Author Archives: Amy R. Marsh, EdD.

Desire. It’s All About Desire.

When we talk about “sexual (or relational) orientations,” we define them by who (or what) is the focus of desire. This is a shared, common concept in the U.S., other Western/industrial societies, and elsewhere. So when I state that “spectrosexuality is a sexual orientation,” this is what I mean. I mean that the desired oneContinue reading “Desire. It’s All About Desire.”

Medieval Clergy and Bad Dreams

[This edited version contains some corrections in my use of the terms “sleep paralysis,” “night terrors,” and “incubus/succubus” experiences, thanks to definitions in Hufford, pp. 121-124.] In Demon Lovers: Witchcraft, Sex, and The Crisis of Belief (2002), Walter Stephens examined 15th and 16th century witchcraft treatises to discover why Christian theologians were so obsessed (really,Continue reading “Medieval Clergy and Bad Dreams”

Outlier Sexualities and Media Treatment

“Outlier” sexualities, behaviors, and relationships are popular fodder for media commodification and/or sensationalism. Let’s examine the specific format used by broadcast media when featuring people who experience or represent a particular gender, sexual, or relationship diversity (GSRD). Television shows will frequently feature a guest who espouses a particular orientation, sexual practice, or type of relationshipContinue reading “Outlier Sexualities and Media Treatment”

Spectro-Sexual Songs and Music Videos

This post will feature an ongoing collection of music videos and songs that suggest, feature, or depict romantic, erotic, and/or sexual encounters of humans with spirit beings such as ghosts, gods, deities, demons, fairies, vampires, elves, and other supernatural/preternatural beings. Check back soon for more additions. Lil Nas X, Montero (Call Me By Your Name).Continue reading “Spectro-Sexual Songs and Music Videos”

Kane and Wahine o ka Po-Spirit Lovers of the Night

Legends, beliefs, and traditions regarding spiritu-intimacy come from many lands and cultures. This morning I want to share from Mary Kawena Pukui & E.S. Craighill Handy’s excellent book, The Polynesian Family System in Ka’u, Hawai’i (Mutual Publishing, Honolulu. 1998.) Mary Kawena Pukui was one of Hawai’i’s most prominent and accomplished scholars. Many in her familyContinue reading “Kane and Wahine o ka Po-Spirit Lovers of the Night”

Lessons From Objectum Sexuality

With the creation of this website, I come to the realization that my professional career as a sexologist is likely to be bookended by inquiry into two rather unusual sexual orientations: Objectum Sexuality (OS) and Spectrosexuality (aka Spiritu-Intimacy). How it started: As a newly minted sexologist (DHS, 2008) I stumbled onto a little known sexualContinue reading “Lessons From Objectum Sexuality”