In my practice I utilize Tantra principles and Gestalt therapy to create a holistic approach; but what is Tantra? Some of you reading this might be thinking, “Oh that sex thing Sting is into.” Yes you would be right, but Tantra is far more then just sex and Sting, it’s a way to live your everyday life. The ‘great sex’ comes along with living a tantric lifestyle.
The way Tantra works is through the bio-energies in our bodies. The energies are broken down into the Yin and the Yang or the intermarriage of the feminine and masculine energies with in all of us. The white part is the feminine and black part is masculine. The white dot is the Feminine-Masculine and the black dot is Masculine-Feminine. The masculine is the consciousness and the feminine is energy. The two cannot function alone because one is useless without the other. Consciousness without energy is impotent and energy without consciousness is chaos.
Chaos, in tantric theory, comes in the form of the feminine-masculine or the black dot within the white part of the yin-yang. In the Tantra tradition Chaos comes in the form of the Hindu goddess Kali. She is the goddess of time, death, and destruction. When Kali comes, there is no stopping her! What she leaves in her wake is a spontaneous change that can be positive or very destructive like cancer, heart attack, and even mental illness. This is called spanda or the unexpected outcome. There is no telling what that outcome will be. For example, sex has a known outcome (pun intended) orgasm, but for some, practicing this concept can help you experience a spiritual awakening that is unexpected and seemingly comes out of nowhere. That spiritual awaking is Kali. It’s the opposing side of the masculine-feminine that is often represented by the Hindu god Ganesh who is the guardian of the temple. This energy creates a container or space for the masculine feminine. Masculine-Famine is the container or the testicular aspect of masculine because the testicles are the container holding all male sexual energy until ejaculation when the energy is released. The masculine-feminine creates a space to contain Kali.
Balance and presence is the key to being a true tantrica. Balance must be achieved in all aspects of life such as work, sex, relationships, and the intermarriage of the masculine and the feminine. These two energies flow through the body from opposite directions meeting at the heart (Anahata or the heart chakra, the center for love, empathy, and compassion in the body). When they meet, their heart chakra opens up allowing us to be more compassionate and loving people. The feminine rises from the Muladhara (root) chakra located at the very bottom of your torso up the body to the heart. The masculine comes down from the Sahasrara chakra located at the top of skull.
A chakra is a point of energy in the body. There are seven chakras. We have already discussed three of them (root, heart, and Sahasrara). Let’s take a moment to go into more detail about each chakra.
- Muladhara– located at the base of the torso is the root of the body and anchors us to the earth. When open, it provides us the sense of security and safety in our basic needs.
- Swadhisthana-located in the crotch. It is the center of the life force some call Chi. It is the center for creativity and sexuality and when open we feel mood stabilization, self-acceptance, and vitality.
- Manapura- located at the naval. It is the center of power and energy in the body. An open Manapura means a person has more energy and higher self-esteem.
- Anahata– located at the heart. It is the center for love, empathy, and compassion. When open we feel more loving, empathetic, and compassionate.
- Vishuddha- Located at the Adam’s apple. It is also known as the throat chakra, the Vishuddha is the communication center and the center of truth in the body. When open we can express ourselves openly and honestly.
- Ajna-is the most famous Chakra located between the eyes often referred to as the third eye. It’s center of enlightenment and self-actualization. When open we feel spiritually uplifted and confident.
- Sahasrara- Located at the very top of the skull. It is the center of consciousness in the body. Traditionally, when this chakra is open we have a direct open pathway to the gods. It is also where the spiritual enters the body causing us to feel more present, aware, and conscious.
Tantra is more than just sex. It’s about living a healthier and more peaceful life. Through the principles and sex we find that inner peace and harmony we all seek. The concepts I shared are only a small part of the scope of Tantra. I will be writing more about this topic in the future and I encourage you to read more about Tantra as well.
