The idea of celebrating exclusive, romantic LOVE on what we call Valentine’s Day is a relatively new invention, created by the Catholic Church and commercialized by Hallmark and Mrs. See’s. But the tradition of honoring all-inclusive, natural LUST on and around this time of year goes back before the classical era, when ancient Romans celebrated the Lupercalia, a primordial festival of communal sexuality, purification, fertility, the rush of hormones, the howl of the wolf, the crack of the whip and the coming of Spring.
Instead of honoring “your” Valentine with hearts, flowers and words of love, Lupercalia involved whips, floggers and expressions of lust. In and around ancient Rome, the lusty young Lupercii ritually sacrificed goats, and then ran nearly naked through the countryside brandishing goatskin whips as equally lusty Roman ladies eagerly bared their buttocks to receive light thrashings from the sacred floggers–said to bless the recipients with fertility and health. The early Catholic Church outlawed Lupercalia, replacing it with the relatively chaste celebration of Valentine’s Day.
But this Saturday, February 12th, for those who suffer from the utter banality of candy hearts and baby cherubs, Dr. Susan Block and the Bonobo Gang will bring back the lusty joys of Lupercalia with a VALENTINE LUPERCALIA Celebration in the Block Institute’s new Womb Room (which opened a couple weeks ago on the wildly successful and orgiastic EROS DAY) with whips, floggers, no pressure to be “in love” (unless it just happens), but lots of opportunity to feel the love and an erotic sense of community. It’s the Bonobo Way.
Brothers and sisters, lovers and floggers joining us for Lupercalia this Saturday include porn star couple Lucy Blaze and Chad Diamond, fetish performance artist RubberNecro, award-winning playwright Michael Phillips, alt porn MiLF Rochelle Lynn, BDSM USMC officers Lord Artimus Foul and Miss Boxcutter, BDSM performance couple Exceter Miles and Siren Selene, with more confirming as Lupercalia draws near. The Lupercalia Drink of Choice is, once again, Agwa di Bolivia Coca Leaf Liqueur, one of the many fine beverages featured at the always popular Speakeasy Open Bar and Aphrodisiac Buffet. Guests will also enjoy Pocket Rockets by Doc Johnson, Condomania condoms, Stockroom whips and floggers and a fine art exhibit featuring the classical erotic paintings of Scott Siedman.
As Dr. Suzy says, “If love is going to hurt—as it so often does, despite all the flowery cards and candy fantasies—then you’re better off getting your buns beaten for Lupercalia than your heart broken on Valentine’s Day.”
Proceeds from donations go to help save the highly endangered “make love not war” bonobo chimpanzees from extinction in the Congo, and promote the Bonobo Way of peace through pleasure around the world.
Learn about the Bonobos: http://blockbonobofoundation.org
The Dr. Susan Block Institute is an international center for sexual expression, therapy and education based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1991 by Susan M. Block, PhD, world-renowned Yale-educated sexologist, best-selling author and host of HBO specials, the Institute’s mission is to help individuals, couples and communities to enhance their sexuality and improve their lives, based upon Dr. Block’s philosophy of Ethical Hedonism and the Bonobo Way of Peace through Pleasure.
Contact: David L. Ross
Phone: 213.670.0066
Email: show@blockbooks.com
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