Our summer issue is out now! The theme is Relationship. Damian Brady, David Brocklebank, Mariana Saad, and Mike Wride share what Relationship means to them— Dive on in!
We are so happy to announce that Jonti Searll will be returning to Ireland in late October for a special event.
Tantra Comes To Djouce outdoors, as we explore what it means to be Divine masculine and feminine, balanced within ones own being. Jonti, one of the world’s leading tantra teachers will be joining us all the way from South Africa.
Jonti has been practicing conscious sexaulity for over 25 years. He has always been drawn to the connection between the mind and body, the body, heart and spirit and began his journey with the study of psychology, moving into Kinesiology, Shiatsu, Sports Therapy, Energy Healing and Personal Growth. His work has always been an expression of a personal inner journey of healing and growth, exploring a vast range of modalities and ideas. Our sexuality is not in a vacuum, it’s connected to all of life, and as much as these journeys often begin from a sexual point they encompass all of who we are, body, heart, mind and spirit.
Conscious Sexuality is a path of possibility, how we can live lives of greater fulfilment, be more vital, have relationships of greater depth and intimacy, be more creative, more present and aware in life, and of course, have greater pleasure. Jonti’s work is based on personal journeys, healing and growth. Exploring sexuality is an exploration of life and ultimately, an exploration of who we are. He has has created healing processes, workshops and material that has helped many people create fulfilling experiences and relationships.
We had the pleasure of chatting with Jonti in Spring of this year, ahead of his workshops in Wicklow. Jonti approaches conscious sexuality in open and clear way. We all have questions about sex, pleasure and connection and Jonti’s ethos is to guide and inspire people to experience and discover the limitless possibilities of pleasure and fulfillment through sensual exploration, connection, healing and growth. Jonti works with people of all orientations, believing that, ultimately, we all all looking for the same thing, to be understood and to find real connection with ourselves and one another.
Join us on October 27th at 7.30 pm, as we enter into the ancient art of tantra, and step into its beautiful arms of mystery and wonder, the connection, the intimacy and the ecstasy, the oneness. This talk will take place in Djouce Outdoors, Ballinastoe Crossroads, Carriggower, Roundwood, Co. Wicklow, A98 W5C3. Tickets for this event are €20 and can be purchased through our website.
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.
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We Recommend: Harmony Gathering, St. Patrick’s Day
Harmony Gathering is a St Patrick’s Day celebration with a difference, brought to you by the folks behind Conscious Concert Ireland.
From your hosts with the most, Orla Bass and Paul Congdon, we present to you an evening of speed dating with a special Tantric twist on Valentines’ Day – Thursday February 14th, 2019, from 7.15 to 10.00 p.m. in Bewley’s Cafe, 78/79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
Following our past successful speed dating events, we are ready to bring it to another level and help singles to connect once again.
Speed dating is a fun, action-packed way to meet a large number of new people in a short period of time. Singles will spend three to five minutes chatting to see if any spark of romance arises. When both people tick the box indicating that they would be interested in meeting again, we will put you in touch with each other. The possibilities are endless! This is an opportunity to meet your soul mate or just have a great evening’s entertainment.
While it would be lovely to secure a date after the event, please be aware that we are coming together to practice the Tantric principle of loving human connection. We will get together, chat, and mingle, all while fully connecting with each human being in front of us with an attitude of deep respect, compassion and integrity. The mind may go into judgement mode – as it so often does – but simply let it drift off and move into your heart space. Aim to see everyone you meet from this compassionate perspective.
Speed Dating from the Heart will take place on Thursday February 14th, 2019, from 7.15 to 10.00 p.m. in Bewley’s Cafe, 78/79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. Click here to get your tickets.
We are pleased to announce that we have set the date for another of our ever-popular speed dating events! It will take place on Thursday February 14th, 2019, from 7.15 to 10.00 p.m. in Bewley’s Cafe, 78/79 Grafton Street, Dublin 2. During Speed Dating From the Heart, we aim to emphasise the importance of loving human connection and seeing everyone you meet through eyes of compassion. Read on to learn more.
In our Autumn 2018 issue, eight of our readers shared with us what their relationships have meant to them. This season, it’s all about the bonds of love! You can pick up a copy of the magazine at our stockists across the country, or subscribe here to receive a copy direct to your door.
SPIRITUALITY & THE CITY
THE BONDS OF LOVE
Liz Lynch & Ciara O’Neill (couple)
Liz
It is hard to put into words how I feel about this wonderful woman. She is full of life, love and laughter. Ciara and I share a quirky sense of humour and I know that with her, I can always be fully myself, no matter how silly that is.
Ciara has great empathy for other people’s worries. I am lucky that she has made it her mission in life to take care of me. Ever since I started dating Ciara, I have felt enveloped by her boundless love and I hope she feels the same from me.
Ciara is very modest and doesn’t seem to know how wonderful she is. Her smile lights up a room and her laughter is infectious. I feel blessed every day knowing she is my wife.
Ciara
My wedding day was the happiest day of my life. I am so grateful to everybody who campaigned for marriage equality, and of course the wonderful Irish people who voted yes to love on that magical day in May 2015.
What I love most about Liz is her caring and compassionate nature. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for the people she loves.
Liz is the funniest person I have ever met and she makes me laugh every day. Meeting Liz is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is my best friend and favourite person in the whole world. I know that she believes in me and loves me unconditionally, and that is the best feeling in the world.
Martin & Magda Janik (couple)
Martin
Magda is my soulmate. I know it isn’t our first life together: we have loved each other many times before. Her calmness, her beauty, her love and the amazingly multi-dimensional depth of her being makes each life so worth living. I had a dream about Magda after I saw her for the first or second time, and after that dream, I knew she was the one. We were 16 and 17 at that time. This year was our 25th anniversary of being a couple and our 20th wedding anniversary. Magda stands by me during our happiest and most challenging moments and I love her to bits. She is an amazing mum to our daughter Pola, who we both absolutely adore.
Magda
I love Martin: my husband and my best friend. Martin is warm, loving, kind and funny. He has a great passion for life and energy that always amazes me. He is intelligent, creative, and always eager to learn and experience new things, which makes our journey together very interesting. We always know what each other is thinking without saying a single word. Martin makes me feel loved every day and I love him for that. He is also a fantastic father to our daughter Pola, who adores him.
This year is very special for us as we are celebrating 25 years together and the 20th anniversary of our wedding. I am grateful for each of those years and excited about all the years to come.
Dave Weakley & Sara Weis (father and daughter)
Sara
My dad is a great person: very kind, hilariously funny and super talented as well. He is a wonderful human being. Because we both work in the field of music, we have a lot in common. I’ve learned a huge amount from him. His advice is very valuable to me. Music is such a difficult profession, it’s great to have people around you who understand that and who can be supportive. Both of my parents are hugely supportive – they both work in the arts – and they are wonderful. My dad is my inspiration. We have great craic together, and he’s just the best dad I could ever have asked for. His experience of getting out there and putting himself before an audience taught me how to be brave.
Dave
Sara is so talented. From a very early age, she always showed promise and excellence at singing and acting, and this promise has really borne fruit over the last few months. She recently began to put herself out there and start singing … and she is absolutely marvellous. I could go on forever about my tremendous admiration for her!
I’m incredibly proud of her. I know parents are supposed to be the role model for their children, but she is more of a role model for me. I’m a musician myself, and I derive a lot of joy from listening to her and watching her while she is performing.
Livia Devi & Carolyne Marks (friends)
Livia
Carolyne and I share a sacred space of beautiful heart-connection, love, joy, respect and appreciation. Her wisdom and life experience always guide me on my path. Her teachings about love, life and relationships have helped me to grow and evolve. We always have so much fun and laugher when we meet, enjoying life to the full!Her presence in my life is a like a warm ocean breeze on a summer day. The stillness, flow and richness of our connection its so cherished!
I am truly honored and grateful to have you as a friend, Carolyne.
Carolyne
My name is Carolyne and I am very fortunate! Why? I have a beautiful friend and her name is Livia. Yes, she is physically beautiful, no doubt about that: however, what I am referring to with the word ‘beautiful’ goes far beyond that superficial perspective. You see, as within, so without. My friend is beautiful in Soul. When we are together, there is simply harmony, peace and so much joy. At times, we have very deep, fulfilling and meaningful conversations and I love to grow with her this way, as well as simply sitting in silence and connecting on a very different level at other times. When out and about, we like similar things, laugh about the same nonsense and appreciate the world and nature with all our hearts. Being able to share this love of life with someone is a great treasure and a special gift.
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.
Join Paul and his special guest Dawn Cartwright for an evening of love and intimacy that is sure to inspire. You’ll be guided through Tantra practices that open the heart: a journey into the far reaches of human sexuality and Tantra. This beautiful evening will take place from 7.30 to 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday April 25th in the Central Hotel, 1-5 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.
Where and when did the ritual of dating begin?
Each morning, just before dawn, Tantric adepts in every Tantra temple in the world present five specific offerings to the deity. First, sandalwood powder is smoothed on the deity’s forehead and feet. Then, a mantra is sung while flowers, gathered from the temple gardens, are offered. Fragrant incense is lit, oil lamps illuminate the deity’s face, and sweets, dripping with honey and ghee, touch the deity’s lips. Sandalwood, mantra, incense, lamps and sweets: the Pancha Upacaras, a Sanskrit phrase that means, “five moments of access”. Five offerings purposefully chosen to awaken the five senses, allowing the devotee “five moments of access” to an elevated experience of the world.
Simple rituals such as this compose a twilight language rich in meaning and significance. Esoteric practices are known to reveal the extraordinary within the ordinary through simple means. While it may seem as if the Pancha Upacaras are offered to awaken the deity from her slumber, it is the adept whose senses are awakened, triggering a heightened state of consciousness – revealing the sublime within the mundane. Much the way one would greet an honoured guest in their home, the deity is welcomed into the temple each morning, and the devotee catches a glimpse of the divine within.
Perhaps owing to the romantic nature of the human heart, or the longing each of us has to touch the ineffable quality of love, the Pancha Upacaras, a ritual enacted since the beginning of time, eventually found its way into every corner of the world. These five offerings are the roots of hospitality and compose the traditional elements of successful dating.
In the chilly pre-dawn mist, the Tantric deity becomes more beautiful with each flower-laden moment. Beauty that exists because it is seen. Beauty seen because it is invited and welcomed, because it has already been awakened within the one who extends the invitation. Just as a tree that falls without a witness cannot make a sound, beauty, though it is certainly there, cannot be experienced without the observer. We create the beauty we see in the world and each other through our endeavour: in this case by awakening the five senses to see it. Dating and hospitality were originally meant to deepen our connection with those we revere, without expectation or goal.
Not so very long ago dating meant affection, flowers and chocolates. Candlelight, serenades and perfume. The very same offerings that compose the Pancha Upacaras. Today, dating has been reduced to “hanging out” and online chat rooms. Devotion seems to have gone by the wayside and the transcendent quality we all long for in dating has all but disappeared.
Is it time to bring dating back? YES!
Join Dawn Cartwright at Positive Nights, April 25th, and discover how to create the perfect transcendent date.
This experiential Tantra evening is led by Dawn Cartwright, a Tantric visionary, sacred writer, world traveler, and innovator in bio-energetic Tantra fusion. She discovered the path of Tantra by accident shortly after a period of life-changing mystical experiences in lovemaking more than twenty years ago. We’ve all experienced it at one time or another, the feeling of dissolving that deep sex brings. A feeling that connects us to life in a way that is both powerful and mystical. As modern day lovers we are becoming increasingly aware of the connection between sexuality and the vibrancy with which we illuminate our lives.
To book your tickets or learn more, click on this Eventbrite link. The Facebook page for the event can be viewed here.
You’re invited to join Dawn for The Red Tent Sacred Sexuality for Women, April 26th – 27th, and 2-Nights of Tantric Bliss, April 27th -29th, in Wicklow, Weaving the Beloveds for Couples, May Bank Holiday Weekend on the Wild Atlantic Way and Fragrance of the Lotus Tantra Teacher Training beginning April 19th, 2019. For more information, go to dawncartwright.com.
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