Tantra

This excellent book gives a detailed theoretical and practical account of the path from sex to spirit. Most of us are still brought up to split these parts of ourselves off from each other, which was also the case with the author trying to reconcile what she called her spiritual and party selves; she was amazed when she first encountered women in India who integrated sexuality and spirituality, ecstatic practice with meditation. She describes many crucial experiences along the way as she overcomes these polarities in an experience of unity and ecstasy in raising energy and consciousness. She describes the historical background and different paths before moving on to five core principles: everything is sacred, desire is a part of the divine, use polarity to attain unity, sublimate sexual energy and reach transfiguration. Many practices can either be done alone or with a partner, and there is almost inevitably a great deal of healing involved on the journey, as well as a real activation of creativity and energy so that we can meet each other the highest possible level. This means opening the heart and making a conscious commitment to love in one's close relationships. The chapter on conscious relationships is worth reading on its own, containing as it does so many constructive suggestions that readers can work with. Ultimately, tantra - literally meaning weaving - is an inclusive spiritual path that recognises interconnectedness, relates love with truth and builds community. As the author puts it, 'I see that we are all here to wake each other up through our love.'