The action began not long after the Goddess Elevation party that was held in my honor in March of 2007. A Tibetan prophesy claimed that when a Buddhist priestess turned 77 in a year ending in seven, she would be honored and given special powers during that period. At first I found the idea absolutely charming, but upon reviewing my past eight months between January and the end of August when I turned seventy-eight, there had been a whirlwind of positive activity that created major changes in my life. I'm grateful and happy that I was able to keep up with it all.

    In April, a young talent scout named David did a film interview with me to see if the executives at Atlas Media would be interested in using me for a cable show. At the time I was convinced this was my new Goddess power at work- the big breakthrough. When he called back and said they felt I was too controversial for cable, he asked if I'd be open to doing an internet television show. I said no thanks, I'd never seen one. He reminded me it was the only venue that was censorship-free. It's shocking to think that masturbation and women's liberation still strikes fear in the hearts of government officials and corporate CEO's. Even UK's liberal channel Four cancelled a documentary they did about my work last October titled, "Masturbation for Girls." They said it would be aired later on, but my instinct said, "Don't hold your breath."

    Then on April 18, I began a three-week, three-city tour starting in LA, onto Seattle for a filmed lecture and finally ending in Victoria BC delivering a key note talk at their Erotic Festival, again with a film crew. In order to pull this off, I had to take Prednisone in order to breathe due to a lung infection. I made it, but barely, and spent the rest of May recovering from heavy meds. Where was my Goddesshood when I needed it most?

    In June, my webmaster Grant married his housekeeper/nurse and very attractive friend Kenya which was a joyful event and a great relief to me. Eric and I went with them to City Hall as their witnesses followed by a celebration luncheon. Now I could stop worrying about him being frail and alone and constantly feeling guilty about not doing more to help a man who has devoted his life to me. The fact that he has a caring woman living and looking out for him full-time was definitely a Goddess-sent gift.

    Around this time Eric got involved with his first ongoing, weekly sex partner which took some adjustments on my part. Once again I had to reaffirm my commitment not to own him, to honor his sexual freedom, and to focus on the relationship I was having with myself. I believe that love has the ability to let go and to allow choices instead of demanding sexual fidelity. This is at the heart of my spiritual practice.

    Also in June, a young woman named Carlin Ross made an appointment with me to do a pod cast. I'd only recently done one and was still trying to figure out this latest technology. She turned out to be a thirty-something absolutely gorgeous green eyed gal with a well-toned body that I later learned is the result of a daily one hour workout in the gym. When she entered my apartment, she had a small metal suitcase on wheels. As she sat down opposite me, she opened the case, set up two microphones and plugged them into her laptop. I was impressed. She had total media independence!

    It turned out that Carlin is a techno whiz who began her career as a lawyer before she segued over to women's sexuality. She produced a couple of X-rated videos geared for women, and also does podcasts on her newcherrybomb.com website. Carlin's style of interview was creative. She'd gathered quotes of mine from a website and then proceeded to discuss them with me. I was delighted to avoid the novice interviewer who begins by asking, "How did you get into doing this work?" As we talked, Carlin kept making references to feminism. So few young women use the word these days. Even I have found myself dropping feminism out of my writing and speech which really breaks my heart. The sexual liberation of women has meant so much to me.

    After I listened to our interview online, I sent the pod cast to David the talent scout and proposed that Carlin and I do an internet show together. A spontaneous act on my part that I later apologized doing without Carlin's permission. She loved the idea and was definitely on board. Since we are intergenerational sex positive feminists, we'll make a dynamic team. I'm the senior who's gone through the sexual revolution and the beginning of second wave feminism who can speak to middle age Baby Boomers and seniors. Carlin's got a handle on the twenties and thirties group who has grown up in cyberspace. She's also on top of technology which will keep us independent of needing any corporate sponsorship.

    In July, Eric and I celebrated the Fourth in DUMBO with Carlin and her partner Geoff and family. Their terrace overlooked the barge that held the fireworks. It was spectacular, our "Declaration of Independence from Corporate Control of Media Day." We all bonded and as the younger set says, "Game on." Welcoming Eric into my life when he was in his twenties and I was embarking on the youth of old age about to turn seventy was one of the smartest moves I've ever made. Seniors interacting with youth is at the heart of Ouspensky's idea of time binding, carrying information from one generation to the next so the wheel doesn't have to be re-invented every twenty years.

    The following week a dear friend from our seventies feminist days offered me the use of her villa in Mexico the end of August. Thrilled, I gathered my new creative team for a ten day retreat; Carlin Ross and her partner Geoff Rochester who is a marketing maven, Mark Schoen my current video producer and his partner Lori Buckley, a sex therapist. Mark and I have been friends since the seventies. He's produced hundreds of videos for Sinclair's Better Sex Series. We are now finishing my latest DVD, "Betty Dodson: Her Life of Sex and Art." This is the footage we shot when I lectured with slides of my art in Seattle. Finally I'm bringing my art out of the closet which will be a big surprise for all the folks who just thought I taught masturbation for a living. I know this DVD will open many new doors; the Tibetan prophecy was at work again.

    Although I invited Eric to join me, he preferred to stay home and mind the store. He looks forward to having my apartment all to himself. Since he has gotten involved in the polyamorous community, he's left his gaming behind and has become far more social. He's also changing his body with diet and weightlifting. As I watch his muscle definition emerge, I'm reminded of my first body trip when I was in my late thirties where I changed my body and therefore my life with diet and yoga. My apprentice is growing into a marvelous young man.

    On August 24th I turned seventy-eight in Cuernavaca Mexico where I bid a fond goodbye to my temporary Goddess-ness. Once again I'm one of Her working priestesses, a more comfortable role for me. What a wonderful ten days it was. Go to cuernavacarentals.com and check out this property. The website doesn't do it justice. The house and gardens are so much more beautiful than the photos that you barely get an idea of what's in store for you. Then there's the perfection of the staff that lives there. All three are skilled in the art of making your stay the most comfortable including the absolute best Mexican chef, Marie Elena who cooked up a storm. Although we tried a few fancy restaurants, Chez Casa del Puente was at the at the top of our list.

    The two couples had their own bedrooms with separate entrances. All three rooms were on different levels. Mine was all the way in the back on the lowest level behind the television room. Although the TV room was the smallest, it was where we gathered each day to check emails. There were four laptop computers, five cell phones, two blackberries, and a sketchbook which is my laptop when I travel. Mark and I did some offline editing and Geoff was on his blackberry. Carlin and I did a pod cast with Lori about analsex and plugged our new upcoming show. The information age is so mobile and exciting that I have to pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

    While Carlin and I discussed our new business venture, Geoff was our in-house aggressive marketing man, the kind I've avoided most of life because they're all about numbers, markets and money- contrary to the life of an idealistic artist. But you know what? I've watched our country go down the drain due to the political marketing done by Bush Inc. with all the lies media pumps out to promote war. I'm willing to apply the same P.R. principles to deliver a message of sexual pleasure, health and peace that will give people hope for some joy in their lives. I believe sexual pleasure is a big factor in healing people's fear that breads conformity and makes us vulnerable to manipulation by a government that wants perpetual war.

    Carlin and I are thinking about what to call our internet show: "A Feminist Sex Show" or "A Woman's Sex Show" with Dodson & Ross. We keep going back to our favorite, "Fucking Like a Feminist" but we don't want to limit our audience. Whatever title we end up with, we both agree its time to bring up the subject of women's sexual liberation again, a conversation that was started by a handful of brave women at the beginning of the seventies. Back then, it was my belief that in order for women to claim their personal power we had to start by liberating masturbation, embracing our vulvas and to know how to give ourselves orgasms. As you see, I didn't get very far due to constant censorship by women and men alike. As long as the internet remains free and we follow the 2257 law that requires driver's license proof that all actors are over eighteen, our show won't be censored.

    Dodson & Ross are gearing up to win hearts and minds, clits and dicks. We promise to keep it real, so stay tuned. Click here for my Fall Travel Itinerary.

© copyright 2007 Betty Dodson