By Nelson Groom for Caters
A former stripper turned professional "sex witch" makes a living coaching couples and singletons on pagan eroticism - including casting spells to boost orgasms.
Shaney Marie, 31, delved into the world of witchcraft after working as an exotic dancer and deciding her male clients needed deeper sexual connections.
Now, the New Zealand-born priestess teaches magic sexuality across Australia and will soon take her booming business abroad - albeit by plane, not broomstick.
Shaney, who identifies as both pansexual, which means not being limited by gender, and eco-sexual, which means finding nature and the earth sexual, said: "Sex witchery involves using ancient pagan ways of being to unlock greater pleasure pathways.
"When I was a stripper, I noticed most men were coming to me in search of deeper connections and had nowhere else to turn to.
"I looked back to ancient times. There were once temples where men would seek counsel and healing from erotic dancers. This has been distorted."
"Modern strip clubs are a power play. Men objectify women, but women pocket the cash. It is no longer a place of love, so I decided to return to these roots and bring on an awakening.
"Phenomena like porn have also desensitised us. Spirituality is the best way this helps to recondition ourselves with erotic subtleties."
For Shaney, arousal can come from things as subtle as a gust of wind, which is a feature of eco-sexality - the seeking of sexual gratification in nature.
Her clients are taught rituals like praying at love-altars, erotic dance workshops and using crystals and sex toys to heighten sexual climaxes.
She also casts spells - known as sex magic - to deepen feelings of sexual pleasure.
Shaney said: "I'm in a heterosexual relationship but I'm open to explore life so I could be described as pansexual. I'm also eco-sexual, which is about being turned on by the elements.
"It can mean surrendering to pleasure such as the winds blowing on your skin. The elements are important to witches and shamans alike.
"Spell crafting can involves boosting pleasure. It is is one of the most powerful forces you can experience. It's like rocket fuel for manifestation."
Shaney's services also extend into face-to-face sexual coaching and even Skype consultations - a modern twist on ancient traditions.
She said her mostly-male clientele - who span the ages of 20 to 70 - are in the hundreds, but that number is rising as people trade religion for spirituality.
Shaney said: "Australia has a big movement, especially in Melbourne and Byron Bay, of spiritual sexuality. More and people are starting to dip their toes in it."
"There is a history of misinformation about witchcraft and paganism, but people are curious and spirituality is slowly replacing religion."
Shaney said beyond the bedroom, her services can offer therapeutic qualities to victims of depression and trauma.
She added: "Some people can definitely use spiritual pathways to cure trauma. But it must be done tenderly. We are ultimately sensitive and gentle beings.
"One of my clients was suffering from severe depression. He said after six sessions, he felt more growth than he got from years of psychiatric therapy."
Shaney is this month taking her sex witch services across Amsterdam, London, Berlin and Ireland for a European tour.
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