Wednesday, April 27

My Shocking Spring Break or How I Almost Died in Mexico

 
Electricity and water don't mix. Or so I've been told, but I never had the bad fortune to find out for myself until a few days ago in Cabo San Lucas. I spent Easter week with my family on a relaxing vacation at an ocean front resort and spa.

To escape from the responsibility of parenthood, Michael and I enrolled our 4 year old son in a Spanish speaking day care to decorate Easter eggs while we indulged in traditional ayervedic massages.

The entrance to the posh health spa sports a sign which reads: "silence beyond this point." We were issued silk robes, reflexology shoes and heating pads before being ushered into a treatment room for Shirodhara:

"A soothing continuous stream of warm organic herbal oil is gently and slowly poured across the forehead and over the third eye, rolling gently through the hair and off the scalp into a catch-basin below the massage table."

The massage was not explicitly sexual, but when you believe your whole body is an erotic organ, every massage becomes a sensual one. During the scalp and feet treatment my intention was rebirth. To burn off old karma, especially having to do with post pardum depression. I was releasing the last threads of my "Tragedy generator." I trust that life will offer me enough entertainment, I don't need to add my own drama, (unless it's on the stage.) So I breathed in the essential oils and felt my heart being massaged by my expanding lungs with each breath.

Afterwards Michael and I separated to our gender specific spas for some soak time. My ecstasy expanded when I stepped into a shower with 15 shower heads; it was like a human car wash!!! After a meditative sauna I prepared for a naked and solo soak in a romantic Jacuzzi that had eerie blue mood lighting. (The actual spa is pictured above.) I slipped off my reflexology sandals and as soon as I stepped in, I felt intense shivers and saw a neon web of lights flash in the middle of my mind. It felt like a thrilling kundalini experience, until I stepped my second foot in, and nearly passed out. Immediately, I fell over and released my own waters. I felt nauseous as I stumbled to the toilet to relieve the rest of my bladder. I sat there wondering, what the hell just happened? and when I came to my senses, I understood that the spa must be broken.

I laid on a lounge chair to catch my breath and when the maid entered to refill my ice tea, I told her (in Spanish) that I thought a light was broken and that the spa is dangerous. She looked at me confused and dipped her hand in the water, but nothing happened. I self-consciously continued to explane that I nearly pissed myself. So she tried it again, this time she plunged deeper and grounded on the side of the basin and quickly pulled her hand back out with a loud yelp. "Aaaah! OK, wait here, I'll go get help."

I met up with Michael in the reception room as they put "out of service" signs up at the Jacuzzi. The manager offered to send a doctor up to my room, but I mostly just wanted to rest and told him I'd call him if I needed. In bed Michael and I played with the electric energy in my body, because I discovered I was too wired to sleep (this went on for about three days.) In the morning I looked in the mirror and discovered a new salt and pepper streak of grey hair behind my ear. Also the electricity actually increased my sex drive, (if that's possible.) And when I had breakfast with my father he said he recognized a familiar look of mania in my eyes. He was a UC professor of psychology and says it was standard practice to use electric shock on subjects suffering from depression.

Of course, the biggest benefit of this accident is gratitude for my life. My meditative plunge could have been fatal, but I'm thrilled to not only be alive, but fully so. Also, since the experience, the universe feels like such a gift, and those things I took for granted feel so precious. Especially my relationships. The greatest gift in this blessed life, is how much I'm loved.
Electrically,

Kamala Devi

Monday, April 25

New DATES for Tantra Theater SHOW


Tantra Theater Presents 2 showings of bo-he-mia:
Mark your Calendar for FRI May 20th AND Sat May 21st!
at the Tower Room at the Handerly Hotel
(Hotel Circle, San Diego)

Doors open at 7pm Show at 7:30pm
$25 tickets at door. $20 if you buy from a cast member.
Wear your most bohemian clothing

and selected performances will repeat at: TASTE of TANTRA-PALOOZA on Sat May 28th in Poway





We modern bohemians are passionate contradictions. We are sensitive, yet we care not what others think. We are visionaries in art and culture, pissing people off as we push towards world peace. We believe in our various causes with such intensity that we either enroll or overwhelm those around us. We love music, have pets, light candles, read poetry and dress in a manner that makes you wonder if there is an old winnebago driving around South America without curtains. We are eccentric trend setters who are too individualistic to organize a real movement. But somehow we manage to dominate poetry readings and have put together this sexy performance art happening. We hope to see you at our show.

http://www.tantratheater.tv/

Featuring original work by:

Shawn Roop,

Michael McClure,

Akasha Rose,

Heidi Neilson,

Esteban Cisnez,

Katie Holton,

James Schmachtenberger

Kassia Young-Walker,

Mankx Wilson,

Directed by Kamala Devi

http://www.tantratheater.tv/

Happy Easter

OK, I admit, Devin's Easter Basket might be seasonally inappropriate, but this holiday never made much sense to me anyway. Can someone please explane to our children why we celebrate Jesus's violent crucifiction with fables of little furry mammels laying chocoalte eggs??

Wednesday, April 13

Tantra Talk: Enlightenment Dyads with Amrita

In addition to being an Enlightenment Master, Amrita Joy Ananda Ma calls herself a yogi/priestess/channel. She lead the tantra talk with 24 truth seeker at the Emerald Temple Last night. We practiced the Enlightenment Dyad Technique. For more details about Amrita and her channeling go to: http://www.amaritha.com/, she has been channeling for the past 20 years.
Or visit our teacher Yoah:
 http://yoahyoah.blogspot.com/

Mark your Calendar for these upcoming events:
Sat. May 7th Sacred Snuggle Party 6:45-11pm
Tues. May 10th Tantra Talk 6:45pm
Sat. May 14th Tantra Theater Show: bo-he-me-ian
Sat. May 28th Taste of Tantra Palooza!
11am-11pm 11/11/11 Tantra Palooza!
To register write kalidas@blisscoach.com
http://www.blisscoach.com/ or call 858-272-2254 http://www.tantratheater.tv/

Sunday, April 10

Inspiration for bo-he-mi-an (tantra theater show)

San Diego Tantra Theater's presents:
bo-he-mi-an
We modern bohemians are passionate contradictions. We are sensitive, yet we care not what others think. We are visionaries in art and culture, pissing people off as we push towards world peace. We believe in our various causes with such intensity that we either enroll or overwhelm those around us. We love music, have pets, light candles, read poetry and dress in a manner that makes you wonder if there is an old winnebago driving around South America without curtains. We are eccentric trend setters who are too individualistic to organize a real movement. But somehow we manage to dominate poetry readings and have put together this sexy performance art happening. We hope to see you at our show.
http://www.tantratheater.tv/
Here's a collage of images to inspire the cast and crew for our upcoming Show:






Hope these inspire you as much as they inspire me!

Details:
7:30pm Saturday May 14th 2011.
(Possible show on Friday May 13th)
$25 per ticket. $20 early bird special if you buy from a cast member.
Location: TBA

Featuring original work by:
Shawn Roop,
Michael McClure,
Akasha Rose,
Heidi Neilson,
Esteban Cisnez,
Katie Holton,
James Schmachtenberger
Kassia Young-Walker,
Mankx Wilson,
Directed by Kamala Devi
http://www.tantratheater.tv/

Saturday, April 9

"Poly" is more than Polyamorous.

     I recently made a public declaration of my relationship status on Facebook. I announced to the world I had (gulp) 9 "Poly" lovers. For most my devoted readers, that may not be news, yet it has filled my inbox with questions such as:

  • How does that work?
  • Do they know each other?
  • How do you manage your time?
  • Do you have sex with all of them?
  • And my personal favorite question: What's the application process?
    These questions inspire me to share some valuable distinctions about my style of open relating. First, I want to explain why I prefer the prefix "Poly" to Polyamorous.
      By it's most essential definition, Poly is a Greek term that means: Many, much or more than one. According to some definitions (and people, like my mom,) it can also indicate having an excessive or abnormal number or amount.
      It's important to know that within the cultural context of the Poly community, Poly implies deep, meaningful, long term connections with friends and lovers with an explicit agreement that everyone is openly informed of all other parties involved.
      When "Poly" is combined with a variety of suffixes, it can form the following words which indicate distinctly different intentions, so being "Poly" can include and transcend the following:
  • Polyamory: It's about Love
  • Poly Sensual: It's about pleasure
  • Poly Sexual: It's about sacred union
  • Poly fidelity: it's about commitment

      In different relationships, at different times, I may define myself as any combination of the above. This short list makes it easy to see that someone who is polyamorous could even be celibate and is not necessarily polysexual. Personally, I tend to be polyamorus with everyone, but am very selective about who I move into sensuality or sexuality with. If you must know, I'm only having intercourse with several of my lovers, but enjoy cuddling, kissing, petting and sometimes even oral sex with the others. In my heart, I am open to the possibility of moving deeper into sexuality with any of my poly lovers if the desire arises.
      My highest ideal of Poly is to show up in every moment open to the truth of the relationship and letting that unfold organically in consideration and consent of all parties involved. In this model, the relationship is authentic instead of an obligatory fulfillment of social expectations.
      In practice, I am simultaneously engaged in emotional, sexual, intellectual, and/or spiritual relationships with people who also know and love each other. My style of relating tends to look like a cloud, a pod or a constellation. I especially enjoy being included when my lovers are sharing love and sensuality with each other.
     However, not all of my lovers consider themselves as part of a pod. Each individual has unique and dynamic inter-relationships. Some of them have limiting restrictions and boundaries with the others (such as between the straight men.) Some of them have never even met (especially since I've got lovers in LA, San Francisco, Portland, New york, Sedona.) Conversely, my lovers may have other lovers I have never met, or (gasp) I don't like. At different times, my lovers may chose to practice polyfidelity (aka polyexclusivity) where they agree to be sexually active only with certain members of the group. This beautiful and sometimes necessary structure is a closed system that may help lovers build or restore trust and/or experience. Currently, I am practicing Poly inclusively and am open to expanding my deep authentic connections.
      The running joke on Facebook is: So what's the application process?  As a minimum requirement, my lovers have to be experienced at:
  • Transparent Communication, 
  • No drama, 
  • Safe sex,
  • Connection to Self and Spirit.
     Beyond these basic pre-requisites, it's a matter of chemistry, timing and the grace of God.
     For clarification:
     There are a number of cultural misunderstandings about the Poly label.      
     Perhaps the most hotly debated distinction is between Poly and swinging (aka the Lifestyle.) In swinging, primary partners agree to engage in recreational sex which is casual and not necessarily emotional. In my experience, there is a large overlap between communities.  Swingers will often fall in love with each other, and  many poly people will often experiment at swing parties. 
     Polyamory is also mistaken with Polygymy: one man married with multiple wives (which is an arrangement which unfortunately historically doesn't always involve consent of all parties involved.)
    Even more confusion arises when the prefix Poly is confused with Pan, Omni or Bi. Pansexuality or Omnisexuality is when someone has the potential for sexual attraction towards all sexual identities, genders or orientations. Also referred to as gender blind or gender queer. Which is different still than Bisexuality because it transcends the attraction to two genders and includes people who fall outside the gender binary.
      It's also important to note that people can be Polyamorous and single, or in primary relationship with self or spirit.
      And finally, I want to celebrate the Poly-curious. If you are looking for alternative relationship paradigms, and thinking outside the box, it may take some experimenting to find out what really turns you on. It is OK to think you MIGHT be polyamous, and as long as your honest, I think everyone could benefit from trying it out for a month, a year or a lifetime. I hereby dedicate this blog post to the poly-curious. I look forward to hearing your comments and questions!
     Closing Disclaimer:
      Obviously, there are many variations on types of agreements used by different relationships and I have no intention to speak for all "poly" individuals and families. Ultimately each individual has to label and define themselves, and there are even disagreements about terms and labels amongst my lovers.

Monday, April 4

The One.

One

Of all the numbers accounted for by man,
the most significant yet incalculable
is how many beings you touch.

Your love cannot be quantified,
for every candle you illuminate
seems to spark all others in their sphere.

You have set such a fire to my heart that
 I transform every soul I embrace since,
Still your spark reaches farther than that.

For your dharma drives you into dark corners,
where you tirelessly stoke the smoldering embers
of those who's glow has long since been given up on.

Despite your gift of serving the many through the one,
containing your light, for the sole benefit of any
is as counterproductive as trying to possess the sun.

And so it is that you finally melted my attachments:
My trying, my wanting, my holding, even my accounting,
I release all, but the burning desire for you to to shine on.

Love,
Kamala Devi