From 6 to 9 and Beyond

Download my Collection of 100 Erotic Haikus for Free!

Photo by Wendy Yalom

As many of you know, I have been working on my book, Reclaiming Eros: A Heroine's Journey, for the past 3.5 years. It's been a humbling process and many of the erotic/archetypal themes I explored became lessons I had to learn in my own life. There were times when the worlds of art and reality blurred--perhaps to the frustration of many I loved. But for me, art is housed in the lived experiences carried by our bodies and storytelling is a direct vehicle for empathy and healing.

As I near the end of the editing process and move on to proofreading/design, I wanted to offer something special to whet your appetite. Since last November I have been writing a haiku a day. This practice has allowed me to tap into my creativity on a daily basis and stoke the fire needed to complete this project.

Today I offer you The Heart of Eros: A Collection of 100 Haikus. This is a first taste of Reclaiming Eros: A Heroine's Journey. While the haikus themselves do not appear in the book, they do focus on the feminine archetypes presented in Reclaiming Eros as well as explore a range of erotic themes, from jealousy, obsession & shadow to devotion, prayer & reverence. And, like the stories in the book, each one is inspired by my own lived experience. Read them aloud to yourself or with someone (or multiples someones) you love!

Click on here to download the collection.

Thank you all again for the years of support! 

"I take pleasure in my transformations. I look quiet and consistent, but few know how many women there are in me." ~ Anais Nin

Photography: Wendy Yalom Photography
Hair, Makeup, Styling: Melissa Hoffmann

Pre-Order Your Copy of "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism."

Originally posted May 27, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 CHECK OUT THE BOOK'S SITE: http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com My name is Candice Holdorf. I am a writer and teacher of sexuality and orgasm. I spent many years of my life in desperate fear of my sexuality. I used anorexia as a way to numb my hunger.

Pre-Order Your Copy Here: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9

***My Story***

This is the biggest risk I have ever taken in my life.

My name is Candice Holdorf. I am a writer and teacher of sexuality and orgasm. I spent many years of my life in desperate fear of my sexuality. I used anorexia as a way to numb my hunger. I hid behind my ex-husband so I wouldn't have to confront my desire.

Until the day came when I could not go on living as the walking dead. I made a "fear list" and did everything on that list because I wanted to know what was beyond my terror limit.

What I discovered was a woman learning to live in agreement with her own eroticism--which is not always easy given that we live in a society where female sexuality is often reduced to an object to be won, bought, bartered or stolen. 

Thanks to my own practice of connecting to my own innate eroticism, as well as teaching others to connect to their own, I now have access to a deeper truth: as a woman, it is my birthright to know my pleasure, speak my desire and celebrate my sexuality.

This book is more than just a project. It’s my prayer for the planet.

***What is From 6 to 9 and Beyond?***

From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism uses 6 fictional short stories, 9 poems and visionary photography by Seqouia Emmanuelle to capture the erotic awakening of 6 feminine archetypes: The Virgin, The Whore, The Warrior, The Queen, The Nun, The Grandmother.

My mission to shift the way we view sexuality, from sex as commerce to sex as expression of deepest truth.

My book moves beyond the male-gazing pornographic and Harlequin romance novel perspectives of female sexuality and reintroduces the erotic back into sex.

The me, the erotic is a way of living that is infused with joy, wonder and reverence for life. Every moment is an opportunity to tap into that dynamic, pulsing life force we call orgasm.

Welcome to the erotic evolution.

***Where will the money go?***

Our goal of $15,000 for this project will go towards hiring a professional editor, graphic designer and purchasing a publishing package. If we can meet (or exceed!) our stretch goal of $20,000, we can then market the book, pay taxes and cover all the incidental costs that come with producing art.

I will also donate 10% of book sale profits to two organizations: All We Want Is Love, an organization that fights to end sex trafficking and The National Eating Disorders Association. 

http://www.allwewantislove.org/

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org 

***Other Ways You Can Help***

If you can't contribute financially at this time, you can still join the movement! Share this campaign with your friends and post to social media.

As you can see there are lots of ways to participate. If you feel as passionately as I do about healing our relationship to sexuality, we need your help! Your voice, your contributions and your willingness to be a part of this movement are the only way we can make sustainable change.

In love and faith,
Candice Holdorf

Redefining Eroticism (Video)

Originally posted April 28, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com


Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

How the Erotic Enhances Sexuality (Video)

Originally posted April 28, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

Why the Title "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"? (Video)

Originally posted April 26, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

Porn and Romance (Video)

Originally posted April 25, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE BOOK HERE---> https://dana.io/from-6-to-9

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

The Commerce of Sex (Video)

Originally posted April 25, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

The Archetypes of "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" (Video)

Originally posted April 24, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

What is "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"? (Video)

Originally posted April 24, 2014

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY: https://www.dana.io/from-6-to-9 "From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism" A New Book by Candice Holdorf http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

"From 6 to 9 and Beyond: Widening the Lens of Feminine Eroticism"

A New Book by Candice Holdorf

http://www.from6to9andbeyond.com

 

Filmed by Find Your Edge Media http://www.findyouredgemedia.com

Excerpt from The Nun's Story in My Upcoming Book "From to 6 to 9 and Beyond"

The Nun. Photo by Sequoia Emmanuelle.

The Nun. Photo by Sequoia Emmanuelle.

Originally March 15, 2014

“Help me!” she cried, grief rattling through her. “Help me please.“

Her prayer gave way to jangled sobbing. She placed her hands on her heart, trying to keep her rib cage from shattering. Her heart hammered relentlessly in her chest. 

Suddenly she realized that what she was feeling was not grief, but unbearable love. Heart-shattering love. Blind devotion love. The kind of love that rests on the tip of the tongue, but remains indescribable. The kind of love that clangs and bangs within the restrictive confinement of flesh, pulsing at the edges of fingertips, yet can never be fully expressed.

It is the kind of love that only God understands and most humans tragically spend eternities trying to purchase from others. 

READ MORE HERE