How important is kissing?

Thanks for your input Oscar! I tend to agree. 😘😘 It's super weird for me to even think about how to be intimate and NOT kiss! But I also think that has to do with years of programming that have ingrained that behavior/association, and makes it difficult to give up. The same challenges can sometimes be experienced with condom use, for those who are used to not using condoms (or not very often), and associating unprotected sex as being more intimate.

Our brains like to hold on to the patterns we have created by default (in most of our behaviors), so sometimes the conflict we feel in looking at things from a different perspective, or trying to make changes, feels like we are challenging our authentic needs. But sometimes it is really just our brain wanting to be lazy and revert to the old programs we have become accustomed to... I think it's important to take ourselves off autopilot for a minute and examine these things on a deeper level, and weigh what we *think* we need against risks to our health and safety.

We also have major cultural programming that contributes to how people feel about kissing, and what kissing means to each of us. This is not to discount the real ways that kissing can convey friendliness, emotion, passion, and also connect an energetic exchange between those who share them, but let's be real: the movies, media, and observation of those around us also contributes to the current blueprint we have for this (even though blueprints can always be updated).

If we are not able to find long term solutions and protections against COVID-19 (or any other possible life-threatening viruses that emerge...), we are going to need to ask ourselves: what does that mean for how I interact with others? Will we ignore the risks, and let the current blueprint dictate our actions, or will we try to update the blueprint to reduce or eliminate risk? And if it's the latter, will be choose to lament those changes and create suffering/conflict, or become curious about finding new ways to create similar response/feelings, but in ways that have less risk?

This is not an easy process for me, as I communicate in all kinds of ways with my mouth... ;-) It is an extension of how I connect with others, verbally as well as non-verbally, and certainly energetically via direct contact. It's a part of how I cast spells...but it is not the ONLY way I cast spells. I am not ready to give it up, but I am thinking about risk reduction, and cultivation of alternatives and untapped potential. I hope to keep this conversation going to discuss those options, and to expand each of our options for connecting. 💑🌱👨‍❤️‍👨🌼👩‍❤️‍👩 🌈