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TANTRA - A mind blowing experience

 
"the ultimate is only accessible through the immediate"
Dawn Cartwright.

Mention the word Tantra and observe people's reactions, you can almost hear them thinking ..."kinky sex, swopping partners, swingers parties, even the poor old Kama Sutra gets lumped in under the same banner! And of course those of us who follow singer Sting's sayings and doings, will know that he is a follower of the Tantric path, which may or may not make Tantra sound attractive, depending on whether you are a Sting fan or not! When one visits the Western internet sites, one can understand how these perceptions are formed. Very few sites go beyond advertising sex toys, books, and videos with relatively small amounts of factual information supplied. (see our tantra links page for a few good ones)

While there is nothing at all wrong with individuals and couples seeking to enhance their sex lives, Tantra is about so much more than this. Yes, it is indeed about ones sexuality, but also about ones spirituality, and indeed Tantra is a spiritual path, a path of Yoga. I first became interested in Tantra some years ago while exploring my own spiritual path, having been interested in Yoga and Ayurveda for some time. It seems that all things from the Indian sub-continent, including music and literature, have a fascination for me! And of course human sexuality is hugely interesting. I read books and articles and more recently visited some of the web-sites, but still did not find the 'Tantra' which I was seeking; the Tantra of the spirit, the Tantra which spoke of moving beyond the ego, the Tantra which saw the body and it's every sensation as a way to experience the bliss that lies beyond .

Well it is often said " when the pupil is ready, the teacher appears". And appear she did, in the form of Dawn Cartwright, a very enlightened Tantra instructor from California. I was lucky enough to get a last minute place on one of her workshops, in the Burren Yoga Centre, last September, called Ecstasy of the Heart. Before I applied to attend the workshop, I had accessed her web site www.dakinimoon.com and saw for myself that this was the teacher I had been waiting for. The articles posted there confirmed to me that 'Dawn's' Tantra was the perfect blend sacred sexuality and spirituality. I attended this workshop, not having the faintest notion what I was getting into, and boy was I surprised, but pleasantly so!

I can honestly say it has changed my life forever, I will never ever be the same again. I have re-discovered and re-claimed my true self. The weekend was a truly mind-blowing experience. I have never laughed so much, danced so much or been so consistently challenged and embarrassed in my life ! Just picture it, a beautiful Yoga room, large open windows with curtains gently blowing in a light breeze. An altar, with each person's sacred objects, all set up with such reverence, and in the centre, 9 men and women eyeing each other while trying to look terribly non-chalant. Some had come with friends, but many, like me, were on their own. It was so funny!

The centre itself was wonderful, great veggie food, beautiful setting, wild wonderful music and wild wonderful people! The weekend was a mixture of pure fun and delight in being alive, and serious spiritual experience. We were up each morning for meditation at 7am, and finished just before midnight! Basically the weekend was about leaving our heads outside the door and moving into the heart chakra.

As the first hours passed it became easier and easier to work with complete strangers, and complete strangers became 'partners', for dance, for breathwork, for bodywork, for partner yoga etc. etc. Apart from 1-2 couples who attended, we all changed partners regularly and had great fun getting to know each other. Some made very close connections and strong friendships were forged, and two people I know fell deeply in love, and will probably be together for a long time! Of course I never realised as I drove from Roscommon to Kinvara, that I was going to fall 'in love' with 9 men, but I did! Because for me that weekend, I experienced the reality of universal love, love without attachment, the love that comes with the expansion of the heart and the falling away of the ego. I experienced just Being ......in Love.

By the time you read this I will have experienced another Ecstasy of the Heart weekend, this time in Sli na Bande Centre, Wicklow; another venue with wonderful vegetarian food and a beautiful setting. For anyone thinking of dipping their toe into the ocean of Tantric experiences I would say, choose your teacher carefully. Ask questions and trust your own judgement. Dawn's workshops are a wonderful starting point and I would say go ahead and jump right in, you too will never ever be the same again!

"True self-awareness is founded on a genuine loving appreciation and celebration of the total self, especially the deep sensuality and true intimacy which lie at the very core of our being. Tantric techniques open the body to more sensitivity, creativity and deeper intimacy. " Dawn Cartwright.

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