View as Web Page Subscribe Send to a Friend
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter More Share Options
The True Potential of Sex . Sex Actualization
"A tremendous change is happening on the planet. 
I have a feeling we are ready, at long last, to truly love."  Dawn Cartwright
It Was A Spectacular Weekend At Wanderlust Squaw Valley
Follow Up
 
I met extraordinary people - warm hearts and brilliant minds, people focused on creating a healthy world. Squaw Valley itself is beyond breathtaking - the tram up to High Camp literally shifted my sense of being. 
 
Each of you touched my life in a profound way, igniting optimism and community. I am grateful.
 
As promised, here's the transcript of my talk, The True Potential of Sex . Sex Actualization - including The Attributes of the Sex Actualized Lover.
 
I invite you to join me in becoming Sex Actualized. A vast array of extraordinary opportunities, including a Tantric Expedition to India . Devipuram, Weaving of the Beloveds . Couples Valentines Retreat and Fragrance of the Lotus Year-Long Tantra Immersion & Teacher Certification Program, listed below. 
 
Much love, Dawn Cartwright
 
Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute
www.chandrabindutantrainstitute.com
310.592.1293
The True Potential of Sex . Sex Actualization
by Dawn Cartwright
 
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.
 
I believe our sexuality is a means for actualizing our human potential. And the way to do that is through sexual mastery.
 
Something I call Sex Actualization.
 
On an incandescent Sunday, much like the Sunday we all shared last weekend at Wanderlust, this reality revealed itself to me. Today I’m here to share that story and unpack the true potential of sex.
 
Sex & Meditation 
 
The ecstasy we feel when sexual is the very same ecstasy we experience in our meditation practice, so why is it that there’s been such a rift between the two? 
 
The body is naturally orgasmic. The mind, not so much. Yet, wouldn’t you know it, orgasm itself is a precision focused exchange of information between the two. Orgasm, though mysterious, is a lot more straightforward than we’ve been led to believe. According to clinical sexologist, Amy Cooper, the whole purpose of sexual arousal is to focus our attention away from the stresses of life and onto pleasure. “Several body systems engage in positive feedback loops as sexual excitement increases. Each sensation or event builds on the previous ones in a response cycle that may ultimately lead to orgasm.”, says Cooper.
 
Feedback Loops
 
The brain receives information about pleasure in the genitals and sends a message to the engorgement tissues to activate, creating more pleasure in the genitals. During the excitation phase of arousal, subtle contractions in the pelvis, heighten sensation in the genitals, focusing the mind on pleasure and away from distracting thoughts. Hormones released during sexual arousal affect the type of information the brain receives, keeping the brain focused on sex.
 
Orgasm, it seems, is really all about positivity. It’s nature’s way of keeping us focused on pleasure and connection rather than all the other things that get in the way. Orgasm, then, is just as much a state of mind as it is a phase of sexual response. In fact, it may be how we’re meant to experience the world and each other, even when we’re not having sex.
 
According to neuropsychologist, Nadia Webb, we experience ecstasy in one of two ways - through the mind, as an observer,
 
or . . . through the body,
 
so that our physical and cognitive boundaries dissolve and we merge with the ecstasy that is flooding our body .
 
We become it.
 
We either take the perspective, “I am not my thoughts, I am not this experience”
 
or . . . the we we normally think we are expands to include the transcendent.
 
I encountered this experience of merging with the transcendent 25 years ago, quite by accident, quite unexpectedly. It was an experience that changed the course of my life.
 
A part of me discounted the experience at that time, because it seemed so unconventional. Yet it set me on a course that, I know now, has led me to my own true north. I’d like to read what I wrote, word for word, because of the intimate nature of the words and subject - and so you can feel what I felt then. So that we can all merge, in some way perhaps, with the experience just as it happened . . .
 
How It All Began
 
It was one of those effervescent Sundays, much like today, where the sun seemed to find its way into every corner of the world, and the world, adoring this undivided attention, lit up like a jewel in a store front window. The bed was tousled in a way that seduced both dreams and desires as crisp white sheets, feather duvets and soft pillows filled every edge to the brim and overflowing. My lover, a particularly striking and passionate Columbian man, pulled me into his arms and I sank into his chest and belly as our bodies emerged from the deep slumber that followed an evening of ardently arduous primal lovemaking.
 
My clothes lay shredded on the floor, my body was a tender map of our journey. Our loving the night before, dark and primordial, had spanned hours and lifetimes as he demanded from me the woman that I'd kept hidden from him. He entered me and then entered me again and again each time reaching a deeper and darker place within me, shattering pretense and laying me, at the last, utterly naked to him.
 
The morning was as bright as the night had been dark and the sunlight found its way into our bodies and every corner of the bed. The lovemaking began in that sleepy, subdued way where everything seems soft and wet and everything seems to melt into everything all at once. My lover, exotic in his beauty, arched above me and I took him in. I took him in in the mood of the morning, brilliant, strong and full. It was in this moment that I realized everything had changed. That lovemaking, for me, would never be the same, ever again.
 
For, as he entered me, he entered my whole being. From the moment he touched me there was nothing in me that was not filled by him. It was as if the light around us was now streaming within us from his body into mine. I was flooded by the beauty of this man and something beyond the both of us. The cool air of morning gave sharp contrast to the heat between us and as I looked into his eyes I saw something so magnificent, so familiar, yet new. I saw the man beyond the man and, even though I had no context for this experience, I knew I had encountered something so basic and true as to be absolute.
 
The atmosphere between us crackled with electric charge and all my senses were flooded with what could only be described as otherworldly sensation. I could see our sounds, hear the trembling of our bodies and I could smell the shift in our reality as it hit my fontanel with the impact of brimstone, some cosmic smelling salts conspiring to wake me up. There was a sound, something more like a shimmering, that brought our lovemaking simultaneously into a cellular and cosmic level and it was as if nothing had ever existed but this. I felt the world born within me, within every atom of my being.
 
We loved one another that morning suspended in time. And the beauty of it is just how simple that morning was to two lovers willing to see it, a morning like 10,000 other beautiful mornings. Simple and human and tender. A morning that had been waiting for us all our lives, that waits for each of us . . . to touch our hearts, give us a glimpse of freedom, of love, of This.
 
. . .
 
Life continues to gift me with spectacular "mornings" with "him" in all his glorious forms, and soon after this experience life gave me a teacher, even before I knew the word Tantra. This is where "it" began, that effervescent Sunday morning that led me to now. The place where I share with others who sense the same potential in sex that I do.
 
Self Actualization 
 
Sex contains within it seeds of our potential. A potential that is actualized when we cultivate sexual mastery.
 
Self actualization is the desire for self-fulfilment, namely, the tendency for us to become actualized in what we are potentially. Abraham Maslow, the psychologist famous for Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, a pyramid of needs which culminate in self actualization, set out to prove that humans are not blindly reacting to situations, but trying to accomplish something greater.
 
This informed his theory that a person enjoys "peak experiences", high points in life when the individual is in harmony with himself and his surroundings.
 
6 Attributes of the Self Actualized Individual 
 
Acceptance & Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions of themselves, others and the world around them.

Problem-Centering: Self-actualized individuals are concerned with solving problems outside of themselves including helping others and finding solutions to problems in the external world. These people are often motivated by a sense of personal responsibility (they consider themselves a part of the world rather than observers) and ethics.

Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal thoughts and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional.

Autonomy & Solitude: Another characteristic of self-actualized people is the need for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others, these individuals need time to focus on developing their own individual potential.

Continued Freshness of Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view the world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.

Peak Experience: Individuals who are self-actualized often have what Maslow termed peak experiences, or moments of intense appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.
 
Sex Actualization 
 
The self actualized attributes are also the attributes of the masterful lover. Someone who is in harmony with themselves and their surroundings. In harmony with their sexuality and their lover.
 
Our genitals hold tremendous power. Power that births both dreams and desires. 
  
"It is the place of original magic."  Sheila Chandra
 
Attributes of the Sex Actualized Lover
  • The sex actualized lover knows themselves sexually. They’ve explored the vast landscape of pleasure and they’re well versed in what arouses them, brings them to the edge, takes them over and beyond it. The sex actualized lover is sexually alive. They’ve been through ups and downs in their own sexual exploration and have discovered that challenge or uncertainty in the bedroom can lead to connection and pleasure - when met with an open heart.
  • The sex actualized lover listens with their body. For the sex actualized lover, lovemaking is a full body expression of love that has the potential to grow exponentially, clothes on and off. They’ve learned that pleasure is meant to expand through the body, that it doesn’t have to be limited to the genitals. The sex actualized lover is able to merge without losing themselves, listening with their whole being, they meet the beloved on every level while maintaining a loving awareness of themselves, their values and desires.
  • The sex actualized lover knows that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The sex actualized lover takes the initiative to work through old hurts and disagreements that have clouded their vision, they take responsibility for finding the way back to an open heart because they know a closed heart hurts them most of all. The sex actualized lover is not afraid of saying “no” or setting limits when transgressions have occurred, but they don’t hold on to old baggage. The sex actualized lover maintains a sense of openness, they approach every encounter as if it’s the first time, every time.
  • The sex actualized lover is fearless, embracing the unfathomable love that arises through sex when orgasm is no longer a goal. The sex actualized lover engages in lovemaking and self-pleasure without the goal of orgasm, giving themselves the opportunity to explore pleasure, intimacy and connection with and without orgasm so that new possibilities appear in the arousal trajectory. Both men and women are more sensitive to the orgasmic response cycle when the pelvic floor is well toned and relaxed. The sex actualized lover practices pelvic floor exercises to expand arousal capacity and awareness.
  • The sex actualized lover is generous, planning activities they enjoy rather than filling their calendar with meeting after meeting or task after task. The sex actualized lover knows the allure of todays busy world, yet consciously choses not to add one more stressful activity to an already full calendar. They schedule time for a healthy lunch, a walk in nature, or getting together with close friends. They set up a childcare coop with other parents so they have child-free time each week. The sex actualized lover is consistently nourished and fulfilled in themselves, so much so, they are overflowing with generosity with those they love.
  • The sex actualized lover sees that that never changes. According to compassionate touch therapist, Dawn Nelson, "The ability to put your attention on another person as an individual is one of the most useful skills a sex actualized lover can develop. When I speak of the individual, I am referring to something other than someone's physical appearance, personality or behaviour. I am talking about something that does not change. It is something other than the body, the mind, the ego, emotions, thoughts, feelings, perceptions, awareness and all the other things that we identify as being who we are."
 
The True Potential of Sex
 
Later in his life, Maslow explored a further dimension of needs, discovering that self actualization leads to self transcendence, the experience of giving to some higher goal outside oneself. Maslow found that the actualized life leads, ultimately, to altruism. 
 
Through sex we encounter the “other” in a profoundly intimate way. Sex, when we allow ourselves to be dissolved by it, takes us to a place where we expand our capacity to understand, to know and to care. There are few experience in life more confronting or more connecting than sex. We come to know ourselves and the apparent other in ways we never could otherwise and we actualize our potential as human beings. In this way, our innate altruism grows.

 
The monumental issues we face in the world now center around altruism - understanding others who appear to be so very different from ourselves. To recognize the challenges as our own. To be a part of the solution. To cultivate, realistically, great appreciation, to live in a constant state of awe and wonder.
 
As unconventional as it may seem, our sexuality is a place where we can begin to make these shifts in a powerful way. I've seen it happen in my own life and in the lives of those around me. We grow each time we enter sex completely, each time we merge with the transcendent feelings that appear. Sex puts us in sync. We listen closely with more than just our ears. We find a rhythm that joins us and makes us one. All barriers dissolve. We leave the seat of the observer and we become a part of - all of life.
 
This is not only our desire. It is our destiny.
 
This is the true potential of sex.
 
Become Sex Actualized.  
Pre-Bhakti Fest Event . Sex Actualization
Sunday . July 31st . Santa Monica 

Enter voucher code BHAKTI to receive 50% off the workshop fee.

I'm partnering up with Bhakti Fest to offer a Special Event Sex Actualization Open Class Immersion, Sunday, July 31st. This experiential class will be an extended version of my all new Sex Actualization Open Class program - 4 hours instead of 2 - and - it's on a SUNDAY.

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. Could our sexuality be a means for actualizing our human potential? What is true sexual mastery?

What is Sex Actualization?

What to expect . . .

•Learn specific techniques that will allow you to open up your body to experience completely what you are capable of as a sexual and spiritual being.

•Learn about Tantra as a spiritual pursuit and journey.

•Learn how to feel the sexual energy in your body and how to exchange it with a partner so that you merge together as one.

•Learn how to surrender to a full body orgasm - to have access to your orgasm more naturally and easily than you do now.

•Experience sexual energy moving through your body and learn how to make that happen.

•Discover new ways of opening your heart and being vulnerable with another person - powered by your sexual energy.

•Experience surrender and relaxation in high states of arousal.

•Share your sexual self with your partner without fear - be completely yourself, completely honest, your most authentic self.

•Discover your own personal Tantric quest, what can you expect to happen on the journey? Where are you going? What is possible for you?

•Reconnect with your genitals and feel them pulsing with sexual energy and desire - awake to your aliveness.

•Be completely present in sexual moments with no expectations of yourself or your partner, in joy, in gratitude – in just being - with no judgments.

•Discover your sexual empowerment, learn how to give of yourself without fear.

•Experience a heart that has opened, not through trying to be loving, but by allowing aliveness to flow through your body and feel vulnerable and full of love, love you can share with others easily and naturally.

•Be truly intimate with yourself and others with your sexual energy as an incredible force of awakening and vitality.

•And - I'll share some of what my journey has been and how it's unfolding. My goals for myself. The techniques I practice.

Sex Actualization . Pre-Bhakti Fest Tantra Immersion
Sunday . July 31st . 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
2525 Michigan Avenue . Suite D5 . Santa Monica . 90404
$100 per person*
 
Register Now

*Enter voucher code: BHAKTI to receive 50% off the workshop fee.

What to bring . . .
 
Pillow and blanket or sheepskin to sit and lie down on, flower petals, something delicious and decadent to drink and share with glasses to drink from and bottled water. Plan your day and commute so that you are able to arrive early to allow plenty of time to find parking. What would make it possible for you to arrive and be in the space by 12:30 pm? 12:45 pm latest? Are you able to arrive between 12:00 pm and 12:15 pm to assist with registration?


We'll learn, practice, question and explore specific practices that cultivate a sexual charge in the pelvis. We'll learn ways of activating the Kundalini and every aspect of who we are during lovemaking. We'll investigate male and female arousal anatomy, taking a close look at regions that have been deleted from modern anatomy books. We'll delve into the what, why, when and how of sexual chemistry, what it is, what it means and how to harness it - in every type of relationship.
 
And, we'll look at the parallels between academic Tantra research and live practice during this afternoon of dynamic inquiry, exploration and sharing.

Everyone is welcome, this workshop is open to men and women, singles and couples. All ages, orientations and expressions embraced.
Be Fully Alive . Level 1 Tantra Weekend
August 13th - 14th . Santa Monica
 
Your sexual energy is one of the most powerful spiritual awakening forces in your life, yet a great deal of your sexual potential lies untapped, unexplored. Learn ways of accessing this potential, freeing it, as you open your body, heart and soul to the experience of being fully alive.

Using Tantric techniques that incorporate breath, movement and awareness, you will learn how to access the heart of kundalini - your sexual energy.
 
The perfect Tantra weekend for those just beginning to explore the path as well as those who have been practicing for years. A complete set of Tantric tools that will make it possible for you to begin to unlock the secrets of this beautiful, mysterious path. 
 
Be Fully Alive is a prerequisite for the 2017 - 2018 Fragrance of the Lotus Year-Long Tantra Immersion & Teacher Certification Program. 

Be Fully Alive . Level 1 Tantra Immersion
August 13th - 14th . 2016
10:00 am - 5:00 pm each day
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel . Suite 731
1700 Ocean Avenue . Santa Monica . 90401
$600 per person . non-residential
 
Register Now
 
The word Tantra has many meanings, it can mean “to weave”, it can also mean “technique”. In recent years interest in Tantra has grown, many teachers are sharing extraordinary practices and teachings, some reaching back thousands of years, others as fresh as the turn of the century and others even more recent. You have probably already recognized the potency of sex in your own life - and feel ready to explore Tantra.
 
Through Tantra you will find an endless road of possibility, revealing practical tools that lead to physical, emotional and spiritual fulfillment as a lover. In this process, you will discover a life that exceeds your wildest dreams. You will be intrigued by what is possible for you as a sexual being.
 
I look forward to having you along for the quest.
Bhakti Fest . West Coast Kirtan Festival
September 8th - 11th . Joshua Tree
 
Dawn Cartwright returns to Bhakti Fest with an invitation to discover who you are and can be as a sexual being.

Bhakti Fest is a festival which celebrates the devotional path that has its roots in yoga, kirtan, and meditation. It embraces ancient and modern sacred wisdom and traditional and non-traditional spiritual practices.

The festival is a vehicle for the evolution of human consciousness through a heart-centered revolution. Bhakti Fest builds a community of people drawn to follow the path of the heart – a devotional, prayerful, loving, healthful, respectful family. All the artists, presenters, and vendors embody, practice, and share the spirit of Bhakti through a variety of ways, including . . .

• Continuous Kirtan
• Yoga Classes
• Meditations and Prayer
• Teachings and workshops
• Fire Ceremonies (Pujas)
• Hanuman Chalisas
• Eco-Friendly, holistic market place
• Vegetarian, Vegan, and Raw Vegan Cuisine
• Wellness Sanctuary: massage, bodywork, energy work, intuitive readings, and other unique wellness enhancing modalities.

Bhakti Fest . West Coast Kirtan Festival
Joshua Tree . California
September 8th - 11th . 2016
 
Purchase Tickets Now
Tantra: The Path of Divine Love
October 1st - 2nd . Amsterdam
 
Tantric visionary, Dawn Cartwright, director of Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute, invites you to join her for a very special weekend of discovery.
 
Learn and experience the Tantric secrets of love and intimacy. In this weekend immersion, you will be guided you through exquisitely beautiful Tantric practices designed for singles and couples alike, a journey into the far reaches of the heart. You will discover what the Tantric sages have known for thousands of years . . . the more love you are willing to see in the world, the more love appears all around and within you.

Grounded in the ancient Tantric sutras and sacred writings, Tantra - which means “to weave” in Sanskrit - is a practical philosophy that teaches us how spiritual values can help us live with an open heart, bringing joy and compassion into everything we do.

This experiential workshop is designed for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. It is not necessary to have any previous Tantra or meditation experience. All ages and orientations are welcome.

You will explore . . .
  • What is Tantra? The spiritual journey. The personal discovery. 
  • Tantric breathing, Tantra yoga, Tantra meditations & more.
  • Beautiful heart opening practices that liberate the spirit. 
  • The connection between Tantra and intimacy. What is Divine Love?
  • What is sacred sexuality? Can it be a personal, inner journey? 
  • Activating & channeling ecstatic energy in the body.
  • Tantra practices and techniques to take home for future exploration.
Tantra: The Path of Divine Love
De Roos Centrum
P.C. Hooftstraat 183 1071 BW Amsterdam
October 1st - 2nd . 2016
10:00 am - 5:00 pm each day
€200 per person
 
Register Now
Buddha Bag Meeting . Sex Made Sublime
Thursday . October 6th . Dublin
 
Dawn Cartwright is on her way back to Buddha Bag for an experiential evening of discovery.

You will be guided you through exquisitely beautiful Tantric practices designed for singles and couples alike, a journey into the far reaches of the heart. You will discover what the Tantric sages have known for thousands of years . . . the more love you are willing to see in the world, the more love appears all around and within you.

This experiential workshop is designed for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. It is not necessary to have any previous Tantra or meditation experience. All ages and orientations are welcome.

You will explore . . .
  • What is Tantra? The spiritual journey. The personal discovery.
  • Tantric breathing, Tantra yoga, Tantra meditations & more.
  • Beautiful heart opening practices that liberate the spirit. 
  • The connection between Tantra and intimacy. What is Divine Love?
  • What is sacred sexuality? Can it be a personal, inner journey? 
  • Activating & channeling ecstatic energy in the body.
  • Tantra practices and techniques to take home for future exploration
Sex Made Sublime
Buddha Bag Meeting
The Lantern Centre . 17 Synge Street . Dublin 8
Thursday . October 6th . 7:45 pm
€15 Suggested Donation
 
Buddha Bag Meeting
6 Nights of Tantric Bliss . Ireland
October 7th - October 13th . Ireland
 
Each year I return to Ireland in the autumn to share my latest Tantric discoveries and epiphanies. This year, I am deep into the Sri Vidya; the Tantric lineage that is beautifully erotic and exquisitely scientific at once. I look forward to sharing it all with you.

I've been traveling to Ireland for over 15 years now - and there's a reason - the depth of feeling in the land and people gives a special kind of fertile ground for these Tantric seeds of embodied awakening. 
 
Explore the sacredness of your sexuality - the fire that ignites the heart and liberates the spirit. When lived and experienced naturally, our sexuality opens our heart, births creativity, power and freedom, actualizing the potential of love in every way, in every encounter.

Secluded in the wilds of the Wicklow mountains, we'll explore Tantra, the path of the heart, as we explore the secrets contained within the mystical sutras of the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra. Everyone is welcome, this immersion is open to men and women, singles and couples.

Sacred Sexuality . How We Love . 6-Nights of Tantric Bliss
October 7th - October 13th . 2016
Mucklaugh . Aughavannagh . County Wicklow
€175 per night . €350 two nights . €650 four nights . €800 six nights
Gourmet Vegetarian Meals & Deluxe Ensuite Lodging Included
Friday dinner to Thursday lunch . Residential Retreat
 
Register Now
 
A Day at Sacred Sexuality . How We Love

Morning
Awaken to the soft morning light spilling over the mountains.

8:30 am . Breakfast
Home cooked porridge, crusty bread, local eggs, cheeses & jams.

10:00 am . Morning Workshop Session
The breath of ecstasy. Learning the mysteries of your body. The yoga of love and more.

11:45 am . Tea Break
As an American, when I first came to Ireland, I'd no tea at the workshops - not efficient! Takes too much time! Then, my god, the Irish would FIND tea somehow in the cupboards tea always appeared. Cup in my hand, I came to understand and love this important time of togetherness. Now tea is scheduled into all my programs herbal AND Barry's.

12:00 pm . Morning Workshop Session Resumes

1:00 pm . Lunch
Blissfully inspired vegetarian delights. Savory soup. Delectable salads. Loving you from the inside out.

2:00 pm . Private Session
Private sessions are a way to explore sexuality, intimacy, meditation, and much more, through Tantra. Additional cost applies.

3:00 pm . Private Session
Sessions are designed to support you in accessing your full ecstatic potential through Tantra. Additional cost applies.

4:30 pm . Afternoon Workshop Session
Cultivate awareness. Explore your orgasmic potential. Discover a vertical reality. Discover the power that lies hidden in your heart.

5:45 pm . Tea Break

6:00 pm . Afternoon Workshop Session Resumes

7:00 pm . Dinner
A sensual feast. Exotic flavors. Savory nourishment. Dorene's cooking will enliven you.

8:30 pm . Evening Workshop or Ritual
Tantric love puja. Chakra massage. Sensual awakening ritual. Music. Mystical. Playful. Sensual. Family.

Late Night
Drifting off to bed to dream Tantric dreams.

Accommodation . . .

Nestled in the heart of Wicklow, this lovingly renovated lodge - built on the foundation and surrounded by the antique gardens of an old hunting lodge - is one of the most beautiful Centres I've experienced anywhere in the world. The house is cheerful, warm and cozy.

The forest has the most mystical trees and they are very much a involved with all the goings on in our sessions. The river is extraordinary . . . I go down for a dip each morning. There are mosses growing here that exist no where else in the world. Mucklaugh is a very, very special place, it will love you and remember you each time you arrive . . . it's already begun to call me back from California.

Twin Rooms Ensuite
All the ensuite bedrooms have two exceptionally comfy twin beds and breathtaking views the mountains rising out of the river gorge. Beds are specially designed to "zip" together for couples. Please note, there are 10 beds only. Book early to assure your place. Once the beds are filled . . .

Sleeping Bag Dormitory
In the gorgeous circular group room downstairs, panoramic views. €15 per night reduction.

Off-Site Accommodation
A list of possibilities is available upon request. €15 per night reduction.
The Red Tent . Women's Sacred Sexuality
Friday . October 21st . Denver
 
Since ancient times women have gathered together to dream mystical dreams, share wisdom and renew sexual power. Sitting in circle within The Red Tent, they are relieved of their daily responsibilities and cared for by other women. All working and doing aside, together they explore the secrets of the cosmos through the gateway of their wombs. They feed their femininity and emerge refreshed, renewed and empowered by what they have shared and witnessed.

Sisters, it is time to gather together again. We will gather together to dream a potent dream of womanhood. We will be fed by the rich stores of nature; nourished by the fullness of our life's journey.

You will experience . . .

Beauty . You'll enter a womb-like Tantric environment designed to soothe your body, heart and spirit, revealing the beauty and sweetness of your essential nature.

Practices . You'll learn and experience sacred sexuality practices that rejuvenate, enliven and clear your body, heart and spirit.

Sanity . You'll be cradled in comfort and stillness, nothing to do, nothing to achieve or take care of. Time to rest and restore.

Femininity . You'll be nurtured, just by being in a 'tent', lying on the ground, surrounded by woman bodies, fed simple organic treats, You'll emerge refreshed and renewed.

Nourishment . Savory soups, vibrant greens. Aphrodisiacs and elixirs to fortify your feminine body.

Space . Time and space to simply be.

The Red Tent . Women's Sacred Sexuality
Friday . October 21st . 2016
Samadhi Center for Yoga . Denver . Colorado
$200 Per Person*
 
Register Now

*$150 Early Bird . Please Complete Registration By October 14th

The Red Tent is open to all women of menarche age and above. A woman under 18 years of age must be accompanied by her mother, aunt, sister, grandmother or guardian. Nursing and bottle-feeding mothers are welcome to bring their infants. Women who have reached menopause are especially welcome as holders of the blood and keepers of the wisdom. Women who have experienced hysterectomy are welcome, the physical womb may be gone; the womb energy remains always.

Sisters, you are welcome in The Red Tent.
Tantra Preview Evening
Friday . October 21st . Denver
 
Dawn Cartwright is on her way back to Samadhi Center for Yoga for the evening preview of her new workshop program to be presented October 22nd - 23rd, Tantra: The Path of Divine Love. Having just returned from a pilgrimage to India, Dawn will share the rare and beautiful Tantric practices she learned during her time there.

This experiential evening is designed for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. It is not necessary to have any previous Tantra or meditation experience. All ages and orientations are welcome.


Tantra: The Path of Divine Love
Friday . October 21st . 2016
Wednesday . April 13th . 7:45 pm - 9:15 pm
Samadhi Center for Yoga
$25 Per Person*
 
Register Now

*$20 Early Bird . Please Complete Registration By October 14th
Tantra: The Path of Divine Love
October 22nd - 23rd . Denver
 
Tantric visionary, Dawn Cartwright, director of Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute in Santa Monica, California, returns to Samadhi for a very special weekend of discovery.

Learn and experience the Tantric secrets of love and intimacy. In this half-day immersion, you will be guided you through exquisitely beautiful Tantric practices designed for singles and couples alike, a journey into the far reaches of the heart. You will discover what the Tantric sages have known for thousands of years . . . the more love you are willing to see in the world, the more love appears all around and within you.

Grounded in the ancient Tantric sutras and sacred writings, Tantra - which means “to weave” in Sanskrit - is a practical philosophy that teaches us how spiritual values can help us live with an open heart, bringing joy and compassion into everything we do.

This experiential workshop is designed for beginners and advanced practitioners alike. It is not necessary to have any previous Tantra or meditation experience. All ages and orientations are welcome.

You will explore . . .
  • What is Tantra? The spiritual journey. The personal discovery.
  • Tantric breathing, Tantra yoga, Tantra meditations & more.
  • Beautiful heart opening practices that liberate the spirit.
  • The connection between Tantra and intimacy. What is Divine Love?
  • What is sacred sexuality? Can it be a personal, inner journey?
  • Activating & channeling ecstatic energy in the body.
  • Tantra practices and techniques to take home for future exploration.
Tantra: The Path of Divine Love
Samadhi Center for Yoga & Meditation
Denver . Colorado
October 22nd - 23rd . 2016
$400 Per Person*
 
Register Now

*$300 Early Bird . Please Complete Registration By October 14th
Sex Actualization . Tantra Practice Group
October 27th - December 22nd . Marina del Rey
 
We'll learn, practice, question and explore specific practices that cultivate a sexual charge in the pelvis.

We'll learn ways of activating the Kundalini and every aspect of who we are during lovemaking.

We'll investigate male and female arousal anatomy, taking a close look at regions that have been deleted from modern anatomy books.

We'll delve into the what, why, when and how of sexual chemistry, what it is, what it means and how to harness it - in every type of relationship.

And, we'll look at the parallels between academic Tantra research and live practice as we form a dynamic 7-week community of inquiry, exploration and sharing.

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. Could our sexuality be a means for actualising our human potential? What is true sexual mastery?

What is Sex Actualization?

What to expect . . .
  • Learn specific techniques that will allow you to open up your body to experience completely what you are capable of as a sexual and spiritual being.
  • Learn about Tantra as a spiritual pursuit and journey.
  • Learn how to feel the sexual energy in your body and how to exchange it with a partner so that you merge together as one.
  • Learn how to surrender to a full body orgasm - to have access to your orgasm more naturally and easily than you do now.
  • Experience sexual energy moving through your body and learn how to make that happen.
  • Discover new ways of opening your heart and being vulnerable with another person - powered by your sexual energy.
  • Experience surrender and relaxation in high states of arousal.
  • Share your sexual self with your partner without fear - be completely yourself, completely honest, your most authentic self.
  • Discover your own personal Tantric quest, what can you expect to happen on the journey? Where are you going? What is possible for you?
  • Reconnect with your genitals and feel them pulsing with sexual energy and desire - awake to your aliveness.
  • Be completely present in sexual moments with no expectations of yourself or your partner, in joy, in gratitude – in just being - with no judgments.
  • Discover your sexual empowerment, learn how to give of yourself without fear.
  • Experience a heart that has opened, not through trying to be loving, but by allowing aliveness to flow through your body and feel vulnerable and full of love, love you can share with others easily and naturally.
  • Be truly intimate with yourself and others with your sexual energy as an incredible force of awakening and vitality.
  • And - I'll share some of what my journey has been and how it's unfolding. My goals for myself. The techniques I practice.
Sex Actualization . Tantra Practice Group . 7-Week Series
Marina del Rey . California
October 27th - December 22nd . *No class Nov 24th & Dec 8th
Thursdays . 7:30 - 9:30 pm
$350 series of 7 classes
 
Register Now

*The class Thursday, October 27th, is an Open Class, cost $50. You do not have to be enrolled in the 7-week series to attend the Sex Actualization . Open Class, everyone is welcome.
The Red Tent . Women's Sacred Sexuality
November 11th - 13th . Ojai
  
Since ancient times women have gathered together to dream mystical dreams, share wisdom and renew sexual power. Sitting in circle within The Red Tent, they are relieved of their daily responsibilities and cared for by other women. All working and doing aside, together they explore the secrets of the cosmos through the gateway of their wombs. They feed their femininity and emerge refreshed, renewed and empowered by what they have shared and witnessed.

Sisters, it is time to gather together again. We will gather together to dream a potent dream of womanhood. We will be fed by the rich stores of nature; nourished by the fullness of our life's journey.
 
You will experience . . .

Beauty . You'll enter a womb-like Tantric environment designed to soothe your body, heart and spirit, revealing the beauty and sweetness of your essential nature.

Practices . You'll learn and experience sacred sexuality practices that rejuvenate, enliven and clear your body, heart and spirit.

Sanity . You'll be cradled in comfort and stillness, nothing to do, nothing to achieve or take care of. Time to rest and restore.

Femininity . You'll be nurtured, just by being in a 'tent', lying on the ground, surrounded by woman bodies, fed simple organic treats, You'll emerge refreshed and renewed.

Nourishment . Savory soups, vibrant greens. Aphrodisiacs and elixirs to fortify your feminine body.

Space . Time and space to simply be.

The Red Tent . Women's Sacred Sexuality
November 11th - 13th . 2016
Ojai . California
Friday dinner to Sunday breakfast
$850 per person* . Meals & Luxurious Shared Lodging Included
$650 per person* . Meals & Cozy Sleeping Bag Lodging Included

Register Now
 
*Enter voucher code: SHAKTI to receive $100 off until August 25th

The Red Tent Schedule . . . 

Arrive . Friday . November 11th

Plan to arrive early to enjoy a hike, a massage* or soak in the hot tub. A refreshing liquid libation composed of organic raw honey & lavender tonic in sparkling water, organic raw nut spread or hummus with organic gluten-free crackers and fresh veggies will be served when you arrive. You are welcome anytime between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. *Massages may be booked in advance for an additional cost.
 
7:00 pm . Dinner . Individual goat's cheese, spinach & sundried tomato quiches, asparagus limone, lettuce cups with avocado dressing, pistachio flatbread, and for dessert, raw cacao truffles.

8:30 pm . Welcome to The Red Tent . An enchanting sensual journey guided by Dawn. Leave the outside world behind as you dive deeply into the hidden mysteries of personal sexual alchemy for women.
 
10:00 pm . Dream Tantric Dreams . You'll be served an aphrodisiac elixir made with damiana, rose, passion flower & organic raw honey. Then time for a late night dip in the hot tub, star gazing . . . and deep sweet sleep.
 
Women's Sacred Sexuality . November 11th - 13th
 
The journey continues and deepens with beautiful sensual sacred sexuality practices, plenty of relaxation time and decadent organic meals, aphrodisiacs and elixirs.
  • You'll learn simple rejuvenation practices that will gently restore your feminine essence.
  • You'll sink into nature, surrounded by the glorious Topa Topa Mountains, fragrant with the scent of sage and citrus.
  • Woman is nature. Our bodies are in tune in with the cycles of the earth, moon, sun and stars. The subtle vibration of our sexual energy is a receptive, expansive, self-nourishing flow.
  • During this weekend for women, you'll be gently guided back to the rhythm of your own body.
  • You'll learn Tantric secrets for inner pleasures that will continue to nourish you for years to come.
  • There is something remarkable about women gathered together, a synergy that takes on a life of its own. I've led these retreats around the world and have found nothing that compares to the depth, wisdom and abundant warmth of a woman's circle. Sisters, you are welcome in The Red Tent.
  • Check out time is 12:00 pm, Sunday, November 13th.
A Tantric Expedition to India . Devipuram
December 25th, 2016 - January 9th, 2017
 
An expedition to Devipuram, the hidden Srividya Ashram in Andra Pradesh, where we will travel to the center of the Sri Yantra and experienced a direct encounter with Sri Lalita Tripurasundari.

"The Sri Yantra is composed of nine triangles, four facing upward, five facing downward. In the center, at the center of a small downward facing triangle formed by the relationship between the four upward and five downward, there is a dot, the bindu. The bindu contains within it three bindus: the ova, the sperm and the child.

Eight years ago, I first visited Devipuram, a Srividya ashram in the jungles of southern India. During my visit, on the morning of the full moon, I was invited to be a part of Lalita Tripura Sundari's bathing ritual, the abhishekam. Attendees brought milk, ghee, sugar and an elaborate new sari to her chamber at the top of the Meru Temple. The ritual began with singing - I was told Lalita loves singing - and the undressing of the goddess. First, crowns and jewels were lovingly removed, then her sari. As we carefully unwound the opulent sari from her body, I saw what had been hidden - Shiva lying in repose, in sexual union with Lalita. My heart smiled in a way I cannot describe.

We sang to them, we poured ghee over their bodies, washed them with sugar, more ghee, then milk. These rich fluids were collected in a basin at her feet, to be made into a special dessert for our evening meal.

The hidden, revealed, met hidden places in my heart. At the center, they are one. Oneness entering the world through their distinction. Their individuation. Lalita is the cosmos. Shiva is that that knows her. Without individuation, the ecstasies of this endless discovery are not possible. Without their intimate joining, there is nothing. The are one and distinct. Perhaps this is why we love love so much. Love reveals to us that the ova and sperm are one. When this happens, conception occurs in every part of our being. Union is revealed. And the cosmos lives as us."
 
Dawn Cartwright

The teachings and experiences that unfolded for me at Devipuram are like pages from a novel. Seeds of Sri Vidya planted in my heart at Devipuram are bearing fruit, now, years later. This is a journey for the true Tantrica. For those who wish to go beyond intellectual understanding and merge with the extraordinary cosmology and mysticism that is Sri Vidya.

We'll make the expedition back to Devipuram in late December, you are invited to join me. Traveling to my spiritual home, we'll walk the same well-worn paths walked by thousands of Tantrics since the beginning of time.

The teachings and experiences that unfolded for me at Devipuram are like pages from a novel. Seeds of Sri Vidya planted in my heart at Devipuram are bearing fruit, now, years later. This is a journey for the true Tantrica. For those who wish to go beyond intellectual understanding and merge with the extraordinary cosmology and mysticism that is Sri Vidya.
 
I Will Have You
a postcard from india . july 25 . 2007

india is teaching me a great deal about tantra. i am having dreams of it. in my dream two nights ago, i met a beautiful dark man with raven curls and shining black eyes, a tattoo of crimson flowers slithering up his spine. he said, "i will have you." during the day yesterday it became clear that "he" is tantra, and even more simply, he is life . . . and all that it implies. i can feel his embrace even now.

last night, here in pondicherry, before going to devipuram, i had another dream. in this dream i met a man who sat on the ground. he handed me three stones. the first was "man", the second was "woman", the third was "conception". the first two stones were engraved with the words, "man" and "woman". the third stone was actually a small jeweled ganapathi, ganesh, made in red and black lacquer, set in gold. this dream showed me that tantra is simple, the mysteries of life and love live right here, in the moment. tantra has nothing to do with judgments of any kind, it has only to do with facing what is as it is - in every case . . . melting away all my walls and barriers. tantra has nothing to do with moving energy, energy moves by herself. the question is, am i willing to step away from all those distractions, including spirituality, that take me away from the nakedness of this moment, as it is, right now? this morning, in the embrace of my dream, i can feel i have no choice, actually, and i feel exquisitely blessed.

i look forward to sharing these simple mysteries with all of you, very soon.


December 25th - January 9th . Devipuram
Sri Lalita Tripurasundari . The Sri Vidya

We'll travel together from Chennai to Visakhapatnam, making our way to the center of the yantra, to Devipuram, arriving in the lap of Lalita Tripura Sundari. Welcome home.
 
Conception
a postcard from a tantric ashram in india . august 27 . 2007

"i want to know more." he spoke to me through the lives we'd spent together before. as he spoke, my womb surged in my belly, as if she'd been waiting for this moment since the beginning of time . . . then time itself took a breath, waiting for my answer.

he stood in the shadows, his raven curls kissed by the moonlight in a way that was, at once, both seductive and ominous. this was the man of my dream. only days before, in the french-india village of pondicherry, i'd seen him, this dark, luminous man. he had promised me of our meeting, "i will have you" he'd said in the dream, and even then, in my slumber, he'd set my body and soul aflame with his promise.

i said, "yes", before i'd even realized i'd spoken, as if "yes" spoke me instead.
we moved swiftly along the darkened paths of the forest our bare feet hardly touching the earth, the wind began to stir, lifting us, nearly flying, to the top of the mountain, to the shivalyam . . . a temple dedicated to the sacredness of the penis.

. . . . . . .

i am writing to you from a tantric ashram in a remote part of india. i felt my awareness shift even on the journey here, for as we drove deeper onto the mountain roads my world transformed, luscious green, cool and quiet, in great contrast to the dry intense heat and intense noise i'd experienced so far in india. just an hour outside the city, i could feel the pace of life suddenly shift to a slowness that seemed to me to be, timeless.

the grass huts we passed on the drive blended into the earth and forest around them. in the early morning hours, i would often see fires burning within and imagined the simple breakfast cooking there; idly with coconut chutney and hot cups of chai.

women gathered at wells along the road, each carrying at least one large water jug made from brightly colored plastic; red blue, green . . . the colors rivaled only by the saris worn by the women themselves; red, blue, green, lavender, yellow, orange. stanzas of their morning gossip seemed to leap into my taxi and the rhythm of the melody came from the glass bangles and silver anklets they wore.

men urged yoked pairs of oxen toward the fields for their morning's work. the eyes of the cattle, huge and liquid, exuded all the sacredness of their favored position in hindu spirituality, their horns forming halos high above their brows, often making the shape of a heart. some of these cows wore bells on the tip of their horns, tinkling the sound of puja and prayer with every step.

as we turned into the entrance to the ashram it seemed as if the forest opened, then closed behind us, for i did not see the entrance as we approached and, looking back, could not discern the opening from the trees all around the road. i remember wondering if i would find my way out, should i need to, then quickly forgot that brief concern for my independence as we followed the winding road to the ashram. i'd been told cobras lived in these forests and, perhaps it was only my imagination, but i was certain i could feel their regal surveillance as i entered their domain.

the soft, quiet, feeling of the drive gave way to total silence as we approached the ashram gate. it seemed as if the very earth stood still in this place. nothing moved and there was no one in sight even today, on the eve of guru pournima, the grand festival about to take place. my driver got out and pushed the gate open . . .

. . . it was then that i saw her. the sri meru temple, a massive three-dimensional sri yantra, surrounded by 108 sky clad dakinis. the sri yantra, the shape of the human body in geometric form, the most sacred of all tantric symbols, literally, the mystical blueprint for all that we experience and call "life".

i stopped breathing . . . and was breathed by her. my heart stopped beating . . . and i felt my body merge with her. yet, somewhere, near the surface, a small bit of myself clung on and i felt myself resist the urge to laugh in a fit of madness as threads of my cultural reality dissolved into the silence all around me. the driver dropped my bags outside the temple and i was taken, guided now, to meet the guru who had created this tantric oasis.

guruji sat on a simple bench outside the ashram, surrounded by what looked like family. his followers were gathered around him sitting as close to him and one another as possible, 6 or 7 on benches intended for 4 or 5, each with a contented grin on his or her face, bodies soft and quiet. a feeling of welcome all around. guruji reminded me of a jolly santa on holiday as he sat there, rosy cheeks, round belly, beautiful white beard flowing down onto his white shirt. his doti; white, feet; bare, he welcomed me before i even met his eyes, a warmth filling me as i came closer. i bowed at his feet in namaskar and the feeling was that of water on water, my river coming home to the ocean. sheer love and peacefulness.

my guide took me on, up the mountain, to the kamakhya peetham and sivalayam. everything happened so fast.

the door to the kamakhya peetham was open. i assumed, naturally, that this temple was always open and it was only in the coming days that i learned that the door is always locked and that special permission was needed to enter. today, the door was, not only unlocked, but standing open. i gasped as i entered. on the floor beneath my feet a woman's yoni, the petals of her labia, the entry to her womb were carved in stone, nearly 5 feet in length. her thighs, also carved in stone spread out to fill the temple, side to side. emerging from her vagina, the tip of a penis, wet and flowing, rose toward the sky. i felt my being pierced with intense recognition.

i knelt down beside her, caressing her thighs and she moved softly, quietly, undulating under my touch. i felt my dna come alive in every cell as codes and sequences were activated by this meeting. something of the woman in me receiving messages timed for this moment since birth. there was a knowing, too, that these messages were not for me alone, i felt them connecting me to a remembering inside every woman. i felt blessed and adored. i felt divine and at home. i wept and wished never to leave, yet, at the same time, i knew it was not my destiny to remain, at least not now, not yet.

my guide took me further up the mountain, to the top of the sivalayam, the shiva temple, containing a shiva lingham, a penis carved in stone. on the top of the sivalayam i could see for miles. i was enchanted by the strange and mysterious shapes of the mountains all around. steep cones and large forms like sleeping giants, all covered with dense, vibrantly green foliage, it looked to me like a land that time had forgotten, a place where time had never existed, even now. i knew and i know it is a magical place, where mother earth has taken form, lives and breathes as these mountains.

. . . . . . . .

Devipuram is a Hindu temple complex located near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Belonging primarily to the Shakta school of Hinduism, it is dedicated to the goddess Sahasrakshi, a form of Lalita Tripurasundari, and her consort Kameshwara.

Devipuram's primary focus is the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple, a unique three-story structure built in the shape of a Sri Meru Yantra - a three-dimensional projection of the sacred Hindu diagram known as Sri Chakra, which is central to Srividya upasana, an ancient and intricate form of Tantric Shakta worship. Measuring 108 feet square at its base and rising 54 feet high, the temple has become an increasingly popular pilgrimage destination over the past decade. Two other shrines, the Kamakhya Peetham and Sivalayam, are located on hills adjacent to the main temple.

The sanctum sanctorum of the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple is reached by circumambulating inward and upward, past more than 100 life-sized murthis of various shaktis or yoginis - deities expressing essential aspects of the Devi - who are, in Srividya cosmology, said to inhabit and energize the Sri Chakra. Their exact locations are "mapped" in an elaborate ritual called the Navavarana Puja, "Worship of the Nine Enclosures", which was in turn condensed into a mantric composition called the Sri Devi Khadgamala Stotram, "Hymn to the Auspicious Goddess's Garland of Swords", forming the basis of the temple's layout.

This temple is unconventional in its practice of allowing devotees to perform puja to the Devi themselves, without regard to caste, creed or gender. This may be an emulation of the Kamakhya temple complex in Assam, which has the same open policy for worship. The fact that many of the temple's murthis are portrayed as "sky-clad," or nude, has also, over the years, gained Devipuram considerable attention.

Dr. N. Prahalada Sastry, Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati (1934 - 2015), founded Devipuram, in 2007. Construction of the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple in Devipuram began in 1985, and its completion and consecration, kumbha-abhishekam, took place in 1994.

Dr. N. Prahalada Sastry, a former university professor and nuclear physicist left a successful 23-year career with the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in Mumbai to begin work on the Devipuram temple in 1983. Now a noted spiritual guru, better known as Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati, affectionately known as "Guruji", reports that his creation of Devipuram was based on several visions of the Divine Mother, which specified both the design and mission of the temple complex. Each of the many murthis within the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple was individually sculpted to Sastry's specifications, physically manifesting his meditative visions of these deities.

According to Devipuram's official history, in 1983, during Devi Yajna, Guruji was approached by the brothers of the Putrevu family with a request to build a temple for the Divine Mother. In addition to the 3 acres of land that they had donated, Guruji bought the adjoining 10 acres and it was registered as land for the Devi temple.

Having acquired the land, Guruji was looking for divine guidance, a sign of approval to commence construction of the temple. In the vicinity of the donated land, there was a small hillock where Guruji would often spend time in meditation. On the slopes of the hillock, he noticed a formation, a cleft rock forming a natural yoni, very similar to that of the Kamakhya Peetam in Assam. One day while in meditation he experienced himself lying on the peetam, while four others performed a homa, with flames emanating from his body. And during purnahuthi, he felt a heavy object being placed on his heart. Awakening from his meditative state, Guruji was prompted to dig that site. Unearthed from that very spot, he found a Sri Chakra Maha Meru made of panchaloha. It was later discovered that a huge yajna had been performed in that area more than 250 years earlier.

Soon afterward, Guruji had visions of the Devi as a 16-year-old girl. With her blessings, he built the Kamakhya Peetam on the hillock and a Siva temple on the peak in 1984. Construction of the Sahasrakshi Meru Temple in Devipuram was started in 1985. A recent Devipuram publication reflected, "Even a fleeting glance at what has been accomplished around what used to be a no-man's land is enough to astound anyone."

At Devipuram, we'll participate in traditional Sri Vidya practices and receive the teachings from the Tantric adepts living there.

Pricing
What's Included

Price Includes: Local transportation. Air conditioned accommodation, single or double-sharing, in 5 star hotel with breakfast in Chennai, all interstate taxes, permits, tolls, parking, driver allowances, fuel and hire charges, all fees, basic shared ashram lodging and meals at Devipuram and all domestic flights.

Price Excludes: Food other than breakfast in Chennai, entrance fees for temples and other sights, guide services, tips of any nature, international flights, and anything that is not mentioned above. There is an additional supplement for single occupancy.

We are traveling during high-season, for this reason it is imperative that we move forward with travel plans, purchasing international flights, applying for visas, etc. immediately. All prices quoted are per person and current at time of posting. Prices are provided as a guide only and may vary due to changes in hotel fees, domestic airfares, or charges or due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Please note: the price of the expedition may change at any time, your price can only be guaranteed upon booking. Domestic airlines will be used in conjunction with the expedition. All airfares are subject to availability and will be subject to the rules of the airfare purchased.

I encourage you make your plans, book your flights and book your expedition now as the cost of round-trip flights to India will increase dramatically as the weeks pass. This is a highly specialized and personalized tour, personally guided by Dawn Cartwright, deep into one of the most beautiful Tantric ashrams in all of Southern India. Please book now to be sure to save your space.

Tantric Expedition to India with Dawn Cartwright
December 25th . 2016 - January 9th . 2017
  • $2,152 Per Person . Early Early Bird Until August 25th, 2016
  • $2,452 Per Person . Early Bird Until September 25th, 2016
  • $2,752 Per Person . Full Price
Register Now
 
Tantric Expedition to India with Dawn Cartwright
Post Tour Supplement: January 9th - 16th . 2017
  • $942 Per Person . Early Early Bird Until August 25th, 2016
  • $1,042 Per Person . Early Bird Until September 25th, 2016
  • $1,142 Per Person . Full Price
Register Now
 
Tantric Expedition to India with Dawn Cartwright
Customized Tour: Select Any Dates from December 25th - January 16th
Weaving the Beloveds . Valentine's Retreat 
February 14th - 17th, 2017 . Ojai
 
Plans for a very special romantic get-away have burst into luscious reality. You and your partner are invited to experience a boutique Tantra experience unlike any other, weaving you together body, heart and spirit.

Our peaceful, romantic hideaway is tucked away in the citrus orchards and white mountain sage that create the Ojai Valley. Because Ojai is lined up with an east-west mountain range, it is one of few places in the world to have a "Pink Moment" occur as the sun is setting. The fading sunlight creates a brilliant shade of pink for several minutes on the Topatopa Bluffs, over 6,000 feet above sea level at the east end of the Ojai Valley. It is a rare and magical moment that thousands of visitors come to Ojai annually to see.
 

"The world is filled
with magic things patiently waiting
for our senses to grow sharper."

W.B. Yeats
 

During this deluxe weekend set in one of the most beautiful places in all of California you'll experience Tantra practices designed specifically for couples. Your passion is sure to reach new heights as your hearts soar beyond the stars. You'll be pampered with beautifully decorated bedrooms, the most secret of Tantric practices, aphrodisacs, elixirs, and the breathtaking beauty of Ojai.

You will experience . . .
 
Tantric Lovemaking Practices for Couples Learn ways of activating and channeling ecstatic energy in your bodies, in your lovemaking and into your lives. You will learn and practice Tantric energy cultivation techniques that create the pathways needed for the experience of full body ecstasy.

A Private Retreat in the Stunning Ojai Valley Splendid accommodation sure to inspire you, natural surroundings that will have you writing poetry to rival Yeats himself. Elegant bedrooms decorated with an artist's eye and a touch of romance.

Aphrodisiacs and Elixirs Potions from the apothecary gardens of the great lovers. Organic aphrodisiacs and elixirs specially concocted to stir the fires of love and passion. These igniting potions have been used for centuries to heighten sensation and increase pleasure. The two of you will be glowing with love.
 
Exclusive Access to the Most Secret Tantric Practices The practices you'll learn and experience at Weaving of the Beloveds are rarely taught anywhere in the world. Dawn reserves these techniques for her smaller, more intimate, private retreats. Practices that have proven, time and time again, to open doors to new realms of love and sexual connection in couples.

Champagne Reception & Private Tantra Session Included in this exclusive package, each couple will receive a champagne reception upon arrival and will experience a 1-hour private session in their room during the weekend. Private sessions are a way to dive more deeply into your desires in the realm of sexuality, intimacy, meditation, and much more using Tantric techniques to unleash the ecstastic potential in your relationship.

Check out time is Friday at 11:00 am. All practices are taught and successfully learned fully clothed without sexual contact.

Due to the exclusive nature of this event, space is limited, please register now to avoid disappointment. We'll have a deep Tantric dive. Can't wait to be with you.

Weaving the Beloveds . Sacred Lovemaking
Ojai . California
February 14th - 17th . 2017
$3,500 Per Couple . Meals & Lodging are an Additional Cost
Tuesday Evening to Friday Morning
 
Register Now

A Day at Weaving the Beloveds . . .

10:00 am Tantric Lovemaking Practices for Couples The History & Philosophy of Tantra, The Art of Touch, The Breath of Ecstasy, Cacao Ceremony for Lovers & More

1:00 pm Afternoon Break Time for a romantic hike in Ojai Valley. A massage. Passion. A nap.

4:00 pm Private Sessions Dive more deeply into your desires in the realm of sexuality, intimacy, meditation, and much more exploring Tantric techniques selected just for the two of you. Unleashing the ecstastic potential in your relationship.

6:00 pm Dinner Break Sunset. The Pink Moment. Candlelight & sensual pleasures.

7:30 pm Tantric Lovemaking for Couples Rose Petal Ritual, Pleasure Mapping, Channeling Sexual Energy for Lovers' Bliss & More

9:30 pm Moonlight & Romance To Dream Tantric Dreams
Weaving the Beloveds . Ireland
April 20th - 23rd, 2017 . Ireland

Plans for a very special romantic get-away have burst into luscious reality. You and your partner are invited to experience a boutique Tantra experience unlike any other, weaving you together body, heart and spirit.

Our peaceful and private hideaway is located on Rosses Point nestled in 14 acres of wild meadow, cleverly hidden away in a sheltered bay with private access to a pebbled beach offering guests wonderful views of Drumcliff Bay and Benbulben. Follow Yeats’ footsteps across the country and see where one of Ireland’s greatest poets found inspiration. Yeats called Sligo “The Land of Heart’s Desire” and it’s the beauty of the county that filled his early poetry.
 

"The world is filled
with magic things patiently waiting
for our senses to grow sharper."

W.B. Yeats
 

During this deluxe weekend set in one of the most beautiful places in all of Ireland you'll experience Tantra practices designed specifically for couples. Your passion is sure to reach new heights as your hearts soar beyond the stars. You'll be pampered with gorgeous accommodation, beautifully decorated bedrooms, the most secret of Tantric practices, aphrodisacs, elixirs, and the breathtaking beauty of W.B. Yeats country.

You will experience . . .
 
Tantric Lovemaking Practices for Couples Learn ways of activating and channeling ecstatic energy in your bodies, in your lovemaking and into your lives. You will learn and practice Tantric energy cultivation techniques that create the pathways needed for the experience of full body ecstasy.

A Private Retreat on the Stunning North West Coast of Ireland Splendid accommodation sure to inspire you, natural surroundings that will have you writing poetry to rival Yeats himself. Exquisite views, 16 acres of seclusion, overlooking Donegal Bay. Elegant ensuite bedrooms decorated with an artist's eye and a touch of romance.

Aphrodisiacs & Elixirs Potions from the apothecary gardens of the great lovers. Organic aphrodisiacs and elixirs specially concocted to stir the fires of love and passion. These igniting potions have been used for centuries to heighten sensation and increase pleasure. The two of you will be glowing with love.
 
Exclusive Access to the Most Secret Tantric Practices The practices you'll learn and experience at Weaving of the Beloveds are rarely taught anywhere in the world. Dawn reserves these techniques for her smaller, more intimate, private retreats. Practices that have proven, time and time again, to open doors to new realms of love and sexual connection in couples.

Champagne Reception & Private Tantra Session Included in this exclusive package, each couple will receive a champagne reception upon arrival and will experience a 1-hour private session in their room during the weekend. Private sessions are a way to dive more deeply into your desires in the realm of sexuality, intimacy, meditation, and much more using Tantric techniques to unleash the ecstastic potential in your relationship.

All meals, excursions into the wilds and extraordinary beauty of Silgo and gourmet picnic lunches* included. Check out time is Sunday at noon. All practices are taught and successfully learned fully clothed without sexual contact. *Weather permitting.

Intuitive chef Dorene Palmer of Divine Foods will be in the kitchen taking the fine art of cooking to new levels of culinary ecstasy as she creates beautiful organic meals, aphrodisiacs and elixirs to ignite flames of passion. Dorene works with only the best live foods, organic produce, local cheese and organic breads to create wholesome, healthy, healing, out of this world orgasmic feasts. Through Divine Foods, Dorene teaches and counsels on proper nutrition that promotes good health and vitality. After a few days of Dorene's cooking, you'll be feeling loved from the inside out.

Due to the exclusive nature of this event, space is limited, please register now to avoid disappointment. We'll have a deep Tantric dive. Can't wait to be with you.

Weaving the Beloveds . Sacred Lovemaking
A Stunningly Beautiful Estate . Rosses Point . Ireland
April 20th - 23rd  2017
€2,100 Per Couple . Includes Gourmet Meals & Luxurious Lodging
€2,400 Per Couple . Includes Gourmet Meals & Superior Lodging
 
Register Now
 
A Day at Weaving the Beloveds . . .

8:00 am Breakfast Artisan Cheese & Egg Crusty Brioche, Pancakes with Organic Hazlenut & Cacaco Nutella

10:00 am Tantric Lovemaking Practices for Couples The History & Philosophy of Tantra, The Art of Touch, The Breath of Ecstasy, Cacao Ceremony for Lovers & More

1:00 pm Romantic Picnic for 2 on the Rosses Sweet Potato & Spinach Frittata, Homemade Brack & Tea

4:00 pm Private Sessions Dive more deeply into your desires in the realm of sexuality, intimacy, meditation, and much more exploring Tantric techniques selected just for the two of you. Unleashing the ecstastic potential in your relationship.

6:00 pm Dinner Denis Cotter's Chard Dolmades of Quinoa, Sultanas and Carrot with Saffron Cashew & Coconut Sauce. Chocolate Mousse Cake

7:30 pm Tantric Lovemaking for Couples Rose Petal Ritual, Pleasure Mapping, Channeling Sexual Energy for Lovers' Bliss & More

9:30 pm Ocean Waves, Moonlight & Romance To Dream Tantric Dreams
Fragrance of the Lotus . Teacher Training 
August 18th, 2017 -  June 10th, 2018 . Ojai
 
Fragrance of the Lotus is a year long immersion into Tantra practice, research, study and community. A year spent discovering the extraordinary within the ordinary, plunging into ancient texts, cultivating the seeds of devotion that live within the heart of human sexuality. A year in full bloom.
 
 
“Your being blossoms and opens all its petals
and releases its beautiful fragrance.”
 
Osho
 
 
Fragrance of the Lotus is a comprehensive experiential exploration of Tantra through study and practice.

Fragrance of the Lotus is open to . . .
  • Individuals with a deep love and desire for deepening within the path of Tantra.
  • Tantra teachers who wish to receive certification through Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute. 
  • Tantra teachers who have already been certified by Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute and wish to receive the Associates certification.
Fragrance of the Lotus is an invitation to a year of living in the Tantric field through direct experience. You will explore the Shakta, Shavia and Vaishnavite Tantric lineages. You'll be immersed in sutras from the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra, ignited by the beautiful sexual pūjās of the Shakta lineages and wooed by devotional Vaishnuvite bhakti practices.

You'll adventure into the portal of vibratory stillness that exists at the center of orgasm - when orgasm is experienced beyond habitual muscular contraction and sensory exclusion. Entering the realms of magic so apparent in our loving. Bringing into form, over and over and over again, the desireless desire that lives at the center of us all.

You'll come to "see" the true shape of the penis and vagina when limitations of cultural influence are dissolved and true vision returns. Our genitals hold tremendous power. Power that births dreams and desires.

The Tantric path is rich with meaning, it is an invitation to discover the extraordinary secreted away within the ordinary. The macrocosm hidden within the microcosm.

Six years ago, I visited an ashram in Southern India. It was the first time I saw Kamakhya, the goddess in the form of the female genitals. What struck me first, was her beauty. Beauty that penetrated my heart before it entered my eye. The next thing I noticed was the head of the penis emerging out of the vulva, rather than penetrating in. Guruji Sri Amritananda explained, "All things come from the Mother."
 

"It is the place of original magic."
 
Sheila Chandra
 
 
You'll be lovingly invited to explore all aspects of your sexuality and discover who you are, sexually, when all your judgments and fears have been dissolved. You'll awaken the capacity to listen, experiencing sexuality as a song sung throughout your body.

You'll spend over a year in deep ecstatic meditation and go beyond what you have ever imagined, yet have always "known" was possible. You'll discover what it means to live within and contribute to our modern day society without being confined by it.

The Fragrance of the Lotus Year-Long Immersion is a profound commitment to discovery. Through it, you are entering a relationship the most basic alongside the most mystical, you will be drawn into a profound relationship with yourself that will illuminate all your relationships.

"A tremendous change is happening on the planet. I have a feeling we are ready, at long last, to truly love." Dawn Cartwright

Tantra, by its very nature, transforms all things into their spontaneous natural state, stripping away beliefs and conditionings that have blocked the natural authentic aliveness that exists at the core of each of us.
 
Fragrance of the Lotus, the Immersion, and the men and women who will travel along with you, represent a tremendous step toward knowing yourself by experiencing Tantra deeply, intimately, with no limits or boundaries.

I invite you to take the leap.
 
Register Now

Fragrance of the Lotus 2017 - 2018 Schedule
Ojai . California
  • Module 1 . August 18th - 27th . 2017
  • Module 2 . December 1st - 10th . 2017
  • Module 3 . March 2nd - 11th . 2018
  • Module 4 . June 1st - June 10th . 2018
Fragrance of the Lotus . Module 1

Module 1 dives deep into the physical aspects of Tantra. In Module 1 you will experience the impact of living in direct contact with reality through the physical body. Tantric and bio-energetic de-armoring practices will be explored and learned. Module 1 also focuses on the history and ancient sutras of Tantra, revealing a rich past you may find surprisingly futuristic.

Module 1 . The Body of Tantra
  • The Shakta Lineages
  • The Mahavidyas
  • Sri Vidya
  • The Mystical Geometry of the Sri Yantra
  • The History of Tantra
  • Bio-Energetics & Breathwork
  • Genital Anatomy & Function
  • Orgasm & Ejaculation Mastery
  • Pelvic Release Techniques
  • Full-Body Sexual Awareness
  • Creating a Tantric Environment
  • Ecstatic Health & Nutrition
  • Osho Active Meditations
  • Orgasm, Ecstastic States & Superconciousness 
Fragrance of the Lotus . Module 2

Module 2 centers around the heart. In Module 2 you’ll explore the intimate realm of Tantra. While there is much controversy about the sexual aspects of Tantra, sexuality is the core of our embodiment and the basis of all mystical Tantric practice.

Module 2 . The Heart of Tantra
  • The Vaishnavite Lineages
  • Bhakti
  • Sensuality, Intimacy, Love & Devotion
  • Tantric Relationship
  • Communication Techniques for Breakthrough & Self-Awareness
  • Breathwork for Lovers
  • The Bio-Cosmic Realm of Lovemaking
  • Heart-Sex Polarity
  • 7 Levels of Penetration & Orgasm
  • Man & Woman
  • Tantric Lovemaking Ritual
  • Lesbian . Gay . Transexual
  • Quantum Light Breath Meditation
Fragrance of the Lotus . Module 3

In the final Module we’ll expand into the mystical aspects of Tantra. You’ll explore the superconscious realms of lovemaking, the perception-dissolving practices linked to the 5 senses revealing the true nature of reality.
 
Module 3 . The Spirit of Tantra
  • The Shaiva Lineages
  • The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra
  • Seven Levels of Bliss Lovemaking Meditation
  • Inner Lovemaking & Deep Orgasm
  • The Mystical Role of the 5 Senses
  • Sensory Awakening
  • The Tattvas
  • Cultivating Psychic Awareness
  • Meditation
  • Pūjā
Fragrance of the Lotus . Module 4

You will learn dynamic “architectural” tools for designing workshops, classes and sessions that ignite and transform. You’ll explore Tantra workshop group dynamics, intimacy skills, and psychology basics that impact the Tantric sadhana. You’ll cultivate important organizational skills for teaching and consulting.

I. Teaching Design . The Body of Tantra
  • The Shaiva Lineages
  • The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra
  • Seven Levels of Bliss Lovemaking Meditation
  • The Mystical Role of the 5 Senses
  • Sensory Awakening
  • The Tattvas
  • Cultivating Psychic Awareness
  • Meditation
  • Pūjā
II. Teaching Design . The Heart of Tantra
  • Group Dynamics
  • Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
  • Neuro-Linguistic Programming
  • Leading a Feedback Session
  • Relationship & Containment
  • Creating Rapport
  • Pre-workshop
  • Workshop
  • Post-workshop
  • Guidelines for Participants
  • Relaxing in High States of Arousal
  • Extreme Behaviors & Situations in the Workshop Environment
  • Private Tantra Coaching Sessions
  • Personal Responsibility in Teaching
III. Teaching Design . The Spirit of Tantra
  • Workshop Planning Timeline
  • Workshop Logistics
  • Finances & Workshop Planning
  • Workshop Space & Sound System
  • Workshop Registration Procedures
  • Workshop Supply List
  • Promotional Materials
  • Publicity & Advertising
  • Marketing Strategies
Getting Started . Application Process . The First Step
 
The following step by step process is a suggested outline for getting started:
Fragrance of the Lotus Prerequisites
  • Be Fully Alive . Level 1 Immersion
  • Sex Actualization . Tantra Practice Group (Live or Video Immersion)
  • Personal Interview
Fragrance of the Lotus Tuition

Tuition includes teachings, course materials, meals and shared lodging. Full tuition is due upon acceptance into the training.

Here's what certified teachers have to say . . .

The Fragrance of the Lotus teacher training offers far more than it could possibly promise in any ad or brochure. Beyond the meaty curriculum, and the skills that I learned for teaching and sharing Tantra, I underwent a complete transformation.

Within the training, because of the remarkable space that Dawn held, I was faced with everything that has ever held me back from fully embodying my sexuality and aliveness. This awareness was both liberating and terrifying and I felt supported in every way throughout this process.

Before the training, I was a young girl in love with Tantra and with many illusions about who I was and who I wanted to be. Since I have emerged from the training I am in a new and dynamic relationship with life, I have a successful business teaching Tantra, and I am experiencing an authentic sexuality that is far beyond what I once thought was possible.

Dawn’s teaching style stands out in that it is for the true Tantric, if your interest is in solely learning techniques and emerging from a training as some kind of proclaimed ‘expert’ you are looking in the wrong place. In finding Dawn, you have found a true master. This training holds to the absolute essence of Tantra, stopping at nothing to support you in discovering what it is to truly be alive and integrated in all aspects of your life.

~Charu Morgan
 

I entered the Fragrance of the Lotus Program because I wanted to immerse myself intensely and for a long period of time in the experience of Tantra. Tantra had been both a healing and exciting path for several years. Now I longed to expand my awareness of and relationship with Love.

During the year I had many opportunities to see how I was restricted by my self-imposed limitations. As I trusted myself to release and to go beyond my "comfort zone" I discovered capabilities and opportunities I never imagined possible.

This was especially true about teaching. I signed up for the course without a desire to actually teach. One of my major expansions was to let go of my limiting beliefs about my ability and allow myself the honor and opportunity to teach. It was amazing to actually lead parts of a workshop. I was supported by Dawn and my fellow classmates. Later before the beginning of the third session, a couple asked me assist with relationship issues just prior to their wedding. Without any hesitation I held several private sessions. It was just so natural.

The assignments encouraged clear communication, keeping commitments and maintaining momentum. The opportunity to travel to 3 different areas of the world provided opportunities to experience both the culture and the strength of the land.

I learned so much about myself and grew so much during the course. My life is so expanded. At times I realized nothing was as it had been before. The only thing I could do was to trust. Tantra is the constant.

~Anonymous
Dawn Cartwright
Your Instructor
 
Dawn Cartwright is 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.   Dawn’s study and research is focused on the ancient and modern forms of Tantra, bio-energetics, and the actualization of human potential through sexuality.  
 
Dawn has a degree in psychology from the University of California, Davis, and has had extensive training in Tantra, Yoga, Sexuality, Bioenergetics, Meditation, and Expressionistic Movement & Art. She has studied many schools of Tantra including Neo-Tantra, Shaktism, Kashmirian Shivaic Tantrism, Vaishnavism, Tantric Buddhism, Tantric Kriya Yoga and the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra. Dawn has had the honor of receiving these transmissions from some of the most acclaimed Tantric masters of modern times, Aditi Devi Ma, Christopher Tompkins, Vajra Ma, Margo Anand, Daniel Odier, Bohdi Avinasha, and Osho.
 
Founder of the Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute in Santa Monica, California. You can also find Dawn on Facebook and Twitter. You can read Dawn’s blog on Elephant Journal. She is also available for Private Tantra Sessions and Executive & Personal Retreats, Dawn lives in Santa Monica, California. 
Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute
www.chandrabindutantrainstitute.com
310.592.1293 USA
20-808.45.46 The Netherlands
01.901.4322 Ireland
Chandra Bindu Tantra Institute • 2524 5th Street #3 • Santa Monica • CA • 90405
http://www.chandrabindutantrainstitute.com
Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Preferences | Send to a Friend | Report Spam
Bookmark and Share