Tantra for Healing and Well-Being

We can use Tantra for healing emotional hurts.

Modern psychology recognises the need to process negative emotions and traumatic experiences in order to have more well-being. Without that emotional healing we can end up subconsciously attracting and creating limiting or even harmful life circumstances for ourselves.

Tantra gives us a practical framework for healing the inner wounds of traumatic experiences. In this way we can use Tantra for healing emotional hurts of the past.

Tantra teaches that when we have traumatic experiences, the strong emotions and memories associated with those experiences can become embedded in our subconscious like seeds, known in Sanskrit as saṃskāras. 

If we don’t address and attend to those saṃskāras, and instead ignore them and push them down, out of sight our of mind, so to speak, then those seeds will fester and grow in the darkness of our shadow self.

Eventually they will sprout and cause psychological or even physical problems for us. And those problems will likely come up again and again, until we can deal with them and process them in some way.

Tantra uses the metaphor of “digesting” emotions.

When emotions and memories are digested, they are processed in a healthy way, and brought into our conscious awareness, so that we may learn what we need to learn from them, and perhaps forgive what needs to be forgiven. In this way they no longer suck at our energy and drain us from the darkness of our repressed subconscious feelings.

The Tantrik master Kshemaraja writes about this in his 1000-year-old Tantric text, the Pratyabhijñā-hṛdayam, which means “the essence of the Recognition philosophy” or “the heart of the teachings on Recognition” — recognition, that is, of oneself as an expression of the universal divine Consciousness. 

Today the text is available in English, in the form of Christopher Wallis’s translation, called The Recognition Sutras.

In that text Kshemaraja gives is a description of how experiences that are not fully processed, or digested are basically pushed into the subconscious where the fester over time, and continue to influence our daily life, unconsciously shaping the way we react to and perceive the world.

If we are able to bring those experiences back into the light of our conscious awareness, and allow them to be fully digested, they will no longer have a negative unconscious affect in our lives.

The following passage is quoted from The Recognition Sutras…

But when … any [unresolved] experience deposits internally as an impression (as a saṃskāra) charged with feelings such as anxiety and so on, then [that impression] exists in the state of concealment, becoming a “seed” of saṃsāra that will arise again. However, when something that has been internally deposited in this way, or even something that is actually being experienced now, becomes one with the Fire of Consciousness through the process of “sudden digestion” (haṭha-pāka), also known as the method of “total devouring”, then it is said to be graced, because it has been integrated into the state of complete fullness.

RECOGNITION SUTRAS translated by Christopher Wallis (2015).

By the way, in this passage we also have the word saṃsāra, which is not to be confused with saṃskāra. Saṃsāra is the sanskrit word that refers to the repeating cycle of birth and death, that involuntary attachment of the soul to this physical world, whereby the soul is drawn back repeatedly to another round of experiences, suffering, and karmic learning.

Saṃskāras, are one of the elements that influence our repeatedly falling back into saṃsāra.

As we get better at healing our saṃskāras, we also get better at learning our karmic lessons, and so gradually weaken the bonds that pull us back into saṃsāra and the downward drag of ignorance.

As we heal and process our wounds and traumatic memories of life, we grow more in awakening our consciousness towards more awareness, and more freedom.

There are many safe practices with which we can use Tantra for healing.

Tantra has many practices and techniques which create a safe environment in which we can process our emotional wounds from the past. Some of those practices are types of meditation and guided visualisations, whilst others are more somatic practices whereby traumatic memories are safely released through physical movement or touch and massage.

In Tantric philosophy there are generally three modes of practice by which we can “burn the seeds” of our saṃskāras, and heal our past wounds.

One is somatic practice… physical exercise, such as yoga, tai chi, or other somatic exercises. Massage and touch, with a suitably qualified practitioner, can also have a somatic effect. The aim of somatic practice is to release blocked energy that has got stuck in parts of the body and is stagnating. Exploring the feelings of the body can help you to identify where this blocked energy is accumulating. Sensing for discomfort, or tension, or pain, and then breathing into ir, and moving the body, can help to loosen the blocked energy, and release the subconscious memories that were causing the discomfort. Those memories or feelings can then be brought into the light of your conscious mind, and reviewed. This process of reflection enables you to learn important lessons, that those memories and energy blocks were trying to teach you.

This can be delicate process and should be approached with care. It is important to cultivate a strong sense of self-love and self-compassion, and go slowly and gradually with the process.

The second Tantric approach is with some sort of sitting-still-and listening practice. A type of meditation in which you create a safe and non-judgemental space for those saṃskāras to arise and be digested and released- This type of meditation is approached with the attitude of “I’m willing to see whatever needs to be seen; I’m willing to feel whatever needs to be felt.”

The third mode is a process of careful self analysis, careful inspection of your inner being, to be clear that your motives are aligned with your higher self, that you are not deceiving yourself, that you are being honest and truthful with yourself. This is not an easy task, and often requires the help of a good teacher or coach to support you, to hold up that mirror to yourself, and to hold you accountable to keep up your consistent efforts.

These three modes of practice for healing your saṃskāras, go well together, in conjunction with one another.

And because it is a delicate process, not an easy task, and sometimes uncomfortable, or painful, it makes a massive difference if you can incorporate some devotional aspect. That is if you can call on the grace and presence of Divine Awareness, in whatever form that most appeals to you. Whether that be any of the Tantric deities, or your spirit guides, or angel helpers, or just to feel the loving wise and understanding radiance of The Universe listening to you. As you face the darkness of your subconscious fears, call out to that loving and wise presence, to come and be with you, to come and help you. Offer your fears or your struggles at the feet of the Divine. And she will give you Her grace to help you through this process of being human, and learning your karmic lessons.

The principles of Tantra can be applied for powerful sexual healing.

Now, for many people the sexual aspect of Tantra is powerful way to bring about huge life transformations, through sexual healing.

Sofia Sundari is a wonderful teacher of embodied healing arts, who has been on a long journey with Tantra, sacred sexuality, and helps thousands of people around the world in their own self-healing. On her blog she describes how she used to feel physical pain when it came to sexual arousal.

But after some time of careful practice using a Tantric approach that pain was transformed into a pleasure never before known. And after some of her first experiences of Tantric love-making she became aware of, in her words, “the endless beauty” of her own divinity.

“Then I knew”, she writes, “My life had changed. And there was no way back. That light would never leave.”

For Sofia Sundari, sexual healing through Tantra is one of the greatest ways to transform all areas of your life…

Here is a quote from her blog…

Your unleashed sexuality is the gateway to your highest potential […] I am convinced that unlocking my sexual potential was THE experience that I needed to start living fully and manifesting the life of my dreams.

Sofia Sundari, 2017.

Many people also attest to the therapeutic benefits of Tantric Massage, and for women, Yoni de-armouring. Yoni is a Sanskrit word which can be translated as “source, womb, or vagina”.

The practice of yoni de-armouring has relatively recent origins.

The term “armouring” in relation to body tissues was first coined the Austrian doctor and psychoanalyst Wilhelm Riech in 1936.

Reich described armour as the way the body holds tension and pain, when something has been experienced that activated the nervous system in a way that was not processed.

“Armouring” is a condition that results when energy is bound by muscular contraction and does not flow through the body.

Reich, 1936/1963.

Yoni de-armouring is a sexual therapeutic practice of careful massage focused on releasing sexual blockages and eliminating numbness and pain.

According to Sofia Sundari (2022) it is “a sacred sexual practice in which the armour of the yoni is being released through gentle stimulation and energy work, and your connection to your yoni is restored.”

For men the equivalent practice is known as lingam massage, lingam being the sanskrit word used to refer to the penis, although lingam really means much more than that, as it refers to the masculine creative power of the hindu god Shiva.

Tantric massage doesn’t necessarily have to include yoni de-armouring or lingam massage, and can be extremely healing without any kind of intimate touching of the genitals.

In truth, these therapeutic practices of Tantric massage, Tantric yoni de-armouring and lingam massage, are modern practices that have developed from the mixing of somatic psychology, sex psychology, and the Neo-Tantra movement. According to Tantra scholar practitioner Christopher Wallis (2019), there is no account or mention of massage practices in the early Tantric texts.

So while these practices are for sure very beneficial and valuable as therapeutic tools, they are not strictly speaking Tantric.

This type of massage is often called Tantric massage, because it involves stimulating and awakening sensual energy and kundalini, with the intention of healing and processing those somatic samskaaras. So the massage may be quite erotic, but not necessarily oriented towards any kind of sexual climax.

When considering these kinds of practices and therapies it’s really important to make sure that the practitioner you work with is highly competent, trained, and professional.

Follow these important safety tips when using Tantra for healing…

Safety and trust should be a top priority when working with a practitioner. It’s important that you choose a practitioner with whom you feel safe and relaxed. You should be able to speak about your boundaries, communicate consent, feel comfortable enough to be open and honest and to trust them. Being able to identify and verbalise your boundaries and preferences is empowering, and a it’s a key element in any form of bodywork therapy. It should give you a sense of control and allow you to be an active participant in your healing process.

Compassion and non-judgemental acceptance towards yourself. If you find negative thoughts and feelings coming up, always remind yourself that it’s ok to have those thoughts and feelings. Remember that nobody is perfect, that we are all human beings, learning to find our way through this messy thing called life. Cultivate habits of positive and loving thoughts towards yourself, being gentle and compassionate with yourself in your healing process.

Use your breath often. When difficult or painful feelings come up, just breathe into it. If you can just be with those feelings for a moment, and let them pass through your body, let the thoughts pass through your mind, all the time breathing, then you are doing the work. There is no right or wrong way… everyone is different, and your process won’t be identical to anyone else. If you start to get scared or panicky in any moment, just hold your focus on your breathing, using your breath as an anchor to keep you steady. 

Avoid re-traumatising your nervous system. It’s very important to be careful about re-traumatising your nervous system. For most difficult memories or uncomfortable feelings, it’s unlikely that you would re-traumatise your nervous system. However, if you suffer from PTSD or CPTSD, or you have had very serve traumas in the past, then intermediate and advanced Tantra practices are not recommended. The basic simple Tantra exercises will benefit you, and any practice that is gentle will be helpful. But for severe trauma, before you do any deeper or intense practices, you should first work with a well-qualified professional.

Don’t push too hard. Every person has their own pace to process events and gain insights, and each person is on their own unique journey. It is important not to push too hard with healing practices. Be mindful of your own limits and thresholds for stirring up uncomfortable feelings and memories of those saṃskāras. Go at your own pace. Don’t be too demanding on yourself, and manage carefully your expectations of the process. There’s no need to rush the healing process. Let it unfold at the pace it needs, all in its own good time.

Using Tantra for healing your saṃskāras and past emotional wounds is a great way to create a safe space for you, and to help you cultivate an attitude of love, acceptance, and compassion.

You may also be interested in these other posts about Tantra…

The Shadow Self, Tantra, and Samskaras.

Tantra Basics Part 1: Meaning and Origins

References:

Reich, W. (1963). The Sexual Revolution: Toward a Self-Governing Character  Structure (T. P. Wolfe, Trans). Rev. ed. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. (Original work published in 1936)

Sundari, S. (2017, April 16th). Why Does Everybody Need Sexual Healing? sofiasundari.com. https://sofiasundari.com/why-does-everybody-need-sexual-healing

Sundari, S. (2018, February 16th). How Tantra Changed My Life. sofiasundari.com. https://sofiasundari.com/how-tantra-changed-my-life.

Sundari, S. (2022, November 17th). Yoni De-Armouring 101. sofiasundari.com. https://sofiasundari.com/yoni-dearmouring-101

Wallis, C. D. (2015, October 5th). The Power of Subtle Impression (Saṃskāra Theory). hareesh.org. https://hareesh.org/blog/2015/9/21/impressions-of-past-lives

Wallis, C. D. (2017). The Recognition Sutras: Illuminating a 1,000-Year-Old Spiritual Masterpiece. Bilingual Ed. Mattamayura Press.

Wallis, C. D. (2019, June 27th). “Tantric Massage” is a Completely Modern Idea… Posted on Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/groups/tantrikyoganow/permalink/1217855601722253