Tantra Is Not Only in the Bedroom

There's a common, sweeping misconception about Tantra.

It's the idea that Tantra is only something that happens in the bedroom, that it has to be about sex and nudity, and that it happens between two people.

No.

Or not necessarily.

First of all, Tantra is a very ancient spiritual path. There are many Tantric traditions that come from many places, mainly India but also Tibet and China.

The Tantric tradition says that working with spirit, or with higher consciousness, can't be separated from the body. On the contrary: we are here, on this physical plane, and we have a body, so it's well worth using this precious resource as part of our spiritual path.

And this connection between body and spirit is wonderful! There are so many ways to experience it. And these ways teach us, through the body, how to meet God.

(Use whatever word you like to describe it.)

Tantra is an everyday experience. It doesn't happen in a single moment, and certainly not only in the bedroom. (There too, but not only.)

When I practice Tantra, through meditation, yoga, breathwork, writing or reading, every experience becomes Tantric. In everything I do, I can meet deep layers within myself.

When I eat, fold laundry, sweep the house, walk on the beach, read, make love.

And what is this "meeting God" thing?

The deep Tantric philosophy teaches us that God is everything and everything is God, or in the words of Tantra: everything is Shiva.

Shiva as the essence of higher consciousness, oneness and infinite love.

In the world we know, this consciousness takes form as an energy called Shakti.

And this union of Shiva and Shakti is everything that exists and is known to us. Us too.

And when I know and experience this within myself (through Tantric practice), I understand, in my body, that I am part of something much bigger.

And every part of me is part of it.

And then sexuality also becomes something else, because it, too, is a way to experience this.

That was 60 seconds on Tantra.

In the picture, I'm practicing Tantra with a bunch of grapes I picked in an orchard in Sinai.

Shabbat Shalom

Learn more about Radhika Sophie at radhikalove.com