Anyone who hears the word tantra in the modern time, usually, generally, immediately thinks one thing;
‘SEX’
Well there is a good reason for this, the sexual tantra movement, often referred to as Neo-Tantra, has been wide spread and pervasive throughout modern culture, particularly in the west.
Sex Sells…
Yab Yum depicts a union of the divine masculine (Shiva) with the divine feminine (Shakti). When applied to tantric techniques the image symbolises a union between stillness and action, or wisdom and method.
Humans are fascinated by sex, many of us obsessed and consumed by it, many of us are confused by it, sexual desire is at the core of the human condition, yet it so many cultures, sexuality is deeply repressed, causing a multitude of issues not the least of which is porn addiction, mysogyny and sexual abuse.
Sexuality is used as a comoditity to sell everything from deodorant to Only Fans subscribtions, sexualised marketing is pervasive and powerful, it seems perhaps unfortunate, but it is undeniable, Sex Sells.
Enter Neo Tantra
Neo Tantra began in the early 1900s when Sir John George Woodroffe translated some classical tantric text references sexual practices and introduced them to the west. Sexual tantra gained momentum under the dubious guidance of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, aka, Osho, where sexuality met the freedom movement of the sixties and the burgeoning western interest in Eastern mysticism.
Curiously it was also at about this time, through the 1960’s and 70’s that some of the key yoga lineages began to bring Kundalini Tantra to the West, Key teachers such as Swami Satyananda (my teacher), Swami Rama, Yogananda and Yogi Bhajan began initiating Westerners in the artform of Kundalini Tantra. This was rather controversial, as the tantric arts had long been closely held secrets, and only taught to selected students, publishing books describing the techniques was considered to be somewhat revolutionary, and these books spread much more widely under the auspices of these teachers and their students.
Compared to Neo Tantra, which is not grounded in lineage, the tradition of Kundalini Tantra has spread much more gradually and with consideration and purpose. The practices require more effort and involve less orgasms, and the entry to ecstasy requires dedication and commitment, as with all yoga practices.
Fast forward to the modern time, and overt sexuality has merged with mainstream media, and Neo Tantra teachers sharing their message broadly across all channels, it is no wonder that the modern consumer is for the most part only aware of sexual tantra.
White, Red and Black Tantra
Tantra is a philosophical way of seeing the world, a diverse multitude of practices and a global culture that leads us towards an experience of divine interlocution and unconditional love.
Tantric lineages and practices can for the most part be categorised under 3 groups;
White Tantra: Pure, spiritual growth through yoga, meditation, and ritual.
Red Tantra: Embracing all experiences (including sexual union) to transcend conditioning, with caution and discipline.
Black Tantra: Practicing magical rituals with careful consideration of intent and consequences.
Whilst there is certainly crossover between the schools, it is not possible to create a clear delineation here, most yogic practices are contained within the school of White Tantra, and Neo Tantra, although for the most part not lineage based, is described by the path of Red Tantra.
Tantra as a Culture
It is important that we avoid thinking that claims ownership of tantra, explicitly stating that tantra ‘is this or that’ or perhaps more importantly, making claims that certain schools or practices, ‘Are not tantric.’
Tantra, in the depths of its heritage and expression, is not a specific set of techniques or schools, it is a culture, a way of seeing the world that explores our relationship to energy (Shakti) as a pathway to liberation.
Tantra at its very essence is a path of radical acceptance, of all of life, all ways of being, as they are, so rejection of certain practices and schools as not being tantric would indeed be self-contradicting!
The practices of Kundalini Tantra seek to refine and balance the polarities within the individual.
White Tantra makes Red Tantra BETTER
White Tantra encapsulates all of the practices of;
Hatha yoga (a system of physical yoga designed to balance energies within the individual)
Pranayama (breathwork to control prana)
Meditation (refining the mind, using mantra and mindfulness techniques)
Kriya yoga (specific sets of actions to awaken and direct energy)
Ritual (ceremonies involving mantras and offerings to awaken subtle energies
All of these practices are working in a similar way, ultimately balancing the polarities of the individual so we might be able to increase our personal power and capacity, through the awakening of Kundalini Shakti. The aspects of mantra and ritual cultivate a connection to subtle forces and an aspect of devotion, which is inherent to all paths of tantra, connection to divinity and experiencing all of life as an expression of God.
Red Tantra invites us to become intimate with the forbidden realms, to examine our relationships to Shakti through an exploration of sexuality, to this effect the path of White Tantra, essentially a path of purification, prepares us well for the path of Red Tantra.
In short, if you want to improve your experience of sex and sexuality, then exploring a path of White Tantra (which may often invite a period of abstinence from sex) is a powerful prelude and adjunct system that will enhance your intimacy with divinity, as you might experience as an individual or through connection to another.
Tantra is EVERYTHING 🫶
In summary, Tantra is the exploration of Life through a lens of Love. All of Life is Sacred, all creation is an expression of sexual joy, each moment an opportunity for divine union and surrender.
I hope that this blog has been helpful, it is by no means a comprehensive initiation into any of these paths, more of a broad brushstroke overview - if you have any further questions, please leave them in the comments below and I will do my best to answer!
Compared to Neo Tantra, which is not grounded in lineage, the tradition of Kundalini Tantra has spread much more gradually and with consideration and purpose. The practices require more effort and involve less orgasms, and the entry to ecstasy requires dedication and commitment, as with all yoga practices.