What is consent?

Consent is a foundational principle in any interaction, particularly in physical and intimate settings. It's an agreement that acknowledges mutual boundaries and respects each individual's space before embarking on a shared experience.

At its core, consent is an agreement—giving permission for something to happen. It involves appreciating and respecting each other's boundaries before engaging together. This understanding is crucial in all interactions, particularly physical and sensual ones.

While I've always understood the significance of consent, it took time to realise the inner healing and awareness required to truly identify our boundaries. As women, we are often conditioned to say "yes" without introspection. Learning to connect deeply with our bodies, truly listen, and express our needs is a journey that requires time, dedication and a lot of awareness.

Even though I've cultivated awareness as a practitioner, being on the receiving end can present challenges for me. During retreats, activities performed in pairs or groups sometimes left me feeling compelled to participate without checks on what I truly wanted. Through this, I learned the importance of constant introspection—it’s important to pause and ask, "Do I really want this?"

I vividly recall an activity where I was the only person unwilling to participate. Despite pressure from a facilitator to conform for the sake of the group, I chose to honour my instincts and politely declined. This was a moment of reclaiming my power, underscoring the strength in standing by my "No."

Many factors can lead us to say "yes" when we actually mean "no," be it the desire to please others, societal conditioning, thinking that experience could benefit up even if it doesn't feel right, past trauma, disconnection from our body, fear of conflict, or peer pressure to name just a few. Recognising disconnection from our body’s wisdom is pivotal in making choices aligned with our body and our values..

I invite you to reflect on consent in the context of s*exuality. Are there moments when you say "yes" to something that your heart felt as "no"? Remember, honouring our "No" gives strength to our "Yes," creating space for experiences and connections that truly resonate with who we are and your deepest desires.

With Love,

Rosie x