The Pillow Book of Venus and Her Lover - Re-inventing the Myth is an illustrated book by writer Becca Tzigany and painter J.G. Bertrand. Peeling back layers of cultural conditioning, they present the archetypes of Woman and Man through the Greco-Roman deities Venus (Goddess of Love and Beauty) and Mars (God of War), who now appear as tantric lovers. The new relationship between Venus and Mars bridges the chasm of the "War Between the Sexes". Interwoven with archetypal themes from myriad civilizations, their erotic explorations take them to spiritual heights. Myths evolve as the consciousness of a people evolves, and mythical characters of long ago reappear through paintings and poetry with revelations for lovers today.

Beyond its initial sexual appeal, The Pillow Book of Venus and Her Lover - Re-inventing the Myth delivers stunning visuals and a sensitive treatment of the themes that intrigue everyone who has ever been in a relationship: Why are men/women the way they are? How can romance last? How can we live our lives in a truly meaningful way? It also shows historically how a few fundamental attitudes have brought armed conflict, economic disparity, and environmental crisis into our world. Like the Buddhist axiom that says, "Our temptations are our enlightenments", diving into the deep pool of sexuality reveals the underpinning mythos of our society, our beliefs, and our behavior. The accompanying text illuminates the story of how relationships became so unsatisfying and dysfunctional. It then explains how the power of our archetypal ideas can result in personal growth for mutual enjoyment.

The rise of feminism and the growing men's movement are converging in an expression of broader human rights, environmental awareness, and sexual freedom. As people re-evaluate their roles, they are also re-structuring relationship. Venus and Her Lover documents and illustrates an emerging holistic paradigm. This is a new eroticism - prime for a world eager to find passage into a contemporary, relevant mythos. The last frontier of the mind-body-spirit synthesis of the New Age movement seems to be sexuality; the first two chakras may be the last to emerge from the shadows for enlightenment, or at the very least, for lightening up.

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To enjoy more of The Pillow Book, explore the following sections:

Many Books in One (an overview, with links to reading excerpts)

Table of Contents (to date…)

Their Story (the mythological characters and traditions appearing in the paintings and poetry)

What Others are Saying

The Pillow Book of Venus and Her Lover accommodates itself to the personal tastes of the reader, who may open it at any point to contemplate the imagery, delve deeper into each archetype through the cross-referenced sections, or read it from beginning to end. The contents are as follows:

TEXT

Introduction: Sacred Sex and our Art - Tantra explained, and its expression in the art and poetry of Venus and Her Lover.

Living the Archetypes - the authors' experience of invoking archetypes; explanation of how Venus and Mars represent Woman and Man; psychological implications since Carl Jung.

Re-inventing the Myth - why mythology has relevance today; the evolution of our concept of the Goddess and God through the work of Sir James Frazer, Robert Graves, and Joseph Campbell;interpretations put forth by Venus and Her Lover.

Humanity Revealed - exposé of traditional interpretation of history; revised history demanded by the archaeological discoveries of Marija Gimbutas; gylanic and androcratic social models proposed by Riane Eisler; the effects of left-brain dominance on myth and anthropology, according to the theories of Leonard Shlain.

Beyond the Couple - alternatives to heterosexual monogamy, how they have functioned in different cultures, and their application in Venus and Her Lover.

THEIR STORY

Original Art - 64 paintings representing 16 traditions (such as those of Greece, India, Japan, Egypt, and the Americas), and dozens of deities.

Poetry - 64 poems which illuminate the paintings.

NARRATIVE

Essays - selected individual archetypes and their re-invention in the project; sexuality and the Establishment; the expression of Woman in an androcratic world; ecstasies and pitfalls of the tantric path.

Commentary on the Process - authors' amazing encounters and revelations while producing the art and on tour with Venus and Her Lover.

Photo Shoots - dynamics of the original performances of the erotic scenes, upon which the paintings are based.

Photographers' Comments - original performances as witnessed by the photographers.

APPENDICES

ARTISTS' NOTES

The Writer's Process by Becca Tzigany

The Painter's Process by J.G. Bertrand

Notes on the Works - technical aspects of the painting; interpretation of the poetry; historical notes and anecdotes on each work.

TRADITIONAL MYTHOLOGY "from Adam to Zeus"

The Way They Were - individual mythological characters and their stories, as well as revised perceptions in light of new archaeology and anthropology. Arranged alphabetically for easy reference.

GLOSSARY

Terms - particular vocabulary used in the book.

Symbols - revised interpretation of goddess symbols co-opted by patriarchal religion, and other symbols that appear in the paintings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY - Over 150 resources used in the production of the book,listed in four categories: Mythology/Psychology; Spirituality/Tantra/ Sexuality; History/Culture/Women's Studies; Art/Literature

COMPACT DISK - The poems read by the poet, with musical accompaniment

Text

Introduction: Sacred Sex and Our Art
Re-inventing the Myth
Living the Archetypes
Humanity Revealed
Beyond the Couple

The Works
64 Poems and Illustrations

Commentary on the Process

Where the Goddess Stepped Ashore
Early photo shoots: Premier Performances
Shooting Star
The Tantra Lesson
Photo shoot: The Lesson Session
Photo shoot: A Holy Day
Photo shoot: The Yogini
Pandora's Jar
Rings Around the Moon
Sex Through the Lens by Molly Grace, Photographer
Capturing the Moment by Francesca Bautista, Photographer
California Debut
Photo shoot: The Power and Pleasure of Yes!
Photo shoot: Opening to the Goddess
Lilith of the Night
Father as Failure by J.G. Bertrand
Photo shoot: Kali's Double-Edged Sword
Kali Strikes Again by J.G. Bertrand, Photographer
Creating Tantric Art
Photo Shoot: The Blessing of Lakshmi
Recreating Divine Interplay by Dr. Bryan Miller, Photographer
Dream Yoga and the Tantric Wisdom Goddesses
The Trinity
Of Pagans, Pariahs, and Perverts
Cross-Country First Class
Photo Shoot: Making Love to the Beloved
Photo Shoot: The Great Earth Mother
Taking the Leap
Under the Tuscan Clouds
Outsider Art
Blood Red / White Might / True Blue
Photo Shoot: Goddesses Initiate/Gods Appreciate
Photo Shoot: Graced
Photo Shoot: Midwifing the Goddess
Photo Shoot: The Professional
Roses Have Thorns
The Descent of Inanna
Listening for Green Man
Full Moon Launch
Venus, Mars, and Merlin the Magician
Crete and the End of Civilization
Water Spirits

Appendices
Glossary of Terms and Symbols
The Way They Were (Traditional Mythology)
Artists' Notes: The Painter's Process
The Writer's Process
The Works
About the Artists
Bibliography
Index

Greco-Roman ........................................Cupid
Chinese .................................................Kwan Yin
Buddhist ................................................Tara
Mayan/Aztec .........................................Xochiquetzal
African ..................................................Oshun
Aboriginal (Australian) ...........................All Mother/Manubi
Egyptian ...............................................Osiris, Isis
............................................................ (Mary Magdalene,
.......................................................................Emmanuel)

"The way Bertrand and Tzigany explain the connections between the erotic and the sacred is effective. I like the synergy of the different mythologies. I believe their strategy will be successful in getting the attention of people who are questioning the whole idea of monogamy and possessiveness as well as the prevalent materialistic reductionism about sex - without causing the non-initiated to feel threatened - which is great!"

- Serena Anderlini D'Onofrio, Ph.D.
Former Coordinator of the Bisexual
Forum of San Diego

 

"Venus and Her Lover makes the world a far sexier (and juicier) place, and I, for one, am grateful!”

- Annie Sprinkle
Porn star/artist/director

 

"When nudity is revealed, all we see is surface. All we see is the skin. When a work of art is revealed, what we see is the Soul of the artist. With Venus and Her Lover what we see is a rare combination of body and soul on both the most physical and spiritual levels, which arouses our deepest inner senses and being."

- Joe Cardella
Publisher, ARTLIFE LIMITED EDITIONS

 

"The themes of Venus and Her Lover - Reinventing the Myth are the cutting edge of what society is ready for today. The exquisite imagery and revealing poetry put this "societal longing" into vision. I can imagine a place of honor on my coffee table for a book such as this."

- Suzie Heumann
Founder,Tantra.com

 

"The lush colors of the paired human bodies depicted in symbolic poses of connection and transcendence turn on our inner archetypal resonance. We feel as if we have entered a familiar room or dreamscape of profound mystery. We hear in the simple cadence and evocative imagery of the formally-shaped poems of Tzigany something of the whispered language of spiritual seduction. Her poems speak that mystery to us. Together, their complementary works, with their peculiarly iconic, almost static scenes of intense sexual longing and ecstasy, provoke a very profound response. This book resonates like a familiar mystery we long for in purer and purer doses."

- Robert Chianese, Ph.D.
Professor of English and the course "Eroticism and Literature", California State University

 

"Venus and Her Lover has much to teach us that is valuable in restoring us all to a renewed symbolic life and psychic harmony. It is a step toward . . . the new emerging mythology induced by the seismic shift in archetypal forms posited by Carl Jung."

- excerpt from the article "Venus and
Her Lover : A Jungian Perspective"
by Vincent J. Coffey, Ph.D.

"At last - a contemporary portrayal of women and men that we can all live with! Every bedroom should have a copy of Venus and Her Lover."

- Deborah Taj Anapol, Ph.D.
Tantra teacher/Sex therapist/Author,
Polyamory: The New Love Without Limits