Dear Jasjit,

"All I want you to remember is that when you have been sexually abused repeatedly as a child, by someone you love and trust you have no boundaries left."

Makes so much sense!

Its so true that marriages too have women prostituting themselves. Only money takes different forms there, like Iris said, intimacy, security, love ..... Really gets one thinking!

Brilliant piece!

Dear Jasjit

Simply amazing.

I cud almost feel the pain & anguish of Iris. Touched !!

Frankly after reading Chaitali's piece on the anti-prostitution law , i was trying to think & think deep about the whole matter of prostitution. Honestly so far i was yet to firm a viewpoint on the matter.Was organizing my thoughts & questioning myself. And then came the story of Iris..."....it is not really the ‘social eye’ that hounds you, it is the eye of your heart which never ceases to drive home the truth..." I got my answer that too with remarkable clarity!!

Such was the impact of your piece. Awe Inspiring!

Love
Prasun

Dear Shubz

Iris was one of the most amazing spirits to have crossed my path. she literally came into my life from nowhere and then just as suddenly disappeared. And yet left me enriched at so many levels. Even now I often recall her at many moments in my life when I think of the indomitable will, the bountiful heart and the abundance of the human spirit. Iris came into my life as all of that and more. Bless her for the amazing legacy she has left behind for so many.

Dearest Prasun

She was an amazing mistral of light and so her story continues to bring clarity and light to us all. I just know that when she shared this story my awe and respect for her just soared to a new high. She was a rare messenger who taught me how life could be embraced in every hue, especially for its darkness. She was an undeniable warrior of light and like none other that I know.

Much love to you Prasun.

Jasjit

Touching, inspiring and almost unbelievable story. Hats off to Iris, her struggles and her victories. And her wisdom has indeed made me see something 'new' in why and how people win and lose behind their masks of ordinariness. She had an extraordinary quality to 'forgive and move on' and what an extraordinary moving on! Its a pity someone like her left the world so soon. She had so much to teach and heal.
I'm sure wherever she is her light shines bright!

Jasjit,

What an amazing woman Iris must have been. She has made so many things clear with her words. Thank you for sharing her story with us.

"When sexuality is not open, joyous and truly consensual, your heart knows and in its eye you prostitute yourself."

Using the word prostitute as a verb rather than a noun...

I was writing a reply to Chaitali’s article yesterday morning but had to leave it half way. Came back home late and saw Jasjit’s piece.

I have a question. But before that I would like to say, as far as prostitution is concerned, like many, I believe in decriminalising it and would like to look at it as any other physical labour that people do for a living. My question is; can sexuality be considered as a talent? My fear is that this argument will mechanise us even more, with human bodies further looked at as an object. Would love to know what others think

Happy Holi to all- :)

Dear Ramlath

Interesting question. I dont see why sexuality should not be a talent. I would go further to say it can not only be a talent but it can be an art form. The kamasutra, khajuraho and dilwara temples bear witness that its intrinsic, essential and an art form.

The question is how does one differentiate between art and commercialisation. For instance were courtesans (whether they were on kothas or part of a kings harem) free enough, empowered enough and rooted enough in their beings to express the sexual as an art form? I feel the question is really tricky because for centuries the sexual has been buried under sin/immorality/shame/guilt/distortion/exploitationespecially for women, that I cannot imagine that even gender memory can recall a time or state which would come close to understanding how sexuality can be an art form let alone a talent.

My two bits worth. Happy Holi to all.

Hi Ramlath

Important question. In effect for anything to become a talent its impact must be transforming. So I guess the question is can sexuality be expressed as a transforming experience? Well I would have to say that on the one hand as Anusheh mentions, the traditions of this land mass not only raised it to the level of a transforming and elevating aspect of human existence, but raised the expressions to a level where they were deified as temples and texts of wisdom and worship.

This is a critical point, for only in India does our legacy make such an unequivocal statement on the sexual not only being sacred but intrinsic to human transcendence. However, at an individual level I feel it can only be expressed as a talent if it is experienced as a power and not as weakness. And this is a subtle point. Only one who has understood the naturalness, intensity, wholesomeness and lyricism of the sexual can communicate it in communion as the same. Anything short of that will sully, disturb, control, manipulate and ultimately damage both the self and the other.

So I guess, ideally if there were those who were truly 'talented' as sexual beings, imagine what powerful healing/transformation they would have to offer. In their absence there is only the wretched sex worker whose own anguish deepens as it infects the one who goes to seek succour.

Holi greetings to you, Venkat, Radhika, Surya, Prasun, Aachi, Venkat, Rohit, Ajay, Rajiv, Harvinder, Sangeeta, Shalini, Annie, Sahaya, Chipmunk and Sukanya.

love

Dear Anusheh, Jasjit,

happy holi to u.

lots of love

Aachi pal where have you been we have missed you:) Happy Holi.

lots of love

Thank you Jasjit :-) for your greetings.

Wishing you happy festivities... on the auspicious occasion of the festival of colors! Colors. More than one- similar to the multitude and colorful opinions, ideas and experiences shared by some wonderful people on your blog.

Thank You Dear Rajiv

The Ifsha blog bus owes its colours to each and everyone of you who bring the myriad ideas/opinions/wisdom and wonderful camaderie to this space.

Forgot to wish Buas, Sunrise, Preethi, Dhruv, Anuj, Madhavi, Ikp & Shrek (where are you??)and my old friends Sundar & Harb. Happiness, colourful times and great joy on Holi to you all.

Great Holi to the happy blog bus! Right now I'm red-faced, purple nosed and annoyed at how this fun day always degenerates into lunacy. So it's great to be able to get on to the blog and be able to have fun wishing everyone at a safe distance ;)

Jasjit, what a touching story. Couldn't help but think how people like Iris should be writing their autobiographies. What a great film script her life would be, wouldn't it Jasjit?

I am intrigued to read your next post on how you say we all have a prostitute within us.

Both Chaitali and your post have set off some interesting thoughts and comments. Here's my question. What do we all think of male sex workers i.e. gigolos? I wanted to ask this question on an earlier post where Jasjit mentioned the book The Happy Hooker which was initially banned, so how come the film 'The American Gigolo' was such a great hit? So does gender change how we view sex work and why?

Like Ramlath said about sexuality being a talent do we view gigolos as having talent and female sex workers as simply selling their bodies? Would love to know what others think.

Dear Radhika

Good question. Gender must have a role to play and I guess that's where the debate deepens.
For instance we all know that Chippendale exists in the westand now it seems that the big cities in the east are catching up. In fact just the other day I read that a five star hotel in Delhi was arranging weekly nights for women where men were put on the stage to dance and titillate them.

So the guys do this for money. Its about naked bodies and sex. Women pay to watch and now it's considered fun and fashionable. Where's the morality take on this? Like you said about the American Gigolo, Richard Gere made it instantly to stardom as the man who all women desired and wouldn't mind paying to have sex with. Gigolos are now being advertised in Indian metros as well so women must be buying sex.

Where then is the line drawn for prostitution? Why does it make women who buy sex free from the stigma as opposed to women who sell sex? And why does a man who sells his body to women come across as a stud and attractive rather than a miserable, immoral wretch?

I too would like some answers and I hope others will join this discussion.Perhaps Jasjit's post, as she promises, will tell us more about how many degrees of seperation there are between us and them.

dear anusheh,

I have been travelling a little. but its good to be back.:)

when a woman will know herself fully, will be proud of her womanhood and will consider a man to be only an extension of her own self,

when a man will know himself fully, will be proud of his manhood and will consider a woman to be only an extension of his own self,

then the sex done by them will automatically be in the art form...

in the cyclical progression of evolution the times of such a sex, of kamasutra, khajuraho and dilwara will surely come again. for, they did not come out of the blue just once by chance. they come at the end phase of each cycle and have explanation behind them.

my happy holi to all with special thanks to jasjit,

ananda anandam!

Dearest Jasjit

"She was(is) an undeniable warrior of light and like none other that I know."

Thats precisely what i feel for you as well :-)

Love
Prasun

Good Morning everyone ;-)

Hello Harb,

Good to see you. A very Happy Holi to you too. LOL

Good Morning Harb

Good to hear from you again. I totally agree that 'they were not out of the blue' but powerful indicators of man's natural legacy. One of the many reasons I continue to find this land mass and its wisdom so unique and timeless.

However I would add that rather than seeing the man/woman as an extension only when we see and know them powerfully as our own half does sexuality become like a prayer-reverential, whole, receptive and graceful.

Truly the is it Ananda Anandam. :-)

Dearest Prasun (Flower soul)

You know what they say. It takes one to know one! So hello there warrior of light yourself!

Love

Dear Venkat & Radhika

Good Morning and Thank You. True Radhika, Iris deserves a biography and she would make a great movie script. Have often thought of incorporating her in something like 'warriors of light' that I have been mulling over for the last few years. A script about 'ordinary' people as Venkat say who live in the most extraordinary way.

Have to say that of all the people I have known well in my life (and trust me ther have been thousands) Iris is the only one who carried such a tragic life with NO victim self visible anywhere. Except as she said in her love for food. I only got to know this part of her life after about five years of knowing her quite well. Then too she never told any tale with tears, tragedy or sadness. She always spoke from a place of strength, insight and an amazing gratitude for all she recieved in the circumstances. Her gratitude towards life was her most infectious attribute which touched anyone she encountered for it was so overwhelming given her life and struggles.

Thanks for reminding me to complete that script. Maybe someday soon now!

Dear Anusheh

"..Why does it make women who buy sex free from the stigma as opposed to women who sell sex? And why does a man who sells his body to women come across as a stud and attractive rather than a miserable, immoral wretch?"

You have beautifully expressed the paradoxes that amazes me.Am yet to get the answers.I recall having read an article on the changing nature of caste & class dynamics in the society. It said gradually we are moving towards Two-Dimensional class system in the society. The Rich & the Poor. Wonder if this changing dynamics has a role to play in shaping our outlook towards others..The rich get away doing absolutely anything, whereas the hapless poor are always the victims.

Just my take.

Dear Jasjit, excellent article with much thanks to 'Iris'. Like Ramlath I had written a comment to Chaitali's article but had not hit submit. After seeing this follow up, I am glad I didn't because this covers many angles quite comprehensively.

In a very weird sort of way, I think people like Iris are blessed. It is most cruel and incorrect to diminish the terrible abuse she suffered. So I hope my words don't diminish the absolute horror of her experience and the enormous challenge she faced while growing up.

I think that because she has been able to heal herself in large part and gain these profound insights, she is truly blessed. It is amazing that she has been able to turn around the extreme situation (1 - poverty, 2 - fear even of one's own mother, 3 - the sexual abuse as a child) and can educate us. Not to mention what it teaches us about character and resilience. In my book, she is as evolved as people who gain insights through meditation because her harsh experience has made her come to terms with the most intimate and sacred in what is undoubtedly the most difficult way. How she had the nous to recover from all that and reflect with a calm mind, I will forever be in awe of and hope to learn from.

Thanks for the Holi greetings. Holi greetings to all of you wonderful people. May this special blog continue to reflect the vibrancy and color of Holi.

Dear Harvinder

Far from diminishing her experiences, I think you have actually shared a really important truth. People who go through severe challenges are truly blessed because if they choose to use those challenges as a platform for transformation they acquire the most powerful healing tools, and the most potent truths. And their ability to understand and share is so much greater than those who never live the experience of the dark side.

Dear Harvinder

Thank your for those apt words on Iris. She was a rare soul and there were so many wonderful sides to her that she was a living wonder. For instance despite having known such 'poverty' her generosity was incredible. I often chided her for 'blowing all her money' for she always bought me the most expensive and exquisite gifts ( as she did others) and she always laughed and said 'when I did not have any I could not, now I have the money, surely its to express my love for others.'

As for her being 'spiritual' she was also a very gifted Tarot reader and a kind of oracle. She was obviously an evolved soul for she had many mystical gifts. She was also clear that she was moving to India and starting an 'intense' spiritual practice after 40 and made me promise I would be there with her. And yet she left just after she crossed her 40th birthday. When I heard she was in hospital in a coma, I ran to my 'special' spiritual place in panic and shock and even as I entered the portals and closed my eyes I saw and heard her clearly and she said " I am free Jasjit, you know that better than anyone, I need to leave for this is all I came for." By the time I returned home the call confirmed she had left.

And yet she has been 'there' more powerfully for all who loved and needed her even after she left her body. SO yes she was blessed and more so because having faced every kind of 'suffering' she was a living example of transformation and transcendence.

Dear Prasun

Whereas I agree that the cast/class divide does seem to be narrowing down to the rich and the poor, I dont think the divide is narrowing down in terms of how we view, and perhaps more importantly, integrate gender.

If a rich girl were to choose prostitution as a career would we really not judge her morally? Hmmm I don't think so.

Dear Harvinder, Anusheh

One of the most remarkable human beings alive is Reinhold Messner - the great mountain climber. In terms of his exploits and achievements, he distances himself from other climbers even more than a Donald Bradman stands apart from mortal cricketers.

With all his achievements and greatness, Messner was asked to sum up his life. His answer: "Now that I'm nearing 59, I understand that failing is more important than having success". Ever since absorbing that, I repeatedly notice patterns of how greatness and true realization are achieved only from abject "failure". And how the greatest spiritual leaps occur when one isn't even looking for them.

Thank you so much for sharing the inspiring story of Iris. I am certain that we will read about her and you will complete your task when the time is right.

Good Morning fellow bloggers! Hi Aachi, Hi Harb, good to read from you guys after such a long time.

I hope everybody had a great holi yesterday. Delhi had just the right weather for holi. Radhika, I managed to play holi this time without ending up coming multi-coloured to office ;)

Radhika your question is interesting. In fact it reminded me of the articles that talk about young men who are voluntarily into prostitution. Most of these young men talk of their sexaulity as a 'talent'. They say how they are able to help their women clients by bringing some 'fun' and 'spice' in their otherwise mundane sexual life.

I think this is possible because their gender does not question their 'morality'.

Even though the women buy their sex, these women are still in the subordinate position because they are regarded (and ridiculed) as the 'frustrated' women.

Hey Anusheh

"If a rich girl were to choose prostitution as a career would we really not judge her morally? Hmmm I don't think so"
You have got a point there. Even I think so. Guess i need to THINK a bit more on this.

The paradox remains as it is ;-)

Dear Harvinder that was really funny, you've addressed your self in your own comment. Is it the pseudonym or the bhang from holi getting to you:) lol
love

Harvinder

Thanks for sharing those inspiring words.

Prasun

The paradox I guess is what we experience and know as the self. Until we look at ourselves with the eye of morality/immorality, vice/virtue, good/bad, beautiful/ugly, sinner/saint we are sure to carry those same notions outside of us. The day that paradox dies within us it doesnt exist in the world either.

Just my take:)

lol, Anusheh. Obviously, I meant Jasjit. I wish I had the luxury of bhang! Doing 4 things simultaneously is dangerous! I wonder how you all put in time on this blog during the work day. Regards.

Reading Iris's lifestory, has really got me feeling so overwhelmed, by imaginign the power she carried within her. You are so right Harvinder, she was truly blessed! The 'special' one ....

Hey Aachi and Surya, welcome back :-)

Hi there Jasjit!! That felt so good ... you remembered me!!! Thanks for the wishes. I had a crazy time yesterday playing holi with friends, cousins and their friends and their cousins (lol!) and I hope everyone had a wunnerful Holi as well.

Ok now time for apologies. I know I have been away from commenting on the blog for a while but have been reading the pieces as and when I could. And when I read Jasjit enquiring about me, I just had to write! Well, I changed jobs last month and have been struggling to cope with some changes in the new place. The work pressure is killing and so the irregularity in writing. But its really nice to see that I am not forgotten! So I will try to write in whenever I can.

Jasjit you have said this in one of your comments that "rather than seeing the man/woman as an extension only when we see and know them powerfully as our own half does sexuality become like a prayer-reverential, whole, receptive and graceful." - So if the other is just your own half, then why do we even need that half from outside of us if it already exists within? Is it then just for sexual intimacy that we need to have the 'other'?

Hope that didnt sound dumb. These things are all very new to me as I have not grown up even remotely thinking about all this. So pardon my ignorance.

A big HI to everyone here! :-)

Hey there Shrek!

Good to see you ... long time! Take care and good luck with your new job :-)

Hi Shrek

Good to see you again after so long. Hope your new job doesn't keep you away for too long.

To answer your question I would say that just as the greater the stillness in the waters of a lake the more perfect its ability to reflect the external images. So is it true for us, the greater the balance within the more perfect the ability to express in the external. Being in the world is a great gift and the awareness of that makes you treat all spaces as that- a gift. Especially the other.

:-)

Dear Shrek,

Hey that's good news! Enjoy your new job!

"...just as the greater the stillness in the waters of a lake the more perfect its ability to reflect the external images." Jasjit nothing could have been a better metaphor than this.

Dearest Jasjit,

This is a pure inspirational read.

You are really one angel who's bringing so much light to everyone around :-).

Second Prasun on you being a Warrior of Light yourself.

About Iris, I see her living in each of us like Aunty M, and so many others through the courage they faced their life with. Taking that next step which most of us don't - of using themselves as a means of lighting other's lives - either through words, or by their actions.

Dear Chaitali & Jasjit,

With both your posts touching prostitution, I now see them more respectful in ways. Of course, I do agree to making it legal and even more importantly, like Anusheh and you guys discussed earlier, that they should not be treated as different from other citizens - from getting equal rights & access to social ameneties like Health care, Education, and all that a citizen has.

Thanks for so much of learning about another part of our society in such depth.

Love,
Surya.

Dear Anusheh

"The day that paradox dies within us it doesnt exist in the world either" Well put!

Have a question though.When you made the following statement and talked about the paradox ..."Why does it make women who buy sex free from the stigma as opposed to women who sell sex? And why does a man who sells his body to women come across as a stud and attractive rather than a miserable, immoral wretch?"...did u mean the paradox lies within you as well? Are we referring to our inner doubts or are we saying what the society wants us to !

Dear Jasjit

"Being in the world is a great gift and the awareness of that makes you treat all spaces as that- a gift. Especially the other."

Wooooow :-) And may i add, being on this blog is another Gift which makes life even more special. Blessed I am indeed.

Hey Chaitali

"Even though the women buy their sex, these women are still in the subordinate position because they are regarded (and ridiculed) as the 'frustrated' women"
Loved the line.U've hit the nail on the head ;-)At times it amazes me to see how easy it is to generalise a certain notion and it then reaches such an extent,that it tends to be treated as TRUE. I thank God though for the little bit of wisdom he has bestowed me with..I can see where the Truth lies :-)

Hey Anusheh :),

Your questions really provoked a lot of thoughts:
"Why does it make women who buy sex free from the stigma as opposed to women who sell sex? And why does a man who sells his body to women come across as a stud and attractive rather than a miserable, immoral wretch?"

I feel all these questions again point to our 'selves' who has grown up with such thoughts from others around us.

And Iris said it best I believe - "remember, that those who ‘buy’ sex are also abusers of their own sexuality. They can never get away from the feeling that they pay to have sex and that diminishes them in their own eyes." ... ... ... " Frankly, today I understand it is not really the ‘social eye’ that hounds you, it is the eye of your heart which never ceases to drive home the truth."

Agreeing to Iris', Jasjit, Radhika, Chaitali and all others' views in their shares, including yours dear Anusheh :-) & Prasun buddy, I understand that the above cases (Women buying, men selling sex) may/may not be free from 'social' stigma, but most of them may not be free from the stigma they face within. Ultimately, aren't one's actions best judged by the Eye within? I guess everyone knows that that Eye sees everything clearly. We just seem to ignore it or hide it's verdict thru our wasteful words or actions to make it worse.

Having said that, I have not forgetten what Jasjit, Chaitali and you discussed about decriminalisation / legalization of prostitutes (can we call this sex trade to remain gender-wise unbiased?) and more importantly their rights & access to other amenities like Health care & Education among others.

I guess we all need to be courageous enough how to believe in ourselves more than those who we think decide upon our actions.

Keen on know more about this :-)

Hi Harvinder,

Nice shares. I also agree that we should not see success/failure as resultants. In fact they only tell us how true we have been through the process (read journey) leading to an obvious result. Something I'm reminded of here by the famous Thomas Edison - "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." on his repeated failures in coming with the Light bulb.

Good to be here guys :)
Lots of love & gratitude.
Surya

Dear Prasun

We are the society and the society is us. Unfortunately this basic fundamental truth evades us for most of our lives. Whatever we see outside as our world is always a reflection of who we are inside. Something like Jasjit quoted Osho saying 'drishti hi srishti hai'. So yes these paradoxes always begin from within. While we imbibe the morays, values, merits and de-merits from our milleu, it is because they become part of our inner world that they begin to gain power and weight. Reclaiming our own spontaneous self means shedding all that our mind has absorbed and now acts upon through its various likes and dislikes. This may sound like a tall order but infact it is indicating that if we learn to trust our heart it will always point us to our spontaneous truths. For in our hearts we can transcend all divides be they of gender, class, milleu, morality or sexuality. As this blog reflects, even when we talk of prostitutes, gay men or women, sexual abuse, violence everyone tends to use compassion and acceptance as a mode of inquiry rather than judgement and rejection.
I guess because we have been trying to get people to contemplate all this with their hearts rather than their pre-conditioned mind.

Prasun, the mind is the realm of paradoxes and contradictions because it feeds on discrimination and rejection. Once we see and understand that truly, everything changes.

love

Dear Surya

One of the most powerful spiritual truths I encountered was that thought is the most powerful atom of energy in the Universe. It seemed to bring everything together in a flash. We are what we think! So within us all is the light and the warrior, when we turn to the light within we illuminate reality, when we turn it outwards we transform reality. And we all do that in every living moment in small and big ways. :-)

love

Dear Surya

Indeed it is the eye within which knows best. But the problem is that that eye is as conditioned to be judgemental as the eyes that look upon us with discrimination. It is only when we are truly free from the world outside of us and its many judgements that we can look upon ourselves with the eye which absorbs all divisiveness. Hollering neither shame, nor cursing us, just watching as silent witness to the grand play that we belong to. Each of us with our own role to play, no one greater and no one lesser, but all unique in the steps that we choose to dance with.

love

Dear Anusheh,

"We are the society and the society is us." - I totally agree. It is indeed our surroundings (read society) that we first come in contact with (as we grow up).

"Reclaiming our own spontaneous self means shedding all that our mind has absorbed and now acts upon through its various likes and dislikes. This may sound like a tall order but infact it is indicating that if we learn to trust our heart it will always point us to our spontaneous truths."
You've really reached the core. Hard truth. With you buddy :-)

And finally - "the problem is that that eye is as conditioned to be judgemental as the eyes that look upon us with discrimination. It is only when we are truly free from the world outside of us and its many judgements that we can look upon ourselves with the eye which absorbs all divisiveness. Hollering neither shame, nor cursing us, just watching as silent witness to the grand play that we belong to"
I truly agree that we may not be able to completely be free from the external influences, but we sure can try in our own ways to follow the messages we get. Can we not?

Love the way you can express such straight truths.

Lots of love,
Surya :)

Dear Jasjit,

"when we turn to the light within we illuminate reality, when we turn it outwards we transform reality. "

Short yet so strong. Summing up so much with it.

Jasjit, I see this blog as a bringer of so many messages. All I can say is that these messages and their bringers - all of you on this blog will be with me for a really long time.
:-)

Love & Warmth to you and all :-),
Surya.

Hi Prasun, Hello Surya,

Like Anusheh has put it so well, we need to let go of judgements in order to free the trappings of our mind and listen to our heart. Otherwise we'll keep judging others as well as ourselves.

Dear Surya,

Thank you and all the others for also bringing in your messages, views, experiences, shares and enriching the blog.

Dear Surya Buddy:)

Of course its not a fait accompli. We can and must cleanse the eye of all impurities, so that we can experience the freedom of our beings. I guess this blog too is an effort towards that.

Thanks Surya for bringing so much light, love and warmth to all of us here.

love

Dear Anusheh & Chaitali,

Its just been a wonderful experience. Just because of the way Jasjit, You guys, Shubhosree, and everyone else express such interesting views & are so open & ready-to-discuss-everything sorts, it encourages one to be more spontaneous, receptive/open, and ready to look for such messages easily.

Overall increases one's openness to the world around :-)

Respects for you & everyone on this Blog :)
Best wishes,
Surya.

##

Seems, its an oldest profession in the world. If u remember `USTAV' (Hindi filmi adaptation of MRUCHAKATIKAM) the sex worker is the herorine of the film. So at least in olden (may be GOLDEN) India the sex workers were treated on par with any other citizen. Very mention of this article, imbibes a feeling that the writer (or society as whole) looks downupon the sex worker. I feel, honestly, it is unfair. When we talk abt free sex between male and female (MORALITY?) where money transaction of money is not there, BUT rest of the things are identical - mutual benefit (am I wrong?)

-vk

Hi VK

I don't think the intention of this piece was to denigrate sex workers at all. If anything it illustrates her most powerful point, "When sexuality is not open, joyous and truly consensual, your heart knows and in its eye you prostitute yourself." So I guess its not about the money exchange etc. However personally for Iris and I guess many others in the 'profession' the feeling is neither joyous nor open and truly consensual. Obviously many factors place people in sex work and others in a buying position. I guess it is those factors which are less than happy, healthy and spread a pall over sex work and hence sexuality.