Tantra

excerpted from an article on aphrodisiacs (i.e., garlic, oysters):

As a tantrica, I feel that the most erotic and exciting aphrodisiacs are actually the most natural. Feeling healthy, eating a good diet, getting plenty of exercise and plenty of fresh air... these embodiments often make for the most attractive people...

A beautiful woman who is radiant, a man who is confident and has mastery over his sexual energy, a beautiful and sacred space to make love in, adornment of all kinds and, of course, sensual play and foreplay. All of these are aphrodisiacs that will entice, arouse, and excite your lover’s desire. As a practitioner of the Arts of Love, you become the aphrodisiac... and every gift that you bring to your lover can awaken their inner passions.

Amen. :)

Tantra

been researching Tantra a lot lately. As best I can tell, it encourages engagement with physical reality, as opposed to detachment from it (Vedic)... and all this implies.

However, I also *just* found out that Tantra translates to "weave"!??!?

Sanskrit: तन्त्र "weave" -- denoting continuity

How cool is that?

More Yogic Guidance

The intensity and longing in romantic love creates a powerful fire in the heart.

When that fire is turned inward and directed toward God or toward the Inner Self, then it can transform our character, open our inner heart, and move us into great depths of surrender and adoration.

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Depths, eh?

I have had several dreams so far about my NYC experience that lead me to believe that this is, in actuality, a trip deep down into the wells of my unconscious being. Multiple dreams about being deep deep deep underwater, swimming, light filtering in from high above.
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And more:

There are two paths to dealing with wild and potentially reckless romantic love.

The first is discipline and renunciation, a detachment from the feelings. (Ugh.)

The second originates from the ancient Yogic philosophy known as Tantra. Tantra asks you to focus on the feelings behind the fantasies -- the pure feeling of longing for love that we all possess. This longing is activated by our connection to another person, yet it is much larger than that individual. When we find the inner feeling and follow it, the longing can lead us towards Essence itself.

This second path moves us into and through the fantasy to the longing at its core. By attending to the call of your deepest desire, you can transform your fantasies into pointers rather than ends in themselves.

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I sure hope the second path works. I'm betting my life on it.