15. Passion: Getting Turned on By Life

That’s So Intimate

Hey friend — today on That's So Intimate Bryan and I dig into the fiery topic of Passion. We open with Khalil Gibran: “Your reason and your passion are the rudder and sails of your seafaring soul,” and then wander into what passion really is: a fierce ache, a yearning, and yes, historically, a kind of suffering (passio). That history makes sense — sometimes wanting something deeply hurts — but passion has also evolved into our aliveness, creativity, and erotic spark.

We talk about passion as the sacral-center energy: sensual, creative, messy in the best way. When it’s balanced, it’s vitality, joy, and erotic imagination. When it’s out of balance it can be obsession, apathy, or distraction. That’s where the “riverbanks” metaphor comes in — structure and safety help channel the flow so passion can bloom without drowning practical life.

Think of masculine energy as structure or riverbanks and feminine energy as flow. We all carry both. The trick is to stop treating them like gender rules and start treating them as tools: curiosity, reason, and container-setting paired with surrender, feeling, and movement. Together they give you both meaning and safety.

We push back on the idea that logic is superior and passion is reckless. You can be wildly passionate and wise — and you can be logical and hollow. The sweet life is the one where you check in: is this desire aligned with my values? Is it rooted in fear or genuine longing? Sometimes the answer is “let’s go,” and sometimes it’s “let’s set riverbanks.”

Practical, tiny ways to invite more passion: start small. Cook a beloved meal slowly, dance in your living room, journal what lights you up, try a sensory fast so the next bite or breath feels electric. Boredom can be a gateway to creativity; deprivation can sharpen desire. These are experiments, not dramatic declarations.

On sexuality and shame: if your erotic life has been tamed or shamed, that energy can leak into other parts of life. Do the inner work — shame work, somatic practices, hip-openers, slow movement — to reclaim pleasure as information, not something to hide. Your body knows things; listen to it gently.

Relationship dynamics matter: one partner’s passion can be another’s chaos unless there’s clear communication and agreed-upon riverbanks. When someone creates safety, the other can open. Vulnerability + a grounded container = the chance to blossom.

We also dig into culture: a capitalist, patriarchal system often prizes logical, measurable success while mistrusting the feminine fire. That’s a loss. Passion can’t be bought — it’s the kind of joy that makes a battered Jeep feel richer than a polished SUV. Don’t wait to “retire” your life of feeling — weave small sparks into the everyday.

To wrap: passion is a gift and a compass. Let it inform you, then bring reasoning, curiosity, and boundaries so it can serve your life instead of sabotaging it. So tell me — what lights you up right now? What would a tiny, brave step toward that passion look like today?

Connect with Us:

• Sarah Koch: @radintimacy | radintimacy.com
• Bryan Russell: @sadhanayogaschool | sadhanayoga.com
• Suggest a topic: DM us or email [email protected]

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