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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Replaces many books on my bookshelf, August 10, 2006
This review is from: The Essence of Tantric Sexuality (Paperback)
The Essence of Tantric Sexuality by Mark A. Michaels and Patricia Johnson
I have studied Tantra for five years and have trudged through numerous books on the subject. Until I read this book, I was under the false impression that Tantric study was demanding, laborious and technical. What occurs in this book is that all of the excess is trimmed away and we are left with a clear path on how to use Tantra to reach new levels of ecstasy.
The book is based on a series of lectures given by Dr. John Mumford in 1976. What these lectures accomplish is to successfully combine eastern and western perspectives on Tantra. The translation of eastern beliefs into a manageable path for the western mind is what makes this book so valuable.
From the use and mastery of yantras, geometric symbols whose purpose it is to open the chakras, to the Tantric massage, everything is laid out in simple to understand steps. Don't get me wrong. Each simple step is backed up by in depth explanations and extensive examinations of linguistic origins of many words to reveal how their meanings connect in incredible ways.
Over fifty pages are dedicated to the three levels of erogenous zones and a systematic method of manipulating them to open the chakras in the most advantageous pattern. By following the path prescribed in the book, the tertiary erogenous zones are made available, a group of areas on the body which are not sensitized unless preceded by the manipulation of the primary and secondary erogenous zones. These simple techniques and patterns extend the number of erogenous zones on the body from eight to eighteen.
From this basic knowledge, the Tantric massage can be added in order to begin the opening of the Chakras. What occurs when the Chakras are opened and the erogenous zones are all activated, is an extended period of excitement in which extended and multiple orgasms can be experienced.
A couple of chapters address the sensual power of the olfactory nerve. A detailed explanation of why our sense of smell is so powerful and aphrodisiac. The authors then explore what scents are most powerful on men and women.
I won't mention any titles, but this book is a refreshing replacement for a book I have been working through for the past two years. I will use this book when teaching Tantra and will keep it handy when planning sessions for clients. The Essence of Tantric Sexuality (ISBN-13 978-0-7387-0900-0) is the first book I have ever reviewed that I read carefully and underlined throughout. I anticipate that I will soon wear this copy out and require a replacement. For anyone interested in Tantra on a personal or professional basis, this book should be on your bookshelf or by your bedside.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clarity At Last!, September 3, 2006
This review is from: The Essence of Tantric Sexuality (Paperback)
I am a longtime reader in the fields of personal growth, human potential, and an area of inquiry that could be described as "sacred sexuality," The first thing I found to like about this new volume by Michaels and Johnson is its lack of a long, wordy subtitle. You know the kind, summarizing everything in the book so that your interest will be aroused (pardon the pun!). Here, the title is short and to the point, just as I expect the "essence" of anything to be, and the essential information promised is actually delivered.
If you have ever found yourself wondering, "What is Tantric sexuality, really?" and "Is Tantra my spiritual path?" I couldn't think of a better book to begin with. By the time you are finished reading, you will be in a good position to judge the quality of other books or workshops. You will have insight into how the spiritual path of Tantra views and works with sexual energy (for Tantra is about the whole of life, not only sex). You will have in hand the fundamental understandings needed to gain some whiffs of the enlightened bliss that Tantric practitioners seek. And if you desire to commit yourself spiritually, you will be in a much better position to judge whether Tantra is for you. As this book makes clear, to liberate oneself into a living experience of universal unity is a challenging task. Despite the promises of easy pleasure made in certain circles, the Tantric path is ultimately as demanding as any spiritual path needs to be to confront our self-limiting human habits.
That's not to say that this isn't also a useful book for the spiritually eclectic. While Michaels and Johnson are devoted practitioners and initiates of an ancient lineage, their presentation gives the context the reader needs to make intelligent decisions about integrating this information into his or her approach to life, whatever it may be.
After many years of reading, attending workshops, and trying to sort out for myself the growing body of teachings and practices called "Tantra," I feel tremendously fortunate to have had this book come into my life. Clarity at last!
--Sibylle Preuschat, Flower Essence Practitioner, Montclair, New Jersey
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Tantra Book You'll Ever Read, June 3, 2007
This review is from: The Essence of Tantric Sexuality (Paperback)
Whether you are simply curious about Tantra, already know something about it, or are already knowledgeable, this is the book for you. The authors studied with the individual most responsible for bringing Tantric practices to the West, and they artfully, seriously and delightfully pass along what they have learned in this slim volume. "How to" manual, history book, explanation of Eastern philosophy: it is all here.
There is a huge pile of Tantra books available,trying to take advantage of the fact that sex sells. Many of them are exploitive and ignorant. This one is the real deal: expert, wise and loving.
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