It seems to me that "tantra" is almost as diverse in meaning for people as "Christianity." Meaning, there's an old traditional, original version, analogous to Catholicism, and then all the protestant forms that came later, like white tantra and red tantra and neo-tantra, Skydancing tantra, Ipsalu Tantra, and homespun tantras that came as a result of someone's life path...
So, inside of the value that all intentional, heart-based paths lead to the divine and that we all have something to learn from each other, I pose the question so that we can all learn more about each others' gifts: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
ME: I started out with Ipsalu (did levels 1 and 2), which I understand is a "White" path, focusing on breath and meditation, emotional release and stuff like that. It was founded by Bodhi Avinasha and Sunyata Saraswati I think. It was influenced by Osho/Baghwan Shree Rashneesh. I got bodywork training from massage school, and took a course in female sacred spot massage from a terrific mentor in Los Angeles named Rundy Duphiney. I've also attended a Daka/Dakini conference sponsored by Baba Dez and went to the Shamanism and Sacred Sexuality conference in New Mexico last January. A big part of my tantric practice actually comes from my Catholic upbringing, which taught me compassion and love for all people, and which honors the value, dignity, and divinity of all people. I've also had some training in Shamanism which promises to inform my practice more as my own practice deepens.
I meditate every day, am learning Ashtanga yoga, and read the Tao Te Ching. I believe that God can be found everywhere, in everything, and in everybody. But sometimes you really have to look hard. I believe in the Divine Feminine, and the Divine Masculine.
Al
So, inside of the value that all intentional, heart-based paths lead to the divine and that we all have something to learn from each other, I pose the question so that we can all learn more about each others' gifts: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
ME: I started out with Ipsalu (did levels 1 and 2), which I understand is a "White" path, focusing on breath and meditation, emotional release and stuff like that. It was founded by Bodhi Avinasha and Sunyata Saraswati I think. It was influenced by Osho/Baghwan Shree Rashneesh. I got bodywork training from massage school, and took a course in female sacred spot massage from a terrific mentor in Los Angeles named Rundy Duphiney. I've also attended a Daka/Dakini conference sponsored by Baba Dez and went to the Shamanism and Sacred Sexuality conference in New Mexico last January. A big part of my tantric practice actually comes from my Catholic upbringing, which taught me compassion and love for all people, and which honors the value, dignity, and divinity of all people. I've also had some training in Shamanism which promises to inform my practice more as my own practice deepens.
I meditate every day, am learning Ashtanga yoga, and read the Tao Te Ching. I believe that God can be found everywhere, in everything, and in everybody. But sometimes you really have to look hard. I believe in the Divine Feminine, and the Divine Masculine.
Al
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Portland
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Wed, October 10, 2007 - 11:35 AMHmm...well...
I would not say that there is any one "old traditional original" version of Tantra. I think that, like the Bible, the Vedas have been read and re-translated and reinterpreted hundreds of times, and each time they are reinterpreted, we come up with another style of Tantra. (BTW, Catholicism is NOT the old traditional original version of Christianity...but that's a debate for another thread).
I have never been to a large classroom gathering of Tantrics such as weekend intensives or workshops. All of my training has been taught to me one-on-one, starting with Skydancing, then diving a bit into Ipsalu, Adi-nath, Osho's interpretations, and a few others.
I call my own path "American Tantra." The reason for this is because I have some reservations about "neo" tantra, "california" tantra, "Cobra breath" tantra, and any path that you can't learn for under $1000. Spirit is free, and just because one can come up with the cash to cover a weekend intensive doesn't mean that one has learned anything.
The meditations I incorporate include Kundalini, Karezza, Bhoga, Bhakti, Puja, and, yes, even Maithuna....with one partner.
Does that help?
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Wed, October 10, 2007 - 5:31 PMI approach tantra from the perspective of a longtime sex magick practitioner in the lineage of Aleister Crowley, Austen Osman Spare, Frater U.D., Cat Yronwode, Genesis P-Orridge and others...
At various times I have been an O.T.O. Initiator, a Priest in the Georgian wicca tradition, head of Thee Temple Ov Psychick Youth for several years, La Vey Satanist, Illuminates of Thanateros initiate, and facilitator of Tantric Temple spaces at sundry pagan festivals...all of these things promote different aspects of sacred or magickal sexuality with an emphasis on practice as opposed to dogma.
I'm also a rather compulsive researcher/archivist, experimenter and esoteric book collector, you'd be surprised the things you discover in old books!
I practice and teach hypersexuality techniques including karezza, eroto-comatose lucidity, sigilization, and various bdsm, meditation, yoga and breath-play techniques in order to radically activate the sex/death neural pathways as a vehicle for self-transformation...
My interest is in demystifying the mechanics of the tantra process and creating environments in which individuals can go beyond their usual consensus-reality using sacred (and profane) sexuality. It's a tough job but someone's got to do it! *laughs* -
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Fri, October 12, 2007 - 6:08 AMROFLMAO....and you do it so WELL!
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Unsu...
Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Sat, October 13, 2007 - 7:07 AMwhat a wonderful question, al.
for me, the answer to tantric sensuality lies in my intention. if i have purity of intention, then sensuality, like everything else, merges with divine consciousness.
i have lived my whole life in my head, heart, and imagination. right now, my tantric/bdsm path is taking me into my body. my intention is to be fully present in my body on this earth, so the ritual is grounding for me. also, when engaged with another, my intention is to please, and connect on a deeper level.
what i'm finding is that i am much more present.
--india -
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Unsu...
Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Mon, December 31, 2007 - 11:57 AMWell, according to Eckhardt Tolle in The Power Of Now, you have to go through the body (not disassociate from or transcend the body) to achieve enlightmenment and that concept really resonates with me. Like India, I have lived most of my life in my head, heart, and imagination and was completely disconnected from my own body. This was a result of much sexual and physical abuse. Tantra for me is the best way I have found to heal these wounds and release all the stored cellular memories from my body, releasing much anxiety and fear of being "physical." I have learned to incorporate my physicality with my spirituality and that is very exciting!
Style of tantra?....hummm?...Much of what I have learned about tantra comes from direct "remembering" the good old days when I was a high priestess of sex magic in the pyramids of ancient Egypt, teaching others about sex magic...I am not kidding! I usually have flashbacks of this when I am having a sexual experience and I just go with the flow, remembering what it was like back then! I tap into that blissful divine current of sexual energy flowing through my entire body and enjoy following it, seeing where it leads, becoming one with it, becoming completely present. That is so healing as it is so opposite of what one experiences during an abusive episode, learing not to be present at all.
: )
Happy New Year 2008 to ya all!
Joni
www.SpiritRetrieval.com
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Mon, December 31, 2007 - 6:56 PMJust being, practicing without effort, allowing with out trying, making lots of mistakes, continuing to know nothing and doing the best I can with what I have. Paying attention to what is asked of me by "spirit" especially when I ask for guidance. Bringing "soul" to everyday life! Wishing and hoping for a glimmer of sexual energy throughout my body, (menopause) has gotten the best of me these days could be why I adore being around young, vibrant, testosterone filled men.
I am taking an active role in learning more about the Ipsalu Formula. Completed all three levels of the Source School of Tantra Teachers Training. Did Goddess work/initiations many moons ago. Witness visions and lost memories surface about things I did thousands of years ago, keep them close to my heart, been practicing Shamanism for over 15 years have a practice that is buzzing, developed Shamanic Tantra and still can't really describe "my" style of Tantra!
Great question for contemplating.
HNY "2008"
www.harmonicvisions.com
www.shamanictantra.com
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Tue, January 1, 2008 - 6:54 PMStyle of Tantra, wow, I can't put a label or name to it. As some have said I have learned through personal experience, one on one study, personal study and just plain remembrance of what I have known in many lifetimes. Tantra is in some ways a word for me, what it really comes down to for me is less the label of Tantra than the feel of spirit and the oneness I find. I have attended Daka and Dakini conferances, and public pujas, some info and energy has felt right and some has felt oh so wrong. So I know personally the manner in which people embody their Tantric practice can be incredibly diverse.
In the past I have taught clients one on one, using many many therapeutic methodologies. After 5 years I began to feel the need to bring the energy back to self and regroup. That regrouping has benefited me in an incredible manner. I am currently taking my Tantric energy and allowing it to flow into a new area, Birthing... Funny most people look at me with a huge question mark with this thought LOL
I am a birth Doula and Student Midwife. Normal, natural birth is one of the most sensual, sexual, and sacred moments in life. There is in many ways ,no more profound journey and awakening than at that time. So I am currently focusing on changing the world, one birth at a time.... :)
Tia
www.inner-serenity.org
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Mon, January 7, 2008 - 7:27 PMIt started out for me when I was back from Nam 1971 and was living at the coast. I was sitting under a tree one afternoon meditating and I experienced a Kundalini Awakening that for ever changed my life. Someone during that time told me about Tantra. It made perfect sence to me. One of the insites for me is Tantra enabled me to connect to the Ancient Ones. I have allways felt a connection to them anyway.
During those daze there were only books we read and passed the info on to one another. Today we have the internet and that sure has brought more people into the conversation. But for me what is missing is a real living/thriving Tantra community, Lots of folks interacting.
There are a few people who have studied the subject and they are willing to share what they have learned. But even that is far and few between. I dont put down the Neo folks. It just shows me how powerful Sakti is.
Tantra relates to my very core being.
I have never experienced having a partner. I look forward to that day. This just shows how much Tantra it is a part of my life. Very few things are as close to me as Tantra.
Tantra is truly the Mother of all Yoga's
One of the Great Art Forms of all time!
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Mon, January 21, 2008 - 8:00 PMHowdy. The Rev Terry Simon Scott here. Simon to my Oregon tribe, clan, family. Rev T. out on the Playa. Life my style of Paganism, which I call freestyle, my Tantra is my own. A bit of this tradition, a touch of that, a big bit of something else. I am into tantric/sacred sexuality as a form of ritual sex magick. I like Crowley's early work in those areas.
Blessings
Simon. -
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Thu, April 3, 2008 - 1:42 PMI am new to tantra, kind of. Most people here probably understand what I mean by that. I really haven't studied or read much. The subject keeps crossing my path. My understanding is of fully present sared sexuality and the use of sexual energy combined with an open heart for transformational healing, to bring more divine/true love essence into the body, love alchemy, divine connection, physical presence. Or something like that. At any rate, I just came across the tribe, and feel a sort of resonance and kindredship with what I have read posted. Looking forward to learning more and hopefully conversing in person with some of you. -
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Fri, April 4, 2008 - 11:09 PMWelcom Kristen! Always nice to have thinking people of any background come to join us! -
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Re: How would you describe your style of Tantra?
Sat, April 5, 2008 - 9:37 PMThanks, Sienna!
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