Living the Ecstatic Life

By Evalena Rose

Most people have experienced the kind of "essence to essence" connection that exists in the throes of first love, melting into each other's eyes and hearts as time disappears. Tantra uses the power of moving kundalini in the body to activate such altered states. One learns that ecstasy can evolve from being immersed in the moment and truly taking in the experience before you.

Tantra is an approach to life that employs a relaxed and flexible body, an open heart, a peaceful mind, and an aware sensuality that engages with life in a full-bodied way. Since sex holds such potential for opening our being to mystical experiences of ecstasy, Tantra teaches the cultivation of sexual love as an art, a skillful spiritual practice.

Human sexuality and erotic union can become a form of meditation, of worship of the divinity within. We move directly through the pleasure of the senses to spiritual liberation.

Tantra focuses on the sacred and joyous dimensions we've lost and helps us restore our wholeness and become sovereign in our bodies. One learns to bring the pleasure to the pain, which often melts away the past in deep states of surrender to what is. Tantra is best taught, as in ancient times, in temples created with great care and thoughtfulness for honoring and maintaining the sacred. These temples are served by "dakinis," sexual healers who are sensitive people of passion profoundly devoted to spiritual awakenings. They assist new initiates in opening to full sexual aliveness and activating their own life force.

Tantra combines deep states of relaxation in the body with states of high arousal. It views full body orgasm as an energy event where the practices activate the flow of kundalini through the central channel, the Inner Flute. This makes Prana, your very life force, available as a resource to enhance health, open to higher ways of being, and heal wounds.

We reclaim these wonderful tools of peace, power and transformation. Skills of advanced forms of love are one of the most appropriate areas for human exploration in our uncertain times. Love is so kind to our environment, and unlike many other forms of gratification, is free of cost, and leads to peace.

Some ways to bring Tantra into your world might be:

• Bring your breath to every activity, taking in what you experience, inspiring it, especially when connecting with another.
• Put on erotic music and dance for another, or for yourself with a mirror. Give yourself permission to be sexy and alluring.
• Seduce your partner with sensual touch, perhaps using fluffy feathers and soft cloths to awaken the skin to touch and pleasure. To seduce your Inner Partner, gather sensual items and gently, slowly caress your body with them, sensuously, languorously, as a great lover might. Indulge in every sensation!
• Take hot sensual baths alone or with your beloved. Add bath salts or flower essences. Lavender helps relax the body, ylang ylang increases sensuality.
• Send a card to your lover or to your self, or leave one under a pillow to be discovered later.
• Be her dakini (sexual healer, temple servant) as she completes a long awaited task or creative project (wait on her, bring cut fruit, sparkling waters, munchies, rub her neck).
• Set boundaries so every part of you gets to feel that your body is your own sovereign space. You have say over what happens to it.
• Slow down communication. Listen and reflect back what you hear before sharing your response. Allow the other to feel fully heard, and ask for that your self.

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