Colors of Tantra

SIX MAUI TANTRA PATHS TOWARD GREATER EMPOWERMENT

White Tantra

Often solo and highly spiritual, White Tantra attracts natural celibates, mystics, and deep meditators. Steeped in mystery and often manifesting the very highest siddha powers, these persons often hide from view. Certain key persons, such as the Dalai Lama, are in full view. White Tantra also can include subtle forms of energetic healing touch. Arousal is rare and if its there, it is soon re-channeled elsewhere.

White Tantra can also include different combinations of yoga, dance, and song.  Any creative expression of a devotional state that is somatic, slow and not sexual at all… could be considered White Tantra.

Red Tantra

Ritualized meditative and sensual practices are done with a partner. Red Tantra can possibly involve sexual positioning, entering into openings, exchanging fluids. Almost no one on earth does Red Tantra correctly. Both heart ease and caution are needed. It is ultimately meant to be selfless, completely pure, detached, and one with one’s “Ishta Deva”, meaning chosen deified Internal Consort. Ejaculate is not supposed to be lost, as it usually drains the Chi needed for liberation. Needless to say, tons of people enjoy Red Tantra and figure: “Practice makes perfect”.  However, there are many studious, more traditional Tantra enthusiasts that feel this is just a rationalization. Hence the term “Neo-tantra” was born in the USA.

Rose Tantra

Rose Tantra was birthed perhaps in the USA in the 80’s, very possibly on Maui. The idea is to strike a midway point between the White and the Red styles that are so traditional in India. In Rose, people can still partner up, but they play “on the edges”. They slow things down, breathe, contemplate, open their hearts… They can be yummy, touch gently, and do sacred healing massage work, while still practicing to move the energy upward and away from the need to enter into any orifices of the body. There is no sex of any kind and it is a safer approach than Red, for practicing…

Black Tantra

Most people consider this to be evil, or Void of the heart altogether. If while you are performing something Tantric, you say or think: “God, you are not invited” …or… “Heart, you are not invited here”, you could find yourself in the Black Tantra department, creating black magic, not white. However, there are people that have a completely different take on this. More people are beginning to think that Black Tantra has had a prejudicial “bad rap” all for nothing… that it actually means “Chaos” or the Dark Hidden Goddess being Unveiled in all Her Power and Mystique. Perhaps some people are turned off by dogmatic religions to such a degree, that  “God The Father”  is no longer invited… but the Divine Feminine is, or one’s own true Self is invited.  Still, with or without religion, like many, I do not dare risk any practice that could loose its Central Heart Focus, involving head -heart- gut,  or father-child-mother, or whatever triune balance is needed for a full rainbow spectrum of real love and compassion for the good of all. One’s sacred alignment and personal creed is very important, when interacting with others in the powerful shamanic field of Tantra.

Shadow Tantra

This “50 shades” style seems to have lost some of it’s appeal, in recent times. Here, two consenting adults are pushing those edges more than the norm. It may be very mild, like some light rope restraining, or a blind fold, though some persons do more daring practices. It is a way to see that pain and pleasure are both polarities that are either tools to… or distractions from… sitting in the center of Core Reality, which transcends both. It also teaches one to honor boundaries! 

Some “shadow play” or “edge work” is enacted in what is sometimes termed D/S (domination/submission). Sometimes it’s just called kinky, more primal, “darkish” or more eccentric. Actually, all Tantra is supposed to be addressing the shadow parts; and not doing spiritual bypass by hiding in the “Light”, while denying one’s own “baggage”.  Some people are just naturally edgy and they have every right to play safely and respectfully in this way. This path requires honest awareness to actually be Tantric with it. Instead, it often traps one in a set-up that never evolves at all. Teachings and guidance can help. 

Indigo Tantra

Indigo Tantra was born from my own personal longing for freedom as my own truest Self. It is to be in the world, but not of the world. Indigo Tantra is highly esoteric and yet has no rules at all. It is filled with wonder and pure spontaneity and can be playful or very serious, yet always vulnerable. It holds it’s own purity naturally, no matter what is happening. This is a genuinely light-hearted wish of mine, that perhaps others would relate to. You can make up your own custom Tantric “color” and style too. Who knows, maybe it will catch on with others!  Lots of colors make up the rainbow. You are free to experiment and play, but don’t get your tail wet!  Tantra is actually a big responsibility, too.

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Classical Tantra vs Neo-Tantra

“The moving, transforming, mystical power of love,
 which unites the human element with the divine.”

The Sanskrit word:  “Tantra,” put simply, means: “to weave,” or “an instrument for expansion and continuity.”  Another phrase might be:  “The loom that life is woven on…unbroken web.”  Tantra enables you to have the power to be who you want to be within the dream. Pre-programmed perception is everywhere. Control your mind and you control your reality.  Look at the components that make up your mind and personality.  Dissolve those things you don’t want, and recreate yourself as a Master.

Another wonderful definition of Tantra is: “The yoga of imagination to achieve divinity.”  Most of Tibetan Buddhism is based on Tantra. As a celibate monk, the Dalai Lama practices “White Tantra”, though some of his students, on occasion, discreetly practice other tantric styles, including Red Tantra, as do other well known teachers, such as Kalu Rinpoche and Krishamurthi. Ancient Egyptian and Asian philosophy seems to have delved more deeply into these hidden healing arts, more than the western faction, or so it seems. Certain Native American tribes also practiced a form of it, as did plenty of other cultures and religions using different terms such as “Karezza” and “Bride of Christ”. Often these studies have been discreet, as they have been misunderstood, misused in highly abusive ways (ie: certain sick priests), or even when used correctly, they have been a threat to established thrones of power.

Of the many branches of Tantra, the Neo-Tantra style is especially what has recently become very popular in the Western world. It has a connection with sacred sexuality and tends to walk ‘a razor’s edge’ as far as true authenticity goes. Tantra is about connecting with another person as the divine representative of All There Is. It is about transmuting biological energies into a higher elevated state for better health, longevity and spiritual well-being. Neo-Tantra offers a soft landing for persons brand new to this vast subject. Wise and discriminating guidance is needed, lest one fall off that tenuous “edge”. Personally, I think generally people DO fall off that razor’s edge. I guess it just further motivates me to keep this website up, even for educational purposes, as I think we all need to acknowledge, as a humanity, that we all have a lot to learn.

It seems that much confusion exists around the word “Tantra”

Often the term is used loosely to mean “spiritualizing sexuality.” A rather nebulous phrase. In truth, the subject of Tantra is so vast and profound, it would be presumptuous for most any of us to assume a complete understanding.

For this brief moment, let us address the subject of Tantra in a looser, New Age fashion, dealing especially with the issue of sexuality. When a person receiving Therapeutic Healing Touch feels aroused during a bodywork session, the therapist has a responsibility to weave and integrate these vital energies as needed to bring a sense of rejuvenation, general health and well-being. The objective and overall benefit is to gain a peaceful, controlled mastery of one’s energies – reserving one’s vital essence, and to experience the merging of “heaven & earth” or “emptiness & bliss.”

In the Tantric arts of the East, instruction is given to direct the attention upward. It is not to repress or deny the natural flow of energies which may include some arousal, but rather to direct the attention upward toward the transcendental bliss realm. This is a state so profound and ecstatic that any form of sensual experience, no matter how divine it may feel, will begin to lose its fascination. In the East, this may be termed “Samadhi,” and in the West, perhaps “Rapture.”

Of course, for most of us, that may be too much to fathom. Yet, even for a person constantly pulled by his sexuality and brand new to all these concepts, progress can be made. Using the ancient tools of breath awareness, meditation and esoteric healing touch, a frustrating biological condition can, with practice, be transformed into a refreshing, mellow, energizing experience… moving one toward mastery, “choice,” better health and awakened kundalini.

Contact Deva to Schedule a Maui Tantra Touch Session