Ancient Secrets of Seduction

"Tantra" means "instrument of the body." It sounds exotic, but it is actually very simple. Tantra teaches us to use all five of our senses consciously, because our senses are how we are connected with the physical world. And of course, it is with our five senses that we connect with each other, too. If you're looking to up the romance quotient in your relationship, here are a few tips from ancient India. And for good measure, let's use the romantic rose in each example. Red roses were said to be the favorite flower of Venus, the Roman goddess of love. Red signifies desire!

Touch ("Sparsa" in Sanskrit)

The skin marks the visible limits of the body; it is where we make contact with the world. Our skin is our largest organ, and 16% of our body weight. With touch we experience much of our environment: temperature, clothes, sheets, shower, etc. Wake up the sense of touch with massage. Use different materials and textures, such as a feather, a velvet hat, baby powder, a silk scarf, or rose petals. Infuse sesame oil, or unscented body lotion with rose petals, or rose essential oil for a wonderful massage oil.

Smell ("Gandha" in Sanskrit)

Women are particularly sensitive to smells. Our pheromones are the scents that we give off without even realizing it. These pheromones train us to recognize and desire our partners. When people stop smoking, they are amazed by how much they rediscover their sense of smell. Studies have shown that the loss of the olfactory sense is often accompanied by a loss in sexual interest, so it is a good idea to keep our noses functioning optimally! Fragrances have quite an allure to them. Roses just smell like romance. Use rose-scented candles, and sprinkle rose petals in the bathtub. Shower together with rose-scented shower gel.

Taste ("Rasa" in Sanskrit)

Is it any wonder that we say we have a certain "taste" in partners? The tongue is super-sensitive. By blocking out the other senses, by closing your eyes for example, you can focus on the taste more fully. Love is sweet -- there's a reason why we call each other honey and sweetie and cupcake! Savor and delight in the tastes and textures of various foods and drinks: whipped cream, chocolate, a strawberry -- and, yes, rose! Sweet rose tea is made for romance! It smells wonderful and tastes divine -- and it is the perfect way to end a romantic meal. Tulsi Rose Tea has the added benefit of helping you to relax, and de-stress...to get you in the mood for romance! It is easy to make your own blend of rose tea with dried rose petals, or dried rosebuds, steeped in hot water.

Sound ("Sabda" in Sanskrit)

Sounds have a profound effect on the body. Studies have shown that sounds can open up our inner pharmacy and balance our physiology. They can help us to be healthier, and to generally feel better. What sound do roses make? They're silent. Sweet and soft. Whisper sweet nothings to your loved one. Play soft, sweet music. Dance with the rose between your teeth, let your body move to the rhythm, breathe gently into your partner's ear.

Sight ("Rupa" in Sanskrit)

For romance, it's all about lighting. Think pink -- use rose-colored light bulbs, so you naturally see things more rosy! Dine by candlelight. Spread rose petals on the table. Make a trail of rose petals that leads to a surprise. Do a few Bollywood shimmies, put on a show. Look into each other's eyes until you get lost. Feel the intense connection that you create.

Comments

[auntiegrav]

A great first post, LIssa. Good to see you here.

In your newsletter, you said: "We are not our name, or our address, or our inherited position or any other label that comes with our birth. We are far more than that. And that discovery of Self is the great journey that each of us end up on at various times in our lives. We are here to learn and to grow and to contribute in our own unique way."

I go one step further, and it is all the difference: We are here to contribute more than we consume. I call it "Net Creativity" or "Net Usefulness". Any species that doesn't eventually goes extinct.

[Clara Sharp]

Awesome! congratulaions. This is a perfect venue for you. Or should I say, You are perfect for this venue.
Excellent article. I don't have a significant other, and I'm happy with that. But I do have memories and fantasies. This practice works well even if you are alone. We all deserve self-pampering.
Thank you

[Roberta Philbrick]

Congratulations Lissa on your new column...a­lways enjoy what you have to share! Fondly, Roberta

[powerofslow]

I love these notions! It is so true that we are comprised of five senses, not just our brains. Touch, sound, smell, sight and taste offer a complex interaction with our mind, body, and spirit. Thanks much for your suggestions, Lissa! I especially love the 'inner pharmacy' reference. Oftentimes we are so focused on getting things done that we ignore the signs of stress and exhaustion. Your post is a wonderful reminder of the power of slow.

[NickyD]

Congrats to you Lissa on your new column with the Huffington Post! You have such a wealth of information to share with everyone! I have loved your work since we first met back in 2004, and I know you have a wealth of information that we can continue to learn from you!

Best of Luck!
Nicole Dunn
Producer

[Caroline79]

It's amazing just how much pheromones affect our sense/scents of attraction.

Chemical sensing must have arisen as a means of detecting environmental conditions in the fluid matrix that spawned life. Early soluble foodstuff was detected by chemical sense.

As time progressed, upon leaving the sea the need to detect airborne signals - for reproduction, food, etc was required. This is the origin of the alphaero - pheromone story. With the sense of smell being so powerful and essential to our survival, it only makes sense that it is used to communicate ideas of trust and compatibility.

[Diana Daffner]

What a delicious aspect of Tantra! And let's not forget the SIXTH sense, that psychic connection that is beyond the body. Tantra really comes alive when we focus on the spiritual while experiencing the physical.

Diana Daffner, Author, Tantric Sex for Busy Couples
IntimacyRetreats.com