I personally go on detoxification cleanses regularly. One of the most important components of these is to cleanse the emotional body. We are what we eat, what we think, what we feel and what we express. Jesus said, "It's not what goes into one's mouth that makes them impure, it's what comes out of it."

Our words create reality. Add strong passions and emotions to these words, and they magnify that which is being created. In this course, we will learn to how to clear out our internal garden from all the weeds and debris, that we may get to grow and smell the roses!

The practices of Shivakti Tantra Yoga are for everyone who wish to develop the skills to cope successfully with the challenges of living in this day and age. These practices help balance the glandular system, strengthen the nervous system and enables us to harness the energy of the mind and our emotions, so we may be in control of ourselves, that we are "Master over our responses", rather than being controlled by our "reactions", thoughts and feelings. 

When you’re out of Center, one thing is certain: you’re not breathing properly. Life is a balancing act. 

Our breath is the breath of life. Breathe like It matters and place your hand over your heart, repeating a simple mantra. One that I feel covers it all is: "I am blessed, protected, guided and grateful."

In these especially chaotic times, we all need to find the methods which work for us to help find our center and to get grounded. Just as there are practices which elevate, excite and inspire (like Kundalini Yoga & Shamanic breath-work), there are practices that calm, center, ground and help you reclaim your power and repose in your pure essence nature.

Being centered and balanced, grounded and aware doesn’t mean negating your emotions or thoughts. It simply means you do not become reactive to stressors and you don’t feel overwhelmed by them and learn to discern the story from the truth of your essence. It also means not being influenced by others.

Being centered means you have a reference point, a place to come back to when life’s challenges make you lose your balance and you emotionally "react" instead of intentionally "responding". We need to be the "Master Controller" of our nervous systems so that others can not simply push a button to get a jarring reaction.

Being centered does not mean not having emotions. It means self-awareness in identifying your emotions and reactive processes and focusing on balancing them. It’s about being aware of sensations and thoughts when they arise, allowing them to pass and coming to terms with difficult situations. Being centered and grounded also means to take action, to set your intention and act according to your plan with compassion, sense of resiliency and love.

Being centered means finding balance between hope and disappointment, between happiness and sadness, desire and apathy, good and bad. Being centered feels like being balanced, in your own sanctuary of equilibrium. It’s about understanding that every event is a combination of good and bad.

We will explore personal centering techniques and practices, the three gunas, as well as how to assist others in grounding and centering.

Loving Communication, Connection & Heart Intimacy.

Patrick Papa Love and Sharene Shamana Ma have been friends for almost 25 years. When Patrick returned from India in 2011 - having been away for ten years - he went to visit Sharene and her son first. They began spending time together romantically, quickly recognizing one another as beloved soul partners. It was one night in the middle of a juice fast, when very clearly a veil lifted between them allowing them to truly see one another, in perfect divine timing, as the light of their destiny together shined brightly.

They both made a conscious decision to devote themselves to one another and to the path of Holy Love as a spiritual discipline, to choose love again and again, whenever conflict of any sort would arise. But what is conflict after-all but an opportunity to grow?

We have been growing together on this path. Yes, there are speed bumps on every road, rocks on every path. In Holy Love, we commit to always seeing the path and not the rock. We commit to loving one another and caring for one another as the divine embodiment of God/Goddess.

It was a quick jump from there to getting married in August of 2012. Married now for eight years(friends for 25 years), together we feel that we have distilled the Art of Loving Communication.  We look forward to sharing some of our gems with you.

"What you honor honors you. What you serve serves you. What you love loves you. We choose to embody Holy Love."

- Ma & Papa

Asana Hatha Yoga can ultimately serve as a doorway to grace, a path toward remembering who we are. Although there are many physical and mental benefits to the practice of Hatha Yoga, its primary purpose is to become fully in touch with who and what we are. Not our transient, conditioned characteristics, with which we can only too easily identify but our deeper, unconditioned nature. Hatha Yoga allows us to do this by working from the tangible, familiar arena of the body. The following are some of the essential aspects of asana practice. 

Foundation The foundation is the parts of the body that are in contact with the floor and actively and evenly engaged against the floor. The weight of the body is spread evenly across the surface of the foundation whether we are vertical or horizontal, upright or inverted, sitting or squatting. The foundation (hands, feet, buttocks) is actively engaged into the floor throughout the posture. Rooting downward in a firm, stable and continuous manner makes the foundation alive, sensitive and responsive which will be reflected in the rest of the body. If the base of the pose is distorted it will be reflected in the whole structure, affecting the quality of the yoga posture. We will practice both active and passive way of grounding. 

Muscular energy Normally we use our muscles to move through space. In Yoga postureswe also use muscle to prevent us from moving through space. We want to wrap the muscles around the bones to support them and make them stable. This doesn't mean simply tightening the muscles. It is a deliberate, gentle, peripheral contraction from the periphery to the core. Rather than pulling the muscles away from the bones and creating a strong contraction in the center of the muscle belly, which destabilizes them (as if in preparation for movement) we want to cradle the bone. Too much muscular effort will create too much central contraction, which can tire the muscle and create instability and fatigue Lengthening the muscle and flattening it to the bone promotes a deep release in the tissues, nerves, capillaries, veins, ducts and channels of the skin and joints. 

Alignment One of the purposes of Yoga postures is to bring awareness to the whole body. Paying attention to every part of our body and making sure there are no areas of overload or stress, we begin releasing patterns of postural imbalance. As we release muscular tension in the body we begin to discover its innate harmony. This happens by aligning all of the habitually separated parts through bringing awareness to each part of the body simultaneously. This is then reflected in the mind, as the patterns of hidden tension are released the mind and body begin to harmonize, freeing up previously unavailable energy. The foundation, muscular energy and alignment facilitate stability (sthira). Please refer to the Anusara manual by John Friend for specifics on alignment. 

The Core The core is the central axis of your body, running down from the brain through the throat and spinal cord and into the pelvic floor. In effect it encompasses the muscles of the ears, eyes, mouth and face, solar plexus, navel and anus. The core of the posture gives us the possibility of establishing comfort. Key indicators of the quality of the core are the jaw, tongue root, and eyes. These should remain passive, receptive, easy and comfortable. Keep the core as soft and open as possible while in asana. A firm foundation and balanced alignment helps to allow the core to soften. 

The Breath The breath connects us to and facilitates the softening of the core. We can use the breath for feedback to notice if there is a grasping or gripping quality to the breath. If so, that will often be reflected in the core. Freedom of the breath is largely dependent on the stability and support of the foundation and alignment of the pose through releasing tension in the limbs and lengthening the spine, and giving stability and support to the movement of the lungs. A continuous returning of our attention to the breath is essential in maintaining a sense of balance in asana. Our breath is intimately connected to our mind: our feelings and our thoughts. The quality of our breathing directly reflects the quality of our mind and vice versa. In asana we use the breath to integrate body and mind. It is important to make any adjustment of the breath in asana with awareness, not forcing or imposing, but keeping our attention on the quality of the breath. The softness of the core and awareness of the breath facilitate comfort and ease. 

The Dynamic All of the postures have a dynamic and a static aspect. The way we move into and out of a pose influences the quality and effect of the asana. How long we stay also effects the quality of the pose (see 'the edge'). In the practice of asana there is a balance between action and reflection, between doing and being. There is time spent in poses and time spent moving in between them - a dance of action and stillness. Eventually we find rest within activity; this is the dynamism of rest. In this way we learn the unity underlying these poles. 

Organic Energy A key element in the dynamic of asana is organic energy. Organic energy originates in the softness of the core and radiates outward; it unifies the body and our awareness evenly. Another term for organic energy is 'lines of energy'. Refer to the Anusara Manual. 

Relaxation Relaxation, which brings freedom from tension, allows us to move toward the deeper benefit of yoga - freedom from the swing of opposites. This process of relaxation cannot be skipped. If we do the postures by imposing them through force and determination without the nurturing, integrative aspect of relaxation the underlying physical resistances and their deeper held emotional patterns cannot release. A good way to observe this is to notice how you are when you step off the mat and out into your daily life. Is your life any more free from conflict? Are you living out a deeper, clearer understanding of your thoughts and feelings, your actions and impact on others? Or are you just getting stronger and more flexible in your physical body? 

Vinyasa Vinyasa implies continuity, fluidity, connectivity. The body must adjust its speed of movement to that of the breath. As we move into and out of asana this is essential, it also takes a lot of awareness! The practice of synchronizing our movements is like meditiation in motion. It draws the mind deeper and elicits stillness and quietness. Vinyasa Krama is the technique of progressing step by step from the known to the unknown. This is the process used in constructing a practice sequence, or establishing a posture from clearly defined blocks, or steps. This is a safe and effective way to adapt the postures to the needs of the individual. 

The Edge This is the point between too much and not enough. It takes sensitivity and, as always, awareness to learn to respond to the moment and feel when it is time to move out of a pose. Approaching our practice as an exploration will allow us to develop the sensitivity that reveals our edge. We simply go into each pose and see what is there. This includes accepting where we are, our starting point, to find the beauty in what we have, what we are. It also includes being willing to stay long enough to reach the edge and then to become still and receptive, patient. Often, as we do this, our edge will move and our capacity will increase. All this, done without force. 

Asana helps us move from gross to subtle, resistance to release. When the surface and the periphery are made stable, the depth and center can release, this way we begin to access the deeper, more subtle aspects of our being.

Postures & reasons to practice: vriksasana - tree pose / balance - parsvottanasana - pyramid pose / flexibility - Virabhadrasana - warrior pose / strength - pascimottanasana - forward bend / surrender - urdhva danurasana - backbend / openness - matsyendrasana - spinal twist / elasticity - sirsasana - headstand / vitality - sarvangasana - shoulderstand / equanimity - padmasana - lotus pose / stillness -savasana - corpse pose / release. 

In Tantra, chakras are viewed as spinning vortices of energy in the body and as storehouses of experiences and memories. When the chakras are balanced—meaning they're not over or under active—a Tantra practitioner can experience clarity, access power, and feel more joyful, fearless, and free.

In this course, we will explore the chakras esoteric meanings, learn to understand what each chakra/energy center represents, we will learn how to activate specific chakras that are imbalanced, and more.  We will also have lecture, discussion and guided pranayama practices into the subtle body of our Chakras & Nadis, and how the physical-energy-emotional-wisdom-bliss bodies are connected.

The goal that the mystical science of Shivakti Tantra Yoga aims to achieve, is the sacred merger of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine within.

One of the most interesting and useful models to understand and decipher the inner nature of human beings is the model of the seven chakras from the tradition of Tantra Yoga. A chakra is an energy center which facilitates an energy exchange between a human being and the environment, in the same way that the breathing system is in charge of the exchange of air between an individual and their environment.

The seven main chakras are situated a few centimeters in front of the body and in order to feel them and work with them, some training in yoga and meditation is needed. The key to develop this very special sensitivity is a combination of stable sharp focus and deep relaxation. Having these elements together will allow us, with some training, to have a clear and systematic experience of the chakras.

The Chakras are mentioned already in the Upanishads more than 2500 years ago, and they are explained in detail in the three fundamental texts of Hatha yoga; the ‘Hatha Yoga Pradipika’, ‘Gheranda Samhita’ and ‘Shiva Samhita’ about 500 years ago. Even if these texts were not kept secret, there was almost no reference of them in west until the end of the 19th century, when the Theosophical Society of Madame Blavatsky brought their knowledge to west, together with Annie Besant and Charles Leadbeater. The Theosophical Society made two crucial mistakes in transferring the knowledge further. First they moved the sexual chakra from the sexual organs to the spine, probably to comply more with the conservative environment of that time. This mistake was quickly fixed and there are no teachings about spinal chakras anymore. The second big mistake they made was to move the navel chakra, “Manipura Chakra” from the navel to the solar plexus, probably to look more scientific with the spirit of that time when the yoga research and study on the nervous system was the cutting edge of science. Unfortunately this absurd mistake survived and in many tantra yoga books this chakra is still described as being in the solar plexus, even though all the ancient texts show clearly that the navel chakra, “Manipura Chakra” is situated in the navel. Generally the knowledge of chakras got very diluted, so many of the secrets of the chakras are as sealed as they were 200 years ago.

The beauty we offer in our program however is that all that we learn and activate through Kundalini , breath, sound & meditation practices, can be experienced in your own body temple as a way of divining for yourself the inner "secrets". It is often best to "move from a small head full of information to the cosmos of divine intelligence... From the trap of the intellect to the lap of the Goddess."

"The Visionary Mystical experiences are humanity's most direct contact with God and our Creative Source. Journey to an ecstatic retreat within yourself, to the light of the lotus, through a vibrational experience led by spirit. I provide a safe and nurturing space to move through states of shamanic liberation. Uncoil. Open up to Divine Love. Forgive. Let go. Be born again, becoming absolute pure energy. Find the calmness and clarity, purpose and passion, that reside within your heart and body." - Sharene Shamana Ma

Our physical body is a gateway to the astral. Explore with us while we travel further into the roots of the Tree of Yoga: Stoneage Shamanism. It was here where the tree first sprang, with visionary plant medicines. The ancestors of our ancestors, opened themselves up, body-mind-spirit, through the Vine of the Soul and plant medicine known as Soma. Through ancient ways, they consumed the earth medicines and their eyes were opened. This was the true fruit on the Tree of Life. And it was this fruit which seeded the Tree of Yoga. Shamanism predates Tantra.

In our Shamanic Tantrik Wisdom time together, we will engage in study, conversation, council and ceremony. Let's get raw.

We will learn sacred Tantrik and Shamanic rituals holding the intention to raise our energetic vibrational frequency, to connect with our guides, angels and with our ancestors, while reclaiming our fragmented soul parts across space and time to be embodied now.

We will discover primal conscious breathing, our connection with Mother Earth, Father Universe, cosmic energy, sexual energy, electromagnetic energy, pranic energy and cathartic release.

We will learn how to open the Holy Portal Space and how to work with it in our body.

We will use breath and ancient rituals to make contact with elementals (energy beings that embody the elements of fire, air, earth and water).

We will activate our shamanic tantrik healing powers as we remember who we are and our connection to all the magnificence we are connected to.

We will use our open channels as creative instruments to envision the lives we are ready to step into and the world we are calling forth.

We will release all that no longer serves us and commit ourselves to our Soul Purpose.

Rei Jagube e Mamae Rainha - From the Forest across to the Sea.

I am the Flower of the Waters

and all wishes fulfilled through me.

ARTWORK by Mariela de la Paz

Enter the Mystery Portal of Awareness,  available here to the curious, the novice, the initiated and the adept. Within each of us lies our inner Temple. It is here we observe the mirrors for our growth, transmissions and revelations, purifying the mind to finding our inner peace and stillness.

While mindfulness is being fully present in a moment, allowing our thoughts to seamlessly flow through our minds, awareness allows us to truly understand something by way of our senses. This first stage of meditation is called the "present moment .” The aim of the present moment awareness meditation is to achieve a calm, clear, alert mind. At the same time, the body is profoundly relaxed. We aim to let go of all inner chatter and emotional arousal to become empty. Out of this can arise a state of profound and blissful peace -while it may take a little practice to achieve that "buddha" mind state.

Sounds.

First focus on the most obvious sounds and as your concentration gets sharper, notice more subtle sounds, such as bird calls, the wind and distant traffic. Just allow them to wash over you, letting go of the sounds that have just passed by and being present to the sounds that arise now.

Bodily sensations.

Feel your arms resting on your lap, your seat on the floor. Feel your clothes against your skin. Notice the smells surrounding you. Bring awareness to any pains, muscle tightness, fluttering in your stomach or anxious feelings. Watch how these sensations shift and change, letting go of them and becoming present to those that arise.

Thoughts.

Watch your thoughts arise and pass, without getting caught up in them or feeling that you have to act on them. Some thoughts are simply chatter, while others are so compelling that you follow them. With demanding thoughts, observe them, label them and let them go. For example, if you are thinking: ‘I’m upset over that insult,” you might label it “hurt” and let it go, ready for the next thought to arise. It’s like watching clouds passing in the sky and you are progressing towards a “blue sky mind” where storm clouds pass and the mind is clear, calm and alert.

Breathing.

Watch the natural changes in your breathing as you become more relaxed. You might notice that your breath starts shallow and fast, but becomes deeper and more regular as you relax more profoundly.

At its core, spiritual meditation is the mindful practice of connection to something that is greater, vaster, and deeper than the individual self. It may seem paradoxical, but the path to that connection passes through honest self-reflection. While there are many meditation techniques that look to increase spiritual awareness, they all require an attitude of integrity and authenticity when looking at ourselves and how we view the world.

Spiritual meditation makes you realize the eternal truth of all that is, and let go of all that had happened and will happen. The present is where you want to be and find solace in. The need to practice spiritual meditation comes from an innate longing to see and think beyond the chaotic world surrounding you.

Focused meditation involves focusing on something intently as a way of staying in the present moment and slowing down the inner dialogue. Unlike classic meditation — where you focus on nothing to quiet your mind — with focused meditation, you still remain in the present, but focus wholly on one thing, typically sensory stimulus like sounds, visual items, tactile sensations, tastes, smells, and even your own breathing — much like mindfulness meditation techniques.

Movement meditation is simply any type of meditation in which we are moving. This includes a wide range of techniques. Any movement can be performed as a meditation, if we apply mindfulness and a slow pace. Movement meditation is ideal when we feel energetic and unable to "sit". In our retreats, participants will alternate between sitting meditation and moving meditation (often walking) in order to give the physical body some exercise, release physical tension, stimulate blood circulation and receive the benefits of walking and being in the Forest.

Most Mantra meditation techniques have two essential components: mindfulness meditation and mantra recitation or chanting.  A mantra is a syllable, word, or phrase that is repeated during meditation. Mantras can be spoken, chanted, whispered, or repeated in the mind. While this age-old practice is known to have Buddhist and Hindu roots, forms of “sacred word” recitation exist within a great variety of spiritual traditions, including Judeo-Christian and Shamanic.

In Tantra Meditation, we will be led into the Inner Tantric Yogas in the Sri Vidya tradition. We use visualization, deity, elemental energies, mantra, for the purpose of expanding consciousness and liberating energy.

Transcendental Meditation (TM) refers to a specific form of silent, mantra meditation and less commonly to the organizations that constitute the Transcendental Meditation movement. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi created and introduced the TM technique and TM movement in India in the mid-1950s and to the West in the 1970s.

In TM, you are issued a mantra by a teacher, which is never to be spoken aloud outside of your instruction. The process of meditation is simple — in a seated position with closed eyes, you repeat the mantra in your mind for 20 minutes, twice a day (ideally morning and mid-afternoon).

There is no requirement to concentrate, maintain a certain speed, or achieve any particular state. You repeat the mantra mentally for the period and continue with your day. At times, thoughts will enter your mind, you will become distracted, and you may even forget the mantra. All of this is expected and fine — you return to the mantra and continue without worry or concern.

The technique is truly effortless and usable by anyone, primarily because there is no requirement to concentrate or block out thoughts as compared with other forms of meditation or mindfulness. You will be able to perform the practice, whether you think you can, and regardless if you believe in it or not.

All Channels lead to Source. May you discover what works best for you.

Examples of a few meditation lineages and practices that we will cover and practice: Sharene Shamana Ma will offer Dharana practices from the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra, as well as moving meditations.

Please be sure to get DOORWAYS TO THE INFINITE on Audible by Sally Kempton, where she tells the story of the Vijnana Bhairava Tantra and shares several VBT meditation practices.

An optional suggested audible was SHAKTI MEDITATIONS by Sally Kempton as well.

References: Brahmavamso, A. (1998). The Basic Method of Meditation. The Buddhist Society of Western Australia

Explore with us the Tree of Yoga and travel from its modern limbs and manifestations back down through the connected limbs, down the trunk and back even further into the roots of the Tree: Stoneage Shamanism.

An integral part of all classical schools of yoga is their lineage, or a tracing of their roots from teacher to teacher to teacher. The importance of a lineage to any tradition is that, due to the interplay of different perspectives brought together by generations of teachers, the teachings automatically encompass subtle breadth and depth—a merging of awakening minds. The presence of lineage guarantees a transmission of the most essential and subtle experience of yoga, which otherwise can be missed in the shadow of the ego.

Create your own drawing of the Tree of Yoga, as you see Yoga today in 2020. Learn to trace the principles and teachings to the teachers they sprang from, identify the commonalities and the differences.

Then create your own drawing of your personal Tree of Yoga, drawing your teachers and guiding influencers on your Tree! What are you rooted in? What is your foundation? What are you reaching out to ...?

Often, The Tree of Yoga is associated with Iyengar, and his book. Here however, we are referring to the history and geneology of modern day yoga back to the roots.

Learn what is known about the origins of the Yoginis, from their Vedic origins and "The Kiss of the Yogini". The Yoginis whose cults were central to Kaula practice were known as human female witches, identified in ritual practice. Their power was intimately connected to the flow of blood, both their own menstrual and sexual emissions. They were essential to Tantric initiation in which they initiated male practitioners through fluid transactions via their "mouths". They were possessed of the power of flight. They took the form of humans, animals or birds, and often inhabited trees. (Quite likely all related to the medicine of the Queen of the Forest). They were often arrayed in circles. Their temples were generally located in isolated areas, on hilltops and were usually round (like our Shakti Dome in its Forest hilltop location).

Our focus in exploring the Tree of Yoga is to examine with fresh eyes and open vessels what is true and what may further be revealed about the past branches, that we may clearly chart our future aspirations.