Welcome to the Ecstatic Living & Tantra Blog!

This blog has a purpose - to give you information about our teachings, and to share with you practices and ideas to explore for enhancing your life and loving.

It all forms part of what we call "ecstatic living" - weaving the integration of love, intimacy and spirituality into the fabric of our whole life.

We hope that you enjoy our offerings - may they be interesting and informative, heart-opening and inspiring to you.

Warmly,

Lokita & Steve Carter



Monday, May 18, 2009

The Tantric Altar

“One + One = One”

Purpose
A relationship is an entity in itself with its own flavor and dynamic. In this practice you give expression and support to its uniqueness, and celebrate its sacredness. An altar is a place on which gifts are offered to God. It is used for worship, and some people believe it is a direct line to the Divine. The tantric altar weaves together the physical and spiritual elements of your relationship and one plus one become one.

In this practice you create a physical expression of your oneness. Seeing your relationship as a separate entity, you step out of the attachment to "you" and "me" and rise towards the higher "us". The relationship gets elevated to a higher realm.

The Practice
To create an altar, assemble various objects that are meaningful to both of you – photos of special occasions, mementoes, a small statue, perhaps a drawing from your child or grandchild, or your favorite vacation spot. Choose items that remind each of you about your relationship and its depth, meaning and creative power.

Use a small bowl for future offerings, such as flowers or sensuous food bits (strawberries, mango slices, chocolate, just to name a few!)

Dedicate a potted plant as a symbol for the thriving of your union. Just as this plant, the relationship needs to be tended to, cared for, watered and maintained.

Include a candle to symbolize the flames of passion that burn between you. Perhaps you would like to fan those flames to make the fire burn a little hotter?

Arrange these representations of your relationship on a low table in your bedroom or your sacred space. Every day for at least a week, in the morning and at night, take a moment to consider the altar you have created. Embellish it with some new items once in a while, make offerings. Say an invocation such as, “May we relate to each other with love and compassion today” or, “May our sexual attraction continue to smolder with heat and intensity”.

At your tantric altar, appreciate your love and the fact that you are together, sharing this precious time of being alive with each other. We are blessed that our partner chooses to spend time with us; we never know when our life will be over.

Be aware of how your relationship continually creates and recreates itself. Celebrate the power of your union!

Tantric Keys

  • You might think, "What a bunch of froufrou! This is for flakes." Try it anyway and see if you feel any closer to your partner. Steve often says, “Fake it until you make it.”
  • Sometimes things are difficult. You might not feel particularly celebratory towards your partner, and are fed up with something in your relationship. The altar you created is a reminder that peaks and valleys are part of life. Write down the challenge and place it on the altar. Contemplate how it can be transformed. Talk to your partner, and return to the altar together with the intention of being close and responding to each other with love. Remember - and communicate - the ultimate reason why you are together, and things will become much simpler and clearer.
  • If you are single, create an altar for yourself. Decorate it with items that express your love and appreciation for yourself. Let is represent your highest self, your innate union of male and female.

No comments: