Magnetation Methods of Birth Control

by Margaret Sanger

Atoms, cells, and plants are unconscious of this force, and animals are conscious of it only in a slight degree. But man is conscious 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.

THE PRACTICE.

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 that 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 recent 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 side, 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).