Statement on Tantra

The confusion about tantra…

It might be worthwhile to clarify a bit about tantra, as there is much confusion about it. Even amidst the age of information, those of us in the west still do not have a clear understanding of what tantra is.

I want to identify where I land on the spectrum that is tantra, and how it informs my work.

Neo-Tantra and Osho

Most of what we are exposed to (in the west) regarding tantra is in fact neo-tantra, originating from Osho, an Indian teacher who was radical in many ways.

He aimed to break the conditionings of his students in nearly every way - social, spiritual, psychological, cultural and sexual. Although he was Indian, he spoke against some core tenants of traditional tantra - mantra, puja & yantra - and instead created a system where the modern human could have experiences of expanded consciousness, through dynamic meditations, psycho-spiritual workshops, and a sense of sexual freedom (where he saw the most repression & inhibitions). These practices were brand new, created by Osho and his community, and not reflective of traditional tantric practices at all.

Today we see the effects of this wave ripple throughout the new-age, through the MANY tantric workshops teaching sexual practices, intimacy, orgasms, breast massage, yoni massage, lingam massage, breathwork, etc. Much of this field has been refined by energy masters such as Mantak Chia and made more poetic by speakers/writers like David Deida.

Sexual and intimacy practices are deep, beautiful and VERY needed by all of us today. There is nothing wrong at all with these practices - so if you catch yourself in black/white thinking or “right or wrong”…. let that go! Our society is served with a great gift regarding neo-tantric practices. However, from the viewpoint of traditional tantra, these neo-tantric practices are very far removed from the authentic teachings.

Generally speaking, I try to use the terms accurately, and encourage you to do the same:

• neo-tantra - when referring to modern sexual, intimacy, energetic, psycho-spiritual and relational practices.

• tantra - when referring to traditional tantra.

So… what is traditional tantra? Scroll down to find out!

What is traditional tantra?

There is a very long and complex answer, but in short: traditional tantra is an ancient system of enlightenment.

It could be viewed as a mystic science, using spiritual technologies such as mantras (sacred sound syllables), yantras (sacred geometric designs), pujas (rituals) and meditations. It characteristically is hard to “codify”, due to its inherent mechanism of evading dogma or calcified belief systems, as well as the esotericism & secrecy around it. It can be an excellent spiritual home for devotional types or bhaktas, as there are many devotional practices and orientations.

I love traditional tantra because it leads you deeper into yourself - as opposed to many other religions which can surreptitiously take you further away from yourself and your experience.

In addition, traditional tantra is an excellent place for those of us with insatiable curiosity about life, reality and God. For those who want to directly taste and experience God.

Traditional tantra is based on sacred texts and scriptures. Understanding its roots proves difficult, as much of the tradition was oral until around 500A.D. But we see many different thriving lineages in different eras of the last 1500 years, especially in 8th-12th century A.D. India.

NOTE: True tantric teachings MUST be held in a lineage container with a bonafide guru or teacher. This is needed to receive authentic and safe transmission.

What about the sexual part of tantra?

Traditional tantra has nothing to do with how sexually open you are as a woman, or if you can have non-ejaculatory orgasms as a man. In fact, deepening your identity with these feats might actually entrench your ego even further, from the perspective of traditional tantra.

Sexual practices ARE a part of traditional tantra - but a truly TINY part. Some of kaula tantric lineages on the “left handed” path perform rituals using the “taboos” of society (sex, meat, alcohol) in a spiritually conscious way - that involves mantra, ritual and a lineage container of philosophical perspective. Without specific context, these sexual practices can subvert from a spiritually elevating experience into a type of hedonism.

Very few people on the planet are initiated into sexual tantra from a traditional point of view. A high degree of spiritual maturity and life-long dedication to the path is often needed.

How do I find an authentic tantra teacher?

Traditional tantra has been notoriously shrouded in secrecy & mystery since its inception. It can be very hard to try to navigate for the beginner.

Today there are many paths and branches of tantra, depending on if you are inclined to ritual, meditation, non-dualism, Goddess-worship or Shiva-worship, etc.

Many adept tantric masters prefer to remain anonymous, and cannot be found online, but only by the grace of the Goddess.

Some teachers and lineage holders are available online nowadays.

A word of discernment to those interested in traditional tantra: One must be VERY discerning when following a traditional tantric path. I do not recommend going to India and asking around for a tantric. As with some religions or spiritual practices, there are deviants that use the powers gained through tantra for malefic purposes. I wish you the best of luck on your journey and please choose with your highest self, always. You can afford to be extremely choosy when it is a matter of your soul.

How I apply tantra in my work

In the lineage of tantra that I practice, the body can be seen as divine. Literally.

As opposed to Judeo-Christian religions, the body is not “sinful” or “separate from God”. All of life is sacred. The earth, the moon, the flowers. And God can be found in all of it.

Beauty is God, the Goddess, in her manifest form. Appreciating beauty is what moves us towards divinity, and we must face its fleeting experience with our hearts wide open.

Through mindfulness-based somatic coaching, pleasure practices, and embodiment, I aim to connect you to the divinity in your body.

I apply traditional tantric philosophy and use tools from mindfulness/meditation, yoga, neo-tantra, somatics, psychology and neuroscience to work with clients.

All you need is truly within you. My role as a coach is simply to hold space for it to come out.

The body is a silent holder of your deepest wisdom, waiting for you to come knocking at it’s fleshy door.

Living fully also means fully experiencing what it is to be human: grief, loss, confusion, doubt, anger, despair and worry. Often at the gateway of accessing the body we are first confronted with these things. Together we explore it all with the light of consciousness and a resourced body, experiencing your emotions safely and gently.

I want to say to my clients: YES, you can live on this earth and walk with divinity, or pleasure, or gratitude, or awe, or wonder, or devotion, or clarity, in your daily life!

At time time, my work does not involve any traditional tantric practices. It is mostly neo-tantric techniques yet informed by traditional tantric knowledge and experience.

Core aspects of my work:

Mindfulness - capacity to self-observe, to slow down, to be with sensations and experience; informed by the Hakomi Method, meditation practices, Somatic Experiencing

Pleasure - Positively-oriented pleasure, breaking barriers to pleasure in the body, facing fears of pleasure, learning to heal from negatively-oriented pleasure

Listening - Deep stillness, quiet, spontaneous recognition of truth

Embodiment - literally FEELING your body from the inside out. A small but radical shift. Owning your skin. Safely & gently feeling your emotions. Getting out of your head!

Joy - Causeless joy of spirit, the bubble from within :)

Play - Let it all go sometimes!! We stress out too much.