TANTRA: A TAPESTRY OF LIGHT

There are many people who use the word Tantra loosely without knowing the true meaning or more importantly experiencing the true essence of Tantra. As "tantra" becomes more popular we see articles in magazines and books on the subject promising fulfillment in life. Many are drawn to this path finding it intriguing because of it's history of secrecy. ( which it has been for good reason) Many are drawn to this path like any other because of dark inner drives with the hopes of advancement in worldly pleasure and power. In reality Tantra is a very intimate relationship with the Divine Mother and all of her Shaktis. As the Divine Mother, this great force of the universe is both benevolent and fierce (as any good mother is). What ever you weave into your life the mother will let unfold. With pure motives and a devotional heart you will have the most amazing relationship with life, with motives driven by ego it will be to your demise as the mother's sharp edge slices through the ego severing head from body.

The Great Mother always provides. As I sat in a tent last friday night in the most amazing Kirtan with Bhagavan Das we sang to the Devi with utmost devotion. Streams of Bhakti poured from my heart, through my eyes, and flowed gently down my cheeks....in turn always to drop back onto my heart to purify myself more and more. We sang to Kali...take from me all the is not free. Once again the Great Mother always provides.

Tantra literally means to weave. We weave our own tapestry in life. We choose whether we weave darkness or light. Most of the time the average person is weaving darkness. Whether it is obvious or not, they are confined to living in the shadows of the senses and reactions of the mind. However, with a regular asana & pranayama practice we clear and purify the pranic body, weaving more healthy, free flowing energy into our lives. With a devotional heart we weave the light of love through our being and the end threads touch those around us. Through meditation the shadows of smoke of the mind begin to clear, revealing thoughts, motives, and reactions of the mind. We are then able to gravitate toward our highest potential. We drop out of thinking and doing, and drop in to feeling and experiencing. We experience that we are a beautiful tapestry of light. It's not that we no longer "do", just that we are no longer the "doer". We drop out so that grace can drop in.

I have a little Anusara Yoga in the background of my hatha yoga practice. Anusara yoga is very much alignment based, but John Friend's slogan for this system of yoga is "open to grace". We have to surrender or make a sacred offering of any preconceptions and rigidity in the mind and heart so Shakti can pour in. The Shakti takes over and we are graciously along for the ride. The intellect is illuminated and we weave the light of pure consciousness.

We all have our own unique threads of different colors and patterns. We have different methods and paths that we as individuals take as we create our own tapestry. It starts with our own beautiful threads of light, but as we weave together, we unify the tapestries of our lives. An incredible strength comes from collective energy. The result is the most resplendent tapestry of light and love.