Article: Whhat would Casanova do?
aqu...@dodgeit.com
wasn't some rich, handsome prince....he was a regular guy with an
extraordinary ability to seduce. one of the goals of this board is to
get all of us normal guys (we're not necessarily very rich or handsome)
to gain that extraordinary ability of seduction. i think Casanova is
the patron saint of this board).
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What Would Casanova Do?
The legendary lover would apply his 10 principles of sex and seduction
and make any woman quiver in her bodice. Just follow along at home and
you can, too
(Including MH online-exclusive photos of Victoria's Secret model Kim
Smith by Antoine Verglas, and Casanova dinner instructions)
By Joe Kita
Despite an unremarkable mug, no man is more renowned for his power over
women than Giacomo Casanova. In fact, his name has become synonymous
with seduction. During his 73 years, he made love to noblewomen,
actresses, dancers, chambermaids, Greek slave girls, a priest's niece,
a farmer's daughter, five sisters (plus their mother), a transvestite,
a hunchback (with "an excitingly misplaced vulva"), a nymphomaniac, and
two unrepentant nuns--132 ladies in all. He was, quite simply,
irresistible. And the 200-odd years that have passed since his death
have only embellished his reputation. Every man, at one time or
another, wants to be a Giacomo Casanova.
And we're here to tell you it's possible. The ability to entrance a
woman, to get her to surrender what Casanova called her "delicious
little that," depends mostly on style and sincerity.
That's all there is to it. Although you may object to Casanova's morals
(he reveled in orgies, abhorred condoms, and once made love to his
illegitimate daughter), he was not reprehensible.
"Unlike the fictional Don Juan or the Marquis de Sade, Casanova wasn't
a sexual predator," says Ted Emery, Ph.D., an assistant professor of
Italian at Dickinson College and a noted Casanovist. "He was very much
in love with most of these women, and they with him. He frequently
mentions the multiple orgasms he gave them. This is certainly
flattering, but the fact that he even thought about their pleasure
makes him different and admirable."
To gain a better understanding of this man's genius (without reading
all 12 volumes of his autobiography), we attended a Casanova dinner at
Sotheby's Institute of Art in New York City. It was a lavishly detailed
re-creation (right down to the period cutlery) of a rendezvous in
Venice in 1753 between the 28-year-old Casanova and a beautiful nun
into whose habit he wished to plunge. It was his finest moment--an
evening that exemplified his charm, and one from which all men can
learn.
"It was a dinner of seduction," explains Carolin Young, a culinary
historian who organized the event. "It was 2 hours of playful
flirtation during which they were both waiting to devour each other.
Afterward, the nun finally told him she had 'an appetite that promised
to do honor to the supper.' "
So what did Casanova do that night? How did he steal the keys to the
convent? Before we divulge his secrets, you should understand that
Casanova was not an aristocrat. Although he enjoyed projecting that
image, he was essentially a gambler and a con man who fought duels and
even served time in prison. So while this evening may appear highly
sophisticated, don't forget that Casanova was, at heart, a philandering
rogue who placed fun and love above all else.
If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you can stage a Casanova
dinner of your own. You'll find recipes and even a shopping list at
www.menshealth.com. (You, however, are responsible for the nun.)
Otherwise, just adhere to the following 10 principles the next time
you're with a woman you admire. The results will be delicious.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #1
To make a woman feel special, do something special.
For his illicit dinner with the good sister, Casanova rented an elegant
five-room apartment. He met her as she stepped off the gondola, and
they walked arm-in-arm across a lantern-lit plaza.
* Your move: When you're trying to impress a woman, never utter these
words at the cusp of an evening: "So, what do you feel like doing?" A
true Casanova takes charge. He has a plan. To devise a memorable one,
imagine that you're proposing. What would you do to make the night so
special she couldn't possibly say no? Then arrange it (minus the ring
and bent-knee thing, of course). After all, you are proposing--only
it's something far more enticing than marriage.
"Women are very appreciative of any kind of effort," says Young.
"Casanova certainly realized that."
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #2
Privacy is sexy.
The nun had a reputation to protect, and Casanova was sensitive to
that. The apartment staff did not disturb Casanova and his guest;
dinner was served through a window in the wall, allowing the servants
to deliver the food without being seen or heard. There were no prying
eyes to fear, nothing to distract the two lovers from each other.
Privacy gives a woman permission to be herself.
* Your move: Create an intimate atmosphere whenever you can. Invite her
to dinner at your place, reserve a cozy table at a fine restaurant,
encourage her to slip away from the party for a starlit
stroll....Continually be searching for eddies in the evening where you
both can linger and connect. You can bestow no greater compliment on a
woman than your full attention.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #3
Let her admire you admiring her.
Casanova's rented apartment was full of mirrors and candles. He wanted
his love to be "reflected a thousand times," and he wanted to be able
to enjoy her from many different angles during dinner. He knew, too,
that a beautiful woman enjoys looking at herself--that the mirrors
would become her portraits, and she'd feel even sexier because of it.
"There's a magical quality to mirrors, candlelight, and silver," says
Young. "Women find it enchanting."
*Your move: If you can't duplicate an atmosphere like this, become a
mirror yourself. Let her see the effects of her beauty and charm
reflected in you. Every now and then, look at her appreciatively and
smile. At opportune times, compliment her--choosing a trait other than
the obvious. For instance, pretty women are used to being told they're
pretty. That kind of compliment has little effect. But tell a pretty
woman that she's smart, and you often win her heart. There's a magical
quality to a man's open, insightful admiration that women find equally
enchanting.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #4
Ask her what she thinks.
Casanova's seduction lasted several hours, and he spent much of this
time asking questions and listening. In an age when women were
considered inferior to men, such behavior was flattering. He treated
his guest reverently, and not just because she was a nun. This woman
was his equal, and he was genuinely interested in her perspective.
*Your move: The reason women found Casanova so fascinating is that he
found them so fascinating. In fact, he believed that without engaging
conversation, physical pleasure was uninteresting. "The minute you
start thinking of the woman as an object, the instant you become more
interested in yourself than in finding out about her, then you're not
being a Casanova," notes Emery. "He made women feel valued for things
other than their bodies."
It's not difficult to get a woman to talk about herself. Just ask
open-ended questions and shut up. But you have to be sincere about it.
Casanova's success with women stemmed from his genuine interest in
them. He touched their hearts before daring to venture anyplace else.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #5
Encourage decadence.
For this particular evening, Casanova spared no expense. The apartment,
the dinner table, his own body were all dressed with the finest things
available. The meal consisted of eight courses, served in pairs. Many
of the dishes, such as oysters, champagne, game, sturgeon, truffles,
fruits, and sorbets, were delicacies, considered highly indulgent
separately, let alone combined with everything else. Casanova was
obviously out to impress, but he also knew that after the first
sampling of something sinful, it becomes much easier to sin again.
*Your move: Provide your lady with something decadent. This could be a
single chocolate truffle (gift-wrapped) or an ice-cream sundae that the
two of you share. Indulgence is the removal of a single brick that
significantly weakens the temple.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #6
Appeal to all her senses.
Casanova scented the apartment with tuberoses because he believed they
were an aphrodisiac. He served oysters and champagne as an appetizer
because on the tongue there is only one thing more titillating. He
asked for his lady's opinions because every woman loves the music of
her own voice. He created an atmosphere of lavishness and luxury, so
her own indulgence would feel less guilty. And he touched her, often
and gently, to return her attention to the true focus of the evening.
By stimulating every sense, Casanova was able to immerse this woman
more fully in the moment, and make her feel more alive and sexual.
*Your move: Be attentive to every one of your mate's five senses. Play
background music, touch the small of her back to guide her, make eye
contact, give her a flute of champagne to sip, buy her a fresh flower
to sniff....Think of each sense as a little engine you need to warm up.
When all her senses are purring, she will be, too.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #7
Savor the anticipation.
Although Casanova immediately grew "ardent" when he noticed that his
lady's breasts were covered by only a dainty chemise, he didn't force
himself upon her. He was patient. He accepted her single kiss and
cherished her two-word promise: "After supper."
"Casanova appreciated that if you have your pleasure too quickly, you
don't suck all the pleasure out of it," explains Young. "Savor the
anticipation, because often the anticipation is half the fun."
*Your move: Foreplay doesn't happen only in the bedroom 60 seconds
before intercourse. It's organic. It encompasses the entire day. Slip a
note into her purse confessing how much you're looking forward to this
date, or call her at work and tell her the same. When you meet, take
her hands and softly kiss her lips. Most important: Allow the evening
to progress at its own pace, remembering that neither of you has to be
anywhere except together.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #8
Be playful.
Most of the food and drink Casanova preferred was sexually suggestive.
Plump oysters, succulent game hens, soft cheeses, ripe fruit...On one
level, he simply enjoyed watching women put these things in their
mouths. But on another, he saw dinnertime as an opportunity for
playfulness. When a slippery oyster fell onto an ample bosom, he
immediately offered to slurp it off. When the salad arrived undressed,
he encouraged the lady to dribble on the oil and vinegar. Casanova
realized that sex isn't serious--it's playtime for adults. Games like
this are the warmup.
*Your move: Whether you're dining at home or at a restaurant, choose
something provocative the two of you can share. Put the plate between
you and nibble. Eat with your fingers. Feed each other. Make it your
goal to keep the evening lighthearted.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #9
Be spontaneous.
Casanova was an opportunist. He drifted from country to country,
working at ludicrously diverse jobs (among them, priest and pimp). He
was a disciple of the moment. Once, while sharing a carriage with a
farmer's wife during a severe storm, he found her perched on his lap
after a frightening thunderclap. Seizing the opportunity, he deftly
rearranged her skirts.
Your move: If the evening isn't going according to plan, abandon it. Be
attuned to fate and go where it directs. The confidence and daring this
shows is in itself seductive.
CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #10
Surprise her with a gift.
After supper, Casanova and his lady retired to a candlelit alcove,
where he presented her with a beautiful lace nightcap. She pronounced
it "magnificent." It was the final, thoughtful coup de grace. "She told
me to go undress in the next room," writes Casanova, "promising to call
me as soon as she was in bed. This took but 2 minutes."
*Your move: Women love unexpected gifts. Make hers personal rather than
trendy, small rather than large, silly rather than serious--something
only she can appreciate. "Casanova's gifts showed a great deal of
creativity and thoughtfulness," says Emery. Most important, time your
gift's delivery for that critical point in the evening when there
remains just one obvious way for her to show her gratitude.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT CASANOVA DID
Advice from the man himself on love, life, and getting rid of gonorrhea
* To recover from an orgy: A long, sound sleep. Casanova believed in
the laws of equilibrium. Balance overindulgence with diet, rest, and
abstinence.
* To end a relationship: Separation should always be by mutual consent.
No heartache, no revenge. If she clings, find her a more suitable man.
* To cure venereal disease: A strict diet of nitrate water for 6 weeks.
* To mend a broken heart: Simply find yourself another, more beautiful
woman. Casanova was not above using prostitutes to console him.
* To be handsome: Dress handsome, talk handsome, act handsome. If you
believe it, if you radiate it, women will see you that way.
* To tell the difference between true love and sensual pleasure: Pay
attention to how you feel afterward. Real love is the love that
sometimes arises after sensual pleasure. If it does, it is immortal.
The other kind inevitably goes stale, for it lies in mere fantasy.
* To capture a woman's love: Make her feel beautiful when she's with
you.
* To live well: Immerse yourself in the present moment.
* To find true happiness: Reminisce.
Ray Gordon
> image, he was essentially a gambler and a con man who fought duels and
> even served time in prison.
Women like badboys. Nothing new under the sun.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #1
> To make a woman feel special, do something special.
Supplication.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #2
> Privacy is sexy.
So much for the lay report.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #3
> Let her admire you admiring her.
Oneitis.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #4
> Ask her what she thinks.
Eliciting values?
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #5
> Encourage decadence.
Secret slut.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #6
> Appeal to all her senses.
Kino.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #7
> Savor the anticipation.
So much for "nexting" her.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #8
> Be playful.
More badboy stuff.
Plus, a nun should be starving for sex.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #9
> Be spontaneous.
And don't reveal the source.
> CASANOVA COMMANDMENT #10
> Surprise her with a gift.
More supplication.
Johannes Seppi
>>Casanova was not an aristocrat. Although he enjoyed projecting that
>>image, he was essentially a gambler and a con man who fought duels and
>>even served time in prison.
>
>
> Women like badboys. Nothing new under the sun.
>
And he was very, very successfull...
[... snip jealous comments ...]
Darkwing
<aqu...@dodgeit.com> wrote in message
news:1131387261.4...@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...
> very interesting read, i thoroughly enjoyed it. remember, Casanova
> wasn't some rich, handsome prince....he was a regular guy with an
> extraordinary ability to seduce. one of the goals of this board is to
> get all of us normal guys (we're not necessarily very rich or handsome)
> to gain that extraordinary ability of seduction. i think Casanova is
> the patron saint of this board).
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> What Would Casanova Do?
> The legendary lover would apply his 10 principles of sex and seduction
> and make any woman quiver in her bodice. Just follow along at home and
> you can, too
> (Including MH online-exclusive photos of Victoria's Secret model Kim
> Smith by Antoine Verglas, and Casanova dinner instructions)
>
> By Joe Kita
> Despite an unremarkable mug, no man is more renowned for his power over
> women than Giacomo Casanova. In fact, his name has become synonymous
> with seduction. During his 73 years, he made love to noblewomen,
> actresses, dancers, chambermaids, Greek slave girls, a priest's niece,
> a farmer's daughter, five sisters (plus their mother), a transvestite,
> a hunchback (with "an excitingly misplaced vulva"), a nymphomaniac, and
> two unrepentant nuns--132 ladies in all. He was, quite simply,
> irresistible. And the 200-odd years that have passed since his death
> have only embellished his reputation. Every man, at one time or
> another, wants to be a Giacomo Casanova.
Transvestite? Apparently 132 ladies and 1 dude.
----------------------------------------------------
DW
tentacle
aqu...@dodgeit.com schrieb: