Libertinage - The Art of Loosing Yourself Date Thursday, April 25, 2024 - 11:50 PM PST Topic Beauty Even though I can't speak for everybody in the world and in this matter I don't have a point of reference, I feel I am able to discuss my own view of the matter. A "libertine" is a person who lives an immoral life and always looks for pleasure, especially sexual pleasure, is the dictionary definition. The definition is wrong. A libertine is a person who has risen beyond society's moldy expectations and policies, a person who is able to cherish his or her peers without judging them by their gender, race, religion, job, look, or practices, a libertine is a free individual who has understood a greater truth. Though the libertine life is condemned by many, it is the most amazingly happy existence anybody can imagine, since the dawn of men. I won't lie or pretend that it is not without risk, but when you realize how much you get back, if you only just love people for who they are, you feel you can cope with anything being thrown at you. Why should we live up to anyone's expectations except ourselves? Why should we accept something just because our so-called "superiors" tell us? How come people feel entitled to pass judgment on everything that they don't understand? There is no jealousy in the libertine life, nor are there gender imposed barriers. But best of all, there is no fear, no more. A true libertine will not fear life, will not fear exploring every little aspect of it and will not fear actually stepping forward, alone and with an open mind. This individual will take the experience given to him and filter it through his/her own mind and "heart" thus managing to keep what fits the best and growing somehow through that. There is another matter that addresses this issue, sex and affection, as well as any physical satisfaction of the sort are pleasures libertines do NOT do without. While sex may be a taboo for most people, or what am I saying? - for old fashioned people, libertines feel it is a beautiful act that has no comparison in the world, and what else but sex and affection brings us infinite joy? Libertines possess an untainted passion in all their acts of love and lust, because, let's face it: one is no good without the other. It is this passion that angers outsiders of this belief, practice, life style, philosophy or whatever you should choose to call it. No matter how a libertine should choose to express it, be it gentle and tender, or rough and painful, sex is still beautiful and perfect, and should never be regarded as wrong and sinful. Concepts such as these build a gruesome verisimilitude of the world. However, this horrible picture blissfully lacks from a libertines perspective. Yet another defining trait. Everybody says there is no way love can occur when monogamy is not present. But monogamy and/or heterosexuality are set concepts, while libertinage breaks through everything and offers a new, more exciting and free concept of what love is, or should be. This free love is as beautiful as poetry. Ever heard that line that says "If you love them set them free"? This line, though a bit of a cliché is true and living somewhere, deep in our minds. Libertines have regained that lost and "forbidden" thought and put it into practice. What came out of it? Ecstasy and rapture, or in contemporary language: polyamory (http://www.polyamory.org/) (means "loving more than one") - having multiple relationships with the knowledge and consent of your partner(s) rather than by deceit. But polyamory is just an example of what libertinage has come to symbolize. Actually loving the partners, if only for a short time, and I can't emphasize this enough: not in a possessive or restraining way, but a free sort of love, is real at the time in the mind of a libertine. Love can come and go, last for long or short periods of time, fade or burn or be completely out of the picture, but it can take the shape of anyone's character. Why limit oneself to just one partner or just one gender? Isn't everybody supposed to be looking for that lost part of themselves, the big love, the soul mate? Well, then, how about if it's the same gender as you, or how about if it isn't just one person? Are you going to deny it the right to step forward and, in excitement, offer its hopes, dreams and expectations to you? Thinking like this, doesn't it seem petty and cruel? Why close the door to one side because society preaches for it? Why is it so imperative you do only what society says? Society limits not only our choices, but also our lives. If you should choose to listen to it, it will deprive you of your natural curiosity and need for pleasure. It is for these very reasons that libertines are cast out, because they don't see the boundaries anymore, they cannot be told what to do, whom to love and whom to marry, to an extent, although I'm not sure marriage is the best example. (Why should a stupid little piece of paper be the proof for the love and support we have to give out?) Why I entitled this "The art of loosing yourself?" Loosing simply implies casting out that side of you society crafted or built for its own benefit, not considering the individuals needs and pleasures. In order for the world to work, as it has so far, people need continuity; there is nothing certain in the life of a libertine. Half of the pleasure received by a libertine is that of enjoying that uncertainty. Not knowing what tomorrow has to offer and smiling at it, loving beauty and sincerity, considering the term "relationship" as vague as "normality", focusing on what people have to say rather than what they are labeled as are some of the so-called principles a libertine values. Hurt, pain and suffering do not belong, jealousy and stupidity only have pain to offer, while libertinage offers new grounds to explore, new satisfaction and happiness to experience. Why do I call it an art? My definition of art is anything that worships beauty – projected in any of a million ways possible. There aren't many things more beautiful than an open and contented mind. Life is NOT a torment, living by someone else's standards and trying to please everybody IS. Libertinage is about magnificence, beauty and/(in) rapture. I don't know if I actually managed to get to you people reading this by what I said, maybe I should continue and fill page upon page with words of and about beauty, love and the like, or maybe I should just ask: who are you and are you satisfied with yourself? Love beauty, freedom and determination, love yourselves as you are and love others. Be satisfied. This article comes from Shmeng http://www.shmeng.com/ The URL for this story is: http://www.shmeng.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=423