starting a sex group: the new bookclub

This summer a close friend and I were talking about sex and our sexual experiences, hang ups and what we wanted to manifest or work on. I had just purchased the domain name to my first site and I was eager to get the opinions of my friends on sex and sexuality. We talked and shared and at the end of our conversation we both felt witnessed, validated and empowered. It was soon after that we decided to make an invitation only discussion group and see if the same kind of effects could take place among a diverse group. So, that following week, a group of 10-14 people both male and female ranging in ages 20-55 , married, gay, straight, polyamourous and single were sitting in my friends home and about to emotionally strip.
That first night she and I introduced our desire to be able to discuss sex and be vulnerable and honest in talking about what we were working towards as a sexual individual or what we were trying to cease doing or thinking or feeling in regards to sex. The only rules were that you respect everyone, refrained from judging and that whatever was shared in the group stayed in the group.
I thought it might take a bit to get everyone started or feeling comfortable, but it just took off into what became a four hour talk. It was amazing to hear the stories told or attitudes felt and experiences had, with such candor and confidence. We went around the circle and had a check in. Each person had the ability to say what they were feeling; whether or not they had a rough week at work, home or elsewhere, then they stated if there was anything that they wanted to talk about in regards to sex or just state how they were doing sexually speaking.
We are a society that sells soda with an image of a woman's breasts or deodorant with a heterosexual couple in coitus and yet we do not have a comprehensive sex education that covers, not only the physical, but both the emotional and spiritual aspects of sex.
A lot of what we have learned about sex and sexuality comes from the media, our culture and our peers. With no education you have little information and unless you educate yourself it can leave you confused, uncertain or dis-empowered. Having a sex group where we could find similarity as well as opposition allowed me the opportunity to confront myself on items I had never even been aware of until they came up in group. I was no longer ignorant and therefore able to make decisions with the knowledge I had gained.
We met twice a month and occasionally invited new people to share. Most of us moved from the area and the talks ended after four months. The plan is to start another one after the holidays.
I encourage the forming of sex talks. It is a good way to deepen friendships and create a better understanding of, both yourself and individuals. It also takes the power back from societal viewpoints on sex and allows you to listen, learn and create a new, broader way of looking at sex and your sexuality.

Happy talking!