I want to talk about slowness—not just as a concept, but as something we actively experience in our bodies. As we practice today, I invite you to notice the natural slowness within your body, rather than rushing through sensations.
Think about the way we often approach orgasm. When we feel pleasure building, we tend to speed up, almost as if we’re trying to push through the orgasm just to reach the relaxation afterward. But what if we didn’t rush? What if we allowed that energy to build and circulate, rather than letting it dissipate?
This brings me to the history of semen retention. In the 1800s, polyamorous communal groups, like the Oneida Community, practiced it as part of their belief system. You might recognize the name Oneida from their silverware, but before they were a brand, they were a religious community that believed in the second coming of Jesus Christ. Their structure was polyandrous—meaning women had multiple male partners. To prevent constant pregnancies while still embracing sexual connection, men practiced a form of semen retention.
But this practice didn’t originate there. It has roots going back over a thousand years in Taoist and Hindu traditions, where it was used as a way to cultivate and refine sexual energy. Instead of seeing ejaculation as the only goal of sex, these traditions teach that retaining semen—when done with awareness—can preserve and even enhance vitality.
Now, in the West, more people are rediscovering semen retention, not as an act of denial, but as a way to deepen their connection to their sexual energy. It’s not about never ejaculating, but about making it more intentional. Some practitioners, for example, choose to release only on a full moon, aligning their practice with natural cycles.
So as we move through our practice today, think about slowing down—not just in movement, but in sensation, awareness, and energy.