Sex
Moving From Sexual Chemistry to Sexual Harmony
Here is a mindset and a tool to create your own sexual harmony.
Posted September 23, 2024 Reviewed by Davia Sills
Key points
- Sexual harmony is a collaborative journey; it's not just about chasing initial sparks or physical intensity.
- Like a musical composition, partners must listen and respond to create a beautiful, synchronous connection.
- Engage all senses and emotions to deepen intimacy, making sure both partners walk away fulfilled.
- Use a "Sexy Time Menu" to build fulfilling sexual interactions.
Sexual harmony is a nuanced concept that goes beyond having spontaneous and physically intense sexual experiences with your partner. It cannot be achieved by chasing the initial spark or expected to arise without any exploration. Creating sexual harmony resembles the development of a musical piece, where each partner’s actions and reactions interweave to form a beautiful and synchronous composition. This dynamic involves engaged listening, responding, and building upon each other’s cues like musicians attentively playing in harmony.
Sexual harmony invites couples to use all their senses, imagination, and deep consideration of each other's desires to create a profound connection. It involves tuning into each other’s voices, body movements, and gazes, as well as being attuned to the subtleties of taste, smell, and energy shifts that signal multi-staged arousal.
This process is shaped by the desire and willingness of both partners to remain engaged, attuned, and responsive. It could be a quick interaction or a heartfelt, longer encounter. The idea is that both parties walk away satisfied.
At first, sexual harmony might be misunderstood as simply maintaining sexual chemistry or making every sexual interaction a long process of hard work. However, this perspective limits the scope of what a fulfilling sexual connection can truly offer. Harmony in sexual relationships involves more than chasing the initial spark or focusing solely on physical pleasure.
Sexual harmony requires recognizing that each couple's sexual dynamic is unique. It's about experiencing emotions together and staying present in the encounter (even though each partner might be experiencing a different emotion). The only requirement here is that all parties walk away satisfied. This might mean different things to each of the parties involved. It could be orgasms, pleasurable sensations, emotional rewards, and so on.
In a state of sexual harmony, couples often experience what can be described as sexually empathic interaction (also known as erotic empathy). This empathy allows partners to feel with each other, creating a shared experience that can be profoundly intimate and connecting. It is not selfish, but it is self-centered in that it’s a space where both individuals can lose themselves in the experience yet remain anchored in their own sensations and imagination. Here, the mind, heart, and body are all actively engaged, contributing to a holistic experience where presence and mutual pleasure (however you define it) are the primary goals rather than just the pursuit of orgasm.
From literacy to fluency:
1. To develop sexual harmony, start by fostering self-awareness around your sexual preferences and desires. Reflect on what enhances your passion for connection and what dims it. Consider how your senses and emotions play into your sexual experiences.
2. Ask yourself: What physical aspects of an interaction bring me fulfillment? What new experiences am I curious about? (You might not even know how you feel about it but would like to explore.) This introspection is vital for understanding your personal sexual script.
3. Sexual harmony also involves recognizing that individual preferences may differ. It's about finding a balance where both partners feel fulfilled and respected.
To begin this journey, consider these questions: What are my current preferences in sexual interaction? What new activities might I want to explore? How do my senses and emotions influence my sexual experiences? In what ways can I communicate my desires more effectively? How can I create an atmosphere that is inviting for my partner to share their desires and wants?
4. Sometimes, you also need to come to terms with the fact that you each want different things that cannot be experienced at the same time. For that, I recommend a tool I call "Sexy Time Menu" that involves a thoughtful exploration of your sexual preferences.
This written exercise allows you each to list mood enhancers, sensory experiences, and physical activities that you find fulfilling. Share it with one another, and discuss each item, respecting each other's boundaries and interests. Then pick from the menu depending on your mood and the context within which you want to connect with each other sexually. Be creative and include a range of options, from simple gestures like a back rub to more intimate acts.
References
References:
- Sara Nasserzadeh (2024). Love by Design: 6 ingredients to build a lifetime of love (chapter 11). Balance. New York.
- Excerpts from The Common Ground.