Sacred, Not Secret: An Integrated Approach to Sexual (R)Evolution

By Christine Laplante

No amount of talking about sex is going to diminish the mystery of the experience of it. In Sacred, Not Secret, Christine delves into two systems of human development: Eastern (Chakra) and Western (psychological/developmental) theories. Discussing the non-linear, and cyclical, nature of development, as well as our potential systematic traumas during those phases, this book provides exercises and stories that open a dialogue to exploring our sexual, sensual, emotional and energetic health. Written from an authentic, integrated and human perspective this book is easy to read, yet encourages you to dive deeply into your own perceptions about sexual and developmental health.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine Laplante
• Release date: Sep 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223173441

Christine Laplante

Christine Laplante, LMHC is a licensed mental health counselor providing authentic and integrated care from a human perspective. She has over two decades of experience working in the field of sexuality. You will find her at various events, organizations and colleges teaching classes and facilitating discussion on healthy relationships and sexuality. She has a private practice in upstate, NY and continues to do consulting work for various agencies on system development. She currently lives in upstate New York with her family and travels often to spend time with community. You may also find her playing music, fermenting foods and tending to her garden when she is not writing.

Book preview

Christine Laplante's Sacred not Secret... is an important seminal book for our time, written in an accessible conversational style which invites us to explore our own sexuality in a safe container of compassion and understanding.  Laplante is a gifted teacher and is equally at home teaching children and adults about the sensitive subject of our sexuality and most intimate relationships.  In her Introduction she is clear about her mission: a way of connecting that raises the bar for us all and breeds confidence in our sexual decisions.  The structure of the book follows the pathway of the 7 chakras, or our energetic system, while integrating the Eriksonian stages of development, reminding us that we are each evolving every day of our lives, and we are each circling around the various stages of our development at various times of our own evolution.  Most helpful and ingenious are her meditation and questions at the conclusion of each chapter, giving us further tools for understanding ourselves more deeply. As we deepen our appreciation and understanding, so do we attain the sacred in living.

~Sheila Pearl, MSW, Relationship coach and bestselling author of

The  Magic of Sensuality and The Magic of Big Love

Christine Laplante is a teacher, student, healer and writer who has chosen to walk the path of sacred sexuality. For this we must all be grateful. In her exceptionally honest book Sacred not Secret , we follow the arch of her journey (so far) and reflect upon our own simultaneously.  She shares intimate stories of the people she has encountered, allowing us to learn from their experiences. This book will enrich your life. Christine will challenge you to create deeper connection with self so in turn, you will show up in the world ready to give and receive love. She wants this for you and for the generations to come. Less shame. More bliss.

~Jennifer Jolicoeur - founder and SHE-E-OHH of

Athena’s Home Novelties

Sacred, Not Secret

An Integrated Approach to Sexual (R)Evolution

Christine Laplante, LMHC

NOTICE

Sacred, Not Secret: An Integrated Approach to Sexual (R)Evolution

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief excerpts for review.

Copyright © 2018 Christine Laplante, LMHC

www.BecomeIntegrated.com

PO Box 732

Wurtsboro, NY 12790

Cover Design by Melissa Hagerty

www.MothaBug.com

Foreword by Lee Harrington

www.PassionAndSoul.com

Special thanks to Jennifer Beaudoin

ISBN: 978-0-692-16804-2

Coeur de ma Coeur.  Thank you for the Walk, for the Fire and for Venus!

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

It has taken me a while to go ahead and publish a book.  While I have chosen a different dedication than I imagined over twenty years ago, this book would not have been possible without the faith of those who first saw me, my writing and the way I viewed the world!

I need to express an immense amount of gratitude for one of the first teachers, Dan Masterson, who saw something in my writing many years ago.  He inspired me to keep going, to use a combination of pain and real life experience to express myself in a way that was transformative and empowering and really just hit people in the gut.  That has never left me.  His words, even more than a quarter of a century later, continue to echo in me.  I still look at my writing and think, "what would Masterson say?"

Around the same time, and still a motivator for me, I need to express gratitude for a dear, albeit distant friend, Melissa Baron, who used to write with me.  She brings to memory a time in my life when my agony was fresh, my creativity underdeveloped and my life fairly unattached to the outcome.  She, along with Professor Masterson, both continue to resonate in me. 

I could not have written this book, explicitly, without the contribution of my beloved husband, partner and friend, Orien.  Our walk has been over two decades long so far and we have died, proverbially, and been renewed so many times in our relationship that when we recently renewed our vows, we did not include, ’til death do us part.  We have expanded through multiple deaths of self and relationship and have chosen, each and every day to walk with each other. He brought to me my greatest teacher, our daughter, Orien Rose.

To my beautiful child, I can’t even imagine what it was like to grow up with two parents who are sex educators.  I only hope, and I have witnessed, that you feel comfortable with the dialogue about sexual health both with yourself and your partners.  Thank you for being an incredible example of love manifest!

My biological family has been a critical piece in my sexual development.  My mother’s openness in speaking about sex set the groundwork for my ability to jump from the landing pad and expand what she began within me. 

My community, my TRIBE, this would not have been possible without all of you.  Over two decades of sex-positive environments learning that nudity does NOT equal sex.  Through multiple discussions of True Consent vs. Coercion, calling out a line between abuse and health, embracing LOVE in a way that was agonizing, sometimes excruciating and incredibly expansive, you have all been an intricate part of how I view safety in sexuality, relationship and self. I honor you for constantly challenging me to show up for you and for me. Thank you for showing up to my classes as I have blossomed and grown through my own concepts and challenging my views with your own. You have taught me what it means to engage in an ongoing and ever evolving dialogue! 

Thank you to my therapists and counselors, especially Steven Pagliarani, for introducing me to the concepts of Emergence theory and practice.  It is because of the care you showed me and the mirror you presented in front of me, that I can now do the same for others, professionally.  You saw within me my capacity to heal and you walked with me as I expanded. 

Because, in part, due to the professionals in my own life, I was inspired to walk a path through academia obtaining a few degrees.  While Music Therapy was my original passion, Mental Health Counseling filled in the gaps for me.  During that time, I met Meryl Joan Lammers, MT-BC, an incredible musician and healer and Sarah White, LMHC, a phenomenal therapist and space holder. Both are incredibly authentic and integrated and I would not be the professional I am without their presence in my life.

For over a decade, I had the pleasure of being the resident sex-expert at Athena’s Home Novelties.  A sex-positive, female owned, and sexual empowerment focused company out of Woonsocket, RI.  The years I spent developing in that environment is critical to who I am today, sexually and professionally.  I owe a great deal of my development to the space provided there to do what I love best: teach others about sexual health! 

To all of you who have pre-read this book, participated in discussions, gave feedback, and most importantly...asked questions, it is to you I owe my continued development in how I present the concepts and theories!  You are an integral part in the evolution of this material!

And while Orien has been my longest beloved, one who knows me so intimately and intricately, I would not be the person I am in sexual health today without the others who chose to walk with me intimately.  Through you, I have learned how to expand and what my limits are.  I have engaged in curiosities and engaged in expansion that sometimes stepped over my own lines.  You helped me to learn who I was/am in relationship on a multitude of levels.  To my beloveds: past, present, and future... I adore you, I thank you and I love you! 

Foreword

by Lee Harrington

OUR BODIES CARRY MEMORIES.

All of the things we have experienced in our lives are embedded within us, flowing like