Tonight on PWFM — Betty Dodson: Notes from the Sexual Revolution. 'Global pandemic' over.

May was declared Masturbation Month by Pres. Biden in a Rose Garden ceremony. OK, actually, it was created by women's sex toy stores in the 1990s. On tonight's program, I reintroduce Dr. Betty Dodson.

Betty Dodson, New York City, September 2011, pictured in a mirror autographed by Bodysex Workshop participants, given to me by Betty as a gift.

Link to Planet Waves FM

Dear Friend and Listener:

Tonight’s program will lead with coverage of the lunar eclipse in Scorpio and the World Health Organization declaring an end to the “covid-19” “pandemic.” We have the chart — Tedros called off the charade just hours before the Moon went dim in Scorpio, the sign of sex and death.

From there, the program will morph into Tantra Studio.

To wit: Masturbation Day was created in 1995 in response to the firing of Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders by Pres. Bill Clinton, a sexual hypocrite of historic proportions. Elders’ alleged crime was proposing that masturbation should be part of the sex ed curriculum for public school students.

Masturbation is a low-karma form of sex where pregnancy and STIs are not factors, and is something that nearly everyone does. So including it in a sex ed curriculum, if you’re going to have one, sounded like a pretty good idea to me and most people — but that did not comport with “Abstinence Only” indoctrination that was popular at the time.

Masturbation Month is like 31 Masturbation Days all in a row. I heard a rumor that there’s a lot happening on Instagram.

Betty in the foyer of her apartment at 121 Madison Ave., with one of her pencil drawings. Looking at her work, you might think she was a student of Leonardo. Photo by Eric Francis.

Betty Dodson: Sexual Revolutionary

Betty Dodson (1929-2020) got the ball rolling on an honest conversation about masturbation — particularly for women. It is rare that one person is so influential in shifting the entire framework of such a controversial and vitally important topic.

Betty, by the force of her talent, her vision, her charisma and above all else, chutzpah, was able to do so. If masturbation is now a topic acceptable to much of society, we have Betty to thank.

Her first book, Sex for One, remains in print after nearly 50 years — a rare feat.

Betty, one of my most avid fans ever, adopted me has her astrologer and (though she did not use the word) tantric student. I spent many hours sitting across her art table considering every imaginable subject. I was one of a very few men who had this honor and privilege in the Goddess temple at 121 Madison Ave. In 2018, she wrote this letter of recommendation for me.

In hundreds of phone calls over the years, she served as my historical consultant about sexual history, feminism, and the women’s movement. She was one of the most important older/wiser reality-checks I’ve ever worked with.

Betty in the 1970s.

Planet Waves FM Does Masturbation Month (again)

Since Planet Waves first began publication in 1998, we’ve offered something in contribution to Masturbation Month. This year we have something special, or a few things special. On tonight’s Planet Waves FM, I’ll be reading Betty’s breakthrough 1994 article from Ms. magazine, Getting to Know Me.

I’ll then play part one of a three-part interview with me conducted professional sex coach Iva Veazey. I share what I learned in my relationship with Betty. Parts two and three will follow, which progress from Betty’s teachings to what I did with them.

Parts two and three will air the next two weeks. Later in the series, I’ll read Betty’s chart (something I’ve done at every astrology conference I’ve taught at), and offer the edited version of my last interview with Betty, from late 2018. Betty told me to edit three hours of conversation down to ten minutes!

I will probably go a little longer. This is from the same person who would call me up and complain if the Virgo weekly horoscope was too short.

Planet Waves hosts a Betty Dodson archive that could use an update. If you’re a fan, a scholar or a sex educator and would like to help, please get in touch.

The program will post before its 10 pm scheduled time.

Thanks for tuning in, and for your ongoing support of the show.

Betty’s natal chart, and progressed chart from 2017. This is one of the most personally accurate horoscopes ever cast.

Betty, circa 2008, at the Museum of Sex in New York City. Photo by Eric Francis.