One might be tempted to think that the meaning behind men's ring placement is as simple as the traditional wedding band. And while a ring placed on the "ring" finger of the left hand is the most widely recognised symbolic placement, there are other meanings for men's rings, depending on which finger they adorn, and their orientation on the hand.
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One of the most famous and complex examples of this is the Claddagh ring. A traditional symbol of love among the Irish, this band features a pair of hands holding a heart, with a crown resting on the top. When worn on the right hand with the heart facing out towards the world, it shows a person's open heart and availability to find love. When worn with the heart pointed towards their own heart, it symbolizes how their love has already been captured by another. When worn on the left hand, an outward heart shows their betrothal to another; an inward heart means they are married.
Wedding bands are a more commonly known example. Worn on the left hand in modern Western culture, they belong on the "ring finger". Traditionally, no other ring (other than an engagement ring) should be worn on that finger. The left hand was believed to have the "vein of love" running along its ring finger, connected directly to the heart. Thus, a ring on that finger was as close to the wearer's heart at possible.
Pinkie rings have the unique position of being somewhat without a cultural or historical background. There are two examples of variations, however: The Engineer's Ring or Iron Ring is worn by many Canadian professional engineers, and each one is said to be made from a piece of the poorly-engineered Quebec Bridge that collapsed in the early 1900's; the other is the Signet ring, which in times past was used to create a stamp or seal, which was used instead of a signature on a document.
Another placement of meaning is not a finger at all. Thumb ring can be a symbol of your sexuality, a fashion statement, or for archery. In some circles, a thumb ring on the right hand indicates a gay or lesbian lifestyle. In other circles, of course, sometimes a thumb ring is just a thumb ring - worn there because the piece of jewellery in question was simply too large to be worn on any regular finger, or as a fashion statement. And for some who practice the art of archery, a thumb ring is a tool in a certain style of bow drawing, Tree of Life rings meant to protect the flesh of the thumb.
In the end, it pays to know what sort of men's ring you are wearing, and while you should be conscious of what finger you wear it on, do not allow these rules to rule your life. A ring is a possession, and as such, you define it - not the other way around.
The penis is a wonderful thing, so it's no wonder that masturbation is a favorite pastime of just about every guy. In addition to being fun, masturbation is an excellent way to learn about the penis and how it works, which can be beneficial both for penis health and for improving a guy's skill at sex.
For this last reason, many men engage in edging, which is masturbating until he is just about to ejaculate; stopping to let the need to ejaculate subside; and then resuming masturbation and repeating the whole process. For some men, edging can last for 20 or 30 minutes; for others, it can go on for hours. But sometimes edging for an extended period of time can result in a raw, red penis, and that is something guys want to avoid.
For those who are into edging or who would like to explore edging, there are a few tips to keep in mind to help avoid that raw, red penis.
- Start slow. If a man's typical masturbation session lasts 5 or 10 minutes, planning on edging for two hours the first time out may not be wise. As with many other things, it's usually best to build up to things first. So perhaps have an initial goal of 30 minutes for the first couple of sessions, then 45 minutes, then an hour, and so on. This gives the penis skin time to get used to the lengthier amounts of friction.
- Use lube. This is extremely important. Being well-lubricated throughout the edging session is probably the best way to avoid a sore red penis. The key here is "throughout the edging session." Pouring some lubricant into the palm at the start of the session is important, but replenishing that lubricant as the session goes on is also crucial. Yes, sometimes a guy may over-lubricate and need to wipe off a little excess, but that's okay. It will be easier to estimate the proper amounts to use as he becomes a more expert edger.
- Change things up. Often when a man masturbates, he focuses most of his attention on one area of the penis. For example, many men will spend a great deal of time stroking around the glans. When edging, it pays to spread things around, and to vary the parts of the penis that are stroked. It also helps to change the way the penis is touched. For example, if a man usually strokes with his right hand, he might use his left for a few minutes. He might use a looser grip sometimes and a tighter grip at others. Rather than stroking, he may "pulse" - open and close the fist rapidly. There are many ways to change up the edging experience.
- Goon wisely. Often men who edge get into a state that is referred to as "gooning." This is kind of like a hypnotic feeling in which men feel "at one" with their penis. It is sometimes accompanied by a zoned-out look, often with the mouth open. The problem is that some men who goon get so wrapped up that they neglect to keep the lube fresh. Reapplication may break the goon state, but it can help keep away that raw red penis afterward.
- Don't feel edging is required. Edging is something a guy should do for pleasure. Just because a man has grown used to edging doesn't mean he can't allow himself a "quickie" whenever he wants.
When edging does create a raw, red penis, a man will want to treat his penis with special care. He definitely needs to utilize a top drawer penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). First of all, be sure the crème has a combination of a high-end emollient (like Shea butter) and a natural hydrator (like vitamin E), so that it can remoisturize the raw penis skin and soothe the soreness. In addition, seek out a crème with L-carnitine. This amino acid can help restore loss of sensation in the penis, which can occur when a man edges too roughly.