Word - Grace

Grace 1 - Moon

Last year I worked with model Candace Nirvana on part of my Word project.  I projected various words on her using an lcd projector and she used her body, expression, and creativity to give life to them,   This summer I did the same thing with Moon.  Today's word is grace.

Grace -  According to Dictionary.com

1.  elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action.

2.  a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.

3.  favor or good will.

4.  a manifestation of favor, esp. by a superior: It was only through the dean's grace that I wasn't expelled from school.

5.  mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.

6.  favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.

Divine Grace - According to wikipedia

In Christianity - a theological term which is present in many and varied spiritual traditions. It is God's gift of salvation granted to sinners for their salvation. However, there are significant differences between the way people of different traditions use the word.

Grace 2 - Moon

In Hinduism - grace (kripa) is the ultimate key required for spiritual self-realization. Some, such as the ancient sage Vasistha, in his classical work Yoga Vasistha, considered it to be the only way to transcend the bondage of lifetimes of karma.  One Hindu philosopher, Madhvacharya, held that grace was not a gift from God, but rather must be earned. 

From a nontheist, naturalist, and rationalist perspective, the concept of divine grace appears to be the same nonexistent concept as luck.

Sexual/Sensual/Erotic Grace - no such term exists... yet.  I researched these term and found articles detailing how engaging in certain sexual endeavors can cause one to fall from grace.  I found an interesting article explaining how the conservative politicians caught in sexual scandals are humans and should try to be better, but their peccadilloes do not warrant them being thrown out.  

Most of the writing I found don't put sex and grace together, unless they are at odds with each other.  As C.S. Lewis wrote.:

The sins of the flesh are bad, but they are the least bad of all sins. All the worst pleasures are purely spiritual: the pleasure of putting other people in the wrong, of bossing and patronizing and spoiling sport, and back-biting, the pleasures of power, of hatred. For there are two things inside me, competing with the human self which I must try to become. They are the Animal self, and the Diabolical self. The Diabolical self is the worse of the two. That is why a cold, self-righteous prig who goes regularly to church may be far nearer to hell than a prostitute. But, of course, it is better to be neither.

Grace 3 - Moon

So, what is sexual grace?  I think  it would include the intent and aesthetic nature of sex.  It would involve parts of the secular definitions blended with a bit of the spiritual.  I think sex can cleanse, baptize, and can be redemptive and healing.  It can also "be the only way to transcend the bondage of lifetimes of karma."

The definition for Sexual grace should also include "elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action, a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment, and favor or good will."

As with all new terms, it will take time for culture and norms to refine meaning.  For now though, I hope everyone receives, shares, extends and attains sexual grace.  (can I get an "amen")

 Photos note: Thanks Moon.  You will see more of her and our words in the future.