Sexual Secrets: Twentieth Anniversary Edition: The Alchemy of Ecstasy (Paperback)

by Nik Douglas (Author), Penny Slinger (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
A massive compendium, furnishing just about everything you always wanted to know. -- The Book Reader

A remarkably complete book stocked with the knowledge of esoteric Asian traditions never before seen by Western eyes. -- The Village Voice

An intriguingly illustrated, thoroughly researched collage designed to enhance sexual consciousness. -- New Age Magazine

For twenty years Sexual Secrets has been the spiritual person's guide to celestial copulation. -- ForeWord, October 1999

For twenty years Sexual Secrets has been the spiritual person's guide to celestial copulation. Flesh meets faith inside this book and each is the better for it. -- ForeWord

Monumentally researched, comprehensively detailed, and profusely illustrated. . . . Sexual Secrets is a timely, well-rounded masterpiece. This reviewer's reaction can be summed up in two words: BUY IT! -- Yoga Journal

Sexual Secrets gathers together the best parts from several different traditions of erotic lore. -- Sheela Ardrian, New Witch, Autumn 2002

Sexual Secrets is a timely, well-rounded masterpiece. -- Yoga Journal

The book touches on every aspect of sacred sexuality that you could imagine and even those you might not. -- Healing Retreats & Spas

Review
"For twenty years Sexual Secrets has been the spiritual person's guide to celestial copulation. Flesh meets faith inside this book and each is the better for it."
(ForeWord )

"What distinguishes the couple's efforts from the plethora of books on the subject of Eastern eroticism are their depth of research and their breadth of presentation. Opulent cocktailable sexbiggies."
(The Village Voice )

"Monumentally researched, comprehensively detailed, and profusely illustrated. . . . Sexual Secrets is a timely, well-rounded masterpiece. This reviewer's reaction can be summed up in two words: BUY IT!"
(Yoga Journal )

"For twenty years Sexual Secrets has been the spiritual person's guide to celestial copulation.  Flesh meets faith inside this book and each is the better for it."
(ForeWord )

"The book touches on every aspect of sacred sexuality that you could imagine and even those you might not. If you want to find the key to understanding the 'alchemy of ecstasy,' Sexual Secrets is definitely the place to look."
(Healing Retreats & Spas )

"For twenty years Sexual Secrets has been the spiritual person's guide to celestial copulation.  Flesh meets faith inside this book and each is the better for it." 
(ForeWord, October 1999 )

"A remarkably complete book stocked with the knowledge of esoteric Asian traditions never before seen by Western eyes."
(The Village Voice )

"A massive compendium, furnishing just about everything you always wanted to know."
(The Book Reader )

"An intriguingly illustrated, thoroughly researched collage designed to enhance sexual consciousness."
(New Age Magazine )

"Sexual Secrets gathers together the best parts from several different traditions of erotic lore."
(Sheela Ardrian, New Witch, Autumn 2002 )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books; 20 Anv edition (December 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892818050
• ISBN-13: 978-0892818051
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #303,800 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poor Title, Awesome Book, March 27, 2006

By	John W. Petersen "seventhson1" (Ft Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I often laugh at all those articles in men's and women's fad magazines that promise to reveal new "sexual secrets". You know which ones I mean . . . "Become an Animal in Bed"; "9 Ways to Turn Him On"; "Keep Her Motor Humming"; "Sex Secrets Your Neighbors Won't Tell You"; "11 Erotic Uses for a Chicken Baster" . . . stuff like that. The list goes on and on, ad nauseum. Geared towards couples who have their obligatory sex two times a week for 30 minutes and need new, neat little sound-bite ideas to keep things from getting boring. All heavy on fancy shtick and paint-by-number techniques, light on any real depth or substance.

And so . . . I write this review to promise readers that, despite the poor choice of main title, this exceptional tome is not like that at all. "Secrets" here refers to holistic, ancient wisdom that celebrates the beauty and power of the sexual energy within all of us; sexual energy that permeates all of life. Thus the subtitle, "The Alchemy of Ecstacy", more accurately hits upon the truth. The word 'tantra' means 'interwoven'. The two authors have compiled a veritable bible of ancient tantric wisdom illuminating the interconnectedness of all things - an interconnectedness that has its most wonderful, powerful, and delicious expression in the sexual union between two people.

Think of this book as an encyclopedia of sacred sexuality, albeit one not in alphabetical order . . . and not sold by traveling, door-to-door salesmen, thank goodness. It is a guide to everyday living, but not from a dogmatic perspective. It is a grand expose of everything sexual. The authors provide explanations of yoga poses, stretching techniques, and breathing exercises (for instance, to summon that kundalini energy up the spine). They even have small sections devoted to food, water, clothing, massage, worship, and service to others. But it also probes (pardon the pun) the depths of the stories of Brahma the Creative, Shiva and Shakti, and Vishnu the Preserver. And of course, there are plenty of sexual positions and sensual poetry. With pictures! We like pictures!

The whole point is that, despite what organized religion would like us to think, we are sexual creatures and we should be celebrating that fact every day through our everyday activities. All of these things (eating, yoga, service, etc) ARE manifestations of our sexual energy - giving to and connecting with Life and with others. Cultivating that sexual energy (indeed, our very life-force energy and the energy that creates Universes . . . if you will allow my melodramatic flourish) is a constant, all-day thing. But not with the sole purpose of "getting some" or even "being a better lover". Instead, to connect with Source through sexual union and remember our Oneness. As the authors say in the Introduction, "It is for those who wish to use the sexual bond as a means to liberation and who desire to transcend the limits of the individual self."

This book helped start me down the path of tantra and sacred sexuality a few years ago. May I humbly recommend it to others who seek the same.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the heavily annotated Kama Sutra, October 9, 2001

By	cmk (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This book came very highly recommended to me by a couple whose sexual bravado I respect. They went through all the positions, raving over each new plateau. So I got the book, of course. It was a good recommendation, but it requires patience to plow through some things that simply won't apply to you. If you have an erotic library or a lonely coffeetable, this book will not fail to do justice to either, but if you're looking for one definitive manual to begin with, look somewhere else. If you're looking for erotic art of eastern and Indian origin this is a good book to have, there's a voluminous sampling of it. The book is definitely better explored between lovers; it was written by lovers for that explicit purpose.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly engaging book, October 25, 2002

By	"nicktuba" (East Haven, CT) - See all my reviews

I bought this book for a class I was taking in college on human sexuality. It definitely presents a different take on normal sexual practices. I hadn't heard of the kundalini, or even the chakras, and other sacred sexual beliefs until I read this book. The author is long-winded and detailed, but that's to the benefit of people like me who are novices to Eastern philosophy. I read this book at length, and after my class, I gave it to my girlfriend, and we've enjoyed reading about some of the more uncommon sexual techniques described in detail (here's one: for deeper penetration, place a pillow underneath your or your partner's body during intercourse). The author also talks about the sacred aspect of sex, and how it can enhance your connection with your partner. Although this book isn't for everybody, if you have an open mind and are willing to try new ideas, you might enjoy this book.