Magnetation Method of Birth Control. — THE THEORY. — THE PRACTICE.
4
Before closing this series of pamphlets on the practical
methods of Birth Control, I feel in justice to the many readers
and subscribers of the Woman Rebel who inquired about the
theories of Magnetation, Male Continence, Sedular Absorption,
Karezza, and Zugassent’s Discovery, that this series would not
be complete without giving at least a general idea of these
theories and their practice.
It is interesting to note that the magnetation theory had
its best and longest practice, as well as its beginning, in America,
under the title Male Continence. This method was practised for
over forty years by a group averaging 130 men and 150 women
known as the Oneida Community. They occupied a part of the
old reservation of the Oneida Indians in New York State, and
lived in a harmonious and prosperous form of Communistic
society. John Humphrey Noyes was the head and founder of
the group. Through personal experience and prolonged study, he
discovered the theory of male continence. Since that time many
others have come forward with the same theory under various
names. Almost without exception, each advocate has injected
some kind of religion into it. The Oneida Community was
particularly a religious sect, and Alice B. Stockham, the author of
Karezza, was a fervent religionist. However, aside from this,
there are fundamental truths in the theory which bear thinking
about and should not be discarded without some consideration.
In view of the thousands of testimonials of the healthful results
of the practice of these theories, I present these methods like that
of the others, and for convenience shall classify them all under
one head, “Magnetation.”
There are thousands of men and women who object to the
practical and mechanical means of Birth Control, who feel that
the pessary, condom, and douche are gross and sordid, and take
5away the artistic and spiritual beauty of the act. It is those
whom the magnetation method will interest most. There are
others who will claim that this method is “not satisfying,” and
can find no enjoyment in its practice. But so are there thousands
of men and women who can pass a beautiful painting and receive
no inspiration from it, or listen to a charming selection on a
musical instrument and receive no emotion from it. So are there
many whose natures are not so constructed that they can enjoy
or benefit by this method. There is no doubt that the successful
attainment of this method is dependable upon a fine spiritual
bond between the two who enjoy its practice.
The advocates of the magnetation method ask you to first
analyse sexual intercourse. They claim that you will recognise in
it two distinct acts, i.e., the social (or amative) and the propagative.
Those who practise the magnetation method content themselves
with and prefer the social act, unless the procreative act is desired.
It is usually held that the sexual organs have two distinct
functions, viz., the urinary and the propagative. The advocates
of the magnetation theory claim that the sexual organs have three
distinct functions, viz., urinary, propagative, and amative—i.e.,
they are conductors firstly of urine, secondly of semen, and
thirdly of social magnetism. Each one separate and distinct in
itself.
The organs of propagation are physiologically distinct from
the organs of union in both sexes. The testicles are the principal
organs of reproduction in the male, and the uterus in the female.
Sexual conjunction of male and female no more involves the
discharge of semen than of the urine. The discharge of semen,
instead of being the main act of sexual intercourse, is really the
sequel and termination of it. Sexual intercourse pure and simple
is the conjunction of the organs of union, and the interchange
and flow of magnetic influences through that conjunction. The
6seminal discharge can be voluntarily withheld in sexual intercourse,
or it can be produced without sexual intercourse, as in
masturbation, which demonstrates the fact that the discharge of
the semen, and the pleasure associated with its discharge, is not
social, since it can be produced in solitude: it is a personal and
not a social act.
The physiological analysis of the procreative act shows that
the pleasure of the act is not produced by contact and interchange
of life with the female, but by the action of the seminal fluid on
the internal nerves of the male organ. The desire and that
which satisfies it are both within the man, and may be obtained
without sexual intercourse. The amative function, or the simple
union of two persons, is a distinct and independent function,
giving a medium of magnetic interchange superior to that gained
through the reproductive function. It is the presence of the
seed and not the absence of it that makes the bull superior to the
ox, and it is the stimulating, retaining, and absorbing the semen
in the man, and directing it into other creative channels, which
make the amative act of greater benefit and more healthful and
vitalising than the procreative act.
Most of us know that creative energy expressed through the
sexual nature is an instinct to perpetuate life; that it has its
origin in and is co-existent with life itself; that it is the power
back of all purposes and plans; that it is the self-pushing force
that gives the individual the ability and desire to do and to
perform; that it is the impelling factor and inventive genius in
all man’s handiwork. That this force operates in the multiplication
of atoms and molecules, in the attraction of germ to
sperm cells. The process of growth and fulfilment of functions
is propelled by this energy, which is operative throughout all
Nature. It is the force back of and expresses itself through the
physical life of man and animal.
Atoms, cells, and plants are unconscious of this force, and
animals are conscious of it only in a slight degree. But man is
7conscious of this energy, and is capable of developing a greater
consciousness of it and of its operation and utilisation to a
remarkable degree. Like the engineer who masters the engine
by his knowledge of its construction and the force that runs it, so
can man master this creative energy and direct it where he wills.
Creative life can be expressed in other ways beside parenthood.
Emerson says, “Work your passion up into poetry.” Passion
is the sign of creative power; it is the voice of creative life. If
it were understood and its powers realised, it would be elevated
and worshipped instead of lowered and debased, as the Comstocks
would have us do. As creative energy becomes understood and
applied, men and women will grow in strength of character and
in strength of love, and will naturally devote these powers to the
interests and development of the human race.
Each of these theories involves sedular absorption through
intercourse without culmination. No discharge is allowed, but
by a superior control is retained, thereby making the act an
amative (love) act, and uplifting it from an exhaustive, abrupt
fertilising function into a quiet magnetic charm, producing health
and increased happiness.
The act of sexual intercourse has a beginning, a middle, and
an end. Its beginning or first stage is simply the presence of the
male organ in the female. The middle or second stage is a series
of reciprocal motions. The end or third stage is the ejaculatory
crisis, or the termination of the act. The advocates of male
continence, Zugassent’s discovery, sedular absorption, and
magnetation claim that the whole process up to the third stage
is entirely voluntary and can be stopped at any point. It is
compared to a stream in the three conditions of a fall, a course of
rapids above the fall, and still water above the rapids. The
boatman may decide if he will remain in still water or venture
down the rapids, or run his boat over the fall. They contend
8that experience will teach him the wisdom of remaining where
the rowing is easy, unless the object is worthy of going over the
falls. Karezza advises to content oneself with simple presence in
the first stage until the magnetic thrill passes off. They are all
similar and all aim at the same result. I head them under one
method—“magnetation.”
Those who practise it claim the highest possible enjoyment,
with no loss of vitality and a perfect control of the fecundating
power. Its practice greatly involves the art of love by a prolonged
intercourse preventing that which puts an end to intercourse—the
ejaculation. The seminal fluid, it is claimed, has an immense
immanent value; and if kept in the system and magnetised, and
reabsorbed by the blood, adds enormously to a man’s mental and
magnetic force, which through the ordinary sexual act is constantly
being expended. That its practice by some men will be
difficult there can be no doubt; but it can be no more difficult or
need a greater power of control than that required of the man in
the act of “coitus interruptus” (withdrawal). Those who practise
magnetation claim that it is far removed from “repelling
asceticism”; that it gives ample exercise to the affections, and
opportunity for the exchange of sexual magnetism; but that its
greatest benefit is that its practice conduces to a higher love
development. It is the attainment of this control that raises
the sexual passion in man and woman to its proper place by
the side of music and poetry.
The strongest objection which is put forth against its practice
is that it is “unnatural”; that it is unauthorised by the examples
of other creatures of the animal kingdom, and therefore must be
wrong. But the answer comes that cooking, wearing clothes, and
all modern life is far removed from natural living; and were we
to remain in close adherence to Nature, we would go on all fours
and remain dumb.
When we realise we are living in an age when nearly all
departments of life have been greatly modified and advanced by
9recent discoveries of steam, electricity, the telephone, telegraphy,
the microscope, and other agents of enlightenment, is it not
surprising that there has been almost no discovery or improvement
in the vital department of the sex relations? The explorer,
the pioneer, the discoverer may pursue his way into every
department of life, and return to lay his riches at the feet of
Science, Art, or Invention; but woe to him who dares to explore
that shaded valley of sex. No matter how pure the motive, or
what agony and miseries one sought to alleviate, dungeons,
persecutions, slanders, and jails await him who ventures to bring
treasures from its hidden depths. Yet there is no other department
of life which needs so much instruction and education as
the sex department.
A healthful sexual stimulation has a beneficial effect on both
men and women, especially when the loved one is accessible and
some demonstration of sexual feeling allowed, as in the restrained
yet ardent caresses of an affianced pair. Here we often see not
only the happiest but the most productive and healthful period of
a man’s life. It is said this is particularly true of man’s
intellectual activities.
We see a year later this same happy pair experience a great
falling off in their affection. Women have experienced this so
often that they begin to hate the sexual relation, and look upon
the act either with fear of pregnancy or with an unconquerable
loathing. Of course, a great deal of this aversion which women
experience is the result of their former training. The girl is
taught before marriage that the act is a most degrading thing,
and is told that it is the accomplishment of this one thing for
which man desires her before marriage. Afterwards all is
supposed to be changed. She is expected to have an entirely
new philosophy as soon as the marriage certificate is in her hands.
The average young man knows little of the art of love, and is
consequently unable to beautify their relations or to teach her a
new psychology. The first year is spent in secret misery on her
10side, and ruptures and misunderstandings between them both.
The average woman will tell you she loves to be caressed and to
express her affection for her husband, but could be quite satisfied
without intercourse. This is especially true of the intellectual
woman, who is acknowledging her lessening interest in the sex
relation, and even repulses affectionate demonstration, fearing it
must terminate in sexual intercourse (mainly the fear of
pregnancy).
Surely this is something to be squarely faced by every
intelligent man and woman, and serious enough to deserve our
untiring interest. Something must be wrong. What is it?
Does this theory offer a solution to any? It may. Nearly all
women who practise it testify to its benefits, while few men complain
of it. Those who do, say that to control the ejaculation to-day
means a seminal loss later during sleep. The advocates, however,
say this will occur at first, but after the organs become accustomed
to their new function this will wear off, and there will be no
seminal loss.
All men in the Oneida community realised that this control
was a necessary attainment if they would be regarded with favor
by the women in the group. Its accomplishment was necessary
to their mutual happiness, and they had to learn it. If there is
a method which in practice expresses the highest mutual affection
and reveals one’s own strength and power, then by all means let
mankind know it.
There is no earthly reason why men and women should not
study the laws of sex expression as any other science is studied,
and it should be a study not only intellectual, but of experience
and adjustment. If, as is claimed, the experience of this method
must be practised on a higher plane of thought than the purely
physical, then certainly it must tend toward a finer companionship
and understanding between men and women than the fleeting
physical gratification prevailing at present. If there is anything
which controverts the traditional uncleanliness previously
11attached to the sex relation, if there is anything which brings
a blending of body and spirit or an ennoblement of the character
of the individual, then by all means let us have it in its fullest
detail, and let this revolting ignorance and prudery holding sway
over men and women’s minds so long be swept away for all time.
Let us have light, through discussion, experience, and adjustment.
There are few men who desire to expose the object of their
affection to the burden of bearing children faster than her health
will permit. They realise a woman’s strength is greatly undermined
and her beauty and grace fast ebbing away; but ignorance
and tradition have him in their grip. He knows nothing about
the means to prevent it, and allows the one he loves best to
wither and fade before his eyes.
It is especially necessary for the woman to be free from the
mental dread of pregnancy. There is nothing so productive of
nervous disorders or so likely to decrease the sexual attraction or
magnetation as fear and anxious thought. Perfect confidence in
the man’s ability to control himself is essential to the perfection
and desired results of these methods. Just as one begins, so can
one develop. Young men and women about to enter alliances
and desirous to establish a lasting affection and higher bond
between themselves can easily put this method into practice and
control the sex functions. The more magnetic the individual, the
greater the sex attractions between those who love, and the
stronger the bond will grow between them, through this
“magnetation” method.
The expression and adjustment of all theories is so largely
personal that special regulations can scarcely be given. The road
to science and the great natural laws are discovered through
experience: there is no education but that of experience.
