#67 - Authentic Tantra Education: A Former Stripper's Journey | Devi Ward Erickson

Send a textNeo-Tantra, developed in the West, has little to do with what was taught in India. Often  portrayed as shady, occult, and perverse, tantra has often been characterized and classified as “black magic”. The Kama Sutra , an ancient court textbook that was used as a guide to sexual and marital affairs, further distorted the perception of tantric practices. Consequentially, the Western public came to see tantra as being synonymous with the guidance in the Kama Sutra – particularly with its detailed descriptions of various physical positions for sexual intercourse. Even after a shift in tantric teachings occurred over time, the connection between sexuality and spirituality is what mainly fascinated the Western culture. Tantra increasingly became seen as an “ecstasy cult” with a positive attitude towards the physical body and everything worldly. This is how the term “tantra” came to be a synonym for ritual eroticism, spiritually oriented sexual practices, or sacred sexuality. However, Authentic Tantra ® is a trauma-informed holistic healing modality designed to awaken, heal, and integrate body, mind, spirit, and sex... Authentic Tantra ® is medicine.About Devi:Devi Ward Erickson is the curator of the Authentic Tantra ® modality and an accomplished Vajrayana Tantra Practitioner.She is a trauma survivor who has overcome sexual, emotional, physical and racial abuse through Tantric sexual and non-sexual practice. Devi was a stripper in Detroit for several years while she attended Wayne State University for the performing arts. At the age of 24, she became a monk of the Ishaya order and dedicated her life to her spiritual path. Nine years later, Devi was introduced to Vajrayana Tantric Buddhism and trained in the Tibetan Five Element healing practices as a sexual and non-sexual healing method.Since then Devi has become an internationally recognized Tantra Expert, Certified Tantric Healer, and ACS Certified Sexologist. In 2015 Devi completed a 53 hour Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocacy Counselor training. Her background includes certification in Reiki and meditation. Devi Ward has been teaching meditation and personal growth workshops since 2000.Resources Mentioned:Website: https://deviwardtantra.com/about/Institute of Authentic Tantra EducationKauai Dharma CenterLama Tashi DundrupSex is Medicine PodcastConnect with Devi:Devi's IG: @deviwardtantraIATE's IG: @authentictantraThe podcast's hashtag is #nourishyourflourish. You can also find our practice on the following social media outlets:Facebook: The Eudaimonia CenterInstagram: theeudaiSupport the showThe hashtag for the podcast is #nourishyourflourish. You can also find our firm, The Eudaimonia Center on the following social media outlets:Facebook: The Eudaimonia CenterInstagram: theeudaimoniacenterThreads: The Eudaimonia CenterFor more integrative reproductive medicine and women's health information and other valuable resources, make sure to visit our website.Have a question, comment, guest suggestion, or want to share your story? Email us at [email protected]