[Ep. 225] "My Body Is Female, I'm Not": Using Somatics To Explore Gender w/ Quinn Silverleaf
Dec 1, 2024
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Quinn Silverleaf, a student of Luis Mojica, explores sexuality and gender through a somatic lens. They discuss the contrast between ideology and personal somatic experience, emphasizing the importance of integrating one's parts for congruency. The conversation navigates the complexities of gender identity and societal expectations, particularly for intersex and agender individuals. Quinn advocates for embracing authenticity and self-acceptance, highlighting how love and body awareness are crucial in personal transformation and healing from societal pressures.
Quinn Silverleaf's exploration of gender identity highlights the complexities between somatic experience and societal gender roles.
The podcast emphasizes that masculinity and femininity transcends biological sex, advocating for a fluid understanding of gender identity.
Deep dives
Processing Emotions After an Election
Many individuals experience a mix of emotions following an election, ranging from relief to anger and grief. Acknowledging this emotional landscape highlights the privileges and challenges that come with a functioning democracy, where winning and losing are part of the process. An upcoming event aims to provide a safe space for people of all political affiliations to process their feelings together. This initiative emphasizes the importance of finding personal safety and connection, regardless of differing viewpoints, to foster understanding and reduce divisiveness in society.
Quinn Silverleaf's Gender Exploration
Quinn Silverleaf shares a personal journey of exploring gender identity, revealing the complexities of their experience as an agender individual. Despite identifying outside traditional gender roles, Quinn experienced a conflicting feeling when their body expressed a female identity, leading to confusion and reflection. This intersection of somatic work and gender exploration illustrates the evolving nature of personal identity and how the body can influence one's understanding of self. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of acknowledging both the physical and spiritual aspects of gender identity and expression.
Somatic Experience and Body Acceptance
The podcast discusses the relationship between somatic work and body acceptance, particularly in the context of gender and sexual identity. The speaker narrates their journey with body dysmorphia and dysphoria, leading to important insights about loving and relating to the body. Changing one’s body doesn't necessarily equate to self-acceptance; instead, learning to relate to the body on a deeper level can foster love and appreciation. This process challenges individuals to engage with their bodies to uncover their desires and needs, which ultimately promotes healing and self-acceptance.
Redefining Masculinity and Femininity
A significant theme is the idea that masculinity and femininity should not be strictly tied to biological sex, but rather understood as energies that can be experienced by anyone. The exploration of these energies reveals the limitations of traditional gender constructs and encourages individuals to embrace their multifaceted identities. Providing a safe space for discussions around these constructs allows for liberation from societal expectations and fosters a deeper understanding of self. This shift in perspective enables individuals to connect more authentically with their gender experience, moving beyond binary definitions to a more fluid understanding of identity.
On today's episode, Luis meets with Quinn Silverleaf, and they explore sexuality, sex, and gender through a somatic lens. They share their own unique lived experiences and viewpoints.
They discuss:
· ideology vs. somatic experience · integrating parts · the role context plays within our culture · separating male and female from masculinity and femininity · congruency with internal experience and external appearance
You can read more about, and register for, the "How Fawning Affects Your Sex Life" webinar here.
You can read more about, and register for, the 3-week "Recovering From Sexual Fawning" mini-course here.