Today, November 4, is International Stress Awareness Day. The fact that this “holiday” falls on the first Wednesday of November, right after Election Day, says something about how stressful election season is. Ask any health professional, and they’ll tell you that prolonged periods of stress are not good for your heart. Stress is a contributor to cardiac disease, strokes, and even some cancers. Not good.

So, we definitely deserve some stress relief. The question is, what kind? If you ask a health professional, they’ll keep their answers rather benign. Deep breathing. Medication. Mindfulness. Yoga. Self-soothing. Good sleep.

I happen to have done some research into the topic several years ago and found that one of the most effective and long-lasting ways to combat stress is good sex. Specifically, the kind achieved through self-pleasure. Technically, that involves several of the methods recommended by health professionals. The difference? The primary purpose here is that you have some spiritual pleasure. Let me break it down for you.

A Bit of Prep Comes First

1. Write down these instructions onto a piece of paper. You don’t want to try holding onto the phone to see what the next step is. That would rather defeat the whole purpose. The purpose is to relieve stress, not create more of it.
2. Gather several candles together; the more, the merrier. Size and illumination don’t matter. However, be careful about having too many conflicting fragrances. Be aware of the size of the room, too. Small rooms heat quickly.
3. If possible, place the candles all around your bathroom. Fill every flat surface possible. Be sure to remove any potential flammables such as towels or decorations from anywhere close to a flame. Make sure you move slowly and breathe to help calm the stress.
4. If the bathroom won’t work (ie, there’s only one, and you have children), make similar arrangements in another room where you can have enough floor space to stretch out. Put a thick towel or blanket down to lie on. Make sure someone is keeping an eye on the kids. You don’t need company right now.
5. Fill the bathtub with water just as hot as you can possibly stand it. If you have bath oil or an oil-based fragrance that you enjoy, feel free to use it liberally. If you are not in the bathroom, fill a large bowl with hot water. Then, take four or five washcloths, soak them in hot water, then place them in a slow cooker (crock pot) with just enough water in the bottom to keep the cloths moist and warm until you need them. Place the water and slow cooker in the room you are using.

Letting Go Of Stress

6. Immerse yourself in the tub, lean back, close your eyes, and do nothing. Just let your body enjoy the warmth of the water and let the water open your pores and begin relaxing you. If you are using another room, use one of the warm cloths to SLOWLY wash over your body. Start with your feet and work your way up. Avoid the temptation to play. Just open your pores, then wrap yourself in a towel. Lie down with a second cloth covering your forehead, eyes, and the bridge of your nose. DO NOT cover your nostrils or your mouth.
7. Relax, moving as little as possible until the water in the tub or the washcloth begins to cool. Focus your mind on the water and feelings of floating and buoyancy.

Spiritual Sex

8. As the water begins to cool, use the index and middle finger on each hand and begin to circle lightly around your nipple. Start close to the nipple and move out the width of a couple of fingers before moving back in. Lightly circle and let your body respond.
9. When you have reached the maximum state of pleasure possible by stimulating your nipples, allow your hands to move down between your legs. Caress the inside of your thighs. If you are not in the bathtub, you may want to take another washcloth and place it just above the pubic bone to help stimulate the region.
10. Continue to pleasure yourself until you reach orgasm. Say goodbye to the stress!

Maintaining Stress Relief

11. Wrap yourself in a soft, absorbent towel and drain the tub. If you have room and can be comfortable doing so, find a place to sit and enjoy the warmth of the candles until your body is dry.
12. Dress in front of a mirror. Touch your body and enjoy the feel of the cloth against your skin as you dress.

The exercise is very simple. Chances are that you have already done something similar several times before. Still, it is a very fundamental method of connecting your physical and spiritual self with the spiritual power of the universe.

Avoid turning on the television. That is more likely to ruin all the effort you’ve put into getting rid of the stress.

Enjoy.

Let us know in the comments if you give this method a try! Or, you can always drop us a line if you have questions!