Sexual Education

An Uncanny Eye For Eros

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Uncanny Eye
Listening to Mihaly Csikszentmihaly say ‘ecstasy‘ derives from a Greek word meaning to ‘stand to the side of something’ I had to pause his Ted talk, lean back with a tingle and say, Brilliant.

It’s quite an elegant way of describing what happens in the creative flow when your identity disappears, your body dissolves and what seems to be ‘You’ floats by, suspended in the sensation that something else is moving you.


I’d like to hop on this train to propose the same is true of erotic flow states. When we are tuned in, turned on and flooded with a heightened sexual sensations, we can be replenished by states where our pleasure is not only the result of our erotic flow, pleasure becomes the fuel, the promise and the gift.

I’m sure you’ve been here before; in the stream state of awareness where you simultaneously feel absolutely calm yet utterly alert. You move through suspended time within a bubble of aliveness where you can zoom in and out of focus whenever you want to. You can sense, see, hear, vibrate and even taste pleasure keenly. And you know things without knowing how you know them. Did I mention all this happens with a  feeling of boundless love streaming through your body that may feel like chocolate syrup oozing over everything?

With his charming sci-poetic élan, Csikszentmihaly observes some interesting things about how, rather than arriving at peaks of heightened awareness and performance by chance, there are certain things we can do to get into this flow more often.

He Interviewed 8000 artists, scientists, musicians and monks to find out how some people regularly induce a kind of cocoon of meaningful existence where they tap into the ability to ‘create something new where nothing once existed’. Distilling the two common things all creative people do, he proposes anyone can generate flow states for heightened performance.

First he says, you need to have skill; at least ten years of practice. (Good news for those of us who’ve been making love for at least that long.) If you’re unskilled he says, you’ll have too much attention and anxiety to access the creative flow state. How true of ecstatic bliss too.

The second thing you’ll need is a challenge, for cozy comfort seems to keep you as much out of the zone as too much stress.


Consider the last time you trusted yourself to risk surrendering into an ecstatic state of pleasure. Chances are, afterwards, you glowed with a creative shine for hours, if not days. I’ve been wondering what combination of skill and challenge is required to visit those streaming erotic flow states more often, and most importantly, how we can put those  creative surges to good use.

So stay tuned in and turned on; this is just a peek of what’s coming soon. If I have enough people interested I’ll launch our new Erotic Challenge plus a totally experiential workshop integrating everything I’ve gathered for the last 25 years about how to realize your highest performance through and beyond the pleasure zone.

Meantime, practice your love skills and summon boldness in your bedroom. And remember to consider what it means to ‘stand aside‘ during moments of intense pleasure. I challenge you to become an unusual self – voyeur. Perhaps you’ll discover an uncanny eye for Eros that sees Beauty in the most unusual places, especially inside.

In case you missed it: Flow, the Secret to Happiness on Ted


Feature Article: Sexy Success

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What makes for stellar success is a personal thing, but my recent visit with Jaiya, a successful sex educator, shows how doing what we like in bed may be just what we need to succeed. While being filmed for her VH1 special on somatic (hands on) sexology, we got a private peek into how she delights in using her sexiness for success, and her success to stay sexy – and why we shouldn’t settle for subpar in either.

Busting Myth #1: You have to Sell Out to Succeed

Have you ever noticed how things speed up when you’re feeling successful? You seem to do much more in less time, you have to say ‘no’ to things you could once say ‘yes’ to, and you don’t have as much time to hang out. To others it may seem as if you’ve sold out. The speed of things focuses your mission, challenges you to be excellent and makes you select where you place every precious ounce of attention (and where not to.) If you relax inside, you can handle the ‘swish’.  It’s exhilarating. The faster things happen, the more of a magnet you become for more connections. Now, take this same principle, and apply it to your private erotic life. Riding the sublime comes down to: just doing it creates the desire and energy for more.

Busting Myth #2: It’s Who You Know

It’s not who you know, it’s what you do with who you know. Success is contagious, as the happier and more generous you are, the more fun you are to be with and thus the more opportunities land in your lap. Since success tends to make you feel wanted, you become someone people want to be near. That is, if you are actually enjoying your self inside the buzz. Now take this into your personal erotic life. When you are generous, even inside the whirlwind of busyness, taking each conversation to heart, appreciating anyone near you, you are multipling pleasure. This is the alluring energy behind success, and it works in bed too. If you’re tense while doing the never-ending stream of whatever you’re doing, or you are not content with what (or who) is sitting next to you, success will always be just out of reach. It’s not only who can help you succeed, it’s who’s around to share it with.

Busting Myth #3  It Takes Money to Make Money

This myth is about the idea that you have to have money to make it, or erotically, you have to have a partner to have sex. While it’s true, sex is always better with a warm body, the trick to both money and sex, is having some. In Jennifer Goldberg’s article, Why you Need Good Sex, she says,Seeking out—and having— good sex is a self-perpetuating cycle. The neurotransmitter dopamine—which “focuses your attention on something you really want to go after,” (explains Dr. Pfaus)1—gives us the confidence to approach mates we think will provide the most pleasure, while good sex releases opioids, which further stoke the fire.’

Busting Myth # 4  Pain = Gain

The myth that successful people are too driven by ambition to enjoy anything (and there are plenty of examples) comes from the idea that it takes self – sacrifice and suffering to end suffering. But pain loops may not only deplete your reserve of dopamine, if you don’t have it right along the way, it wont will be much fun when you ‘get there’. Another option is to operate on a pleasure loop for success. It’s not a selfish grasp for pleasure, or a perpetual craving for what’s missing, it’s a loop where you derive pleasure by giving something of value to others while having a blast along the way too. It’s the tease of anticipation, savoring every nibble and squeeze while feeling delight in another’s joy that’s the stuff of success. When it starts happening in the boardroom as smoothly as it does in the bedroom, as I experienced being with Jaiya, you know you’re onto something good.

What’s success? Feeling grateful for being alive is success; the rest is relative.

In beauty, © Amara Charles

Quehestemehah ‘You dance in my heart’

Amara Charles’ Best – Selling Book ‘The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka’ featuring the Sexual Anatomy Types as Seen on VH1 is available on www.amaracharles.com or Amazon.com

Discover Your Sexual Anatomy Type

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Sexual Anatomy Types from Amara Charles on Vimeo.

An introduction to discovering your sexual anatomy type from Amara Charles' best selling book, 'The Sexual Teachings of Quodoushka'. Named for the gifts and attributes of different animals, knowing your Sexual Anatomy Types gives you a ways to take pride in your anatomy type and learn about the things your lover likes best.

The Science of Erotic Intelligence with Amara Charles and Steven Barnes

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Amara Charles and Steven Barnes

November 9, 2012  48 attended

Daniel Event Organizer: Phoenix Tantra Meet Up:

  • “This was the largest, and for many people the best, Phoenix Tantra meeting in the four years of the group’s existence. The sharing of ideas and experiences from the feminine and masculine perspectives was truly fascinating and eye-opening! I DO look forward to more collaborations between Steve and Amara, and we are totally looking forward to Amara’s (and Mukee’s) Q1 workshop in January. Thanks again to Amara, Steve, Shyena (for her music), Sunil for organizing and all those who contributed to this spectacular event! Namaste.”


  • I wanted to again thank Amara and Steven for their GREAT presentation last night! And, also put in another endorsement of her upcoming Q1 Workshop in January–if you were there last night, you should have received a flyer on it. If not, check out her website www.AmaraCharles.com

  • I have done the Q1 four times and yet my GF and I WILL be there with Amara in January! This is going to be an AMAZING weekend workshop–life changing for some. I believe that Amara and Mukee are the two best teachers of the Quodoushka and they only do this workshop once a year in Phoenix. As Steven said last night, if you want to live your dreams, taking action is an important step (my paraphrasing). More …

My Mother’s Ben Wah Balls

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5 Jade Eggs

I often return from visiting my Mom swirling from the differences in our lives. This time, brimming with benevolent compassion and feeling rather sexy after teaching several Quodoushkas, I was perfectly poised to find the bridges of heart-to-heart connection between us.

Within the first 5 minutes, as I’m unpacking my bags in Florida, I open a box of of Jade Eggs.

What are those? she asks.

Out of respect, I could have easily made up something. But there was something about the way she asked – it was like she already knew what they were. Sure enough, before I could even say, she blurts out;

They go inside your ‘pupick’ (our polite family word for vagina.)

Yep, that’s exactly what they are Mom. They go inside and they feel really nice.

I have this thing with my mother. I don’t go into details unless she asks. This time she does, so I venture a little further;

I show women how to become stronger and juicier.

Sensing this is a bit too much information, I shift to,

How do you know what they are?

As if she’d been using them for 70 years she delightfully boasts of her new-found sexual education,

They talk all about Ben Wah balls in Fifty Shades of Grey. I figured that’s what they were.

My sister chimes in and says, You should write an article on Fifty Shades.

Next, my sister-in-law can’t wait to tell me she has read all three books, which she says, Are really cheesy, but I can’t put them down.

Ok, I confess, I am one of several people on the planet who has not read Fifty Shades of Grey. Apparently, these tugs from my family, and possibly the sky-rocketing Jade Egg sales on my website are trying to tell me something. I used to consider my teachings using Jade Eggs somewhat esoteric, but who knew?

I’ve been wondering why these books are now more popular than Harry Potter.

Have you read Fifty Shades? Is it worth the read?

p.s. Thanks Mom. You’ve got balls. And I love you.

Quehestemehah. You Dance in My Heart In beauty, Amara Charles


p.s. Want to learn about  how Jade Eggs can strengthen your muscles and increase lubrication? Come to my Woman’s Retreat called the Shakti Queen!

Amara Charles: New Zealand Sex & Consciousness Symosium & Touch for Two

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Symposium Schedule:NZ SymposiumSchedule

Symposium Schedule:NZ SymposiumSchedule

TOUCH FOR TWO April 2nd New Zealand
One of the Keynote Speakers Amara Charles (USA) will also be leading a “Touch for Two” Evening at “The Temple” 15 Landscape Road, Mount Eden on April 2nd, 7-10pm. Cost is $50/$40 concession, and her latest book “Sexual Practices of Quodoshka” will be on sale.

“This Note is to Warn you of A diabolical plot”

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Love Letter from ?

This is perhaps the Best Love Letter I’ve ever read and you’ll never believe who wrote it.

My Darling Wife

This note is to warn you of a diabolical plot entered into by some of our so called friends – (ha!) calendar makers and even our own children. These and others would have you believe we’ve been married 20 years.

20 minutes maybe – but never 20 years. In the first place it is a known fact that a human cannot sustain the high level of happiness I feel for more than a few minutes – and my happiness keeps increasing.

I will confess to one puzzlement but I’m sure it is just some trick perpetrated by our friends – (Ha again!) I can’t remember ever being without you and I know I was born more than 20 mins ago.

Oh well – that isn’t important. The important thing is I don’t want to be without you for the next 20 years, or 40, or however many there are. I’ve gotten very used to being happy and I love you very much indeed.

Your Husband of 20 something or other.

Signed Ronald Reagan when he was governor of California in 1972. He wrote his note to Nancy on their 20th wedding anniversary.

What’s the Best Love Letter You’ve Ever Read?

It’s Great to be back in OZ!

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The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka is Finally Here!

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Yes! ‘The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka’ is Finally here! Some of you have the book already, Thank You!!!  It’s been a pleasure sending out advance copies. I’m thrilled to say most of the reviews so far are wonderful. Thank you sooooo much for all the phone calls and kind letters of support!

If you are enjoying the book, please help me by writing your review on Amazon.Your comments saying how you are benefiting or what you are enjoying are REALLY helpful!! Your words will help people who’ve never heard of Quodoushka or spiritual sexuality find a whole new world of healing and transformation.

The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka by Amara CharlesWhere’s The Party?

Anywhere you are (with a computer.) Yep, were having a Virtual Launch Party and a Land Party on the same day to celebrate the 1st book on Quodoushka. You must Register Now for the free Virtual Launch Party*. (We changed the time, but if you’ve already signed in, you’re good to go!) We’ll send reminders/instructions.

Buy the Book on The Magic Day: September 27

We are asking our friends, especially folks from around the world, to buy the book on September 27th on Amazon.com.*

For Our Phoenix Quodoushka Friends

We’re also having a Quodoushka Book Launch Party in Phoenix on September 27th, 8pm. It’s going to be a great party and fundraiser for the Rainbow Powers Center. There will be special guests, (Thunder Strikes and Nightbird), deserts, entertainment, And you will get a signed copy of the book!

Cost: $30.If you already have a copy, bring it! You can pay $15, or donate proceeds to the Rainbow Powers Center, our new home and teaching center for the Sweet Medicine Sundance Path.

Yes! RSVP Me for the Quodoushka Book Phoenix Party.

Sexual Practices of Quodoushka Cover plain
Click Here to Buy a Copy September 27 on Amazon.com

* p.s. We intend to hit #1 on Amazon.com on this day. When you buy ‘The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka’ on September 27th, you will boost worldwide distribution and youwill be helping to ensure the book stays in print for a long, long time.

Plus, surging on Amazon allows us to say that Quodoushka is a best seller, which obviously, is a good thing, a very good thing :-) .

Thank You!

p.p.s. you can also get the book on Barnes and Nobel or specials in our shop.

In beauty, Amara

Discover Your Erotic Nature – Chicago

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Q-Header-Plain

Discover Your Erotic Nature

Experience how your natural erotic nature is your most powerful resource for expressing your full creative expression as a lover. This workshop will bring you in touch with your fundamental life force energy so you can discover how your unique erotic type helps you communicate with love, consciousness, passion and kindness.

Afternoon Spiritual Sexuality Workshop  with Amara Charles

October 2nd, 2011
Chicago, Highland Park area. Noon-3pm

Amara Charles, author of ‘The Sexual Practices of Quodoushka,’ will be our guide for this provocative, experiential workshop including transformational shamanic teachings. You will not only learn fascinating things about your own erotic nature, you will discover what helps you to surrender, and express your natural gifts as a lover. Whether you have a partner, are seeking one, or are simply interested in exploring your erotic nature within yourself, you will receive practices that you can take home and use right away.

Amara is passionate about giving you clear, simple tools that work – to cultivate the kind of sexual pleasure, love and intimacy you deserve.
This workshop is fully-clothed, and will include individual, partner and group shamanic exercises. There is never any pressure or obligation to participate in any of the exercises, though highly recommended. More …