Hi, welcome to YuTantra! My name is Jamie Ananda, and I’m so delighted to have you here as a member of this Tantra community!
YuTantra was birthed from a seed of an idea which came to me some years ago, when I started attending Tantra workshops. I would often go alone to these events, and I remember feeling very nervous and “out of my depth”, not knowing anyone there.
What I really wanted at the time was to connect with like-minded people before an event, so that there would be at least a familiar face, and I wouldn’t feel so nervous.
I know that I was not the only one who was nervous about going alone to a Tantra workshop or festival.
So I created this platform to make it easier for you to find and connect with others who share an interest in Tantra, and to get you off-line to meet in real life at Tantra-related events.
My Vision is to provide a safe and respectful space where anyone can come to explore Tantra with others.
YuTantra does not advocate any one particular view of Tantra, and all styles and approaches are welcome.
High value is placed on authenticity and quality of members, and measures are taken to ensure that only genuine and serious profiles are approved to become users on this site.
This site is truly my labour of love, as I am a one-man-team working on this… Tantra coach, web developer, site admin, content creator, and customer support… all rolled into one!
YuTantra is my mission and gift to the world, and I hope that you will enjoy using this platform and that you can make some meaningful connections here.
Thank you so much for supporting this project. Let’s spread the word, and make available to as many people as possible this amazing experience of Tantra!
Yu is the Sanskrit root which has as one of its meanings to unite, to connect. The root yuj means joined, harnessed, yoked, and from this comes yoga meaning to link, to join, union and to become one with the Divine.
So the name YuTantra, conveys that sense of connecting or making connections through Tantra.
In English it is also a play on words, since it sounds like you Tantra… meaning that this is something for you.
If you are new to Tantra, and you have just joined this platform without knowing too much about the subject, then here is a brief introduction for beginners…
Tantra means different things to different people. If you look through some of the members’ profiles here you’ll see many different answers to the question “What does Tantra mean to you?”.
On one hand you have classical Tantra, which tends to restrict its meaning and practices to only what is found in the original texts of Tantra… known as the Tantras. Anything which is not mentioned in any of the Tantras technically cannot be considered as Tantra.
In the Classical approach Tantra is both a philosophy and a practice. Not considered to be a religion, Classical Tantra teaches a mostly non-dual perspective of life, in which the Divine is present in everything and in all aspects of human nature.
The Tantric texts teach many diverse practices, including yoga and meditation, aimed at awakening our spiritual consciousness and bringing that into daily life.
Then on the other hand, you have the more recent, westernised Tantra, often referred to as Neo Tantra. In Neo Tantra, more emphasis is given to aspects of conscious sexuality, relationships, emotional intelligence and healing… things which are rarely, if ever, found in the original Tantra texts.
Links for Further Reading:
thetantriclife.com
Easy-to-read summary of what is Tantra, looking at both Classical and Neo perspectives, and practical implications for modern living. Includes source references.
tantricacademy.com
A super comprehensive deep-dive into what Tantra is, looking at both the Classical origins and today’s Neo Tantra and sacred sexuality. Written by Tantra teacher Steffo Shambo.
hareesh.org
Tantra scholar-practitioner Christopher Wallis (Hareesh) gives a detailed account of Classical Tantra, explaining what it is… and what it is not. References original Tantric texts, some of which he translated himself directly from the original Sanskrit.
Although many of the practices of Neo Tantra may not be in any of the Tantric texts, and are more recent creations of contemporary western teachers, some argue that Neo Tantra reflects the “spirit” of early Tantra. That is, it provides a means to expand our consciousness and free ourselves of limiting beliefs and taboos.
Whilst these two views of Tantra differ greatly in some aspects, one thing they have in common is an extremely practical way to live a spiritual life in the modern world.
In ancient times, up until relatively recently in fact, traditional spiritual life was about withdrawing from the world, becoming a monk or a celibate hermit to dedicate oneself to meditation and enlightenment.
Traditionally, spiritual practice emphasised denying oneself of pleasure, repressing desires, and controlling the body and ego through the practice of severe austerities.
With Tantra the path to Divine consciousness and liberation is accessible to anyone living a busy everyday life. We don’t have to give anything up. We can recognise the divine nature of every aspect of being a human. Tantra offers us the possibility of embracing and enjoying our desires and the pleasures of this world, whilst channeling our energies towards a higher state of consciousness.
The path of Tantra, whether it be Classical or Neo, gives us practical tools to better understand ourself with all the colourful range of human experience.
Through a more awakened consciousness we can bring a greater awareness into our lives, from love and spirituality to sex and relationships.
What an awesome foundation to attract and create more conscious connections, both with ourself and with others!