Shedding Light On The Meaning Of Tantra
Upon reading Miranda Shaw’s wonderful book, Passionate Enlightenment, I felt inspired to to write about the meaning of tantra. Throughout the course of my work with clients, I have found that there a number of common misconceptions that limit people’s exploration of tantra and prevent them from experiencing the joy and ecstasy that are possible.
Some of the common myths are:
• Tantra is simply a collection of sexual techniques to heighten pleasure.
• It is possible to learn tantra without exploring the psyche and healing emotional wounds.
• You need a sexual partner to practice tantra.
• Tantric practices are mostly for men.
The truth is that tantra is a practice for heightening sexual energy so that it can be utilized for spiritual growth and healing. For practitioners, passion becomes the “fuel” for the cultivation of compassion and non-attachment, as higher states of awareness are achieved. As you cultivate these qualities, you experience longer and more intense ecstatic states because you are connecting to universal energy.
In order to experience this kind of ecstasy it is important to clear the path in your body – and that means healing emotional wounds stored in your cellular memory. With the guidance of an instructor, you can dissolve the barriers that limit you and find a whole new level of freedom in your body and mind.
Tantric practices can be done alone or with a partner, whatever is most appropriate for you. Some practices are designed specifically for men and others are specifically for women. The idea is to gain mastery of your energy so that you become an empowered individual capable of creating conscious loving relationships. In addition, tantra places an emphasis on igniting the woman’s shakti (female sexual energy) which is seen as the creative doorway to the divine and therefore a sacred gift to men.
For tantra practitioners every day is Valentine’s Day – whether or not you have a lover. The practice of tantra is about celebrating love and cherishing sexual energy as divine. Imagine how your life would change if you could embrace this view!
