Taking the Erotic Blueprints Out of the Bedroom and Into the World

We travel to feel alive, to experience pleasure, and to be in the moment. By creating time to get out of the everyday routine, giving ourselves permission to slow down, and by putting ourselves in uncharted waters, we’re more present and aware of our surroundings, open to other ways of being, and appreciating the small pleasures of life. 

It is an erotic being, experiencing the pleasures of the world through your body and mind, that you enjoy travel. Your eroticism is a deep fundamental part of who you truly are, consciously and unconsciously, and it impacts your vitality, creativity, and nervous system. Knowing how your eroticism is uniquely wired, through discovering your Erotic Blueprint, is thus a key hack to maximizing your enjoyment as a traveler, and keeping stress at bay.

Sex and travel aren’t that far removed. For many of us, sexuality has been a forbidden land of shame, fear, self-doubt, and vulnerability. It’s often the final frontier in self-development, or an unwelcome layover forced by relationship challenges. In both sex and travel, by getting out of our comfort zones, trying new things, witnessing different ways of living, and speaking new languages, we gain perspective, gain confidence, unpack cultural conditioning, and come into greater truth and alignment with who we truly are. In turn, the outer journey becomes an inner journey of self-knowing. 

Enter the Erotic Blueprints as a framework for improving your travel life, your intimate life, and your day-to-day pleasure. Knowing your Blueprint Type (Energetic, Sensual, Sexual, Kinky or Shapeshifter) helps you understand your essence, and utilise your superpowers to your advantage while integrating or managing your shadows.

The Erotic Blueprints can be compared to the five Love Languages, but for intimacy. The framework was developed by my teacher, Jaiya, over the course of 20 years working as a somatic sexologist, witnessing how different bodies respond to touch (as seen in the Netflix series Sex Love & goop). The Types speak deeply to our nervous systems and how we are each wired to experience pleasure and turn on in the world. 

Below is a brief description of each of the 5 Blueprint Types in the context of travel, with its superpowers and shadows, and some “hacks” to lean into the pleasures of travel while managing the stresses. My desire is that you recognize something in yourself and have more empathy for your unique wiring. That you know that nothing about you is broken, wrong, or weird, and you can lean into finding even more pleasure and self-acceptance from your travels.

Energetic 

Energetic Types are the sensitive empaths of the world. They are highly attuned to what is going on within and around them on an energetic level. First and foremost, they need to feel safe. As travellers, they may be drawn to places where they can feel peaceful, connected to themselves and to the universe. Think places like Hawaii or Guatemala, both known for their volcanic activity; Sedona, Arizona, known for its energy vortexes; or historical spiritual sites like Machu Picchu or Stonehenge. Part of the Energetic’s pleasure may be in the anticipation, the tease, and the sense of being magnetized to a place. While the superpower is the ability to deeply feel and connect, the potential shadow side is a propensity to get overwhelmed and ‘short circuit’. Busy airports, crowded hostels, noisy cities, travel stress, and negative energies can be especially hard for the energetic to manage. Honoring your type means loving the superpowers while having empathy for yourself and managing the shadows. For the energetic, this could look like traveling with crystals for grounding or safeguarding energy, visualizing a protective energy bubble, and grounding practices like being in water, feet on the earth, and yoga, meditation and dance to come back into the body.

Sensual 

Sensual Types are the world's sensation seekers. They love having all their senses ignited: taste, touch, sound, smell, and sight. They might travel in search of world class meals (food-gasms!), architecture, live music, art, or dance. They delight in savoring the beauty of a jaw dropping sunset, the sound of waves, meandering through colorful alleyways, or perusing local handicrafts. While the Sensual’s superpower is the ability to deeply experience pleasure, a potential shadow is getting caught in their heads, appearing critical as they compare what is to what could be even better. To be in pleasure, the sensual needs to create a sense of order and relaxation. They need a toggle to shift from work to relax mode. The Sensual needs to unpack their well-organized packing cubes, neatly hang clothes in the closet, arrange their toiletries, and feel settled. (As a Sensual myself, I don’t leave home without my silk eyemask, earplugs, and essential oils.)

Sexual 

Sexual Types are about certainty and climax. Often very direct and to the point, they want to get to the main attraction, and this ability to go from 0 to 60 is their superpower. The Energetic type might enjoy the anticipation of visiting the Eiffel Tower, enjoying slowing climbing each stair and anticipating the view from the top, and the Sensual might enjoy the leisurely walk, savoring the sights and sounds of Paris, following a delicious smell into a bakery. In contrast, the Sexual wants to come there straight away (pun intended😉 ). To them, the experience doesn’t count unless they reach the goal. Their nervous system needs the certainty of achieving the goal in order to relax. The Sexual might love bagging a peak, banging out 12 new passport stamps in a month-long spin through Europe, and the thrill of hacking credit card points. Learning to enjoy and savor the metaphorical journey is where the Sexual expands.

Kinky 

Kinky Types are attracted to things that feel naughty, taboo, forbidden or off-limits to them. This could be sensation-based, like bungee jumping, running with the bulls in Pamplona, or psychological, such as playing with fantasy, role play, or power dynamics. It’s the little thrill or giggle that comes with ‘I can’t believe I’m getting away with this’. In the context of travel, it could be allowing a usually suppressed part of your personality to feel safe to express itself in a different culture. The superpower of the Kinky is endless creativity and a desire to explore and push boundaries. The potential shadow is often shame; the growth is in giving yourself permission to fully go after your desires. Clear and healthy boundaries are essential here; getting clear on your hell yeses and hell nos before getting caught up in the heat of a moment to avoid going too far and experiencing regret.

Shapeshifter

Shapeshifter Types are all of the above, and more. What sets them apart is their thirst for novelty, pleasure, and adventure. Because they can shift to be each of the Blueprints, they can be people pleasers, constantly adapting to please who they are with, but struggling to fully ask for what they want while they’re own complex desires are not being met. Shapeshifters often experience the shadow of shame around being too much, too complicated, and misunderstood. They may have heard ‘Why can’t you just be happy with what you have?’. Once they embrace their true nature, they give permission to others to have it all too.

How can I discover my Erotic Blueprint?

The first step in the Erotic Blueprint journey is to take the Quiz. It gives you a quick overview of your primary Erotic Blueprint Type, which is a road map to how you experience pleasure. If you’re curious, and would like to further discuss how embracing your Blueprint can enhance your travels and / or intimate life, schedule a complimentary 45 minute session with me.