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How to utilize our sexuality in an open and empowering way. | Jazmin Medrano | TEDxKreuzberg


I was born and raised in California yet

I was born and raised in California yet I got in a very and very old-fashioned

I got in a very and very old-fashioned

I got in a very and very old-fashioned Mexican healthful and very religious

Mexican healthful and very religious

Mexican healthful and very religious because both of my parents come from

because both of my parents come from

because both of my parents come from Mexico and part of what that meant for

Mexico and part of what that meant for

Mexico and part of what that meant for me growing up was that the word sex was

me growing up was that the word sex was

me growing up was that the word sex was never mentioned it was never talked

never mentioned it was never talked

never mentioned it was never talked about it was literally as if the concept

about it was literally as if the concept

about it was literally as if the concept of sex did not exist until of course I

of sex did not exist until of course I

of sex did not exist until of course I remember when I was 16 years old they

remember when I was 16 years old they

remember when I was 16 years old they talked to me and they said you don’t do

talked to me and they said you don’t do

talked to me and they said you don’t do that thing to make babies until you get

that thing to make babies until you get

that thing to make babies until you get married and that was pretty much the

married and that was pretty much the

married and that was pretty much the flip side of that I was exposed to

flip side of that I was exposed to

flip side of that I was exposed to watching Mexican telenovelas meaning

watching Mexican telenovelas meaning

watching Mexican telenovelas meaning progress and Mexican telenovela our

progress and Mexican telenovela our

progress and Mexican telenovela our dream was a passion of sex a lot of

dream was a passion of sex a lot of

dream was a passion of sex a lot of knowledge on that and I remember

knowledge on that and I remember

knowledge on that and I remember watching scenes where like a guy will

watching scenes where like a guy will

watching scenes where like a guy will try to forcefully make out with a woman

try to forcefully make out with a woman

try to forcefully make out with a woman the woman would resist he would force

the woman would resist he would force

the woman would resist he would force her again and then she would finally

her again and then she would finally

her again and then she would finally give in and then they would start making

give in and then they would start making

give in and then they would start making out passionately and next thing you know

out passionately and next thing you know

out passionately and next thing you know they’re ripping the clothes apart and

they’re ripping the clothes apart and

they’re ripping the clothes apart and then they’re lying naked in bed and this

then they’re lying naked in bed and this

then they’re lying naked in bed and this is what I grew up watching

is what I grew up watching

is what I grew up watching so naturally the over-sexualization of

so naturally the over-sexualization of

so naturally the over-sexualization of TV coupled with the fact that sex from

TV coupled with the fact that sex from

TV coupled with the fact that sex from me was non-existent in my life I was

me was non-existent in my life I was

me was non-existent in my life I was pretty fucking confused

pretty fucking confused

pretty fucking confused now yes I was confused but pretty much

now yes I was confused but pretty much

now yes I was confused but pretty much these impressions led me to see that sex

these impressions led me to see that sex

these impressions led me to see that sex is a taboo that you don’t speak about it

is a taboo that you don’t speak about it

is a taboo that you don’t speak about it it was literally as if there was a pink

it was literally as if there was a pink

it was literally as if there was a pink elephant in the room that we all see

elephant in the room that we all see

elephant in the room that we all see that we all want to ride that we all

that we all want to ride that we all

that we all want to ride that we all know we ride but we just don’t speak

know we ride but we just don’t speak

know we ride but we just don’t speak about it so basically my relationship to

about it so basically my relationship to

about it so basically my relationship to sex was that between pleasurable yet

sex was that between pleasurable yet

sex was that between pleasurable yet forbidden yet also kind of guilt

forbidden yet also kind of guilt

forbidden yet also kind of guilt reddened yet passionate and this was

reddened yet passionate and this was

reddened yet passionate and this was pretty much my education on sex and I

pretty much my education on sex and I

pretty much my education on sex and I pretty much took those impressions with

pretty much took those impressions with

pretty much took those impressions with me into my adult life and once I became

me into my adult life and once I became

me into my adult life and once I became sexually active this is where I saw that

sexually active this is where I saw that

sexually active this is where I saw that I was not able to express myself in sex

I was not able to express myself in sex

I was not able to express myself in sex I was not able to express my desires I

I was not able to express my desires I

I was not able to express my desires I wasn’t able to share the things that I

wasn’t able to share the things that I

wasn’t able to share the things that I wanted to do my wishes because I was

wanted to do my wishes because I was

wanted to do my wishes because I was actually afraid that I would get

actually afraid that I would get

actually afraid that I would get rejected I was afraid that I would get

rejected I was afraid that I would get

rejected I was afraid that I would get ridiculed like really I was afraid that

ridiculed like really I was afraid that

ridiculed like really I was afraid that if I shared these desires that somebody

if I shared these desires that somebody

if I shared these desires that somebody would say what are you doing like that’s

would say what are you doing like that’s

would say what are you doing like that’s not okay I was afraid that who I was was

not okay I was afraid that who I was was

not okay I was afraid that who I was was not okay that my desires were not okay

and that was actually like that in other

and that was actually like that in other parts of my life as well I was like that

parts of my life as well I was like that

parts of my life as well I was like that at work friends family

at work friends family

at work friends family I remember at work I wouldn’t express

I remember at work I wouldn’t express

I remember at work I wouldn’t express myself with what I wanted to do because

myself with what I wanted to do because

myself with what I wanted to do because I was literally afraid that my boss

I was literally afraid that my boss

I was literally afraid that my boss would just kick me to the curb but on

would just kick me to the curb but on

would just kick me to the curb but on the other spectrum of my life I somehow

the other spectrum of my life I somehow

the other spectrum of my life I somehow managed to act in a very overly sexual

managed to act in a very overly sexual

managed to act in a very overly sexual way in life and in sex I was like that

way in life and in sex I was like that

way in life and in sex I was like that as well

as well

as well I was acting like overly confident like

I was acting like overly confident like

I was acting like overly confident like sexual seductress and I know that may

sexual seductress and I know that may

sexual seductress and I know that may seem contradictory considering that I

seem contradictory considering that I

seem contradictory considering that I can’t express my desires in bed but yes

can’t express my desires in bed but yes

can’t express my desires in bed but yes it was contradictory because that’s how

it was contradictory because that’s how

it was contradictory because that’s how I grew up Mexican the novellas where

I grew up Mexican the novellas where

I grew up Mexican the novellas where parents don’t talk about sex it was a

parents don’t talk about sex it was a

parents don’t talk about sex it was a contradiction for sure so that was

contradiction for sure so that was

contradiction for sure so that was pretty much how I was with sex in my

pretty much how I was with sex in my

pretty much how I was with sex in my adult life up until about six years ago

adult life up until about six years ago

adult life up until about six years ago and what happened six years ago was that

and what happened six years ago was that

and what happened six years ago was that I decided to leave my life in the US and

I decided to leave my life in the US and

I decided to leave my life in the US and I decided to travel the world and I

I decided to travel the world and I

I decided to travel the world and I decided to leave my life in the US and

decided to leave my life in the US and

decided to leave my life in the US and travel the world because I was in search

travel the world because I was in search

travel the world because I was in search of something greater than me I knew

of something greater than me I knew

of something greater than me I knew there was more to life than what I was

there was more to life than what I was

there was more to life than what I was experiencing and I wanted to find out

experiencing and I wanted to find out

experiencing and I wanted to find out what that was

what that was

what that was and then I traveled the world for a year

and then I traveled the world for a year

and then I traveled the world for a year and then I moved to beautiful and

and then I moved to beautiful and

and then I moved to beautiful and vibrant Berlin and moving here is what

vibrant Berlin and moving here is what

vibrant Berlin and moving here is what really catapulted me to tithing deeper

really catapulted me to tithing deeper

really catapulted me to tithing deeper into myself so I really went into

into myself so I really went into

into myself so I really went into self-discovery mode and then I took

self-discovery mode and then I took

self-discovery mode and then I took actions into I took matters into my own

actions into I took matters into my own

actions into I took matters into my own hands and then I really started

hands and then I really started

hands and then I really started participating actively in different

participating actively in different

participating actively in different personal development workshops in life

personal development workshops in life

personal development workshops in life coaching trainings and things of that

coaching trainings and things of that

coaching trainings and things of that nature now before I continue with the

nature now before I continue with the

nature now before I continue with the story I would like to explain very

story I would like to explain very

story I would like to explain very briefly about what I mean between sex

briefly about what I mean between sex

briefly about what I mean between sex versus sexuality now sex is the act of

versus sexuality now sex is the act of

versus sexuality now sex is the act of sex and it’s part of sexuality

sex and it’s part of sexuality

sex and it’s part of sexuality whereas sexuality as a whole it is one

whereas sexuality as a whole it is one

whereas sexuality as a whole it is one of the basic energies in life it is a

of the basic energies in life it is a

of the basic energies in life it is a basis of where things start from or

basis of where things start from or

basis of where things start from or where things are created from our

where things are created from our

where things are created from our creativity our freedom our drive

creativity our freedom our drive

creativity our freedom our drive this is where it comes from so

this is where it comes from so

this is where it comes from so continuing on with my journey as I was

continuing on with my journey as I was

continuing on with my journey as I was you know building this community of

you know building this community of

you know building this community of peers that were also doing these

peers that were also doing these

peers that were also doing these personal development workshops they

personal development workshops they

personal development workshops they showed me actually they told me that I

showed me actually they told me that I

showed me actually they told me that I was using my sexuality to get attention

was using my sexuality to get attention

was using my sexuality to get attention that I was talking too much about sex

that I was talking too much about sex

that I was talking too much about sex and that when I did it was always over

and that when I did it was always over

and that when I did it was always over the top and really overbearing and I

the top and really overbearing and I

the top and really overbearing and I remember there were certain situations

remember there were certain situations

remember there were certain situations where I was talking to friends and then

where I was talking to friends and then

where I was talking to friends and then I would bring up the subject of sex and

I would bring up the subject of sex and

I would bring up the subject of sex and they would look at me like oh I should

they would look at me like oh I should

they would look at me like oh I should go again talking about sex but when they

go again talking about sex but when they

go again talking about sex but when they told me these things that they thought

told me these things that they thought

told me these things that they thought of me of course I naturally got

of me of course I naturally got

of me of course I naturally got defensive and I reacted I’m like this is

defensive and I reacted I’m like this is

defensive and I reacted I’m like this is how I am that’s what I would say but it

how I am that’s what I would say but it

how I am that’s what I would say but it did trigger something in me and it

did trigger something in me and it

did trigger something in me and it really hit a pain point and then I

really hit a pain point and then I

really hit a pain point and then I started asking myself what am i doing

started asking myself what am i doing

started asking myself what am i doing why am i doing that where is this coming

why am i doing that where is this coming

why am i doing that where is this coming from and then I saw I saw that basically

from and then I saw I saw that basically

from and then I saw I saw that basically I was me using my sexuality to get

I was me using my sexuality to get

I was me using my sexuality to get attention was just a means to cover up

attention was just a means to cover up

attention was just a means to cover up my fears my limitations covering up my

my fears my limitations covering up my

my fears my limitations covering up my feelings of inadequacy because I felt

feelings of inadequacy because I felt

feelings of inadequacy because I felt inadequate I had to know who I was and

inadequate I had to know who I was and

inadequate I had to know who I was and my soul am I overly sexual am i able to

my soul am I overly sexual am i able to

my soul am I overly sexual am i able to express myself like I felt like a

express myself like I felt like a

express myself like I felt like a walking contradiction

and then I started connecting the dots

and then I started connecting the dots and then he saw that the inhibitions

and then he saw that the inhibitions

and then he saw that the inhibitions that I have in life are actually the

that I have in life are actually the

that I have in life are actually the same inhibitions that I have in sex and

same inhibitions that I have in sex and

same inhibitions that I have in sex and I saw that I was relating to sex the

I saw that I was relating to sex the

I saw that I was relating to sex the same way that I was relating to life I

same way that I was relating to life I

same way that I was relating to life I was not able to express my desires I was

was not able to express my desires I was

was not able to express my desires I was overly sexual and both both in sex and

overly sexual and both both in sex and

overly sexual and both both in sex and in life and I saw that the relationship

in life and I saw that the relationship

in life and I saw that the relationship that we have to sex is the relationship

that we have to sex is the relationship

that we have to sex is the relationship that we have to live so I said with

that we have to live so I said with

that we have to live so I said with continuing to see these things and I

continuing to see these things and I

continuing to see these things and I said as I was continuing to reflect on

said as I was continuing to reflect on

said as I was continuing to reflect on myself on my limitations I started to

myself on my limitations I started to

myself on my limitations I started to notice little by little that I was

notice little by little that I was

notice little by little that I was starting to express myself a little more

starting to express myself a little more

starting to express myself a little more Express what I wanted and I was doing

Express what I wanted and I was doing

Express what I wanted and I was doing that in sex and I was doing that in life

that in sex and I was doing that in life

that in sex and I was doing that in life and as I was continuing to express Who I

and as I was continuing to express Who I

and as I was continuing to express Who I am I was seeing that it really felt

am I was seeing that it really felt

am I was seeing that it really felt different because it wasn’t about others

different because it wasn’t about others

different because it wasn’t about others anymore and my whole life it was always

anymore and my whole life it was always

anymore and my whole life it was always about making others happy

about making others happy

about making others happy and I was learning for the first time

and I was learning for the first time

and I was learning for the first time what it was like to express Who I am

what it was like to express Who I am

what it was like to express Who I am because this is who I am I was no longer

because this is who I am I was no longer

because this is who I am I was no longer worried about living with these learned

worried about living with these learned

worried about living with these learned behaviors that I learned as a child I

behaviors that I learned as a child I

behaviors that I learned as a child I was living life in a very different way

was living life in a very different way

was living life in a very different way and since I was able to express myself

and since I was able to express myself

and since I was able to express myself more you know what a result of that was

more you know what a result of that was

more you know what a result of that was creativity I started to become more

creativity I started to become more

creativity I started to become more creative because creativity is coming

creative because creativity is coming

creative because creativity is coming from sexuality and creativity is a form

from sexuality and creativity is a form

from sexuality and creativity is a form of self-expression so naturally as I mix

of self-expression so naturally as I mix

of self-expression so naturally as I mix as I’m expressing me who I am

as I’m expressing me who I am

as I’m expressing me who I am of course my trick my creativity is

of course my trick my creativity is

of course my trick my creativity is gonna come out as well so I was becoming

gonna come out as well so I was becoming

gonna come out as well so I was becoming more creative and as I was becoming more

more creative and as I was becoming more

more creative and as I was becoming more creative I saw that I started to pick up

creative I saw that I started to pick up

creative I saw that I started to pick up a painting

a painting

a painting I never painted with broccoli sticks but

I never painted with broccoli sticks but

I never painted with broccoli sticks but I’m gonna do that next time so I started

I’m gonna do that next time so I started

I’m gonna do that next time so I started to paint and then at one point I

to paint and then at one point I

to paint and then at one point I remembered that I

remembered that I

remembered that I I painted every day every morning for at

I painted every day every morning for at

I painted every day every morning for at least 30 minutes and one thing that I

least 30 minutes and one thing that I

least 30 minutes and one thing that I loved about doing that was that it was

loved about doing that was that it was

loved about doing that was that it was no longer about others

no longer about others

no longer about others it wasn’t about hearing what they had to

it wasn’t about hearing what they had to

it wasn’t about hearing what they had to say it wasn’t about it being pretty

say it wasn’t about it being pretty

say it wasn’t about it being pretty about it being ugly about it being right

about it being ugly about it being right

about it being ugly about it being right or what is my goal with this or is this

or what is my goal with this or is this

or what is my goal with this or is this gonna get me a job or what is his can I

gonna get me a job or what is his can I

gonna get me a job or what is his can I write this on my CV it was just

write this on my CV it was just

write this on my CV it was just literally about me expressing Who I am

literally about me expressing Who I am

literally about me expressing Who I am with paint on a blank canvas and that

with paint on a blank canvas and that

with paint on a blank canvas and that felt so different where there was nobody

felt so different where there was nobody

felt so different where there was nobody on the other end to say that I was

on the other end to say that I was

on the other end to say that I was inadequate or not there was no fear it

inadequate or not there was no fear it

inadequate or not there was no fear it was just me and it was this sense of

was just me and it was this sense of

was just me and it was this sense of aliveness that I felt when I started

aliveness that I felt when I started

aliveness that I felt when I started doing that a sense of aliveness that

doing that a sense of aliveness that

doing that a sense of aliveness that I’ve never felt before again I was

I’ve never felt before again I was

I’ve never felt before again I was coming more into contact with Who I am

coming more into contact with Who I am

coming more into contact with Who I am expressing myself in the way so

expressing myself in the way so

expressing myself in the way so naturally with all of this experience

naturally with all of this experience

naturally with all of this experience and sex and sexuality and creativity and

and sex and sexuality and creativity and

and sex and sexuality and creativity and an expression this is when I decided to

an expression this is when I decided to

an expression this is when I decided to become a transformational life coach and

become a transformational life coach and

become a transformational life coach and then I started to support and invite

then I started to support and invite

then I started to support and invite others to come into contact with fearful

others to come into contact with fearful

others to come into contact with fearful self-expression and creativity and power

self-expression and creativity and power

self-expression and creativity and power and personal freedom and I continued my

and personal freedom and I continued my

and personal freedom and I continued my work even more by creating workshops on

work even more by creating workshops on

work even more by creating workshops on the topic of sexuality which I called

the topic of sexuality which I called

the topic of sexuality which I called stepping into sexual freedom and one of

stepping into sexual freedom and one of

stepping into sexual freedom and one of the exercise that I had people do was to

the exercise that I had people do was to

the exercise that I had people do was to draw out their sexual shames or fears

draw out their sexual shames or fears

draw out their sexual shames or fears and I remember that after doing a few

and I remember that after doing a few

and I remember that after doing a few workshops I remember thinking how cool

workshops I remember thinking how cool

workshops I remember thinking how cool would it be to just get these joins and

would it be to just get these joins and

would it be to just get these joins and have them be a part of an exhibition and

have them be a part of an exhibition and

have them be a part of an exhibition and from that thought I created a project I

from that thought I created a project I

from that thought I created a project I created this experiential art project

created this experiential art project

created this experiential art project that I called sex pression ism

that I called sex pression ism

that I called sex pression ism and it’s basically me having different

and it’s basically me having different

and it’s basically me having different conversations and having different

conversations and having different

conversations and having different coaching sessions with people on the

coaching sessions with people on the

coaching sessions with people on the topic of sexuality where I record them

topic of sexuality where I record them

topic of sexuality where I record them and at the end of that I have people

and at the end of that I have people

and at the end of that I have people paint paint whatever it is at the

paint paint whatever it is at the

paint paint whatever it is at the present – in the moment about sexuality

present – in the moment about sexuality

present – in the moment about sexuality and one of the things I love about this

and one of the things I love about this

and one of the things I love about this project was that it pretty much

project was that it pretty much

project was that it pretty much encapsulated the stories of his people

encapsulated the stories of his people

encapsulated the stories of his people of vulnerability of love of joy of pain

of vulnerability of love of joy of pain

of vulnerability of love of joy of pain of struggle but more than anything it

of struggle but more than anything it

of struggle but more than anything it showed that sex for all of them was a

showed that sex for all of them was a

showed that sex for all of them was a gateway for them to come into contact

gateway for them to come into contact

gateway for them to come into contact with their true selves and the personal

with their true selves and the personal

with their true selves and the personal freedom but there was actually one guy

freedom but there was actually one guy

freedom but there was actually one guy that stood out in the project and let’s

that stood out in the project and let’s

that stood out in the project and let’s call him John for the sake of anonymity

call him John for the sake of anonymity

call him John for the sake of anonymity John was a musician he left to play

John was a musician he left to play

John was a musician he left to play music this was one of his ways of

music this was one of his ways of

music this was one of his ways of expressing himself and he was able to do

expressing himself and he was able to do

expressing himself and he was able to do that in the privacy of his own home but

that in the privacy of his own home but

that in the privacy of his own home but he was unable to show his music in

he was unable to show his music in

he was unable to show his music in public or to the public for others to

public or to the public for others to

public or to the public for others to experience now let’s go into his sex

experience now let’s go into his sex

experience now let’s go into his sex life and sex he was a very healthy

life and sex he was a very healthy

life and sex he was a very healthy masturbator he was able to orgasm but

masturbator he was able to orgasm but

masturbator he was able to orgasm but when it came to actually having sexual

when it came to actually having sexual

when it came to actually having sexual intercourse with a partner yes he

intercourse with a partner yes he

intercourse with a partner yes he enjoyed it he wasn’t able to orgasm so

enjoyed it he wasn’t able to orgasm so

enjoyed it he wasn’t able to orgasm so again going back to his life with music

again going back to his life with music

again going back to his life with music he can do it on his own but he can’t

he can do it on his own but he can’t

he can do it on his own but he can’t share it for the world to experience he

share it for the world to experience he

share it for the world to experience he can’t share his true unique gifts for

can’t share his true unique gifts for

can’t share his true unique gifts for being a musician for others to see and

being a musician for others to see and

being a musician for others to see and hear same thing as in sex where he

hear same thing as in sex where he

hear same thing as in sex where he wasn’t able to orgasm meaning he can’t

wasn’t able to orgasm meaning he can’t

wasn’t able to orgasm meaning he can’t share all of who he is for his partner

share all of who he is for his partner

share all of who he is for his partner to experience and that’s when he saw

to experience and that’s when he saw

to experience and that’s when he saw that the relationship that he has to sex

that the relationship that he has to sex

that the relationship that he has to sex is the relationship that he has to life

I would like to extend an invitation for

I would like to extend an invitation for you to see the possibility that the

you to see the possibility that the

you to see the possibility that the approach that you take to sex is an

approach that you take to sex is an

approach that you take to sex is an entry point for you to come into contact

entry point for you to come into contact

entry point for you to come into contact with your full Suffolk’s

with your full Suffolk’s

with your full Suffolk’s rushon and one thing that you can do is

rushon and one thing that you can do is

rushon and one thing that you can do is ask yourself a question of what is my

ask yourself a question of what is my

ask yourself a question of what is my relationship to sex if I could redefine

relationship to sex if I could redefine

relationship to sex if I could redefine my relationship and sex based on my

my relationship and sex based on my

my relationship and sex based on my truth and not on my learned behaviors

truth and not on my learned behaviors

truth and not on my learned behaviors what would that look like and also what

what would that look like and also what

what would that look like and also what are my sexual limitations and becoming

are my sexual limitations and becoming

are my sexual limitations and becoming aware of all of these limitations will

aware of all of these limitations will

aware of all of these limitations will give you the opportunity to then

give you the opportunity to then

give you the opportunity to then transform these limitations and

transform these limitations and

transform these limitations and transforming these limitations will

transforming these limitations will

transforming these limitations will allow you to come into contact with who

allow you to come into contact with who

allow you to come into contact with who you are so that you can be able to share

you are so that you can be able to share

you are so that you can be able to share yourself for others to experience and

yourself for others to experience and

yourself for others to experience and doing that will allow you to be more

doing that will allow you to be more

doing that will allow you to be more connected to yourself to others and

connected to yourself to others and

connected to yourself to others and really become fully available for

really become fully available for

really become fully available for everyone to experience you who you are

everyone to experience you who you are

everyone to experience you who you are no one else and doing that will allow

no one else and doing that will allow

no one else and doing that will allow you and all of us to have a much much

you and all of us to have a much much

you and all of us to have a much much greater impact

”

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