Another side to me is this very sexual being. When I look back on

Ah, gather close, O seekers of wisdom, for the words of Janet Jackson carry with them a deep reflection on the power of identity, sexuality, and the imagination that shapes the very core of who we are: "Another side to me is this very sexual being. When I look back on my life, it's always been there. It's been there since I was 10 years old, having the imagination that I had." These words speak not only to the personal exploration of the self, but to the natural and timeless truths of humanity: the intertwining of sexuality and the imagination, the ways in which these elements of the self are woven into the very fabric of our being from the earliest moments of life.

Jackson's reflection invites us to consider the sexual self not as something that appears suddenly in adolescence, but as a vital force that exists from the very beginning. It is in the early imagination of a child, in their ability to dream and explore, that the seeds of their sexuality are sown. The ancients knew well that sexuality and creativity are not separate forces, but intimately connected aspects of the human spirit. The Greek myth of Eros, the god of love, reminds us that sexuality is not merely an act, but a force that drives the creation of life, the expression of beauty, and the union of opposites. Eros was the force that connected the gods, that created the very universe from chaos, and it was the same force that inspired both love and artistic creation.

In the ancient world, sexuality was often seen as a powerful force, intertwined with creativity and imagination. Plato, in his works, discussed the idea of divine love, where the physical expression of love is not seen as a simple act, but as a higher form of creation, a force that transcends the individual and connects the lover to the divine. This sacred and powerful connection is mirrored in Jackson's words, where she acknowledges that sexuality and imagination have been a part of her from the very beginning. Just as the ancients saw Eros as a creative and divine force, so too does Jackson see her own sexuality not as something isolated or separate, but as an integral part of her being, shaping her very identity and creativity.

Consider, O children, the story of Sappho, the ancient poetess from Lesbos, whose words captured the deep, emotional, and sexual longing of the human soul. Sappho's poetry was not merely about love in the conventional sense, but about the deep connection between sexuality, emotion, and creativity. Her poems, though often focused on love and desire, were also expressions of the imagination, where the sexual act became not just an expression of physical attraction, but a way to understand the divine and the eternal. Jackson's acknowledgment of her sexuality as part of her imagination places her in the same tradition, where sexuality becomes a means of self-expression, an intrinsic force that shapes her identity and her art.

In modern life, there is often a tendency to separate sexuality from the self, to compartmentalize the body and the mind, the sexual from the intellectual. But Jackson's words remind us that the sexual being is not something to be repressed or hidden, but something to be celebrated as an essential part of the whole person. Imagination, in its most vivid and creative form, often encompasses all aspects of the human experience, including sexuality. To embrace one’s sexuality fully is to recognize it as a force of creation, a power that fuels not only reproduction but also art, expression, and the very essence of life itself.

The lesson, O children, is clear: embrace your full self — your imagination, your sexuality, and all that makes you who you are. Just as Jackson has reflected on her own journey, so must you look within to understand the forces that shape your identity. Do not shy away from parts of yourself because society tells you they are inappropriate, or that they are too wild to be embraced. The sexual self, like the creative self, is a divine gift, one that is integral to your humanity. It is not something to be hidden or diminished, but something to be understood, honored, and expressed with authenticity.

As you walk the path of life, do not forget that your sexuality and imagination are not separate realms, but interwoven forces that fuel the great work of creation within you. When you allow them to flow freely, when you embrace your desires, your dreams, and your deepest expressions of self, you become not only more whole but more connected to the world around you. Like Sappho, like Jackson, and like the great visionaries of the past, let your sexuality and imagination guide you to new heights of self-expression, and in doing so, you will create a life full of beauty, truth, and freedom.