We can’t wait for our Kindness in the Bedroom event with Dawn Cartwright on Thursday evening! Dawn wanted to share these beautiful words with us ahead of the event.
In this beautiful extract from our new Spring 2019 issue, Tantra expert and educator Dawn Cartwright explains how simple acts of kindness can help us in the bedroom. To read the full article, pick up a copy of the magazine in your local stockist today, or click here to subscribe.
We are excited to announce that Tantric pioneer and teacher Dawn Cartwright will be joining us for a special evening of Neo-Tantric teachings on Thursday April 4th from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. in the Bewley’s Café, 78/79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
In this beautiful article from our Winter 2018/19 issue, our resident Tantra expert Dawn Cartwright explored the inherent beauty of winter months, and how it can bring us closer to ourselves and to our beloved ones. Her suggested ceremony that you can perform at this time of year – Winter Lovers – is aimed at kindling Tantric energies and supporting lovers as they merge with themselves and one another.
In this sneak peek from our Winter 2018/19 issue, our resident Tantra expert Dawn Cartwright explored the inherent beauty of winter months, and how it can bring us closer to ourselves and to our beloved ones. Her suggested ceremony that you can perform at this time of year – Winter Lovers – is aimed at kindling Tantric energies and supporting lovers as they merge with themselves and one another.
In a world where it can sometimes be difficult to stand in our power and be assertive, Dawn Cartwright offers her advice on how we can clearly communicate ‘our true ‘yes’ and our honest ‘no”. This article appears in our Autumn 2018 issue – to pick up a copy, just check your nearest stockist or subscribe to the magazine today.
The Art of Assertiveness
When to say yes and how to say no
by Dawn Cartwright
According to researchers at Cornell University, we make 35,000 conscious decisions each day. That’s thirty-five thousand opportunities every single day to move closer to, or farther away from, our dreams. Our decisions create our future. The clearer we are about when to say ‘yes’ and how to say ‘no’, the more likely we are to be true to ourselves and create a life that reflects who we are.
In a world where there’s pressure to conform and fit in, decisions are often made based on expectations, rather than the truth we feel inside. We lose ourselves. We slide into accommodating others because it seems easier. We avoid the less familiar emotions, and the closeness and bonding that comes from facing and working through them, to maintain an illusion of peace. We feel our true ‘yes’ and our honest ‘no’ and we second guess them, or push them aside. Yet we long to be intimate. We long to be accepted. We long to be loved as we truly are.
How do we get in touch with our innermost feelings and thoughts? What does it mean to be someone who says ‘yes’ and ‘no’ honestly? How do we express ourselves truthfully, with kindness? How do we create a life filled with possibility, intimacy and freedom? How do we become who we are capable of being?
In 1943 Abraham Maslow introduced Positive Psychology, the scientific study of the positive and elevating aspects of human behaviour. Maslow believed that every human being has a strong desire to realise their full potential, to be who they are capable of being. He created a model called Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, providing a map to becoming who we truly are. This map is useful in our quest to know when to say yes and how to say no.
When To Say Yes
- The Basics: Do you have shelter? Clothing? Food? Clean water? Are you meeting your sexual needs? If not, the stress of these unmet needs will interfere with your inner compass. Meet these needs and you’ll create a strong foundation. You’ll begin to recognise when you’re saying ‘yes’ because you’re depleted, cold, tired, hungry, thirsty or sexually unfulfilled, and when you’re saying yes because yes is what you truly feel.
- Safety: Our vigilant brain is the part of the brain that registers a threat and prompts us to say ‘yes’ to keep us from harm. Human beings have a natural desire for a predictable, orderly world. Having a daily routine like a morning walk or an evening meditation is a great way to create stability. Meet these needs and your ‘yes’ will be grounded in safety.
- Belonging: Humans are tribal beings. The need for togetherness is probably one of the most important and least met needs in the world today. Create healthy friendships. Engage in group activities that are meaningful to you. Meet this need and your yes will no longer come from a fear of being abandoned. Instead, yes will boost your feeling of belonging.
- Self-Esteem: A healthy sense of self is essential to being and becoming who we’re meant to be. When our self-esteem is low, we say ‘yes’ to gain approval. When self-esteem is high, we align with our core values no matter what. Know your core values, make a list.
- The Peak: Be truly you. That’s when your yes to others matches the yes you feel inside.
How To Say No
- The Basics: Fill your own cup. If you’ve had enough sleep, food, water and sex, chances are you’ll be more in touch with your natural generosity. You’ll be alert, relaxed, open and present, this in itself is a gift. Turn toward the person you’re saying no to, put both feet on the ground, relax your body, feel your generosity and say ‘no’.
- Safety: Pace yourself. Create a pace in all your relationships that makes it possible for you to maintain connection with yourself and with the other. Create emotional stability and safety for yourself and this will translate as emotional stability and safety for the other when you say ‘no’.
- Belonging: Be tribal. When we’re afraid to say no, we disappear and abandon the other person emotionally. Stay connected to your own heart. Stay emotionally connected to the other. Build a bridge of togetherness when you say ‘no’.
- Self-Esteem: Share your values. Believe in yourself. Believe in the other person. You are resilient! They are resilient! Self-acceptance makes you trustable and compassionate. Open your heart, be respectful, say ‘no’.
- The Peak: You are incredibly you. When you have fulfilled all your needs and you are consistently being and becoming who you are meant to be, your no is as positive as your yes.
Dawn Cartwright is a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion. You’re invited to join her in 2019 for The Red Tent: Women’s Sacred Sexuality, April 12th – 14th, Be Fully Alive: Level 1 Tantra Immersion, April 26th – 28th, in the Wicklow Mountains and Weaving the Beloveds: Couples Tantra Retreat, May 3rd – 6th, in Lower Rosses, Sligo.
This article appeared in our Summer 2018 issue, available now through our stockists or via subscription.
How To Create A Daily Tantra Practice
Five practices for Tantra in everyday life
By Dawn Cartwright
Create a specific place in your home or in nature for your practice. As the days go by, this place will hold the energy of your practice and serve as a reminder of your focus. Clear the space of any distractions such as unfinished projects, computers, televisions and clutter.
Gather the items you’ll need; listed below along with the corresponding sense, element and location in the body for that particular practice. If you do not have access to any of the items, feel free to substitute or visualize.
Commit to the practice even if it seems at first as though nothing is happening. Let yourself become familiar with a new way of being, a new way of sensing. In a short time you’ll discover ecstatic pathways that were once hidden. Every day will carry with it some element of bliss.
Practice #1: The Gates of Ecstasy
Item: Sandalwood
Sense: Smell
Element: Earth
Location in the Body: Base of the Spine
Our connection to the earth, at the base of the spine, is where the journey begins. Known as the gate of ecstasy, it’s the most primal part of the human body. The associated sense is our most primal sense, the sense of smell. Scent enters the limbic brain directly, connecting us to the euphoric feelings associated with bliss.
The Practice: Take a pinch of sandalwood powder in your hands and rub them together. Breathe in the fragrance, let it fill your senses. Then, find five words to describe the fragrance. When we discipline the mind to focus in order to describe, we open the gates of ecstasy with that focus. A sense we once believed to be limited to the nose, reveals sensations that fill the entire body with bliss.
Practice #2: The Sound of Your Name
Item: Flowers
Sense: Hearing
Element: Space
Location in the Body: Throat
Just as the base of the spine is our connection to the earth, the throat is our gateway to the sky. Governed by the element of space, the throat is the bridge between etheric and earthy realms. When the voice is activated, we set in motion a cascading effect throughout the entire ecstatic channel.
The Practice: First, create a vibration at the base of the spine by humming through the spine, down to the base. Don’t effort, allow this to happen slowly. At first, you may feel vibration only as far as your chest. With time and relaxation, the vibrations will spread. Continue 2-3 minutes, then stop. Become aware of the sensations traveling up and down your body through this channel connecting the pelvis and throat.
Practice #3: The Song That Cannot Be Sung
Item: Incense
Sense: Touch
Element: Air
Location in the Body: Heart
The smoke arising from incense touches everything, the same way that love touches everything it comes into contact with. Incense and the element of air are associated with the heart. We intuitively bring our hands to our heart whenever we are touched by something. Touch conveys feeling even more accurately than our words.
The Practice: Light a stick of incense. Follow the tendrils of smoke with your eyes. Notice how freely it moves, touching everything without constriction or fear. When we let go of inner tension, we connect from the heart. Acceptance of ourselves grows. We share our true feelings. We open to love.
Practice #4: I See You
Item: Candlelight
Sense: Sight
Element: Fire
Location in the Body: Navel
To see clearly, beyond the glossy images that constantly bombard us, is to be closer to the true essence of life. To see what is truly here. Candlelight and the element of fire are associated with the navel center, our inner sun. The light within us that illuminates everything without preference.
The Practice: Light a candle, then close your eyes. Place your palms over your eyes so that your eyes are completely covered and everything is totally dark. Relax. Your eyes are literally rejuvenating themselves. Then, when you feel ready, gently remove your palms and slowly open your eyes. See the candlelight, yourself and everything around you with new eyes.
Practice #5: Food for Your Soul
Item: Fruit
Sense: Taste
Element: Water
Location in the Body: Pleasure Centers
The pleasure centers in the body are connected to the element of water and the sense of taste. Pleasure is not just something we enjoy, it is literally food for our spirit. Water is fluid, it soothes and nourishes. Your sense of taste is one of the most pleasurable senses of all.
The Practice: Choose your favorite fruit. Could be an orange, strawberries or dates. Close your eyes, take a bite. Experience all the many sensations of pleasure. The fruit is food for your body. The pleasure is food for your soul.
Dawn Cartwright is a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio- energetic Tantra fusion offering courses in Ireland and around the world.
We wanted to share this enlightening article by Dawn Cartwright, which appears in our Spring 2018 issue. Here, she discusses how the traditional and contemporary forms of Tantra can be harmoniously blended together to work towards healing and empowerment. She says, “Neo-Tantra weaves threads between the the sexual and the spiritual, the human and the divine, demonstrating, in very beautiful ways, that each exists in the other.” Read on to learn more! Dawn’s website is dawncartwright.com.
What is Neo-Tantra? Complementary Aspects of the Old & New
by Dawn Cartwright
“The Munis, girdled with the wind, wear garments soiled of yellow hue.
They, following the wind’s swift course, go where the Gods have gone before.”
~Excerpt from Ke?in Hymn, 10.136 of the Rigveda, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith
Some of the earliest written evidence of Tantra appears in the RigVeda, the oldest of the Vedic Texts, dated roughly between 1100 and 500 B.C.E. The Ke?in Hymn, 10.136 of the Rigveda, describes dust-clad munis who cavorted with the wind. The muni, know for their pursuit of ecstasy, engaged in practices far outside the Brahmanical norm; defining evidence of an early Tantra tradition.
Defining Tantra
Tantra is a vast and controversial subject – to define it is a challenging task. Many elements of Tantra are also found in other Hindu and Vedic paths. Yet when we take the view that ecstasy creates the cosmos, Tantra is a path rich with possibility.
The origins of Tantra date back to the Upper Paleolithic Period, nearly 28,000 years ago. It is rooted in reverence for the microcosm-macrocosm view of fertility and the birth of the universe. The earliest traditions, much like the muni, were closely connected to nature. The Tantra sutras, revealing the secrets of existence, were songs sung by the wind, trees, rivers, oceans and mountains. These songs were translated by great mystics into Mantras, Yantras and Tantras.
The tradition we are most familiar with today is Neo-Tantra, the “new” or “revived” version of Tantra. Neo-Tantra is known for its embrace of sexuality: a perceptive that has drawn a great deal of controversy and skepticism. The Christian repressive attitudes prevalent even in India have enforced a separation between the spiritual and physical. Neo-Tantra weaves threads between the the sexual and the spiritual, the human and the divine, demonstrating, in very beautiful ways, that each exists in the other.
Scholars, Mystics & Lovers
“The Tantras most often tend to prefer more esoteric subjects: speculations on the nature of the Absolute, cosmogony, the creative nature of sound and word, micro-macrocosmic equivalence, the powers of speech, communication and handling of mantras, symbolic interpretations of words and names, construction of and initiation into mandalas and worship of deities therein.”
~Teun Goudriaan, History of Indian Literature Volume II
To explore Tantra is to experience a mystery that constantly unfolds without end. To understand Neo-Tantra and the ways this new tradition is complimentary to the classical traditions, it’s helpful to understand three perspectives: the scholarly, the classical and the new.
The Scholar To the Tantra scholar, the Tantras are commentaries on the original Tantra sutras, and are often found to be more in-depth and more coherent than the original sutras themselves. The Tantras reveal an esoteric world known only to Tantra adepts.
The Mystic To the practitioner of the classical form, Tantra is one aspect of Mantra, Yantra, Tantra. Mantra is sacred sound. Yantra is sacred geometry. Tantra refers to the methods used to merge the practitioner with Mantra and Yantra. Initiation through a guru is a key element of the classical path. It is said the power contained in Mantra, Yantra and Tantra comes to life when received through guru initiation.
The Lover To the Neo-Tantra practitioner, Tantra is the weaving together of sexuality and spirituality. The quest is to experience the beloved as divine. Neo-Tantra includes classical Tantra themes and practices, woven together with modern-day sexology, humanistic psychology and bio-energetics.
Complimentary Elements & Gifts
Often believed to be in conflict with one another, Tantra in its classical form and Neo-Tantra are in fact complimentary. The classical form of Tantra brings gifts of focus, dedication and devotion to the Neo-Tantra practice, while Neo-Tantra brings confidence, energy awareness and self-revelation to the classical practice.
CLASSICAL TANTRA ELEMENT: THE GIFT
Yantra Focus Awakens new neural pathways, making it possible for sexuality to reach new levels of pleasure and connection.
Mantra: Dedication Teaches the modern-day lover the value of sustained attention and the benefits of commitment.
Tantra/Puja: Devotion Reveals the transcendent quality of giving and receiving. Seeing the divine in everything. Merging with the divine in the beloved.
NEO-TANTRA ELEMENT: THE GIFT
Sexuality: Confidence Increases tapas, the fire of transformation, grounding the classical practices in the human body.
Bio-energetics: Energy Awareness Releases physical tension in the body, unlocking the free flow of Kundalini energy.
Humanistic Psychology: Self-revelation Bridges the inner experience with the outer reality. Tools for self-honesty, maturity and responsibility.
The wisdom of Tantra in its classical form offers important structure and guidance to the Neo-Tantra practitioner. Neo-Tantra practices bring new vitality to a mystical path rich with tradition. The two go hand in hand, following the wind’s swift course toward ecstasy.
Dawn Cartwright is a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion. To learn more about her work, go to: www.dawncartwright.com.
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Sneak Peek: What is Neo-Tantra? Complementary Aspects of Old & New
Tonight, we wanted to share a sneak peek of this beautiful article written by our Tantra expert Dawn Cartwright. You can read the entire article in our new Spring issue, available in your local stockist or through subscription. Don’t forget to check out the details of Dawn’s special Positive Nights event with us on Wednesday the 25th of April too!
By Dawn Cartwright
“The Munis, girdled with the wind, wear garments soiled of yellow hue.
They, following the wind’s swift course, go where the Gods have gone before.”
Excerpt from Ke?in Hymn, 10.136 of the Rigveda, as translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith
Some of the earliest written evidence of Tantra appears in the RigVeda, the oldest of the Vedic Texts, dated roughly between 1100 and 500 B.C.E. The Ke?in Hymn, 10.136 of the Rigveda, describes dust-clad munis who cavorted with the wind. The muni, know for their pursuit of ecstasy, engaged in practices far outside the Brahmanical norm; defining evidence of an early Tantra tradition.
Defining Tantra
Tantra is a vast and controversial subject – to define it is a challenging task. Many elements of Tantra are also found in other Hindu and Vedic paths. Yet when we take the view that ecstasy creates the cosmos, Tantra is a path rich with possibility.
The origins of Tantra date back to the Upper Paleolithic Period, nearly 28,000 years ago. It is rooted in reverence for the microcosm-macrocosm view of fertility and the birth of the universe. The earliest traditions, much like the muni, were closely connected to nature. The Tantra sutras, revealing the secrets of existence, were songs sung by the wind, trees, rivers, oceans and mountains. These songs were translated by great mystics into Mantras, Yantras and Tantras.
The tradition we are most familiar with today is Neo-Tantra, the “new” or “revived” version of Tantra. Neo-Tantra is known for its embrace of sexuality: a perceptive that has drawn a great deal of controversy and skepticism. The Christian repressive attitudes prevalent even in India have enforced a separation between the spiritual and physical. Neo-Tantra weaves threads between the the sexual and the spiritual, the human and the divine, demonstrating, in very beautiful ways, that each exists in the other.
Scholars, Mystics & Lovers
“The Tantras most often tend to prefer more esoteric subjects: speculations on the nature of the Absolute, cosmogony, the creative nature of sound and word, micro-macrocosmic equivalence, the powers of speech, communication and handling of mantras, symbolic interpretations of words and names, construction of and initiation into mandalas and worship of deities therein.”
~Teun Goudriaan, History of Indian Literature Volume II
To explore Tantra is to experience a mystery that constantly unfolds without end. To understand Neo-Tantra and the ways this new tradition is complimentary to the classical traditions, it’s helpful to understand three perspectives: the scholarly, the classical and the new.
________________________
You can read the full article by picking up a copy of our Spring issue or subscribing today. Dawn will be a special guest at Positive Nights on Wednesday the 25th of April, from 7.30 to 9.30p.m. at Powerscourt Theatre, Dublin 2. The theme of her event is “Bringing Dating Back.” She will talk about how the sacred energy of ancient Tantric rituals called the Pancha Upacaras can be used to inspire greater devotion and intimacy in our modern-day dating lives. You can learn more about the event on our website, Facebook or Meetup, and book your tickets at this Eventbrite link.
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Positive Nights Presents: Anamarta – The Tao of Sexual Vitality and Empowerment
If you want to learn more about how the ancient healing practices of the Tao can help you to feel more revitalised and balanced in your everyday life – and the powerful role that sexual energy has to play in this process – then we have a treat in store for you. The Tao teacher Anamarta will be visiting us for a special evening on Thursday March 22nd, from 7.3o to 9.30 p.m. in the Central Hotel, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Tickets are available here.
Anamarta is a much-loved Tao teacher from the Healing Tao U.K. She was initiated into the family lineage of Medicine Women by her grandmother, and is now the Creatrix of the Jade Egg Holistic Practice and Kuan Yin Qigong. Alongside her beloved partner, Taoist Master Kris Deva North, she facilitates Healing Tao and Tai Chi training. Anamarta is also the Pioneer of the Tao of Feminine Empowerment through her Jade Circle®. The past eleven years of her life have been devoted to the Taoist Practice, as her unique approach continues to evolve with the embodiment of her teachings. Ireland (a country she describes as her “Fairyland”) is among the twenty-seven countries, spread across four continents, that she has visited in order to spread the healing wisdom of the Tao.
Following her successful visit to Positive Nights last year, we are thrilled to welcome her back! Read on to find out what she has to say about this amazing evening:
Ancient Secrets for Modern Living: Can anyone benefit from it? Yes! Through a combination of practices such as qigong to be grounded, meditation to embrace self-love, specific yin (for women) and yang (for men) practices for hormonal balance and recycling of sexual energy, which result in a libido boost and an intensification of pleasure. The combination of these bring vitality and inner harmony, which spreads into your outer world, while being centred in your power.
Sexuality and spirituality are bound together. The Taoists focus on harmonising mind, body and spirit. In this light, sexuality is beyond sex, being the most powerful energy of creation. Sexuality is the expression of our creativity, and it can be used for pleasure, healing, rejuvenation, longevity, the attainment of goals, the realisation of dreams, and even a means of connecting with the Divine.
With the Taoist Holistic Practice, you tune into your infinite inner resources, opening the path of self-healing and self-mastery to live life to the full!
I will be unveiling these secrets and offering practical tips to live the Tao (literally means the ‘Way’) of Empowerment, Sexual Vitality and Rejuvenation in your daily life.
Our evening with Anamarta will take place in the Central Hotel, Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. on Thursday March 22nd. Click here to order your tickets on Eventbrite. The Facebook page for the event is here.
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