Leaders in Sex: Vanessa Cuccia of Chakrubs
Shot on location at SHAG Brooklyn by Rodrigo Lizarraga
Vanessa Cuccia, founder of cult-favorite sex toy brand Chakrubs, is in the NSFW Clubhouse posing for photos holding her crystal creations. Wearing a stylish black wrap dress and red boots, she moves from shot to shot with practiced motions not unlike a professional hand model. The expert mentality is no surprise, given her company has been steadily growing in range and popularity since its inception in 2011. Chakrubs actually carried the first line of solid crystal sex toys, well before the trend gained momentum on platforms like Etsy. Testimonials on the official site hail the artisanal toys as “life changing”, with one reviewer going as far as to liken using their Chakrub to “having sex with a partner who loves me unconditionally”.
The line promises loving and focused play energy, thanks to naturally occurring electro-magnetic vibrations that emanate from the crystals with which they are made. Cuccia claims, “Creating an intentional practice with Chakrubs entails learning to quiet the mind in order to feel subtle energies, develop emotional intelligence, strengthen self-awareness, and accepting every aspect of who you are.”
In hopes of spreading her message and sharing her story, Cuccia is due to release her debut book “Crystal Healing and Sacred Pleasure: Awaken Your Sensual Energy Using Crystals and Healing Rituals, One Chakra at a Time”, in June of this year. We sat down to ask her a few key questions on her journey. Don’t miss our exclusive excerpt from the book, and shoppable crystal gallery, at article’s end.
Shot on location at SHAG Brooklyn by Rodrigo Lizarraga
NSFW When did you first become interested in the healing power of crystals, both in general and in terms of sexual wellness?
VC My love of crystals began when I was a young girl. My family would take walks on the bluffs of Long Island and find geodes that my dad would crack open to reveal beautiful crystalline interiors. This was poetic to me, even at a young age. As I was growing up and learning that many magical things in storybooks were just pretend, finding this hidden beauty in the earth kept my childlike wonderment alive. As I grew older I realized that magic in many ways is, in fact, real, it's just that our understanding of it needs to mature. Crystals became an emotional support system for me as I grew older, and the more time I spent with them the more I understood their power. When I realized in my early twenties that I had endured some sexual trauma I needed to heal, crystal healing through self-pleasure came as a natural methodology. Chakrubs first developed as a way for me to heal myself, and then I brought it to the public.
NSFW What, in your opinion, are the most important tenets of a healthy relationship to one's sexuality?
VC Acceptance, permission, and patience. Possibly curiosity.
NFSW What are you most excited about people learning about yourself and your work with this new book?
VC I hope that my book reaches people who want to initiate themselves into sacred sexuality. The book is a gentle enchantment to the world of crystal healing and sensuality. It is meant to encourage people to explore themselves in the physical, emotional, and spiritual - all with the support system of crystals. If it entices people to start or continue on a path of self-love, I will have succeeded.
Shot on location at SHAG Brooklyn by Rodrigo Lizarraga
Cuccias book is now available for pre-order on sites such as Barnes and Noble and Amazon. In the meantime, enjoy a brief excerpt:
"Love is regarded as the highest vibrational emotion there is, because it is the harmony of all emotions. Just as we have to mature our perception of what magic is, we have to mature our perception of love. We assume that love is something that comes naturally. That love is just there, something we experience or we don't. But love can also be seen as an art form, one that we can study and practice, just as a musician learns her instrument. And just as any musician will tell you about music, in love, there is always more to learn."
Get your healing on-browse our shoppable gallery below to find the Chakrub for you. See something you like? Click the image-we'll take you there.
(Images by Rodrigo Lizarraga, chalk art by Laura Bradburn)