Tantra - Ancient Teachings for Modern Times
There is an ancient Hindu legend about a God named Shiva and his consort, the Goddess Shakti. Shiva represented the embodiment of consciousness and Shakti the embodiment of energy. When they joined in sacred union they created the universe. It is said that every person in the world has a little of both Shakti and Shiva inside of them and if we can combine consciousness and energy we will experience true bliss.
Tantra is, in part, a collection of ancient teachings about sex and relationships. It tells us that the most powerful energy within us is the sexual energy. By raising the level of sexual energy while quieting our minds through deep relaxation we can achieve this combination of Shiva and Shakti to reach a higher level of consciousness.
Since each of us contains these divine essences, tantra further teaches us to approach our partners with deep reverence and respect. This reverence also extends to sex as we are taught to worship our partners and treat sex as a sacred act.
Now you may not believe in legends or divine essences within our beings but the concepts that these beliefs taught people, thousands of years ago, are still very applicable in modern times.
A fulfilling and active sex life has always been very beneficial to our emotional and physical well being. It is uplifting, self-empowering and helps us connect to others. Think back to the start of a loving relationship in your life. At the beginning it was all hand holding, eye gazing and sex. Your hearts energy and sexual energy were combined. You probably walked around feeling great, had a better outlook on the world and had more empathy towards others. Then as the relationship matured and the sex became a little more routine, this blissful experience started to wane.
Tantra is all about maintaining and even going beyond that initial blissful experience. As such tantra is not about promiscuity or being polyamorous. It is focussed on a loving couple that wishes to share this blissfulness with each other.
Now when we are younger or in a new relationship it is easy to raise the level of our sexual energy. As we grow older or our relationship matures, tantric rituals and techniques are very beneficial to raising our sexual energy and keeping it at a very high level for longer periods of time. It is this high level of sexual energy that improves our emotional, mental and physical well being.
Approaching sex as a sacred act is also just as beneficial today. Although I doubt that many of us can identify with the word sacred in these modern times, it can easily be substituted by the words important and meaningful. When we approach sex as a meaningful act we are more likely to be fully present and attentive to our partner and to the pleasures we are sharing. In these days of constant distractions and sensory bombardment, finding a quiet place, a quiet time and giving our full attention to our partner cannot help but enhance the intimacy a couple shares.
Even the concept of worship is not as foreign as it may seem. In order to be able to raise our sexual energy, we must be free to explore what is erotic to us. Every person has different things that excite them. For some it may be a passionate kiss, for others a firm spanking. A partner that worships us will naturally accompany us through this exploration, without judgment and while maintaining reverence and respect. It is this acceptance that provides us with the safe place we need to truly explore our eroticism and raise our sexual energy.
So what are these ancient beliefs teaching us? Have an intimate and loving relationship, give importance to your partner and the sexual experiences you share and be non-judgmental in your partner's erotic exploration. These are paths to achieving greater joy.
Perhaps these ancient teachings are not so old after all.