Dating Manual

Springtime
by Pierre-August Cot, 1837-1883

A beautiful young maiden hangs from her lover's neck, coquettish and devoted. She smiles warmly to meet his protective gaze. The two are seated on a swing, hanging on heavy ropes suspended from unseen branches in a thick forest bathed with glowing primordial light. Her gown, diaphanous and white, more than slightly reveals her perfect sensual form. His arms hold tightly to the ropes that support the swing. Springtime is arguably the single greatest image of young romantic love ever conceived, poignantly touching the hearts of millions over the last 125 years

The Story of Springtime
SOTHEBYS.COM - Springtime

The Storm
by Pierre-August Cot, 1880
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Click to enlarge

The Awakening of Adonis
by John Waterhouse

Waterhouse, John William (1849-1917). English painter. Early in his career he painted Greek and Roman subjects, but in the 1880s he turned to literary themes, painted in a distinctive, dreamily romantic style. In approach he was influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, but his handling of paint is quite different from theirs--rich and sensuous. His work includes such classic Victorian anthology pieces as The Lady of Shalott (Tate Gallery, London, 1888) and Hylas and the Nymphs (City Art Gallery, Manchester, 1896).

Biography John William Waterhouse
Photograph by Carol Gerten-Jackson

Cupid and Psyche by Antonio Canova, 1757-1822

Cupid and Psyche
by Antonio Canova, 1757-1822

Antonio Canova biography

Flirtation and First Approaches

Flirtation & First Approaches . . . A natural sequence of behavioral steps in a first encounter, which can be mastered by anyone motivated by desire, courage and persistence.
Born to Flirt: Giving and Getting Attention . . . An elevated reframe of the entire concept of making lighthearted, playful connections with anyone from puppies to gorgeous strangers.
The Myth of the Meat market . . . And just why is it you think you can't enjoy yourself in public places, listening to hot music, meeting fascinating and enjoyable strangers?
The Sexual Indignation Factor . . . The perfectly understandable reasons why many single woman act startled and offended when they are approached by an unknown man and why women need to be more grown-up about fielding attention from a man.

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Dating & Courtship Realities

Personal Ad Anxiety . . . If you think it is somehow unsavory for unmarried humans to try to make contact with one another, and you are seeking a partner yourself, maybe you should reconsider your judgments. Especially where personal ads are concerned.
The Date . . . At last! a unified theory of "The Date", replete with functional definitions, intelligent premises, and rigorous deductions from unavoidable facts.
Infatuation. . . This should begin to help you understand something of the nature of physical chemistry and to discern the difference between attraction and true compatibility.
The Strategies and Stages of Intelligent Courtship . . . What are the reasonable expectations of how relationships develop in a dating situation: healthy stages in intimacy, realistic time horizons, maximizing alternatives, finding honest grounds for commitment? A comprehensive review of the growth of relationship from first contacts, to dating, courtship, and pair-bonding.
Relationship Discouragement . . . And Its Antidote . . . Thanks to Jerry Seinfeld, we now know what's really getting in the way of singles and the relationship they claim they want.
Debunking the Cliché's of Dating, Part 1: You'll Never Find Love As Long As You're Looking For It . . . Unfortunately, you're not going to stop hoping for love until you get what you need, so find out what the kernel of truth is in this massive conventional distortion.
Debunking the Cliché's of Dating, Part 2: Who Should Pay For A Date? . . . The realistic answer to this questions will do away with a whole lot of grumpyness.
Marriage . . . What's The Point? . . . Things just ain't what they used to be, but perhaps they could be even better. From marriage for survival, propagation and social status . . . to marriage for companionship and intimacy. What is marriage now?
Top 10 Horrifying Mistakes Made by Singles . . . Just review this.
The Denial of Desire . . . Oh What Folly . . . If you are telling yourself that a Relationship doesn't matter to you, and thinking that you are better off alone, but you are reading this right now, perhaps you would benefit by reconsidering.
How Do I Bring Up the Subject of . . . duhhhh. . . Sex? A famous riddle unravelled before your eyes.
Boundaries in Cyber Courtship . . . Did you think anything goes in cyberspace? Perhaps your should re-think the "no holds barred" approach to online socializing.
Interpersonal Boundaries in Cyber Courtship . . . the internet has changed the hierarchy of intimate approach by making some interpersonal boundaries much more permeable . . . and temporarily doing away the need to deal with physical ones. The question is: what does this meanfor men and women online?
Male Mating Clue #1: What Do Women Want? . . . When all is said and done, what have women been watching and waiting and listening for in a man's approach to them . . . since the beginning of time?
Relationship Practice . . . And Practice . . . And Practice! . . . How much experience did any of us get in sustaining a 70-year-long monogamous relationship? That is what an extended life expectation implies. Maybe you haven't "failed at" any relationships, maybe you were practicing the skills of intimacy you will use for the next 50 years!
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Compatibility Issues

What Is A Soulmate? . . . a transpersonal viewpoint (excuse the redundancy!).
Attraction Is Not Necessarily Compatibility . . . You may think the job is done when you find someone you are attracted to. But attraction alone does not constitute compatibility nor guarantee happiness.
Compatibility: The Opposites Attract Truism . . . Please consider this old cliché more deeply before you choose a partner from the other side of the galaxy.
Essentials Versus Preferences . . . Relationships inevitably involve compromises. The smart thing to do is think long and deeply about which experiences are essential to you and which are preferences open to reconsideration.
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Burning Questions

Question #1: Why didn't he/she call?
Question #2: How long should you wait to have sex with someone you just started dating?
Question #3: Do women ever answer the emails they receive in response to a personal ad they placed?
Question #4: How Can I Make A Guy Go Mad For Me?
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For Women

Women Choose, So Choose Wisely . . . The next time you are tempted to complain loudly about your past partners, consider this.
On the Absolute Need for Love . . . A terrific intimate partnership is not a luxury, but a critically important contribution to the human species.
Bloom Like A Rose in Cyber Space, Part I . . . How to Attract and Protect Yourself at the Same Time.
Bloom Like A Rose in Cyber Space, Part II . . . How to Deal with Potential and Actual Cyber Stalking Like the Goddess You Are
Zen and the Art of Enjoying Yourself in Public

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For Men

How to Read a Woman's Receptivity . . . Recognizing when a woman is flirting with you is not so hard as you might think. And there's plenty of help available to help you learn the signs.
How to Move From Friends to Lovers . . . Or Not . . . This article is for men, since it is one of the most frequently asked question by them. But the same principles of escalating intimacy apply to women.

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If ever two were one, then surely we.
Anne Bradstreet, 1612-1672

They do not love that do not show their love.
William Shakespeare, 1554-1616

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
Elizabeth Barret Browning, 1816-1861

You do something to me, Something that simply mystifies me.
Cole Albert Porter, 1891-1964

Some material from:
http://www.jaguarwoman.com/
http://sunsite.auc.dk/cgfa/waterhou/

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