Edited by Andrew Willet

Written by Tom Kovach

Unexpected Magic: The Body Electric’s ‘Touching the Heart of Stillness’

by Tom Kovach

The Body Electric School hosted the Intensive Touching the Heart of Stillness this was created by facilitators Michael Cohen and Steve Schwartzberg in the early 2000s Steve put the workshop on hold for several years because he wanted to tweak it before he brought it back out. 

This workshop is a beautiful blending of a silent meditation retreat with focused, intentional erotic work. Not only is the retreat mostly silent, but it is also technology-free.  In 2023 Steve revived touching the heart of Stillness and presented it at the Bodhi Manda’s Zen Center in Jemez Springs, New Mexico.

The Bodi has been a good friend. a Body Electric for many decades. Abbess Hosen has supported the School and its participants on their journeys as they came through the Zen Center.

This year was to be the third incarnation of the renewed format of the intensive. And if you know Steve, he is always tweaking and improving his workshops to get them as close to perfection as possible. Steve took the feedback from the last two years and expanded it to 8 days. 

He always looks forward to teaching and this workshop in particular, as it is, as far as we can tell one of a kind. Unfortunately, Steve’s health took a turn for the worse and despite his heroic efforts to come anyway, he had to cancel his trip. 

The Team of Don Shewey, Lui Gervais, Daka Ziji, and Win Chesson rallied to support Steve and his wish to continue with the workshop. After a series of brainstorming sessions, we came up with a hybrid workshop idea, where Steve would Zoom in for very limited parts of the workshop and record his unparalleled dharma talks with the help and support of Kenneth Darby our Director of Marketing, video editor, and podcast producer. 

There was a lot of trepidation around using technology at a tech-free week. Also, the Bodhi is in a rural area of New Mexico where internet connectivity is precarious at times. But for those who no the storied history of the School, there is a life force to it that comes through in the most difficult moments. 

No one dropped out of the workshop when we explained how we would proceed. Everyone showed up and dove into a deep and meaningful communal experience and from my perspective, one of the most profound personal experiences I have ever had at a workshop.

No glitch, difficulty or challenge was too great and each one was just another lesson of “it is” or life happens. This was made easier by our learning to “hold it lightly”, or don’t cling to an expected outcome too much, giving it space. 

The week of deepening mindfulness and being in the present moment was powerful. I have managed to bring much of it back to the rest of my world. Life is so much richer when you can fully be present for what is happening. This is where the erotic component came in. The power of eros is magnified when it has intention, presence, attention, and loving-kindness or metta. 

That experience easily translates to every experience in life if you are in the “here, now, this”, instead of worrying about the next thing or what happened already.  It is a wonderful gift to give yourself.

In the end, the week went entirely too quickly and I had a hard time turning my phone back on. This was only possible because Steve despite significant health challenges was brilliant and his virtual presence seemed real because of the care, effort, and love he put into his teaching. It was truly magnificent. And because of the great effort of the team. Don lovingly led the team and coordinated with Steve on all the details and updates. Lui, brought his amazing abilities into the workshop helping us all to be embodied through movement. Daka Ziji brought his amazing energy and wisdom and gave a wonderful dharma talk.  Win, came despite personal challenges and offered his compassion, warmth, and facilitation for which we are all grateful.  

What could have been a disaster became a miraculous event I will always cherish. So, don’t give up just be present for whatever comes your way.

Don’t miss our new Sex Toy Sunday online, on July 27th. Kim Airs, a pioneer in the sex toy industry for over three decades, will take us through what’s new, what’s amazing, and what we can’t pass up. She does this in a fun and informative way that fits everyone from a sex toy newbie to well-seasoned users. Learn about different ways to use them – some of which will surprise you! Get ready to laugh and learn – it’s the way she rolls! Come with your burning questions about sex toys and anything else about sex toys, lubes, and pleasure. Here is her podcast  episode with us.

When the first Body Electric weekend workshop was created by Joseph Kramer, he called it Healing the Body Erotic. His dear companion Annie Sprinkle urged him to change it to Celebrating the Body Erotic because while not everyone needed healing, we all need to celebrate. 

So here we are 41 years later and the times are once again difficult for many in the LGBTQI community. The political winds have shifted, and rolling back the rights and protections of our Trans siblings is all too common. This is particularly troubling as our roots in the Stonewall riots come from our trans siblings who started the movement.

Pride itself is under attack as it is erased from government websites and corporate sponsorships are in decline. That is precisely why we need to make this year’s Pride events bigger than ever as our communities must stand together. 

Washington DC is also hosting World Pride this year so it is truly a well-placed flagship event. The Body Electric School will be represented at World Pride by Fredric mIggins our new DC Coordinator and a group of volunteers at our booth. If you are in the area stop by and see us.  

We will also be at Kansas City Pride, where our booth will be staffed by Steven Sanders and some local volunteers. Steven started a tradition of displaying books by current and former Body Electric faculty and alumni. 

If you are in San Francisco please consider supporting Paul Johnson one of our Bay area Coordinators. In each of the three locations where we have booths, there is an opportunity to sign up for our newsletter and get into a drawing for a free online and in-person workshop.

We also have a volunteer in Ferndale Michigan(home to “ Michigan’s largest free-to-the-public LGBTQIA+ festival”)  who is handing out Body Electric materials. If you are willing to help at any of our booth locations please contact the coordinators.

Celebrate Pride!