enter the yoniverse
WHY YONI?
The original meaning of word “yoni” in Sanscrit is vast and complex and worthy of an entire essay.
Source/ sacred space/ womb/ are some of the one word translations….
It can be used to refer to the entire female sexual and reproductive anatomy - including the womb, ovaries, cervix, vulva and vagina. We don’t have an equivalent word in the English language.
Vulva = external genitalia
Vagina = the internal passageway.
I choose to use yoni because it brings back all that is holy to our pelvic bowl.
I also find that in general, yoni is not a trigger word for people.
I’m passionate about reclaiming words for the vulva and vagina - I love the sexy sassiness of pussy and cunt is so powerful (I have some excellent poems and songs on the subject!) - however I tend to use these words less in my guided practices and writing because I want people to be present in their bodies and not in a place of being triggered which can easily happen with these words, such is the cultural baggage around them.
We have different preferred words to use to refer to our gorgeous genitals.
Some of my favourites are pussy, cunt, vulva & vagina - these are the words I use regularly.
Please use whatever word works for you - you don’t have to use “yoni” or any other word I use if they don’t resonate.
anatomy
It is empowering to understand the anatomical structures that comprise our sexual and reproductive anatomy - we then know exactly WHAT we are connecting with on a material level.
This diagram is another conceptual diagram of the sexual and reproductive organs.
The “urethral sponge” is the famous “G-Spot” - more accurately called a zone - the G is for Goddess.
The urethral opening is where urine is ejected. The “paraurethral ducts” are tiny ducts just below from where female ejaculate emerges.
The “perenial sponge” is a piece of erectile tissue that protects the rectum during penetrative sex
This beautiful anatomical drawing shows the position of the uterus or womb and vagina in relation to the bladder, urethra and the colon.
This shows the uterus in optimal position, and also without the complex system of ligaments, nerves, arteries, veins and connective tissue that surround our organs.
What we can see from this drawing is how the womb nestles over the bladder and how close the urethra is to the vagina - it can be easily irritated during penetrative sex if we are not properly aroused (hello UTIs!)
Note that the “Fallopian Tube” is now more accurately referred to as the “Uterine Tube” - female reproductive anatomy was colonised by the patriarchy in the form of the names of the male scientists who “discovered” said anatomy - and there is a currently reclamation process occuring.
This is the vulva - the external genitalia.
The perineum is the skin between the vaginal opening and the anus
CONNECTING WITH YOUR YONI
This 15 minute guided audio will take you through an energetic connection with your sexual and reproductive anatomy.
I encourage you to take your journal and write down what it felt in the different places in your pelvic bowl - if you can’t feel anything, that’s absolutely normal - write that down.
Don’t feel like you “should” be experiencing this practice in a certain way. Just notice what is there for you.