Transforming through the Fire
The Sun Salutations
Popular in modern day yoga and a favourite way for many yogis and yogini’s to start their day, but what is the tantric science to this age old practice?
As the name says, in the practice of Sun Salutations we are saluting to the sun, we are bowing to the sun. We are in fact - worshipping the sun!
But why and for what reason?
To answer this in a comprehensive way, we must first look into what Tantra really is, where it comes from and how it approaches life.
Tantra, the Science of Energy
Let’s begin by unveiling the mystery around Tantra. What is really Tantra? Is it exotic sex? Is it some kinky teaching? Perhaps some hyperventilation breathing?
No. None of those things are Tantra.
True authentic Tantra is, first and foremost, a very sophisticated science of using energy for spiritual evolution. Ancient Tantrics observed the universe and they came to conclusion that this reality is made up of two polarities - the masculine principle called Shiva and the feminine principle called Shakti.
Shiva is the unmanifested aspect of universe, the hidden and mystical part, the god. Shiva is pure consciousness.
Shakti is everything that is manifested, from our thoughts, emotions, computers, clothes, chairs, everything.
Shakti, the feminine polarity of universe, is in fact nothing but energy.
Tantrics therefore realised that everything manifested around us is in fact energy, Shakti.
But, unlike other traditions, which denied the feminine and focused on ascetic path to reach pure consciousness, the Tantrics thought differently. Their thoughts went a little bit like: “if we know that half of this universe is made of the energy, why not study this energy, learn how to harness it and then use it to reach the other half of the universe, the pure consciousness - to reach Shiva through Shakti?”
And this is exactly what they did. Tantrics studied the energy with a practical and pragmatical approach and they came to fascinating discoveries about the nature of the energy and how to bend and warp this reality to achieve higher states of consciousness (which is also where the name Tantra comes from - to weave or bend or warp a loom or matrix).
Tantra - where shamanic meets science
Just like the shamanic traditions, which for the most part, tune into the energies in their environment, in the same way the Tantrics explored the Shakti by tuning into and invoking different elements of this reality.
But, what differentiates Tantrics from your regular Shaman is the level of sophistication with which they pinpointed different energy frequencies and their effects on the human being. A Shaman can invoke the rain by tuning into the energy of rain, but does not necessarily understand the place of this energy in the grand scheme of the universe, what it is. Or what the hierarchy of the energies is and how it would affect our energy structure.
The Sun and the Moon
When studying Shakti, or the manifested energy part of the universe, Tantrics realised that energy can behave in different ways.
Sometimes the energy in our being can feel quite soft, yielding, receptive, cooling, gentle and a bit chaotic.
Other times it can feel very emissive, penetrating, hot and very pinpointed.
Through deep meditation they realised that even in this manifested universe we have two basic polarities of masculine and feminine. They went even further and connected those two energy states with two celestial bodies - the Moon and the Sun.
They realised that the energies of the moon are soft, yielding and cooling, while the energies of the Sun are hot and penetrating. From this they deducted two things:
There is an energetic feminine and masculine aspect in our own being
There is an energetic feminine and masculine aspect in the universe
Connecting the universal within
The natural question arose - Is it possible to connect our own energy structure with the Sun so that we tune into the resonance of the Sun and become more hot, emissive, pinpointed and focused?
And the answer is one big YES.
This is the whole point of Tantra. To be able to truly hack our inner energy system and use it for personal and even spiritual evolution.
Changing yourself
This knowledge and techniques and practices come very handy in today’s modern world. The truth is that most people today are more lunar in their energy structure which doesn’t allow them to reach their full potential. While we should be in balance between the solar and lunar energies in our being, most people are actually way too lunar.
How to tell if you have too much lunar energy?
There are many ways in which an excess of lunar energy can show itself.
Emotions
A person with excess lunar energy is very emotional and easily affected by other people’s energy. Nowadays we know of people who are empaths. Empaths are in fact highly sensitive people with a lot of gifts but also a big curse - they are too sensitive. Why? Because their energy structure is very receptive, very lunar in nature. Because of this, when an empath walks down the street they can get exhausted and affected by anyone crossing their path - positively or negatively.
Mind
A person with excess lunar energies has an unfocused mind with a lot of heavy thoughts.
They can feel very demotivated and hopeless in life. There can also be fear and anxiety.
Body
On a physical level, the person can experience increased tiredness and lethargy. Such people can easily gain weight which makes them even heavier and more sedentary. On a sexual level they feel a lack of drive and libido, which can be frustrating. Often times the predominant energy in the body will feel cold, specially in the limbs.
The solution?
Yang Up!
Really, the Chinese medicine would say you need more Yang energy. Yin correspond to moon and Yang to the Sun.
This, in Tantric terms, means you need more fire, more solar energies.
How to do that? By connecting with the Sun!
Yes, connect with the Sun, invoke its energies in your being and you will immediately feel more solar in your energy fields, mind, body and emotions.
How to connect with the Sun
With Sun Salutations!
Here we are coming full circle from the beginning of this blog.
Sun Salutations are not just a physical practice of stretching the body. Not for Tantrics, at least. In Tantra we practice Sun Salutations like Shamans would. We focus on connecting with the Sun, almost like praying to the Sun. Opening our hearts to it. We also chant special Sanskrit Surya mantras to help create a better resonance with the solar energy.
By invoking and connecting to the outside Sun, we are putting logs to our internal fire, building the fire in our belly, the fire in our cells, the fire in our energy fields and in the mind.
The effects of this practice make us more focused, more active, more emissive and ready to take charge of our life and tackle any challenges that come up. Instead of fearfully avoiding them, we become head-on hunters of challenges, yearning to get tested and to grow.
If before we were like a feminine moon, gentle, sensitive, yet shying away from areas of life, we now become like the masculine sun, strong, hot, emissive and ready to deal with anything that comes up.
And this is how a simple, yet very powerful shift in internal energies can change our whole life!
Alchemy of Tantra
Obviously, there are much more elements to these teachings that we can share with you to become more solar. From diet to meditation, from powerful yogic techniques to NLP practices.
But the simplest one is this - Connect with the Sun - the direct source of fire, and get your inner Sun in the next gear! Change is guaranteed.
And this is the true Alchemy of Tantra, the transformative potential of this energy science. Because whatever energy is in you, it can be moulded, changed and transformed to serve you better. Turning the shadows of the mind, the chains of suffering into sources of vital, life force, creative energy, rays of guiding light and clarity.
So, are you ready to ignite your burning fire within? Not to mention accessing the huge array of benefits becoming more solar provides, which may surprise you. Join us for the Alchemy of Tantra workshop, either Online or in person and learn these amazing energy teachings!