power of female sexual energy to "manifest" an intention. It's a kind of modern witchcraft, but there are no pointy hats, layers of black lace or broomsticks involved.

Far from being a witch, I'd probably say I'm an atheist. That said, at the sex magic ritual I went to in early March – before the coronavirus lockdown – what I wished for came true. My "intention" was to make more time for myself and feel less guilty about just being at home, and that's exactly what I've spent the past month doing. Granted, there's a global pandemic on, meaning we're literally not allowed to leave our homes. But hear me out.

Sex Magic: How to Cast Spells with Your Orgasms

"You can think of your intention like a spell, and your body as the cauldron," said Amy White, founder of London's "Temple of the Feminine". That night, she was going to help eight women, myself included, combine our "yonic" powers (our vagina powers) to bring about cosmic change. We were gathered in an east London yoga studio decked out in Scandinavian furniture and soap that smelled like it could double as a herbal remedy. The exact kind of soap you'd expect to find in a venue that hosts sex magic rituals.

But what brings an atheist to a spiritual circle jerk?

Employed, housed and emotionally supported by friends and family, I'd be lying if I said my life was in great need of improvement. But that doesn't make the daily strain of London existence any easier. I often feel overwhelmed by sadness and loneliness, and struggle a great deal to keep my mental health in check. I don't regularly make time for myself, know when to say no or hide my insecurities. I feel guilty if I'm not doing something or seeing someone. In short, I could probably do with some help from my inner cauldron.

Like many millennials, I also find myself increasingly drawn towards pop non-denominational spiritual enlightenment. I've downloaded Co-Star and become obsessed with my Leo sun/Pisces moon identity crisis. I've started wearing a cheap aquamarine stone pendant. I say "namaste" and touch my third eye at the end of yoga class. I'm the worst! The question is: could a vulvar stuck in a depressing cycle of chronic thrush and vulvar dermatitis actually move the universe? Become its own personal therapist? Could I believe?

There was only one way to find out.

Outside the red-bathed ritual room, in a narrow corridor, I saw a pair of women huddled over a handful of powder. "I'm going to do this again with more intention," said one, followed by a deep inhale. I later learned the powder to be nothing more exciting than rapé, a (legal) shamanic snuff used to clear the mind.

Inside the ritual room was a circle of mats and blankets surrounding the "altar", decorated with pink roses, candles, crystals and ganesha statuettes. Sex magic rituals – judging from Amy's, at least – are a jumbled western hybrid of Hinduism, South American shamanism and Wicca. They also look very pretty.

We took our places on the mats around the circle, setting at our sides a bottle of water and lube (as instructed in our briefing email). Then we added small trinkets to the altar to take home "charged with the energy of the evening". Next to a large, ridged, glass dildo I added a small Leo charm I picked up at the same place as my aquamarine pendant.

It soon became clear that actually touching yourself and casting spells would be a very small section of the night's proceedings. First we offered up our intentions, which ranged from resolving trauma around feeling unloved, to buying a house.

I'm not someone usually lost for words, but trying to think of something I genuinely wanted – and would be willing to share with strangers under the heady glow of a hundred candles – triggered so much anxiety that I said my intention was to clear my anxiety and take time for myself. "And maybe stop coronavirus," I added, because why not have a go.

Far from laughing at this ludicrous fantasy, the other witches simply smiled sagely, as one added, "Yes, this is possible."

Little did I know that this (and the advice of hundreds of scientists) would be the cosmic force that forced Boris Johnson to abandon the herd immunity strategy.

We then began a round of Kundalini and cleansing breathing exercises. Amy told us to use the breath to clear any trapped tension in our "root", meaning womb and vaginal area, and I suddenly couldn't stop thinking of queefing. Luckily nothing came out, as it would have absolutely killed the vibe. Suitably cleared, we were instructed to imagine a pipe carrying energy from our vaginal opening right up through our head, and to shoot our breath through this straight line. All the sharp intake of oxygen gave me a natural head rush, and I could feel blood rushing somewhere else too.

Cleansed, we lay back on our mats and entered a period of tantric touch – caressing our skin with fingertips "as water", and scratching and grabbing "as fire". We were told to touch ourselves as would our ideal lover, and to visualise our intention. We said "hello" to our yonis by cupping them, simultaneously placing our intention in the mind's eye. It was unclear when we were supposed to start rubbing ourselves, so I threw a furtive glance at my neighbour to check if I was doing it right. The collective moaning became increasingly ecstatic around the room, and I imagined I was on the right track. Much like home wanking, our session ended with a closed-eyed corpse pose meditation.

In the week that followed my ritual, I assessed my intention and ability to manifest. My spell to stop coronavirus, one could argue, failed catastrophically. But my other intentions, not through any conscious connection, started to come through in unexpected ways.

If anything, my anxiety worsened in the weeks that followed as the COVID-19 crisis escalated. But the weekend after my witching session, I did contact my local mental health support services to admit I needed proper help and counselling. Whether or not this was connected to my cosmic yoni powers is unclear, but it was a positive outcome with an undeniable link to my intention. They contacted me a few days later, the same day the VICE UK office was emptied and we were instructed to work from home. At first this sent me into a catastrophic downwards spiral, and still, if I allow my mind to go there, that tornado sucks me in. But after four weeks of social distancing, I now see myself settling in, and my mental health unexpectedly improving.

Now that we're all social distancing, I feel myself doing all the things I committed myself to doing in the ritual. Taking care of my body, committing to (indoor) routines that are self-indulgent, going out for a (once daily) walk alone for the sake of it. Calling a friend just to talk about their day. Facetiming someone while watching Mean Girls for the billionth time. Not everything has to have a purpose. Also, it's actually OK to not reply to an email straight away, because who's going to come over to your desk and complain?

It's often considered a shitty thing to call yourself a "giving person", because complimenting yourself on being good is seen to somehow negate the good trait. But I think this is unfair. Recognising the way you answer other people's needs, and the toll that can take, will make you more mindful of your own needs. And there's nothing wrong with realising you need to be kinder to yourself.

The atheist in me knows that lighting a candle, doing some breathing exercises and wanking in a yoga studio probably didn't cause the world as we know it to come to a grinding halt. But my newly awakened womb cauldron knows the power of using this shitty situation to focus on the stuff that's usually abandoned, even if it's playing the Sims 4 for five hours straight because that's what you feel like doing.

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Now that we're all social distancing, I feel myself doing all the things I committed myself to doing in the ritual. Taking care of my body, committing to (indoor) routines that are self-indulgent, going out for a (once daily) walk alone for the sake of it. Calling a friend just to talk about their day. Facetiming someone while watching Mean Girls for the billionth time. Not everything has to have a purpose. Also, it's actually OK to not reply to an email straight away, because who's going to come over to your desk and complain?

It is now widely recognized as a normal and healthy aspect of human sexuality, with numerous physical and mental health benefits. Moreover, labeling masturbation as witchcraft is unfounded and does not stand up to scrutiny. Witchcraft is generally defined as the practice of supernatural or magical powers. Masturbation, on the other hand, is a natural human behavior that does not involve any supernatural elements. It is a personal act that is done for self-pleasure and does not involve the manipulation of external forces or energies. People who believe in the connection between masturbation and witchcraft may do so out of fear or a desire to control and suppress sexual urges. However, it is important to promote a more open and informed understanding of human sexuality. Masturbation is a normal and healthy sexual behavior that should not be demonized or stigmatized. In conclusion, labeling masturbation as a form of witchcraft is a misconception based on outdated beliefs and faulty understanding of human sexuality. Masturbation is a natural and healthy aspect of human sexual behavior, and should be viewed as such. It is important to challenge and educate individuals who hold such beliefs in order to promote a more inclusive and accurate understanding of human sexuality..

Reviews for "Beyond the Physical: The Esoteric Aspects of Masturbation in Witchcraft"

1. Sarah - ★☆☆☆☆

I stumbled upon "Masturbation is a form of witchcraft" out of curiosity, hoping to find an interesting perspective on the topic. However, I was extremely disappointed with the content. The author failed to provide any substantial evidence or credible sources to support their claims. The arguments presented were baseless and seemed to be more rooted in personal bias rather than factual information. I felt like I wasted my time reading this sensationalistic and poorly researched piece.

2. Michael - ★★☆☆☆

I was initially intrigued by the provocative title of "Masturbation is a form of witchcraft," but the content fell short of my expectations. The author seemed to rely heavily on religious beliefs and personal opinions, without offering any logical or scientific arguments to support their claims. I believe it's important to approach such sensitive topics with an open mind and present a balanced perspective, which this article completely lacked. Overall, I found it to be a poorly executed piece that didn't provide any valuable insights on the subject matter.

3. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆

"Masturbation is a form of witchcraft" was a disappointing read. The author's arguments were steeped in outdated and judgmental views, lacking any real understanding of human sexuality. They failed to acknowledge the normalcy and health benefits associated with masturbation, instead choosing to demonize an act that is natural and widely practiced. The article seemed more concerned with promoting fear and shame rather than offering any useful or informative content. I would not recommend wasting your time reading such a biased and uninformed piece.

Unmasking the Taboo: Masturbation and Witchcraft in Modern Society