Issue 20: Focus On Tantra
“Tantra is all about the transformation of energy. In this way, tantra is identical with alchemy.” — Carolyn Elliot, Existential Kink
People always think of sex when they hear the word ‘tantra’ (if they think of anything at all), but tantric sex, although an important embodiment of tantric practice, is only one aspect of tantra.
As Frank Yang so eloquently puts it in the video we’ve posted below, ‘You're transforming the most primal and biological programming into the divine. Instead of resisting resistance you work with it like sprinting with a parachute.’
This is why tantra is the inner teaching of all teachings, the quickest way to realize one’s true self: instead of trying to ‘rise above’ one’s perceived limitations, ‘kill the ego’ or some such misunderstanding, one uses one’s own ‘lead’ or resistance as fuel to create the ‘gold’ of clarity and love. In this way tantra is indeed alchemy.
“Psychological development in all its phases is a redemptive process. The goal is to redeem by conscious realization, the hidden Self, hidden in unconscious identification with the ego.” - Edward Edinger, Ego and Archetype
This is the real meaning of ‘redemption’, a word which often seems to be pointing at a need to apologize for one’s sins to an all-powerful god who is literally Lording it over us.
Because tantra includes absolutely everything, it includes sex and all the elements which patriarchal interpretations traditionally minimize, marginalize, or discard. One of the best modern interpretations is Carolyn Elliot’s ‘Existential Kink’ book (we have included an interview with her below) which barely mentions tantra, the left hand path, or hermeticism, and is written in a pseudo women’s magazine style — yet it contains all the necessary information for bringing one’s darkness back into the light and integrating it in a healthy way.
Tantra represents the quickest path, yet it is not the safest. One will come face to face with one’s own shadow, and as most readers of this newsletter will probably already realize, Chapel Perilous often appears quite a bit more threatening and dingy than one was prepared for when one set out on the archetypal Fool’s Journey. To say the least.
Yet it is worth it, we promise! Have faith and continue, although ye only see the next step in front and all is murky af. We’re redeeming the world, and as you can plainly see, it needs quite a bit of redemption right now.
We will be posting a bit more often than normal in the coming weeks because we are going to be highlighting the fascinating speakers we have lined up for our forthcoming online seminar, The Future of Consciousness. So we’ll post some bios and details to introduce you to, or remind you of, the people we think are worth paying attention to, whether you decide to attend the seminar or not. But of course we hope you do.
Just to encourage you a little bit more, here’s a coupon for 20% off which expires midnight ET July 13th 2024.
This is the teaser video for the seminar:
Table of Contents
Events
Links
Every Single Cell in Your Body Could Be Conscious, Scientists Say
Meet The Mind-Virus: Wetiko - The Honest Sorcerer
What we can learn from William Blake’s visionary imagination | Aeon Essays
On S**t and Beauty: a conversation with Sophie Strand
The Flip, The Formation, and The Fun - by Jonathan Rowson
Superpowers may be real and science needs to study them | Essentia Foundation
Abigail Marsh on Psychopaths and Altruists: What Her Research Reveals about Human Nature
Focus On Tantra
How To Have Tantric Sex (Love At First Sight With The Capital L)
Sacred Sex: Ancient Tantric Practices for Modern Lovers
Reinventing Buddhist Tantra | Vividness
Tantric Sex Techniques to Enhance Your Connection
Bruce Lyon - The Complexity of Love and Relationships
Pamela von Sabljar - Living from Eros
Crystal Dawn Morris - Making Love With Life
Nuggets From The Archive
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Challenges and Abilities by Sabine Hossenfelder
A Call For Idiots by Carlota Guedes - Waking Youth
My meditation teacher is a robot by Ruben Laukkonen
Events
By the way, we are not sponsored by any of these events, they just happen to be what looks interesting and relevant. If you know of any other event you think would be appropriate please do send it to us at socials@mail.theelevator.earth. We are open to sponsors, just get in touch at the same address. We will of course be open about when an event is sponsored.
The Metamodern Academy: A Masterclass in Metamodernism
Mon 1st Jul 2024, 6pm – Fri 26th Jul 2024, 8:30pm BST (UTC +01:00). Online
This course has already started but we thought it looked so interesting we’re posting it so you don’t miss out completely if you’re moved to check it out. It’s a three-week online masterclass on metamodernism, hosted by Emil Ejner Friis, and Daniel Görtz. It includes daily presentations, workshops, and optional coursework. They’ll cover advanced metamodern theory, culture, economics, and ethics, and it concludes with a one-week practice workshop to apply these principles.
The Festival of Consciousness
July 12th-13th-14th 2024, Barcelona, Spain
We posted this before, but now it’s imminent: a large volunteer-organized in-person conference featuring more than 100 talks and experiences over three days.
Medicine Festival
14th - 19th August, Berkshire, UK
This looks like a great feast of wisdom and fun, things which are in pretty short supply in the UK right now. Last batch of tickets on sale now.
Links
Every Single Cell in Your Body Could Be Conscious, Scientists Say
Manasee Wagh proposes a radical new theory that cells, including those in the human body, are conscious and have been since the origin of life. He argues that cellular consciousness drove evolution and that our consciousness is an aggregation of the consciousnesses of our body cells and microbes working together. While not currently widely accepted, this idea could transform approaches to cellular bioengineering, disease treatment, and space exploration.
Meet The Mind-Virus: Wetiko - The Honest Sorcerer
Based on the work of Native American scholars Jack D. Forbes and Basil Johnston, and psychologist Paul Levy (who will be speaking at our Future of Consciousness course), 'The Honest Sorcerer' explores this so-called "mind virus." This idea, coming from the traditions of the Algonquin, Ojibwa, and Powhatan peoples, is known as "wetiko" or "windigo." It describes a cannibalistic spirit or mindset marked by insatiable greed and a disconnection from the natural world, leading to the exploitation and destruction of the environment and other people… sound familiar? It definitely looks like this psychological disease has deeply embedded itself in modern Western culture. Overcoming it will require a fundamental shift in consciousness and a reconnection with the Earth.
Altered States of Consciousness are Prevalent and Insufficiently Supported Clinically: A Population Survey | Mindfulness
This paper investigates the prevalence and clinical support for emergent phenomena (EP)—unusual mental or somatic experiences often perceived as spiritual or mystical—among general populations. Surveying 3135 participants from the UK, US, and an online community, it found that 45% reported experiencing non-pharmacologically induced EP, such as derealization, unitive experiences, and out-of-body experiences. While these experiences could lead to both positive and negative outcomes, 13% reported moderate or greater suffering, with many not seeking help due to fear of being misunderstood or misdiagnosed.
What we can learn from William Blake’s visionary imagination | Aeon Essays
William Blake's visionary imagination shows us a path toward cleansing the "doors of perception" and discovering the infinite, eternal, and divine dimensions of reality, which he depicted in his poetry and art. By embracing the Imagination, one can move fluidly between different states of consciousness - from the narrow "single vision" of Ulro focused on quantitative measurement (left brain imbalance as per Iain McGilchrist), to the twofold vision of Generation grasping biological cycles, to the sensitive relationships of Beulah, and ultimately the "fourfold vision" of Eternity that perceives the living cosmos in all its fractal, interconnected splendor.
On S**t and Beauty: a conversation with Sophie Strand
Virginia Vigliar’s encounter with writer Sophie Strand explores the vital importance of storytelling, the need to confront difficult truths and be open to both joy and suffering, and the necessity of dismantling the foundations of capitalism and patriarchy in order to enact the radical change we need. Strand emphasizes that errors, disabilities, and heartbreak can be catalysts for creativity and new ways of being, rather than things to be feared or rejected. They touch on themes of feminism, ecology, spirituality, and the role of the imagination in revealing deeper truths about existence.
The Flip, The Formation, and The Fun - by Jonathan Rowson
"The Flip" describes the transformative process of shifting one's perspective from a limited, ego-driven mindset to a more expansive, interconnected worldview. This "formation" involves recognizing the constructed nature of our beliefs and identities, and then consciously choosing to "flip" these mental models to access deeper truths about the nature of reality. Rowson emphasizes that this shift is not just an intellectual exercise, but a lived experience that can lead to a profound sense of wonder, creativity, and communion with the world around us: the ‘fun’. We think this is an important article if you’re looking for a new perspective to help you make sense of the current state of the world.
An Alternative to Conventional Neural Networks Could Help Reveal What AI Is Doing behind the Scenes | Scientific American
Researchers at MIT have developed an alternative to conventional neural networks called Kolmogorov-Arnold networks (KANs) that can master a wide range of tasks more efficiently, solve scientific problems more accurately, and provide more interpretable results by representing synaptic weights as functions rather than fixed numerical values, although the training process is more complex and time-consuming. KANs are based on the Kolmogorov-Arnold representation theorem and could potentially be integrated into large language models to enhance their performance.
Can Ayahuasca Help Promote Palestinian-Israeli Reconciliation? With Dr. Leor Roseman & Antwan Saca - Psychedelic Medicine Association
This podcast episode features a discussion with Dr. Leor Roseman and Antwan Saca about the potential for ayahuasca to promote reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis. It explores how altered states of consciousness can help break down barriers, foster empathy and understanding, and provide a path towards healing historical traumas and conflicts between the two groups, and their experiences in leading various groups to do this work. They also talk about the spiritual and psychological dimensions of aya experiences and their possible applications in resolving apparently intractable political and social divides.
Superpowers may be real and science needs to study them | Essentia Foundation
Dr Jeffrey Kripal (who will be speaking at our upcoming Future of Consciousness seminar) argues that the humanities should expand beyond the limited materialist worldview and embrace the study of "the weird, the psi—in short, the impossible" — as these anomalous phenomena may represent objective truths about reality and human potential. He suggests that thinkers like Nietzsche, James, and Derrida acknowledged the "super" or transcendent aspects of human experience, which have been filtered out by academia. Kripal contends that if the humanities evolved into "superhumanities", they could become more relevant by scientifically investigating phenomena like visionary experiences that led to groundbreaking inventions and discoveries.
She studied extreme psychopaths. Here’s what it taught her about human nature | Abigail Marsh
In this video Abigail Marsh talks about what light her research into both psychopaths and altruists sheds on human nature. Psychopathy exists on a spectrum, involving lack of empathy, a winning personality, and disinhibited behavior. In contrast, extraordinary altruists exhibit humility, a belief in goodness, and sensitivity to others' distress. Marsh suggests that policies promoting well-being can foster generosity and altruism, and that beginning with small acts of kindness can gradually increase altruism and joy over time.
Focus On Tantra
“This general observation leads to the notion of left-hand and right-hand paths to knowledge. The right hand are the orthodox paths geared for the lowest common denominators, full of 'Thou Shalts' and 'Thou Shalt Nots.' Imagine techniques of ecstasy designed by lawyers and bureaucrats. The left-hand path (of which tantra is one of the better-known examples, but also including Western Sex Magick and other pursuits) seeks to embrace all the most distracting and addicting pursuits.” — Jamie Wheal, Stealing Fire
How To Have TANTRIC S*X (L❤️VE At First Sight With The Capital L)
If you only click one link in this newsletter, make it this one. This is an extraordinary practical description from a couple, Pippa and Frank, of how to transmute sexual energy into pure love and wisdom. The people around them probably think they are narcissistically absorbed in each other, whereas the absolute opposite is true. Plus lots of cool imagery. It is SFW visually, but probably not appropriate for kids to listen to.
Sacred Sex: Ancient Tantric Practices for Modern Lovers
Marc Allen describes sacred sex as a spiritual practice that unites one with the creative forces of the universe, leading to enlightenment. It involves embracing all aspects of sexuality, rather than repressing or denying them, and using sexual energy to raise consciousness. He outlines the principles of tantric sex, including elaborate rituals, techniques to prolong lovemaking, and the idea that sex is a sacred temple where the divine is experienced.
Reinventing Buddhist Tantra | Vividness
David Chapman argues that Buddhist tantra is open to reinvention and innovation, rather than being limited to conservative, culture-bound forms. His theory is that tantra's fundamental essence lies in an attitude of "spacious passion" and engaged, ecstatic connection with reality, which can find new expressions through creative rituals, symbols, and practices tailored to modern Western contexts. Chapman does acknowledge the complex political history of tantra, but maintains that developing "post-Consensus Buddhisms" drawing on tantric principles could be highly relevant and inspiring for many people today.
Podcast: 'Existential Kink'
Daniel Pinchbeck's podcast episode features a discussion with the author of the book "Existential Kink," Carolyn Elliott. ‘EK’ involves embracing and finding pleasure in the darker aspects of one's psyche, transforming negative experiences into sources of empowerment and growth. They explore how acknowledging and integrating these shadow elements can lead to greater self-awareness, liberation, and personal transformation. She explains more about re-finding wholeness in this short but inspiring essay on her website.
Tantric Sex Techniques to Enhance Your Connection
Tantric sex is a spiritual practice that aims to deepen intimacy and connection between partners by slowing down, maintaining presence and awareness, sharing feelings openly, and using techniques like extended eye contact, conscious breathing, and very slow penetration to cultivate blissful energies and avoid the "peak and drop" of orgasm-focused sex. It requires a playful, humorous attitude, scanning the body for tension and releasing it through deep breathing, and seeing sex as a "lifetime journey of discovery and exploration" rather than a goal-oriented activity.
From Romance to Reality - Bruce Lyon
The meditation teacher Bruce Lyon discusses the complexity of love, relationships, and the balance of polarity, emphasizing the duality and depth involved. He dispels the notion of love as solely tender, revealing it as a powerful and transformative force. Love requires effort and maturity, involving both breaking and healing. He highlights the interplay of masculine and feminine energies, the role of polarity and projection, and the sacred journey of relationships.
Living from Eros w/ Pamela von Sabljar
Pamela von Sabljar (who, yes you guessed it, will be a big part of The Future of Consciousness, why not sign up now?) leads an exploratory session on what it means to live from Eros, essentially bringing your full self and presence to life in this moment. She distinguishes between Eros, desire, and love, explaining what each of these refers to, although of course they are deeply interrelated. The dream world is connected with Eros, and she highlights how to enter states of transformation and emergence through embracing the Erotic in its widest sense.
How To Make Love With Life - with Crystal Dawn Morris
In this podcast episode, Crystal Dawn Morris, Lead ISTA Facilitator, talks about what it really means to be spiritually awake, living from openness and loving acceptance. She shares insights from her career in midwifery, Tantra, and shamanic healing, exploring the true nature of self, the awareness forms of Shiva and Shakti, the impact of pausing in a stimulated world, and the sacredness of birth and death.
Nuggets From The Archive
Why is everyone suddenly neurodivergent?
Sabine Hossenfelder explains how Autism and Asperger’s syndrome, now encompassed under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can present both challenges and unique abilities. Increased ASD prevalence is generally attributed to better awareness and screening, with about 1 in 36 children in the US diagnosed in 2020. Girls with ASD may mask symptoms better than boys, leading to delayed diagnoses and mental health challenges. ASD has a strong hereditary component, with environmental factors potentially contributing. She makes it clear that vaccines and maternal behaviors do not cause ASD. Early intervention with targeted programs can significantly improve the quality of life for individuals with ASD.
A Call For Idiots - by Carlota Guedes - Waking Youth
Guedes, the host of the excellent Waking Youth podcast, calls in this article for a new generation of "idiots'' - going back to the original definition of the word: people who are willing to question dominant narratives, challenge the status quo, and embrace their own unique perspectives and ways of being, even if it means going against societal expectations and conventions. She argues that true wisdom and progress often come from those who are willing to be "fools" and think outside the box, rather than conforming to the norms of the "smart" and "successful." Guedes encourages readers to cultivate a sense of playfulness, curiosity, and irreverence in order to uncover deeper truths about themselves and the world.
My meditation teacher is a robot - by Ruben Laukkonen
Laukkonen, an experimental psychologist and computational neuroscientist, starts to suspect that the Claude AI might have some sparks of awakening. Probably not, from this perspective at least, but it’s hard to deny it does give some fascinatingly profound answers.
 | A guest post by
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Intimacy is the most frightening thing, and yes can be enlightening thing. I’m working on revisiting being deeply seen, felt, heard and keep reacting dramatically to it. Hiding. Giving in sheds a layer. Hopefully I can go there and my goal is to share something, even indirectly
More than wondering who meets the all, what it looks like, feels all, I want to know, how does one chose to move forward? You can find enlightenment through drugs, sex, meditation, what have you. It’s not a fixed state. So how then do you move, do you model a life? That tells me something greater