In the previous article we offered a glimpse of the Tantric approach to masculinity. Given that the paths of elevated masculinity and elevated femininity are complementary, but also radically different, we now offer you an insight into how Tantrics look upon femininity and the path of elevated womanhood.
From the Tantric viewpoint, every woman already has within her everything she needs to reach the state of spiritual perfection. The path of the spiritual woman therefore implies the gradual opening of her being to her own inner richness and latent qualities, which she gradually aims to bring to fruition. The woman’s being is like a rich and fertile soil that contains all the necessary seeds to grow an abundant, beautiful garden that brings nourishment and joy to her adorers. Whereas the man’s masculine nature has to be forged through overcoming challenges, the woman’s femininity has to be found by letting go of unnatural tensions and attitudes, as she relaxes into her own being and allows her feminine qualities to blossom.
The aim of the feminine Tantric path is to awaken the state of Shakti, which is a Sanskrit expression that literally translates as energy or power. Shakti is the feminine force of Creation, which gives birth to and sustains all life and processes in the universe. Shakti is the overwhelming power and force of nature as well as the delicate beauty of the most refined flower. It is Shakti that enlivens every living creature in this world; and it is also Shakti that offers the grace and energy that enables spiritual aspirants to realise their beneficial goals, eventually guiding them home to the deepest sanctuary of their own being.
When a woman has fully awakened the state of Shakti, it means that she is a perfect embodiment of femininity, her unique soul qualities being fully in bloom and radiating from her ecstatic heart. Such a woman has an enormous power within her, together with sweetness, refinement and wisdom. She is a source of inspiration for her beloved and for others, support and guidance naturally flowing through her being when she gives up selfish motivations and manipulation schemes.
When a woman manifests her Shakti nature within her couple relationship, she showers her beloved with love, intuiting his needs and nourishing him with her tender affection. She is the soft power that encourages him in all his good deeds and spiritual efforts, naturally renewing him with her energy when he comes to rest his weary head in her breast. In the relationship she provides an abundant array of creatively inspired ideas for their enjoyment and evolution as a couple – a veritable map for him to navigate with the compass of his consciousness. Life is never dull in her presence, and she often surprises her lover with her spontaneity, taking him out of rigid patterns of behaviour. In this way she gives him impulse after impulse to transform and grow as a man, without needing to push him in a particular direction.
Erotically, all women are naturally endowed for the Tantric experience of elevated pleasure and refined eroticism. The woman’s body is a garden of delights. Her numerous erogenous zones each provide unique sensations of pleasure that transform on a daily basis, according to the stage of the lunar cycle. Once she connects with her feminine nature and learns how to relax and open, she easily experiences overwhelming and multiple states of orgasm that can even appear in cascades. In this way the amorous experience can rapidly take her beyond usual, limited life experience, elevating her into expanded and ecstatic states of consciousness, with very little effort on her part. A fundamental part of the path to elevated femininity is therefore cultivating a state of relaxation and enjoyment that helps the woman to blossom and open to the endless reservoir of possibilities she has within her own being.
However, it is equally important for every woman to awaken a state of inner discipline. which allows her to ceaselessly transform herself and to surpass emotional fluctuations and destructive tendencies (including selfishness and pride, and negative states such as anger, frustration, jealousy and all kinds of stress). When conditions are right, a woman can easily ascend to elevated and happy heights, but when things do not go her way, she can even more easily fall into the pit of negative emotions and tensions, when she is lacking awareness, detachment and self-control. Her ever-fluctuating hormones play a major role in this respect, especially when she has not yet succeeded to gain mastery over her monthly cycle. This is why, although in the beginning it can often seem that the woman is naturally more spiritually advanced than her man (and she thus plays an initiating role for him), eventually he will surpass her through his gradual and steady efforts, if she does not also dedicate herself to the tireless work of transforming her being.
Nevertheless, the sincere efforts of a spiritual woman need to always be carried out on a background of relaxation, without forcing or pushing herself beyond the limits of her resources. It is truly an elevated art to be able to maintain self-discipline, while never compromising her state of openness and spontaneity or losing sight of her feminine needs. It is therefore vital for every woman to find a harmonious balance between effort and relaxation; time spent with her lover or family and personal time. Although a woman does not require solitude like a man does, it is nonetheless important for her to sometimes spend some time apart from her beloved, to recharge her vitality, take care of herself, or to spend some nourishing time with female friends.
Femininity can be expressed in countless ways, and it is not possible in the scope of this article to outline all or even most of them. It is important to underline that cultivating elevated femininity does not at all imply conforming to a particular vision of womanhood, but rather letting natural, feminine qualities awaken and shine. Beyond this, Shakti is common to all women though modulated in so many nuances. This means that for all women aspiring to awaken the state of Shakti, there is a natural, common path, a glimpse of which we have aimed to offer in this article.
We wish to express our deep admiration for all women who grace this earth with their unique qualities and beauty!