The Wealthy Woodpecker, is one of a kind! Inside the archived issues you will find plenty of articles, books, classes, television shows, radio programs and DVDs about sex. That in itself does NOT make The Wealthy Woodpecker unique. What IS unique is the fact that right along with the adult material, you will also find resources and tips about health, spirituality, family, politics and yes, even world peace. Some might wonder if The Wealthy Woodpecker is a bit overly ambitious. I will let you decide. And I trust that if you are looking for a more holistic approach to love, lust and life; you have found a home in The Wealthy Woodpecker. As you read, watch and listen to the content please remember this an interactive medium and your voice counts! Email your comments and even short (500 word) articles for possible inclusion in the Reader's Respond section of upcoming issues. And welcome to The Wealthy Woodpecker!

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If you listen to, watch or read any mainstream media at all, you have no doubt heard "experts" warn of sex addiction in reference to online porn, chat rooms and even sexting. A couple of decades ago similar fears were voiced about adult videos and before that folks were worried about "men's magazines." Seems any new way to deliver images of naked bodies and/or sexual depictions arouses fear in many people.

As a recovered alcoholic/addict I sometimes take offense to labeling something as innocuous as "jerking off" an addiction. Addictions such as I have recovered from are life threatening. Labeling masturbation an addiction seems to take the don't touch yourself or you will go blind myth to a whole new level.

Additionally, the "experts" who run around labeling certain sex as addictive never fail to indict the types of sex they disapprove of. Prostitution, pornography and even BDSM are transformed into irrefutable evidence that their practitioners are indeed sex addicts.

Consequently, many sex-positive people have grown weary of the whole concept and dismiss "sex addiction" as nothing more than a conservative attempt to pathologize sex which does not conform to religious dogma.

But it isn't that simple. Allow me to shed a little light on the subjects of sex addiction and sexual shame. It is true that many people who are simply enjoying a healthy sex life - albeit one which does not meet with the approval of their spouse, partner, priest, pastor, rabbi, doctor or therapist - are falsely labeled as sex addicts.

And it is also true that we live in a world which is steeped in sexual shame. Many otherwise "normal," healthy souls have felt the torture of shameful self-doubts, fears and feelings. Shame can destroy lives on a multitude of levels.

Yet sex addiction DOES exist as surely as food addiction exists. If you have never witnessed the destruction that sex addiction can wreak on a life, then it may be difficult to envision. I have worked with sex addicts who cannot hold down a job because they can't stop viewing online porn and can't stop masturbating at work. Empty bank accounts and an impoverished living standard become the norm for sex addicts as they funnel every available dollar toward their habit just like a drug addict.

And like all addictions, there ARE specific steps you can take to recover. Unfortunately, most of the resources available to sex addicts seeking recovery are mired in the sexual shame of the culture. The prevailing "wisdom" about sex addiction piles more sexual shame on the sex addict in an attempt to scare him straight.

This is NOT the road to recovery for any addiction - least of all sex addiction. If you wonder if you are a sex addict or if you might be suffering from sexual shame, I can provide you with a simple formula to make that distinction. I also offer healing from either affliction. If you live on planet earth, I guarantee you suffer from at least a whiff of sexual shame. Next month I will outline three simple guidelines for determining if you are a sex addict and the three most important factors needed to recover from sex addiction.

I have been clean and sober for over 23 years. In that time I have not had a drug (except for pain medication for surgery or otherwise under a doctor's supervision). I also have not had a drink of alcohol. My sobriety is the core of my spiritual life and more important to me than my politics, profession or finances. Without sobriety, I would be dead. My sobriety has to come before everything else in my life or I wouldn't have a life. I wanted you to know how much I value a drug free existence before I tell you that I am in favor of decriminalizing marijuana and legalizing ALL drugs. Prohibition of drugs is insane. It does nothing to help addicts to recover. And the war on drugs has grown our prison populations to disgraceful proportions. Today, one in one hundred Americans is behind bars. Please watch the video below to find out more,

You and I have spent our lives surrounded by ever more "time-saving" technology and ever more effective "cures" for the diseases we sometimes fall prey to. There is no doubt that we live longer than our predecessors and most of us enjoy the added comfort and ease afforded by a plethora of wondrous inventions.

In this age of satellite communications, iPhones, BlackBerries and Bluetooth we almost expect instantaneous results with a minimum of effort. Western medicine's focus on treating disorders with an endless supply of pills has trained us to ignore our choices in life with the assurance that a quick trip to our doctor will "fix" any self-inflicted harm we may suffer from. This expectation that science, industry and medicine will provide us with the perfect quick fix for whatever impedes our incessant desire for immediate gratification has unfortunately resulted in a superficial and less satisfying existence.

It turns out that a truly fulfilling life requires some effort and exertion on our part. We all want to have fun and enjoy life. But we have gotten a little confused about how best to do that. As the saying goes, you get what you pay for and that applies to more than just shopping. Quick fixes rarely result in the kind of deep change most of us crave. Additionally, if you put a lot of yourself into something, you will feel much more satisfaction than if you are simply handed things.

That doesn't mean suffering is mandatory. But it does mean you should plan a balance between work and play if you want your life to work well. I am not just referring to what you do for a living and what you do with your free time. I am speaking about a basic approach to life which accepts that anything we want will require an equal measure of something which feels more like work than play to us. A little metaphorical sweat will pay off in the long run.

What this means is that each of us are more likely to find what we seek IF we are willing to leave our comfort zones once in awhile and ride those feelings of fear into our personal bliss.

Whether you are struggling with a health issue or financial difficulties or relationship drama, you will find your answers come with a price tag. It's just the price of admission and most likely won't feel much more painful than ripping a Band-Aid off. But whatever you do, don't expect to gain access to your dreams with nothing more than a wish.

Wow! Last month I told you I was planning an entire month of celebrating my April 1st birthday (49 years old this year!). I chose a theme for my celebrations: getting embodied! So for starters, I had a very intense session with two gifted Sexological Bodyworkers: William Van Vechten and Desiree Banzhaf. They took me on a sexual/spiritual journey that released a few tears and created a natural high that left me smiling for days. I feel renewed and refreshed! If you are curious about Sexological Bodywork, please call William and Desiree at 760-489-4058 or click over to their website for more info.

Next I attended my first drumming circle. I felt a little silly in the beginning but soon the sound of all those drums swept me away into a more childlike frame of mind and I found myself playing with the rhythm and having a ton of fun.

Finally I had my first Congo dance lesson. Barefoot on the dance floor, we moved to the pounding of more drums and ended the class by learning an African song. The whole thing felt quite primal and left me feeling connected to an unfamiliar culture, to the planet and most importantly to myself.

Now there have been a few unexpected side effects from all this embodied fun. For instance, I feel both more relaxed and more powerful. The sensation is that of letting my body heal me. So much of my thinking and energy is about taking good care of my body and "working" to maintain good health. What's fun about this additional approach is that my body has the ability to heal my emotions and literally love me back! And the way my body loves me is so much fun!

I think work is wonderful. But our culture is a bit out of balance because we don't seem to value play in the same way. Almost all of our extra-curricular activities are task oriented too (playing to "win" or trying to "master" a sport), so we don't get much permission for pleasure and fun. More balance between the concept of "accomplishing something worthwhile" and simply indulging in the joy of being is sure to lead to more happiness and health.

So tell me, how will YOU let your body love you back?