Showing posts with label Ecosexuality. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Mini Encyclopedia of EcoSexuality - EcoSexuality (2 of 2)

Entry: Ecosexuality

Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio, PhD

Cont'd

As an emerging movement, Ecosexuality sustains the initiation of the human species into a new phase of its evolution: from a needy child accustomed to depending on a mother’s resources, humanity is called to evolve into a responsible adult who treats the planet that generously hosts human life as a lover deserving all reverence, equality, and reciprocity in love. The scientific origins of the movement can be traced to what is known as the Gaia Hypothesis: a new epistemological paradigm that establishes the interconnectedness of all life forms as a new foundation for knowledge or episteme. This integrated, self-sustaining web of life is made of interconnected ecosystems and generates its own homeostasis. A key principle in this new style of amorous expression is that bodies are ecosystems, ecosystems are bodies: equally deserving of love, care, and affection.

As a new galvanizing force in cultural transformation, ecosexuality also means different things to different people. Two avatars of the movement, performance artists Beth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle, expressed their ecosexual vision in LoveArtLab, a seven-year project involving a series of ecosexual weddings where the artists married the sun, moon, sky, rocks, coal, snow, sea, a lake, and other nature entities. In these 17 performative events around the world, they “changed the metaphor from Earth as mother to Earth as lover,” and vowed to “love, honor, and cherish the Earth until death brings us closer together forever.” This work seeded a number of cultural environments with the intent to “make the environmental movement more fun, sexy, and diverse.” The bride-artists integrated activism for marriage equality with the affirmation of ecosystems, natural elements, and forces of nature as participants in the generation and fruition of the force of love. The practice of ecosexual weddings extended to the 1^st EcoSex Symposium, which was organized as a honeymoon after the Purple Wedding to the Moon in 2010 in Los Angeles. More symposia have come together in subsequent years, along with convergences, workshops, festivals, courses, digital discussion groups, more weddings, and intentional communities dedicated to the exploration of ecosexuality as a central trope for the organization of cultural action and energies.

A definition of ecosexuality would be premature at this point, and would limit the cultural trope’s transformative potential, which is largely untapped yet. One way in which ecosexuality has been described is as “the style of love that reaches beyond genders, numbers, orientations, ages, races, origins, species, and biological realms to embrace all of life as a partner with equal rights.” This description has been adopted in the introduction to a forthcoming reader tentatively entitled Ecosexuality: Notes for an Orgasmic Earth. It has the effect of supporting amorous practices that interpret ecosystems as bodies, and bodies as ecosystems in an interdependent network of interconnected nodes that auspicate a new planetary consciousness.

Sources

Anderlini-D’Onofrio, Serena. Gaia and the New Politics of Love. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 2009.

Anderlini-D’Onofrio, Serena and Lindsay Hagamen eds. Ecosexuality: Notes for an Orgasmic Earth. Contributed volume. Forthcoming.

Anderlini-D’Onofrio, Serena and Robert Silber. “Ecosexuality: A Course in the Arts of Conscious Love.” Varallo, Italy. July 16-21, 2011. Poly Planet GAIA. http://polyplanet.blogspot.com/2011/01/ecosessualita-un-corso-sulle-arti.html, November 28, 2013.

Anderlini-D’Onofrio, Serena, et al. “Ecosex at U Conn. Course Production from Spring, 2013 Seminar in Ecosexuality and the Ecology of Love. Storrs Campus. http://polyplanet.blogspot.com/search/label/EcoSex%20at%20U%20Conn: November 28, 2013.

: Novemebr 28, 2013.

Cordova, Gabriella. “EcoSex Symposium.” Portland, OR. June 29, 31, and July 1^st, 2012. http://www.ecosex.org/index.html: November 29, 2013 Dixon Luke, Annie Sprinkle, and Beth Stephens. “1^st International EcoSex Symposium.” Colchester, Essex, UK. July 14-18, 2013. http://ecosexlab.org/, Novemebr 28, 2013.

Ecosexual. Definition in Macmillan Dictionary. http://www.macmillandictionary.com/buzzword/entries/ecosexual.html, November 28, 2013.

Ecosexual. Definition ins Wikitionary. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ecosexual, November 28, 2013.

“Ecosexuality, a new sexual identity where you are lovers with the Earth.” Examiner.com. April 10, 2012. N. A. http://www.examiner.com/article/ecosexuality-a-new-sexual-identity-where-you-are-lovers-with-the-earth, November 28, 2013.

Iris Weiss, Stefanie. EcoSex: Go Green Between the Sheets and Make your Love Life Sustainable. New York: Ten Speed Press/Random House, 2010.

Sexecology. Wikipedia definition. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sexecology

Sprinkle, Annie, and Beth Stephens. “Ecosex Symposim I.” Highways Performance Space. October 24, 2010. http://www.loveartlab.com/PDF/ecosex_sym1_program.pdf, November 28, 2013.

Sprinkle, Annie, and Beth Stephens. “Ecosex Symposium II.” Center for Sex and Culture, San Francisco. June 17-19, 2011

http://sexecology.org/ecosex-symposium-2/, November 28, 2013.

Sprinkle, Annie, Elizabeth Stephens. LoveArtLab. www.LoveArtLab.org, November 28, 2013.

Stephens, Elizabeth. “Becoming Eco-Sexual.” Canadian Theater Research: 144 (Fall 2010): 13-19.

Windward Community. “Surrender: An Ecosexual Convergence.” June 14-16, 2014. Windward, WA. http://www.ecosexconvergence.org/, November 28, 2013.

Wagner, David. “Beyond Tree Hugging.” San Francisco Chronicle. 7/16/2011.

Our Mini Encyclopedia of EcoSexuality is complete for the moment. But everything always already is a work in progress. Would you like to add an entry? Let us know. . . .

Sending much love and all good wishes to all of you and your loved ones. Thanks you for listening and opening up. Stay tuned for more coming. With all good wishes for a happy spring and summer. Thank you!

Namaste,

SerenaGaia

Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio, PhD

Author of Gaia, Eros, and many other books about love
Professor of Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

Poly Planet GAIA Blog: http://polyplanet.blogspot.com/ Website: www.serenagaia.com

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Be Appraised of Ecosex Community Project PostaHouse

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Mini Encyclopedia of EcoSexuality - EcoSexuality (1 of 2)

Entry: Ecosexuality

Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio, PhD

Ecosexuality is a new sexual identity and the cultural trope that is likely to galvanize a movement of movements that places love and its infinite modes of expression at the gravitational center of cultural formation, dynamics, and organization. As a sexual identity, ecosexuality denotes a desire to organize practices of love around well-being, care, and ecosystemic health rather than any given oppositional rhetoric. As a catalyst for cultural transformation, ecosexuality offers a new interpretation of love that aligns sexuality with ecology and inspires a cross-pollination of the ideas and metaphors contained within these two traditionally distinct discourses.

The term “ecosexual” initially emerged in the personal ads as an environmentally conscious correlative to "metrosexual." Regardless of sexual orientation, an ecosexual date connotes as somebody who would likely enjoy a visit to a farmers market or a raw-food meal. Ecosexual have been described as an “environmentally conscious person(s) whose adherence to green living extends to their romantic and/or sexual life.” Ecosexuals made their appearance at a time when sexual fluidity and amorous inclusiveness were largely accepted in open-minded online dating forums, and when “eco-living” was rising in acceptance and popularity. In the capacity of a tool of discernment in the current dating system, the practice of ecosex helps to guide consumers toward practices of love and products thereof that respect the ecosystemic balance of the human bodies engaged in them. Sexecology is a correlative that “seeks to make environmental activism more sexy, fun, and diverse and to involve the LGBTQ community” in such activism.

As a trope of cultural transformation, ecosexuality galvanizes action in the arts, activism, theory, and practice to effect change in the metaphors by which we humans interpret the relationship with our hostess Gaia: the planet who, thanks to four billion years of symbiotic processes that began with bacteria (our first ancestors), has evolved a biota capable of sustaining the life of our species. How do we imagine this relationship between Gaia and our species? Are we friends or enemies? When we see nature as an enemy to be controlled, we produce the exact opposite of what we want, because, as Gaia science explains, the Earth is sovereign and its powers are supreme. All species are subject to being welcome in Gaia’s existence.

EcoSex Flag, by Cindy Baker

But then suppose we want to be friends: suppose we do have a desire to align with Gaia’s power, to second her will, as in all styles and practices of the environmental movement. That’s when metaphors for this relationship become significant. Is our relationship with Gaia based on kinship or is it elective? When we say “mother Earth” we inadvertently endorse the assumption that terrestrial resources are available to us ad infinitum and no cost. Mothers are our kin: they don’t choose us and we don’t choose them. We are all too often culturally programmed to simply exploit them with no price tag or return. When we imagine Gaia as a lover we begin to realize how much we have been taking for granted. Are we humans a respectful partner in the relationship or an abusive one? If our behavior is abusive, wouldn’t Gaia do well to end the relationship? And what would that scenario look like for us? Life on Earth started with bacteria. In Gaia science, the existence of these simple, fun loving microorganisms also marks the beginning of consciousness, choice, love. In this perspective, we humans as a species are just a new kid on the block: we could very well be the first one to go. Gaia is a Latin word that literally means gay. The Earth is sovereign and happy to exist in and of herself. As a cultural trope, Ecosexuality brings awareness to the possibility that life could very well happily continue to thrive after we, as a species, are gone.

To be continued . . . . . come back next week, same time.

Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio, PhD

Author of Gaia, Eros, and many other books about love
Professor of Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Plural Wedding of Ecosexual Love Sets Hearts on Fire - An Amorous Visions Calendar: Feb 22-March 6, 2014 in California

Dear Planet Lovers,

It's the night before the flight that starts a traveling period of about five months over several countries. I only have a short time and I don't want to take off without the promised follow up to my newsletter announcements back in December.

Oh well . . . . where do I start?

The wedding: we did it! The first plural wedding of ecosexual love in the Caribbean. It really happened! iI's done. And it was a success. More: it was magic. With everyone in the group listening to the invocation ministered by Heather Anne Trahan, and taking the vows to be Playa Azul's "spice." Wooow! We were so amazingly diverse, yet united by this declaration of love for an ecosystem that I sincerely call my nurse, doctor, and lover. She is very compersive and not at all jealous. And now that we all share this lover we are all "metamours." Lovers of a partner we share. And since that day the shift in the energetic field all in and around the beach itself, ourselves, and those who come to enjoy nature, is just momentous. We all share a lover, so we are all collaborative. We were completely spontaneous and everyone was eager to be on camera.

For me, and others I hear, emotions were high: to experience a "wedding" as freedom, peace, inclusion. When all feel part of it: more people, more "spice." What a turn around! Marriage? It's for everyone, ecosexual style. Puralizing this institution: making it open, fluid, vibrant. Acknowledging ecosystems as equals: as partners. Thank you Playa Azul for choosing me 16 years ago and for keeping me safe, healthy, happy, at ease, and vibrant. As an added bonus, when in the throes of this template production, an amazing team jelled up. Our director, Shaison Ouseph, was on his first visit to Puerto Rico from Mumbai. He learned all about us and got really enthralled, as you can see from the trailer he put out. Many others pitched in, acknowledged with gratitude. If you like what you see, let us know. You can also join the conversation on the FB event page. We are ready for the next episode in the series Hearts on Fire. And we can bring the Hearts on Fire right where you are. We we're taking calls and getting booked up!

If you can't wait to hear more about Hearts on Fire, we have something coming up. On Saturday, February 22, Hearts on Fire officially invites to a preview of Te Amo Playa Azul I Love You, at the International Conference on the Future of Monogamy and Non-Monogamy. we start at 4 PM, at the Clark Kerr Center, Building 14, UCB, 2601 Warring St, Berkeley, CA, 94720. It's a unique opportunity to preview and discuss the ecosexual art movie that will document the first plural wedding of ecosexual love in the Caribbean. We're happy to present the project, share more trailers and photographs, and take questions. Including: "how do I bring this healthy, and safe, and happy, and easy practice of ecosexual love to my families, my ecosystems, my communities?" We look forward to being with you there. Share with friends and invite. Thank you!

This big wave of ecosexual love also helped congeal the energy of "Amorous Visions," the cinema studies project that brought me to Connecticut last year. With her warm sunshine, caressing waves, clear waters, and blue horizon, it was easy for Playa Azul to attract, in one

day, some 15 "spice" (plural for the word "spouse," poly style). No wonder she's an ecosystem conducive of such abundance. We make movies about ecosexual love. What if we interpret cinema as a study of ecosexual love? Turns out the motion camera can really find out what happens to the energy of love in ecosystems toxic with fear. The health and vitality of ecosystems does affect the quality of human relationships. And yet, even when fear is rampant, love finds a way to survive. Love for love: the code for this energy encapsulated in a virus, surviving for a better time. This became the focus for UC Irvine and UC Riverside. Amorous Visions: Sex, Genders, and Ecosystems of Love in Bertolucci and Cavani. Talks are asfo. Monday, March 3, at 2-3:15 PM at UCR. Room HMNSS 2212 (English Department Conference Room), hosted by John Ganim for the auspices of the English Department and Queer Lab. Wednesday, March 5, at 2:30-5:00 PM at UCI. Room HG 101, hosted by Jonathan Alexander, with auspices from the Writign Center and the Gender and Sexuality Program. These are al free univrsity event, and they are fun. I promise. All details and directions on the FB events page. Join us. We want to take your questions and practice inclusive democracy, ecosexuality style.

Speaking of which, UCSD choose a talk on Ecosexuality, and that's happening on Thursday, March 6, at 4:3-6:00 PM. Ecosexuality: Notes for an Orgasmic Earth, is the title for the in-the-works collection about ecosexuality I'm co-editing with Lindsay Hagamen. We will be announcing this amazing collection of writings, and introducing the

Elizabeth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle's Ecosexual Wedding

online platform for the book launch. Teamwork here too. Go to www.orgasmicearth.org to find out who all is in the line up. We will also introduce ecosexuality as the practice, theory, art, and activist that reveres the Earth as a lover and acknowledges her ecosystems as partners with significant and enduring rights. We will focus on the practice of ecosexual weddings to ecosystems and forces of nature, as initiated by Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens in the seven-year project LoveArtLab. We will explain the relatednes of ecosexuality and modern Tantra. A don't miss. Room: LGBT Center at UC San Diego. Hosted by Pasquale Verdicchio, with auspices by the Literature Department and the LGBT Center. All details and directions on the FB event page. From wherever you are, this is worth a trip to La Jolla, San Diego. Join us!

Finally, after March 6th, time for a break comes. Here it's time for acknowledgements to all those who contribute to this calendar. My hostess in Oakland, Spring Friedlander, with her

healthy, amorous, and inclusive community house. My host in San Diego, Adam Paulman, whose inclusive amorous gifts are well recognized. All the auspices and organizers,

including my Deans, Manuel Valdez Pizzini and Felix Fernandez. the administrative assistants at UPR Mayaguez who spent endless hours "comprobando" (=corroborating the evidence for) expenses and funds. The teams of Te Amo Playa Azul, including film director Shaison Ouspeh, production coordinator Lloyd Sparks, emcee slash translator Maria Virginia Sanchez, liaisons with campus and organic farms Paola Pagan and Ricardo. High priestess Heather Anne Trahan, who invoked the natural forces on the speaking of the vows. All the "guests" and participants in the three workshops who were eager to be filmed as spontaneously as they came long. And who embraced together the shared spouse. All the inspiring minds in the 2012-13 Fellows group at UCHI, and its Director, Sharon Harris. The students in Ecosexuality, including Adam Kocurek and Alexandra Mayer, and the WGSS Chair, Nancy Naples. Please please please help spread word of upcoming events and invite your friends. Thank you!

If you want to catch up with me or invite me in and around the West Coast and the Bay Area, April is your chance. My calendar is open. Travel plans proceed with visits and rest in May, plus getting to team up more deeply in view of future plans. Alessio, my oldest grandchild, turns 10 on May 15th. He's an amazing student. Thanks Paola Coda for bringing him up. And we plan to spend it together with family and friends in Rome. Visits to Cap d'Agde, France, in late June, and guests from Portland, Oregon, at PostaHouse in early July. For all these programs, there is a place set at our table, if you choose to join us. We have extra rooms in the chalets and camping room in the garden. space is limited so let us know in advance.

More announcements coming as projects evolve. They have a life of their own, and I, the "inspiring force," am only the conduit ever rushing to catch up with them. So I hope you will forgive if this letter reads a bit rushed. Oh well, I have a flight to catch.

Sending much love and all good wishes to all of you and your loved ones. Thanks you for listening and opening up. Stay tuned for more coming. With all good wishes for a happy end of winter, spring, and summer. Thank you!

Namaste,

SerenaGaia

Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio, PhD

Author of Gaia, Eros, and many other books about love
Professor of Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez