Tantra is a path for people wanting to know themselves, deepen awareness within themselves and celebrate all aspects of life. The word has been used to describe a wide range of practices and traditions from the Kashmir Shaivism and Buddhist Vajrayana to more new age practices that include psychotherapeutic approaches and bioenergetics. It has been translated variously as “the weave”, “method” or “technique”. The essence of the path is that it is not so concerned with philosophies about life as the direct experience of it, itself. It gives us methods to directly experience ourselves and actualize our potential. It is not so much a believer’s world but one of alchemy and a knowing that comes from living.

 

Polarity, the interplay between the masculine and feminine is actually a good thing and gives the passion to life. By skilfully playing out these poles we can energize our practice with enough juice to transcend duality (our own limited point of view). If the polarity is neutralized then its like living with a dead battery. The relevance of this is due to many spiritual systems which have actually encouraged us to dampen down our natural polarity, instincts and desires in order to find peace.

 

Here are a few elements which can be found in most systems and are helpful in our practice:

 

These polarities are sometimes represented by Deities such as Shiva and Shakti and on a grand scale represent consciousness and its meeting with the manifested world.

 

Tantra is inclusive – it uses all at it’s disposal in order for us to deepen into our nature. The key word is acceptance – in accepting yourself, your desires and your quirks there is an opportunity to deepen.