Head Above the Parapet

Writing beyond the sales pitch and censors

An Introduction to Head Above the Parapet

It’s hard to share ourselves and this deeply personal work. Some people can shout about sex, I’m not one of them. When I stand up at The Sex Lectures or teach on Sexological Bodywork training, I look and feel more confident than I am with my writing. Professionally I love what I do yet sharing this writing feels personal, vulnerable and terrifying. As a memoirist and teacher, I’m walking the line between self-revelation and professional credentials. 

I want this ‘column’ to be educational, original and/or erotic, adding levity, pleasure and optimism to our lives.

When I invite other contributors, I’m asking colleagues I value highly to bring something personal to this column, drawing from their reservoirs of professional training mixed with lived experience. The realms of love, sex and reality are far from perfect but come in hard-won lessons.  Please be kind with this experiment and each other. If you learn or enjoy something, that’s wonderful. If it’s not for you, that’s cool too.

That’s the joy of erotic and personal freedom, finding what matters to you, to know that your dilemmas are shared, and there’s value in the courage to try something new, being safe enough to explore. Enjoy. 

Alison Pilling Alison Pilling

Boundaries

You are responsible for managing your boundaries, not someone else.

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Tara Stannard Tara Stannard

Masochism and Devotion

That week I led naked yoga with 4 men, 2 in chastity cages, and one day with a riding crop.

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Alison Pilling Alison Pilling

It’s Not Them

Why did your exes leave you? Of course not all of the exes are worth listening to. What would your nicest or most recent ex say is tough to be with about you?

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Alison Pilling Alison Pilling

Untangling the Erotic Mind

Erotic and relationship habits are hard to break. First you have to see them, then you can do something about them.

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Alison Pilling Alison Pilling

Co-Created Massage 

The first deep sigh; a sign we feel safe, the breath deepens, the touch is congruent. Then we know we’ve found what we came for.

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Alison Pilling Alison Pilling

Wandering Beyond the Binary Boundary

Demi-sexual, pansexual, queer, polyamorous, nonbinary, androgynous, she/they, free dancer, solo poly, am I a gay man in the drag of a female body?

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