For some time now, I have been more intentional about spending time in nature. Since 2016, I have been organizing retreats, allowing people from my city and community to recharge and regenerate without having to board a plane. Creating and facilitating retreats is one of the favorite aspects of my work, and every single one is unique in its content, energy and magic. Even two retreats with similar activities in the same location will have completely different flavors due to the unique blend of participants.
Every circle, whether online or in person, overnight or fifteen minutes, creates a special bond between the participants. It has always been my belief that the people who show up at a certain moment always have something special to contribute to each other and to the session. Sometimes the contribution is unpleasant, as our best teachers can be the most polarizing ones, as they are the most direct pointers to our shadows. But more often than not, the gift is an uplifting, radiant one.
Our time spent to together in nature under the last full moon turned out to be a softening Yin practice, where we allowed body, mind and spirit to relax, unwind, and release tension built up from weeks, if not months, of challenges at work and at home. From cacao ceremony to Yin Yoga, we eased into each other’s stories, holding space for one another with tenderness. Perfect strangers feeling safe to been seen without judgement.
Do you ever feel like you are stuck in a pattern or loop? You are aware of it, but for some reason, cannot avoid it. Loops can be short-lived, like overthinking a problem to the point of exhaustion and insomnia. Or, they can span years and even decades, or lifetimes, for those who believe in reincarnation. Repeat failed businesses or relationships, can be patterns (they are not always).
When you are stuck in a loop, it’s hard to realise it. Oftentimes, you might need intense bouts of introspection, or the help of others who not only see the pattern you are caught in, but feel safe enough to share this with you. You, on the other hand, have to be prepared to face this reality and take action, if removing yourself from the loop is what you really want. Some people are attached to their loop, and the prospect of stepping outside of it is more terrifying than staying in the familiar pain. We all have free will – there is no judgement here. One of my great patterns I reproduced due to lack of self-awareness was following my mother’s story. She and my father did not see eye to eye early on, and separated while I was a baby. My mother then remarried, got divorced a second time, and is currently on her third (happy) marriage. She had me, her daughter, as only child. Similarly, I got married young and separated when my only daughter was small. Like my mother, I have two marriages under my belt.
As I saw myself reproducing my mother’s story, I felt helpless at changing its course. I did not have the tools I know possess to avert its unfolding, and yet, looking back, I know everything happened for a specific reason.
The different-sized loops have different protocols to address specific scenarios. As we are all unique, our loops are unique and so are the tools to deal with them. Loops can be made of shame, guilt, karmic debt.
If you feel like you could use help stepping out of your loops, whether big or small, send me a DM. I have several tools that can support you in this process. But first, you have to be willing to make the change!
Photo: Kayra Ranai
There are many misconceptions about Tantra, even among so-called tantra-practitioners.
The most common is that Tantra is mainly about sexual practice. In my personal work with tantra, I have come to the conclusion that it is more about breath, consciousness, and connection. Sex may be a beautiful and fun part of it, but it is not the main focus, at least for me.
As we use the breath as a bridge between the physical and subtle (non-physical bodies), we open up our energy centers to greater flow. Our sexual energies reside in the lower energy centers of the bodies, commonly known as the chakras, so there will be sensation in this area.
Because our reproductive organs are located near the lower chakras, intense energy flooding in this part is almost automatically associated to sexuality and sexual pleasure.
However, this energy can also be channeled for other non-sexual endeavors such as creativity, non-romantic relations, productivity and even business.
During my event on 13 February, we will be activating all the energy centers in the body, and then connecting to a partner in sharing this life force in a sacred and intimate practice (you get to keep your clothes on). This is why I have decided to tailor this specific event for couples. You may do it with a friend, as I have in the past. But a word of warning: powerful energies will be unleashed, so you must trust your partner fully and have some sort of mutual understanding.
For those of you who are unable to participate physically, I have successfully led this practice online, so that can also be arranged. Either way, you know how to reach me.
Details here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/136240572219
Yabyum sculpture by Agnes Arellano
