| Tantra means instrument
of the body.” It sounds exotic,
but it is actually very simple.
Tantra teaches us to use all five of our senses consciously, because our
senses are how we are connected with the physical world. Flowers are an
expression of joy. It seems like a
miracle that the earth can produce such a variety of species, so colorful,
vibrant and full of life. Is it
any wonder that we've made such a tradition of giving flowers in
courtship? Sometimes flowers say
what words cannot. Roses are a
traditional Valentine’s Day gift.
Red roses were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman
goddess of love. Red signifies
desire! Here’s how we can
incorporate Tantra, and roses, into a romantic Valentine’s Day celebration for
two.
Smell (“Gandha” in
Sanskrit)
Women are particularly
sensitive to smells. Our
pheromones are the scents that we give off without even realizing it. These pheromones train us to recognize
and desire our partners. When
people stop smoking, they say that they rediscover their sense of smell. Studies have shown that the loss of the
olfactory sense is often accompanied by a loss in sexual interest, so it is a
good idea to keep our noses functioning optimally! Fragrances have quite an allure to them. Roses just smell like romance. Use rose scented candles, rose petals
in the bathtub.
Taste (“Rasa” in
Sanskrit)
The tongue is
super-sensitive. By blocking out
the other senses, by closing your eyes for example, you can focus on the taste
more fully. Love is sweet –
there’s a reason why we call each other honey and sweetie and cupcake! Savor and delight in the tastes and
textures of various foods and drinks:
whipped cream, chocolate, a strawberry – and yes, rose! Sweet rose tea is made for
romance! It smells wonderful and
tastes divine – and it is the perfect way to end a romantic meal. Organic India’s Tulsi Rose Tea has the
added benefit of helping you to relax, and de-stress… to get you in the mood
for romance!
Touch (“Sparsa” in
Sanskrit)
The skin marks the visible
limits of the body, it is where we make contact with the world. Our skin is our largest organ, and 16%
of our body weight. With touch we
experience much of our environment: temperature, clothes, sheets, shower,
etc. Wake up the sense of touch with
massage. Use different materials
and textures, such as a feather, a velvet hat, baby powder, a silk scarf, or
rose petals. Infuse sesame oil, or
unscented body lotion with rose petals, or rose essential oil for a wonderful
massage oil.
Sound
(“Sabda” in Sanskrit)
Sounds have a
profound effect on the body.
Studies have shown that sounds can open up our inner pharmacy and
balance our physiology. They can
help us to be healthier, to feel better.
What sound do roses make?
They’re silent. Sweet and
soft. Whisper sweet nothings to
your loved one. Play soft, sweet
music. Dance, sing together.
Sight
(“Rupa” in Sanskrit)
For romance,
it’s all about lighting. Think
pink – use rose colored light bulbs, so you naturally see things more
rosy! Dine by candlelight. Spread rose petals on the table. Make a trail of rose petals that leads
to a surprise.
|
