April 2007 Newsletter

Greetings One and All!

Here is your April 2007 Tantric Arts Institute Newsletter.

In this issue:

Upcoming Events:
East Coast Tantra Report
New programs in the works
Tantric Terminology (Red, White or Pink Tantra?)
Solo Practice (Rishi Isometrics)
Partner Play (Satvic Touch)
Dear Daka (Non-Tantric Partners)

East Coast Tantra Report

Wow! What a ride! Through a series of happenstance occurrences I had the privilege of co-leading the Tantra: Yoga of Love with Carolena Fleishman at Pura Vida resort in the Dahlonega mountains outside of Atlanta, Georgia.

In January we had attended the Conference on Shamanism and Sacred Sexuality, and were admonished by such luminaries as Margot Anand to emphasize the spiritual side of Tantra, particularly since the sexual side was getting so much press. So we did a bit of market research prior to the workshop and found out that not only did people want more of the spiritual side of Tantra but also a deeper exploration into the sexual side. So we decided to go with what people wanted.

The Atlanta workshop started where many weekshops end, with a sensuous Puja ceremony on Friday night. On Saturday morning we started with Qigong and erotic dance and moved straight into a demonstration of how to pleasure a woman, from sensuous caresses to non-erotic pelvic massage and finally to Yoni massage and G-spot work. After the demonstration, we conducted the participants through the same sequence.

Then it was the men's turn to receive. I had been a little nervous about being able to keep an erection during the demonstration, but everything went much better than expected. In fact, I was able to go into extended non-ejaculatory orgasm during the demonstration. Needless to say, the class was impressed.

After the demonstration we conducted the participants through the steps of arousal, the varieties of technique, and the use of "holdbacks" with breath and undulation to delay the onset of ejaculation. We used a numbers system of 1 to 10 to indicate how close the men were getting to the edge. Of course, everyone laughed when one fellow called out, "12!"

The amount of sexual energy generated was extraordinary. It carried over into the Sunday morning Angel Showers when quite a few people went straight into genital pleasuring. What a hot weekend!

Then off to New York City...Carolena's home town. The first few days were mainly a process of getting my bearings and learning the pattern of the streets. Later, we visited Jehan Kamal, one of Carolena's best friends. We hit it off almost immediately and struck a deal where I could promote her music in exchange for a place to stay in Queens. So now I am planning on moving there in June.

I really like working with Jehan and her husband. Not only that, I am re-inspired to write music again!

Tantric Terminology: Red, White or Pink Tantra?

Red Tantra is the aspect of Tantra that relates to the mastery of sexual skills. This is the part of Tantra that gets all the press in America. However, one's capacity to advance along this path is severely constrained unless one undertakes the practice of White Tantra.

White Tantra relates to the yogic or spiritual aspects of Tantric practice and consists of exercises or postures (asanas) combined with special breathing (pranayama), hand or finger gestures (mudras), internal muscular exercises (bhandas), chanting (mantra), and meditation. The skills and benefits of White Tantra practices increase one's ability to master Red (sexual) Tantra.

Pink Tantra is the name given to the combination of the two paths. While the Eastern approach to Tantra might advocate years of study of White Tantra before starting in on Red Tantra, the Western approach to Tantra seems to be more of a process of enticing people into spiritual development using the lure of sex. There have been concerns expressed by some that this is a questionable approach. We feel that just as the popularity of the martial arts in the 70's blossomed into serious development, so to will Tantra given time.

Solo Practice: Rishi Isometrics (From Jewel in the Lotus)

Use these asanas before meditation to relax, stimulate and prepare the body. Be totally present, conscious of each breath, your mind focused on the movement and the energy produced. Move slowly and gracefully. Perform each part at least three times, as many as seven. Always inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth. NOTE: If you have heart problems or high blood pressure, build up to this movement very gradually.

Part A. Stretching Up

1) To open the front of the lungs: As you inhale (nose), sweep the arms to the sides and then overhead. Stretch up, lifting onto your toes. Elongate the spine. Press the palms together to create dynamic tension in the arms and underarms (Eventually learn to tighten every muscle in the body with the 12-body-part tension.) Hold the breath, hold the tension for a few seconds. As you exhale (mouth), lower the arms. Relax and feel the streaming sensations in your arms and shoulders. Repeat twice or more.

2) To open the back of the lungs: Inhale, stretch up as before, this time pressing the back of the hands together overhead. Feel tension in the shoulders. Inhale up, press and hold, exhale and relax. Repeat.

Part B. Side Bend

1) Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Inhaling, strech arms overhead and lock the thumbs, pulling one thumb against the other to create dynamic tension. Exhaling (mouth), bend slowly to the right side, keeping the elbows in line with the ears. Drop the head to the side. Feel the line of tension from the side of your foot to the tips of your fingers. Hold the breath out, hold the tension, for a few seconds. As you inhale (nose), return to upright position, arms overhead, holding tension.

Repeat twice or more.

Relax arms to sides. Focus on the energy movement.

2) Stretch right side: Raise arms overhead, reversing the thumbs. Pull to create tension and bend slowly to the left. Continue as above.

Part C. Forward Bend

1) Clasp thumbs behind your back, pulling one thumb against the other. Step out with your left foot. On the exhale (mouth), bend forward, lifting the arms as high as possible. Lift the chin to feel tension in the throat. Feel tension in the groin. Bend the knee if necessary. Feel the pull from sacrum to medulla.

Hold the tension for a few seconds. As you inhale (nose), return to upright posture, thumbs still clasped, relaxing tension. Repeat twice more. Then return arms to sides, feet together, relax completely. 2) Switch the thumbs and pull to create tension. Step out with the right foot. Continue as above.

Part D. Back Bend

1) Feet together. On the inhale, press your palms together in front and raise the arms overhead. Holding the breath, lean back, drop the head back, arching the back as much as possible, with tension in the arms. Tense the entire body and focus on the sacrum. Hold the breath, hold the tension.

2) Exhale (mouth) as you return to an upright position, relaxing tensions, arms still extended overhead. Bend forward until torso and arms are parallel to the earth. Stretch the arms, stretch the spine. You will feel the energy shoot up your spine. Repeat twice more.

Part II. Spinal Twist

This asana opens up the Ida and Pingala channels (female and male) preparing the spine for movement of Kundalini through Sushumna.

1) Lie face down on the floor, arms to your sides. As you inhale raise the chest and look up. Slowly bring hands under shoulders. Continue to inhale as you lift up on hands, arching the back, looking at ceiling.

2) Retaining the breath, slowly twist to the right side, back to center, to the left side, back again to center.

3) On the exhale slowly return to prone position, arms at your sides.

4) Roll over into the Corpse Pose and totally relax for a few minutes.

Partner Play: Satvic Touch

Satvic Touch comes to us from the Polarity tradition. It is the lightest form of touch and can even be felt when there is no actual physical contact. Try this experiment:

Have one partner lie face up and the other sit at their head legs wide, but not making contact.
The sitting person then places their middle finger gently on either side of the neck and makes microscopic taps while trying to feel them through the neck with the other finger. Try switching which finger is tapping and which is feeling.
Next, come to stillness and see how lightly you can touch your partner's neck. Take it to the borderline where you are unsure whether or not you are touching.
Next, very slowly pull the fingers away so they are not touching the neck and hold while visualizing energy flow between the fingers.
Switch positions and try it again.

Satvic touch is superb for sexual contact, but requires a still mind for greatest effect.

Dear Daka

Q: My new partners are totally unfamiliar with tantric practices, although interested. How might I start introducing some practices into our delta triad connection? and practices........we actually do great shifting attention, sharing focus and taking turns, but how to cycle energy and gather us all into the energy meld? - Brightest Bulb

A: Dear Brightest Bulb: You can start with the basics. Try creating hand to heart circuits, first in pairs until you feel it, and then in a ring. Try it with the left hand (receptive) on the heart. You will probably notice some subtle sensations of flow. However, I am concerned that you are the energy source for the triad.

To experience the best of what Tantra has to offer, all the individuals involved would do well to undertake daily practices to "charge the battery." Try the Rishi isometrics together, and keep the practice going even when you are not all together. On your next meeting, you may find that the energetic sensations have grown stronger.

In addition, there is the cultivation of sensitivity. Refer to the Satvic Touch article under Partner Play above.

Better yet, get a few people together and host a Tantra: The Yoga of Love weekend workshop and learn a whole new bag of tricks to explore together!

Please write Dear Daka via the Contact page if you have a question regarding love, sex or Tantra.

If you would like to receive our Newsletter, simply Sign Up using the form at the top right of this page. You may also wish to become part of the Sacred Space Institute Yahoo Group to become part of the lively discussions on love, sex, tantra and alternative lovestyles.