COGNITIVE/INTELLECTUAL (mental)

When people exchange thoughts, share ideas, and enjoy both the similarities and differences that may result. We believe that when people can share this form of exchange in an open and comfortable way, with clear communications that are appreciated, they can then open the door to this form of intimacy. It is also possible to create a path to experiential/activity-based and sensual forms of intimacy, providing that the shared energies are positive and chemistry strong enough.

EXPERIENTIAL/ACTIVITY-BASED (physical)

This occurs when people get together to actively involve themselves with each other on a social level. It does not require saying a lot to each other,  sharing thoughts or expressing feelings, but is mainly about being involved in enjoyable activities that hold shared interests among those involved. Think of observing two close friends painting a house and, although they are on opposite sides of the house, their brushstrokes appear to be synchronized. Now, they may not realize that they were engaged in any intimate activity with each other, however, and from an experiential point of view, they were involved and connected in the activity through the experience on an intimate level. For us and within the scope of the Household, this synchronicity can also involve Fetishes and Kinks, which can intensify the experiences. That stated, it does not mean that we have this form of intimacy with someone outside of our Household that we may share Fetishes or Kinks during an educational experience.

SENSUAL

We feel that sensual intimacy involves the senses of touch, taste, sight, smell, and sound, as well as the exchange of energies between people and the chemistry between them. Sensual intimacy, for us, must  be coupled with either or both cognitive/intellectual and experiential/activity-based intimacy. However, like experiential/activity-based intimacy, this does not mean that we have this form of intimacy with someone outside of our Household whom we may share Fetishes or Kinks during an educational experience.

HEALTHY FORMS OF INTIMACY

Healthy forms of intimacy are key to lasting relationships, including addressing Communication, Time, Awareness, and Game Playing:

Communication – one barrier is when a person enters a relationship with some mistaken notions about just what intimacy is, or misjudges the needs or the thoughts of the other person in the relationship. Communication or the lack of communication would be one of the main barriers to the foundation of an intimate relationship.

Time – any form of intimacy takes time to develop and a person who is not willing to allow for ample will not be able to develop a successful intimate relationship.

Awareness – it is necessary for a person to be aware of him or herself and realize what they must share with another person. People who are not aware of themselves are not able to be fully aware of other people, at least not in terms of the potentially intimate aspects of the other person.

Shyness – reluctance to share oneself with another person can keep any form of intimacy in a relationship from developing.

Game Playing – people who act in stereotypical roles or try to play certain kinds of games, even if they’re intimate-appearing games (such as romantic games) cannot develop a relationship with any form of intimacy simply because they are not being themselves. Game playing can be a detriment to the development of any form of intimacy, let alone a successful relationship.

In order to successfully begin healthy forms of intimacy, you must be HONEST, PATIENT, AWARE, DIRECT, and ETHICAL. You also must KNOW that relationships involving one form of intimacy do not have to include any or all other forms. Compatible and satisfying relationships can exist with any one form or combination of forms of intimacy. Any form of intimacy, again, takes time to spark, develop and be nurtured. So, the more forms of intimacy involved, the more time will be needed.