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weekly dispatches by maude® on modern intimacy through the arts, culture, science, and relationships.

The power of ritual for building intimacy.
Relationships
The power of ritual for building intimacy.

transforming everyday rituals into moments of connection.

What even is vanilla sex?
Relationships
What even is vanilla sex?

Challenging stereotypes and embracing sexual diversity.

Mutual shaving as foreplay.
Relationships
Mutual shaving as foreplay.

Can shared grooming deepen sensual bonds?

A maudern body language explainer.
dating
A maudern body language explainer.

How, when, and if you should read the signs.

How To Approach Dating As A Couple.
Relationships
How To Approach Dating As A Couple.

Playing the field, as partners

A Brief History Of The “Third-Date Rule.”
dating
A Brief History Of The “Third-Date Rule.”

Does sex hit different on date #3?

Does knowing our partners deeply actually lead to better sex?
Does knowing our partners deeply actually lead to better sex?

From honeymoon to forever-horny.

how to make solo sex feel more intimate.
how to make solo sex feel more intimate.

Time for a vibe check.

Unpacking the 7-second myth.
Unpacking the 7-second myth.

Sex on the brain.

what is pleasure activism?
Culture
what is pleasure activism?

From Audre Lorde to adrienne maree brown.

the strange, sexy precursors to valentine’s day.
History
the strange, sexy precursors to valentine’s day.

What makes February history's sexiest month. 

A brief history of victorian valentines.
History
A brief history of victorian valentines.

A more vicious holiday greeting. 

how to escape the cycle of faking orgasm.
Relationships
how to escape the cycle of faking orgasm.

Start to finish.

How to stay focused during sex.
Relationships
How to stay focused during sex.

Tuning in and getting off. 

What does it mean to be a side?
sex education
What does it mean to be a side?

beyond the binary of top versus bottom. 

Can a piece of media spur a sexual awakening?
Culture
Can a piece of media spur a sexual awakening?

The sensual start.

How to ask for something new in the bedroom.
sex education
How to ask for something new in the bedroom.

Put your pillow talk in motion.

Intimacy and the babymoon.
Relationships
Intimacy and the babymoon.

Unpacking “the last hurrah.”

How do you act on a partner’s love language?
Relationships
How do you act on a partner’s love language?

‘Tis the giving season 

How sex went highbrow.
History
How sex went highbrow.

Did intellectualizing sex make it more acceptable to discuss in public?

on sex and gratitude.
Relationships
on sex and gratitude.

Here’s how to show appreciation for your significant other.

How are sex scenes filmed?
Culture
How are sex scenes filmed?

Coordination, illusion, and the occasional prop.

When sex is on the menu.
Culture
When sex is on the menu.

Inside a 1970s guide to cooking for orgies.

How do scientists study sex?
History
How do scientists study sex?

The ins and outs of sex in the lab.

Does sex actually relieve stress?
Science
Does sex actually relieve stress?

The case for a good tension release.

sex drive across the gender spectrum.
Relationships
sex drive across the gender spectrum.

A deep-dive on drive.

What is a Boston marriage?
History
What is a Boston marriage?

A history of unconventional intimacy.

Can you make sex last longer?
Relationships
Can you make sex last longer?

Only a matter of time. 

A history of staying hard.
History
A history of staying hard.

Hard times.

The internet's best sex advice.
Culture
The internet's best sex advice.

Doms, Subs, and Sub-Reddits.